Business of Design ™ | Interior Designers, Decorators, Stagers, Stylists, Architects & Landscapers
Business of Design® is the #1 trusted business training resource for design professionals around the world. Join thousands of design professional already using our field-tested project management strategies and enjoy increased confidence, improved client retention, greater profits and a business that thrives. It’s time to take control of your business. Become a member of Business of Design®, today: https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast
Episodes
Turns out the client intake process goes beyond the first phone call in STEP 1 when you are building a business on repeat and referral clients. In this episode, guest host and BOD™ Member, Juliana Oliveira of Beyond Interior Design, interviews an essential member of her team, Porsche Williams of The Prototype, who she recently brought on to manage and nurture her client relationships.
When it comes to your client pipeline, the fo...
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April 27, 2021 • 26 min
We all know social comparisons are dangerous. We simply do not have an accurate measuring tool that would allow us to compare our insides with someone else’s outsides. So, what happens when you find yourself feeling envious of someone else’s success? Turns out, like most human emotions, envy isn’t all bad.
In this episode we learn:
- creatives are hyper-aware of the success of others
- sensitivity has a positive side
- envy can b...
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April 20, 2021 • 40 min
If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. So says Business of Design® CFO, Larry Goldberg. Find out why analytics are the difference between mediocre success and a business that’s fully optimized in every way.
In this episode we learn:
- if you can measure it, you can manage it
- financial metrics propel us to make important changes on an ongoing basis
- key metrics are different in every business, but every business has the...
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April 13, 2021 • 41 min
As a seasoned designer, how can we best support, encourage and inspire the emerging design professionals coming up behind us? Interior Designer and BOD™ member, Annie Elliot says it’s important to have a framework (like Business of Design®) thank you. And make sure newbies know the fundamentals, so they’ll succeed faster.
In this episode we learn:
- start with a framework (BOD™ works!)
- pay yourself first and build the business...
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April 6, 2021 • 47 min
Every new business owner needs a bit of luck to get started. Sometimes a peer or colleague is willing to share generously, and you learn something invaluable. Other times, you’re just in the right place at the right time and you’re willing to put in the hard work required so you can grab the opportunity in front of you. BOD™ member Kate Hougen says persistence pays off in every situation.
In this episode we learn:
- there is ple...
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March 30, 2021 • 33 min
Many designers have some type of retail sales component which complements their interior design business. Others are curious as to whether a direct-to-consumer offering would add to their marketing efforts or increase profitability. BOD™ member Adene Lucas recently launched her own import business and says, yes, a retail sales component can be a healthy addition to your business, provided you do your homework first.
In this epis...
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March 23, 2021 • 58 min
BOD™ members, Jameelah and Ebonee share how divine (or was it design) intervention brought them together to form their interior design company. By saying yes, they took big risks and made it work.
In this episode we learn:
- inspect items as they are delivered in order to avoid getting stuck with damaged product
- be courageous and take those projects that are a little out of reach, you’ll learn as you go
- don’t be afraid to ask...
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March 16, 2021 • 46 min
Just like you curate your designs, it’s possible to curate your business. Be choosy when it comes to staff, clients and projects. Guest host and BOD™ Member, Laura Martin Bovard of LMB Interiors, interviews fellow San Francisco Bay area designer, Jennifer Jones of Niche Interiors, in this candid share-all conversation.
In this episode we learn:
- make the most of your time working for established firms
- the worst time to hire is...
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March 9, 2021 • 26 min
What happens when your life gets turned upside down unexpectedly? Dig deeper and try new things... says our guest, BOD™ member Gillian Crone. She found herself with no net to fall back on and business prospects that had run dry. Finding her courage, she refused to settle and aimed for big results. Gillian is a living testimonial for anyone thinking it’s time to reinvent your business and maybe, your life.
In this episode we learn...
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March 2, 2021 • 46 min
Eager for more, great clients? Then, get out there and market your services to those collaborators who can make the connection. Sell your services and you are helping others. Plus, if you’re not out there promoting yourself, you’ll be the best designer that no one has ever heard of!
In this episode we learn:
- feel good about who you are by working with your ideal clients
- remind yourself of the best service you ever provided, ...
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February 23, 2021 • 24 min
If you are busier than ever, or, if you dream of building an empire, chances are you’ve fantasized about hiring your first assistant or a big team to help you handle the load. Kimberley answers an email from a BOD™ member who needs a little help creating boundaries that will help her team thrive and allow her to feel appreciated.
In this episode we learn:
- in order to successfully hire staff, you must have systems, protocols an...
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February 16, 2021 • 29 min
These are, indeed, extraordinary times. Gaining momentum and traction on projects is a bit tricky these days, but DC Designer, Annie Elliott shares her strategies for getting the job done well and quickly.
In this episode we learn:
- we all need to be flexible right now, and keep everything in perspective
- to effectively juggle projects, separate the need to finish from the want to finish
- manage timeline expectations at the be...
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February 9, 2021 • 40 min
Set yourself up for success and growth by running your company like a big organization, even if you’re a one-man show. Guest host and BOD™ Member, Darci Hether of New York City, interviews her past employer, Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD.
In this episode we learn:
- Good work gets you good work.
- How creating systems and procedures to run an office set you up for success.
- Creating business longevity, planning for the future of...
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February 2, 2021 • 28 min
You do not have to wait “feel ready” to make hard changes in your business. If you are getting advice from a trusted resource, someone who’s been there and done that, then take a leap of faith. BOD™ member, Christine Julian did just that. She raised the bar and her business has never been stronger or more profitable.
In this episode we learn:
- come prepared to each appointment with intentional questions to ask the clients
- na...
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January 26, 2021 • 29 min
Lackluster results, weak profit and downward mobility turn out to be powerful motivation to change. Take it from Dallas interior design professional and BOD™ member, Juliana Oliveira. She took control of her business by implementing what she learned and experienced explosive growth in one year.
In this episode we learn:
- dream big and don’t take no for an answer
- implement the systems from BOD™, they work
- it’s ok to set bounda...
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January 19, 2021 • 23 min
2,040 hours is the typical full-time work week. If you are bringing home a salary of $30,000 for your full-time work as an interior design professional, you are making minimum wage. Can that really be enough compensation for the hard work you do? Absolutely not. Particularly not when wealth (not income) is the goal.
In this episode we learn:
- $30,000 for full-time work as an interior design professional is minimum wage
- pay y...
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January 12, 2021 • 40 min
Hitting rock bottom, while uncomfortable, is often a necessary part of any recovery process, whether from substance abuse or the harmful effects of a work life that lacks balance, reward and satisfaction. Desperation, a gift of hitting bottom, frequently provides the motivation required to make the most important changes in your business.
In this episode we learn:
- hitting bottom provides the desperation needed to do the hard w...
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January 5, 2021 • 38 min
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanottais started performing as a teenager, singing at open mic nights and acting in school plays. At a young age, she realized she needed a big personality to grow into and Lady Gaga was born. In this episode, BOD™ member, Laura Martin Bovard (aka The Divine Hustler) shares her methods for stepping into a more audacious future.
In this episode we learn:
- when an issue triggers you in some way, it’s bec...
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December 29, 2020 • 30 min
This episode originally aired on March 9, 2020.
If you’re just discovered Business of Design™ or you’re sitting on the fence because making changes seems overwhelming, listen to Kimberley’s advice on how to get started.
In this episode we learn:
- start where you are; tackle your biggest pain points first
- take BOD™ 15 STEP Project Management Strategy in order from 1-15
- confidence comes from systems
It’s time to take control ...
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December 22, 2020 • 34 min
This episode originally aired December 9, 2019.
To run a successful business, it’s vitally important to make time to work ON the systems and protocols that keep ensure projects run efficiently and effectively. DC designer Annie Elliott took this advice to heart and transformed her business—one system at a time.
In this episode we learn:
- make time to work ON your business.
- a good bookkeeper is your partner in financial matters...
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