I have two dynamos in the marketing and PR world, Ann Feldstein and Jennifer Powell Tumpowsky of Moxie Marketing and Communications. We are going to talk today about how to be prepared to work with a PR marketing firm and what you can expect them to help you with if you do hire one.

But first a little background on these two accomplished women. Moxie Marketing and Communications is a New York-based public relations marketing firm representing interior designers, architects, manufacturers and brands in the interior design industry. Founder and President, Ann Feldstein and her partner, Jennifer Powell Tumpowsky have twenty plus combined years of industry specific experience. Ann, throughout her career, has worked on high-end brands and for fifteen years she was the Vice President of Communications at Kravet Inc. At Kravet, she focused on B2B marketing and PR, media and event planning and was a part owner of CrossFit Sanctuary.

Jennifer is a native of High Point, North Carolina and her passion for the design industry and deep understanding of marketing makes her a valuable asset to their clients. Jennifer joined Moxie in April of 2016 after she also spent time at Kravet Inc. Jennifer was at Kravet for seven years and was the Director of Communications and oversaw the development of strategy, implementation of social media, copyrighting, public relations and assisted with events, product launching and media planning. Jennifer has visited every major design center in the country. She speaks to designers large and small about the power of social media and the importance of marketing in the interior design industry.

Show Notes:

• What is it like to be a client at Moxie Marketing and Communications?
• Does their business work with interior designers that don’t know what their goals are?
• What is a brand presence?
• What is the purpose of going to different events?
• What does it mean to have a good social media presence?
• What are some principles for good social media campaign?
• How many social platforms should a business be on?
• Are there certain things that someone should have ready before deciding to work with a PR firm?
• How important is communication for your business?
• How should you capture your work?
• What is something that you need to make sure is very clear on your website or page?

Resources:

https://www.businessofdesign.com

https://www.moxiemarketingny.com

On the show, today it is kind of a departure for the podcast because I am going to be speaking with an interior design student: Ashleigh Esprit. Ashleigh is a student Gwinnett Technical College in Atlanta, Georgia and she is working on her associates degree in interior design. She will complete her associates degree in the spring of 2017 and then attend Brunel University in the fall to get her masters in interior design. She has had great success in her internships and working with a great company, Sherwin Williams. She is very passionate about design and very passionate about her colleagues. She has started a blog, The Life of an Interior Design Student. In the interview, you will learn how Ashleigh and I came to know each other and what I have learned about her to make me respect her. 

Show Notes:

• Why did Ashleigh start a blog for interior design students?
• What are some of the struggles that she has experienced that other students have as well?
• How does Ashleigh overcome her times when she is having trouble staying inspired?
• What made Ashleigh want to be involved in the interior design business and study more about interior design?
• Are there any classes that Ashleigh thinks are more beneficial than others?
• Does Ashleigh think internships are important?
• Is there anything that she thinks should be included in the interior design curriculum that isn’t explained well enough already?
• Is Ashleigh a part of ASID?
• What are Ashleigh’s goals for her career in interior design?
• What are some other blogs that she has connected with?
• Has Ashleigh learned anything from doing her blog: The Life of an Interior Design Student?

Resources:

The Life of an Interior Design Student

https://www.lifeofanidstudent.blogspot.com

On this power talk Friday I am happy to say that I have Heather Ann Havenwood! Heather Ann Havenwood is the CEO of Havenwood Worldwide. She is the head chief sexy boss, she is an entrepreneur and a top authority in internet marketing, business strategies, and marketing.

What I found that is very interesting about Heather is that she started her first online business in 1999. If you think about that in 1999 nobody really had computers in their homes. In 2006, she took a company that she developed and grew it to an online marketing, publishing company from ground zero to over one million dollars in sales in under twelve months!

Show Notes:

• What is Heather’s nitch?
• What should you promote first for your business?
• What are some of the differences between men and women’s approaches when it comes to getting what they want in business?
• When or should you become friends with clients?
• Why are consistency and commitment important?
• What is H2H and why is it important?
• Why is it important to google your name every occasionally?
• Why does everyone fail to succeed?
• Why did she write her book: Sexy Boss: How the Empowerment of Women is Changing the Rule Book of Sex, Money, and Business?
• Why are testimonials important to your business?
• How do you get testimonials?
• What is Heather’s podcast about?

Resources:

Sexy boss: How the Empowerment of Women is Changing the Rule Book of Sex, Money, and Success

The Win with Heather Havenwood

https://www.heatherhavenwood.com

I have Paula Grace with me today! Paula Grace comes to interior design as a second career. Before coming to interior design, she earned master degrees in clinical social work and business administration. She held a directorship in a large behavioral health program and was a senior instructor at the graduate level in a prestigious university medical center. This is exactly why I was so intrigued to bring Paula on the show! In addition to designing interiors, she also designs furniture and area rugs which are available to the trade. Paula Grace also consults and shares her knowledge with us her design colleagues on how to build strong professional relationships with clients, staff and vendors.

Show Notes:

• What are the steps that an interior designer should start out with when trying to build a good relationship with clients?
• What should a designer talk about in the first meeting with a client?
• Why is it so important to stick to your original plan?
• What are some clues that you as a designer have not explained clearly enough what you are about? 
• What are the four “c”s?
• How can designers reinforce to their clients that they made the right decision?
• How can you stay out of the “friend zone”?
• How can you deal with a person’s bad experience from a previous project?
• How can you as a leader decide if your staff members are happy in their work environment?
• What is the organization culture assessment instrument?
• What is the reveal and heal process?
• How do the relationships with your clients relate to your relationships with your staff members?
• How can you keep a great designer happy at a small firm?
• How open should you be when owning your own business?

Resources: 

https://www.paulagracedesigns.com 

https://www.windowworks-nj.com/podcast-birthday-party 

https://www.chairish.com

Gillian Rose is a Canadian transplant whose New York-based interior design and color consultancy firm draws on several years of professional experience in design practice, as well as formal training from Parcel School of Design. As a color scientist, Gillian works to ensure the positive integration of people and their environments. Her consultation process includes supporting the function of space, avoiding the over and under-stimulating spaces based on personality, and avoiding negative emotional and physiological response to the built environment. Gillian is an accredited member of the association of Color Associates of North America and she uses the psychological and physiological impact of color on the human experience to bring exceptional creativity and tailored edge to her design projects.

Show Notes:

• What are the names that Gillian and fellow color scientists refer to themselves as?
• How many businesses does Gillian have?
• How does her business The Science of Color help businesses?
• What does Gillian mean that color is part of our DNA?
• In what ways does color affect introverts and extroverts?
• Does instinct play a role in picking colors?
• Is it possible for people to be living in the wrong colors?
• When should you create different spaces when colors are not working all the same?
• Is there such a thing as a general color reaction?
• Are there certain colors that appeal to our libido?
• Are the colors that appeal to women and men different?
• What is the color assessment test?
• Where should you look to decide what color to use for a space?
• Who was Gillian’s mentor?
• What and where is the association of paint color collection?
• What are clear colors?

Resources:

https://www.gillianrosedesign.com 

https://www.thescienceofcolor.com 

https://www.finepaintsofeurope.com

Today I have Cathi Hargaden on this power talk Friday! Interestingly enough for you interior designers, she is a feng shui expert. She has been practicing and teaching this for over twenty years.  She has taught this at workshops, universities, demonstrations at retail stores, hospitals, homes etc. She has traveled to several countries doing this for small businesses. I know you are all thinking we already know about feng shui and how to teach this. What we are going to talk to Cathi about is how feng shui relates to our business and success.

Show Notes:

• What ways can you bring tenacity to your business?
• What is so important about what “sits behind you”?
• What should be in front of you at your workspace?
• How can you make your environment project what kind of person you are?
• How should your desk be arranged in your workplace?
• How can plants help your work environment?
• How can you put power into your workspace?
• In what way, should an interior designer’s layout their personal space?
• What sort of help or tools does Cathi have to declutter?
• How do you identify what elements you need more of?
• What does water flow represent?
• What is the power of signs?
• How does space clearing relate to safety?
• How many different kinds of feng shui are there?

Resources:

https://www.wealthyspaces.com

https://www.facebook.com/wealthyspaces