Page 152 – LuAnn Nigara

07-06-201609-10-2025

44: How to Host Fabulous Events to Grow Your Interior Design Firm with Michael Mitchell and Tyler Hill

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0:56:09

44: How to Host Fabulous Events to Grow Your Interior Design Firm with Michael Mitchell and Tyler Hill

Today on the show we have Michael Mitchell and Tyler Hill!

They have their own design firm in Charleston, South Carolina. They also deal with fine arts, have a retail store and deal with gallery events. Putting on an event is one thing but putting on 10 to 12 events a year successfully is quite another thing. They put on an event at least once a month usually. Michael and Tyler are going to share with us they came upon the idea of putting on events.

Show Notes:

What was the original plan?
What is the one thing that they will always have part of their business?
How was charity introduced to them?
What should you not go cheap on?
What are some ways to let people know when there will be an event?
Who are the fabulous staff and what do they do?
How did their collection come to life?
What are the follow up processes?

Resources:

https://www.mitchellhillinc.com

You can read the full show notes and access all the links and resources at https://www.windowworks-nj.com/mitchellhill

07-04-201611-14-2024

43: Farrha Hyman- Success Story- How I Re-Designed my 15 Year Old Firm

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0:58:15

43: Farrha Hyman- Success Story- How I Re-Designed my 15 Year Old Firm

Today we have Farrha Hyman on the show! You may be thinking where have I heard that name before? Farrha is the designer that Kae Whitaker mentioned in her interview from a previous episode! She is going to share with us her story and what can happen to your design firm when you reach out and get help and expertise from someone who knows more than you do.

Show Notes:

When did she realize she needed help?
How did she hear about Kay?
Trust the process!
How different is it just being in business and running a business well?
Why is it important to share some personal information?
What two actions have to happen when bringing someone new into the business?
What personal struggles did she have with change?
How did she use her knowledge from previous hires?
Where does she plan to be further down the road with her firm?

You can read the full show notes and access all the resources at https://www.windowworks-nj.com/podcast

06-29-201609-10-2025

42: Rachel Laxer: Build on Your Experiences, Your Past to Create a Smart, Profitable Business

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0:40:20

42: Rachel Laxer: Build on Your Experiences, Your Past to Create a Smart, Profitable Business

On our show today we have Rachel Laxer!

Rachel runs a pretty big firm that is based out of London and New York City. She is a member of the British Institute of Design, and ASID here in the states. She graduated from Washington State with a BA in Political Science and History and from NYU with an MBA in Finance and International Business! She has been featured in Ireland’s Home, Interiors and Living magazine, participated in the Holiday House in New York City, Westchester House in New York and Design on a Dime. Rachel came to interior design in a rather unusual way. She is going to tell that story on the show today!

Show Notes:

How did Rachel begin working with Kelly Hoppen?
How does she predict trends?
How does she use her degrees in interior design?
What is the key to mixing periods of time?
What are the challenges having an interior design business in two “homes”?
Use the people you know will do a good job!

Resources:

https://www.rlaxerinteriors.com

https://www.windowworks-nj.com/rachellaxer

06-27-201609-04-2024

41: Cheryl Janis: Create Clarity for Your Interior Design Firm and Watch Your Profits Grow

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1:12:22

41: Cheryl Janis: Create Clarity for Your Interior Design Firm and Watch Your Profits Grow

Our guest, Cheryl Janis has been an interior designer for more than 19 years!

She has a background in full service interior design for residential design, restaurant design, office design, the whole she bang. But in the last 2 to 6 years she has thought about a direction change for her business. Cheryl has decided to specialize in independent healthcare physicians that are visionaries and embrace the whole health philosophy. She is going to share with us why and how she has come to only specialize in this specific nitch.

Show Notes:

What kind of specific healthcare spaces does she design for?
How did an accident when she was 17 years old impact her life in such a big way?
How have her designs affected these businesses?
What is a generalist?
What was scary about making the leap to specialize?
What is evidence based design?
What are some things that can help with recovery in design?
Why does Cheryl have a newsletter?

You can read the full show notes at https://www.windowworks-nj.com/cheryl

06-22-201609-10-2025

40: Meryl Santopietro- How to Re-Invent, Re Vitalize Your Firm, Even After 20 Years

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0:55:35

40: Meryl Santopietro- How to Re-Invent, Re Vitalize Your Firm, Even After 20 Years

Today on the show we have Meryl Santopietro!

She is going to be sharing with us about her career and her decision to move her business to Manhattan. Meryl’s business was based in Rhode Island until she moved her business to Manhattan. She also has the pleasure of working with her two daughters every day.

Show Notes:

How did she build her business?
Why did she move her business to Manhattan?
What should you do in an interview?
New contacts can equal new referrals
When did her daughters join in the business?
How did she come to develop products?
What are her products used for?
What roles do her daughters play in the business?
Have a great photographer!

Resources:

Simply Spotless

https://www.merylsantopietro.com

You can read the full show notes and access the resources at https://www.windoworks-nj.com/meryl

06-18-201609-10-2025

39: Andrew Joseph- Advice From the Principal of an Elite NYC Public Relations Firm

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1:5:49

39: Andrew Joseph- Advice From the Principal of an Elite NYC Public Relations Firm

Today on A Well Designed Business we have a treat! We have Andrew Joseph who is the principal of a desi

Today on A Well Designed Business we have a treat!

We have Andrew Joseph who is the principal of a design boutique public relations firm in New York city! This is a big time firm and he has clients from all over and his reach is worldwide. He is going to share with us his tips on how to hire, take advantage of and understand what a PR firm can and cannot do for you.

Here’s a bit about Andrew:

Prior to founding Andrew Joseph PR in 2012, Andrew worked for another shelter specific firm advancing his knowledge of public relations and forming a strong network of contacts in the design industry. Andrew’s PR expertise crossed lifestyle categories while working on beauty and fashion brands at RED PR from 2001 to 2005. Before his career in PR, Andrew acquired his journalism skills while employed at Vanity Fair and Allure magazines. That editorial experience facilitates Andrew Joseph PR to have a unique understanding about the media, creative branding strategies, and a deep, successful clientele.

Show Notes:

Where did he get his background in public relations?
How much information should you include in a pitch?
What is the value of a deadline?
How do you know which Public Relations firm to hire?
What are some things to include in your portfolio?
Make sure you have good photography!
Why is it important to look at the “landscape”?

Resources:

Vanity Fair Magazine

Allure Magazine

https://www.andrewjosephpr.com

andrew@andrewjospehpr.com

gn boutique public relations firm in New York city! This is a big time firm and he has clients from all over and his reach is worldwide. He is going to share with us his tips on how to hire, take advantage of and understand what a PR firm can and cannot do for you.

Here’s a bit about Andrew:

Show Notes:

Where did he get his background in public relations?
How much information should you include in a pitch?
What is the value of a deadline?
How do you know which Public Relations firm to hire?
What are some things to include in your portfolio?
Make sure you have good photography!
Why is it important to look at the “landscape”?

Resources:

Vanity Fair Magazine

Allure Magazine

https://www.andrewjosephpr.com

andrew@andrewjospehpr.com

06-15-201609-10-2025

38: Patrick Cain – Resource Management- A Skill You Need to Understand to be Successful

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0:57:03

38: Patrick Cain – Resource Management- A Skill You Need to Understand to be Successful

Today on the show I’m excited to have Patrick Cain! He is a custom furniture designer based out of Los Angeles. He specializes in furniture made from wood, metal and concrete. The designs are gorgeous! He is going to share with us a little about the pieces and how he got his business started.

Show Notes:

What two objectives does Patrick try to put into his furniture?
What is the definition of recycle?
How does he use recycling in his furniture?
Where does he get the wood for his pieces?
When did he start his furniture designing?
What about “the numbers”?
How to get free market research
When you are learning about something just go with professionals!
How to decide what to put in inventory
“Don’t skimp on photography!”

Resources:

https://www.patrickcaindesigns.com

@patrickcain -Instagram

Patrickcain- Facebook

06-13-201608-29-2024

37: Lesley Myrick – Strategies I Used to Build My Business

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1:1:45

37: Lesley Myrick – Strategies I Used to Build My Business

Leslie Myrick is an interior stylist and has not only built her business from the ground up once but three times! She has been in Canada, California and now Texas! She has very specific ways how she has built her business in such a short amount of time that really stand out. She has a blog and YouTube videos and has really created a good body of work in a short amount of time. We are going to talk about how you can be doing business in the same place you have been for the last twenty years and approach it like you just moved there.

Show Notes:

How much preparation did it take to move to where she is now?
What is on the checklist when starting out?
What should you want to be remembered for?
“Stand in your space”
Should you pay to have help doing different parts of the business?
What is the most important thing to do with a customer?
What 13 things has Leslie learned?
What kinds of systems does she use?
Put your expectations up front!

Resources:

https://www.mebydesigns.com – Get your business coach here!

The Big Leap– Gay, PhD Hendricks

https://www.lesleymyrick.com

06-08-201608-29-2024

36: Susan Brunstrum- Practical Advice for Project Management

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1:2:44

36: Susan Brunstrum- Practical Advice for Project Management

Susan is founder and principal of award-winning Sweet Peas Design, which she launched 13 years ago in the Chicago suburb of Libertyville as a one-woman firm. Today Sweet Peas Design is a full-service studio with a staff of six in downtown Libertyville and a branch office in Chicago. She and her team work with a broad-based clientele of entrepreneurs, corporate executives and professionals. Susan is an experienced speaker, whether on interior design issues or the business of design. She is a popular speaker on design at libraries on the North Shore of Chicago. Susan has been featured on NBC/LXTV’s “George to the Rescue” and “Open House,” and she appeared on CLTV’s “Bring It Home” program. Her work has been published in numerous national and local magazines and newspapers, including Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago, Kitchen + Bath Makeovers, Trends Kitchens, Trends Bathrooms, Color Made Easy, Crain’s Chicago Business and Chicago Sun-Times’ magazine, Splash.

Today on the show we have Susan Brunstrum! She has a big firm in Chicago and a signature line called LivableLuxe with a tagline that says “the little black dress of interior design.” She is a business woman, she is a woman who knows what she wants, knows how to do business and knows how to present herself. Her firm has won several designer awards but today we are going to focus on the financial part of business.

Show Notes:

The two project fee basis systems
The six phases of projects
How do you utilize the project fee?
If you don’t charge for your initial consultation you should!
Three things to assess on a client when you first meet them
What are the red flags when assessing a client?
The difference between advertising and public relations
Be patient!

Resources:

https://www.sweetpeas-inspired.com – Sweet Peas Design

https://www.studiowebware.com

https://www.quickbooks.com

06-06-201603-13-2025

35: Jerri Eskow- Integrity is the Foundation for Success

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0:51:19

35: Jerri Eskow- Integrity is the Foundation for Success

Today on A Well Designed Business we have Jerri Eskow!

She is a full-service interior designer and has been in business for more than 20 years! After becoming friends on Instagram I went to her website and did a little research. Sometimes when I have guests on the show I already know what their special skills, talents or lessons are. But with Jerri Eskow I was just so impressed with her as a whole. She is going to talk about her techniques she has used to be a successful interior designer for over 20 years.