Page 37 – LuAnn Nigara

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Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

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Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

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Other Shows Mentioned:

#769: Power Talk Friday: Leah Neaderthal: Sales Techniques For Introverts.

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Join us for the Prerequisites for Success free zoom event on September 15th at [12:30] EDT. Come spend some time with me and some of the most brilliant brains in the design industry, the incredible instructors of LuAnn University! If you know me and have been to any of my events before, you know that this is going to be tons of fun and tons of information that you can take to your business. This event is absolutely free and each instructor is going to share their best advice, the thing you should know in order to be successful in their respective areas of expertise in LU.

Go to luannnigara.com/success to register.

08-05-202202-24-2025

797: Power Talk Friday: Andrea Liebross: What You Are Worth, in Dollars and Sense.

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797: Power Talk Friday: Andrea Liebross: What You Are Worth, in Dollars and Sense.

Today With Andrea Liebross:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, Andrea Liebross, certified business and life coach, podcaster and owner of Andrea Liebross Coaching, LLC. is here to talk about self worth. She provides some great tips, strategies, and facts that will help us ditch our doubt in our skills and what we charge, and come out with one hundred percent assurance in how we conduct our business. Even I took a page out of Andrea’s book from the great tips she was offering. This is definitely worth the listen if you ever feel stuck or if your business feels stagnant due to not recognizing your own worth.

Pick It Apart

[4:30] Andrea shares how she approaches the subject of worthiness with her clients.

[15:30] Andrea starts to explain what to do next when you aren’t believing in yourself and your self worth.

[31:49] Andrea shares how to find emotional and financially mature clients.

[51:50] Andrea tells us about her podcast Time to Level Up and how you can reach her.

LuAnn Nigara and Andrea Liebross’ Ah-Ha Moments

“The more dissonance you have with your worth, the more drama you have about your worth or pricing.” – Andrea Liebross

“You need to think that you are undercharging them and over delivering.” – Andrea Liebross

“You have a talent and a gift that we need, but if you don’t create a sustainable business that provides you with the lifestyle you deserve then how can you stay in business so people can enjoy your gifts?” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Andrea Liebross:

After graduating from Dartmouth College and marrying the guy that lived down the hall, Andrea Liebross and her husband packed up the 1980s red Cadillac, left the northeast, and eventually made their way to the midwest city known for the Indianapolis 500. Over the last few decades, Andrea has started 3 successful businesses, all while raising two kids, now ages 20 and 17, and several giant puppies. As a certified business and life coach, Andrea’s known for helping high-achieving women make the shift from overwhelm to freedom in both their personal and professional life. Her goal is to guide these bold, ambitious women to create their own custom secret sauce for success by combining just two ingredients – the right mindset and solid systems. Andrea believes every problem is solvable and every dream is possible IF you make it all simple, doable and FUN (even the systems).

Connect with Andrea Liebross

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#577- Power Talk Friday: Amber De La Garza, LuAnn is in the “Productivity” Hot Seat.

Time to Level Up Episode 30- What Are You Worth? How to Put a Price on it.

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Today’s episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.

This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries

We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5 week courses are up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3 hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.

08-02-202209-20-2024

796: Allison Handler: From Fashion Designer to Interior Designer: Earning $1 Million Gross in Her First Year

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796: Allison Handler: From Fashion Designer to Interior Designer: Earning $1 Million Gross in Her First Year

Today With Allison Handler:

Welcome to A Well-Design Business. Today I am joined by Allison Handler, owner of Allison Handler Design. Through listening to AWDB, taking courses at LuAnn University, facing hard challenges and creating important relationships, Allison earned $1 million in gross sales, in her first year of business.

Allison reached out to me and I was impressed with her work ethic and story. She wanted to share with you everything she learned in that first year, including what she learned about systems and processes, forming relationships, and the hard lessons along the way. Enjoy!

Pick It Apart

[13:18] Allison starts to share her story.

[27:19] Allison provides tips on how she navigates the conversation regarding budget.

[37:05] Allison shares struggles and aha moments along the way.

[39:20] What Allison would suggest for someone who doesn’t feel like they have a good trade support team.

LuAnn Nigara and Allison Handler’s Ah-Ha Moments

“I can’t be successful, if I don’t know the budget and it’s not realistic.” – Allison Handler

“There’s so much power to the relationships that we build, but the motor to that power is having the courage to put yourself out there.” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Allison Handler:

It all begins and ends with relationships. Allison Handler Design prides itself on building and maintaining incredible relationships with both clients and vendors, working hard every day to make sure that a client’s wants and needs are satisfied by keeping a close-knit but wide-reaching team of vendor partners on hand to seamlessly execute the vision. As lead designer and visionary, Allison oversees all projects, ensuring the AHD aesthetic is incorporated while keeping the client’s personal preferences foremost. We strongly believe in making the most out of every clients’ budget, and source from the best mid-to-high end suppliers including well-known brands and exclusive smaller artisans, to ensure long lasting and high quality products that will last and feel unique to each space.

On a personal note, Allison was born and raised right here in Bergen County, NJ. After moving to Florida at age 15 with her family, she returned to the northeast after college to pursue a career in the fashion industry. Twenty years later, after getting married and having a family of her own, she knew it was time for a change. Allison Handler Design was born, almost by accident, after several friends and family members asked for help with their own home projects. Building off her fashion roots, Allison discovered she had a major passion and natural talent for interiors and decided to pursue it as a new career path. Allison Handler Design is now a thriving business thanks to the support of current and past clients, and we look forward to continuing to grow and carve out our place in this little corner of the world.

Connect with Allison Handler

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#779- Power Talk Friday: Madeleine MacRae: What Should the CEO of an Interior Design Firm Be Doing?

#786- Meredith Huck: From Corporate to Interior Design Business: 3 Insights to Succeed

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Today’s episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.

We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5-week courses is up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3-hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.

07-29-202209-06-2024

795: Power Talk Friday: Katie McFarlan: Profitable Interior Design Firms Track Their Data

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1:29:27

795: Power Talk Friday: Katie McFarlan: Profitable Interior Design Firms Track Their Data

Today With Katie McFarlan:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What does it take to be successful? We talk about it week in and week out on the show. There are so many details, so many facets to business success. But there are a handful of business practices that every successful designer puts into place—the things that set them apart from those who struggle. Today, Katie McFarlan of Dakota Design Co joins me to share the six business practices she believes are key to a well-designed business.

Pick It Apart

[11:54] Katie breaks down why setting a project minimum is important and the different ways to do it.
[22:57] LuAnn and Katie discuss the value of clear service offerings and processes.
[32:57] Katie shares why investing in yourself is vital.
[47:42] LuAnn and Katie talk about professional photography and why it matters even if you don’t have projects yet.
[51:28] Katie highlights how setting boundaries helps with business success.

LuAnn Nigara and Katie McFarlan’s Ah-Ha Moments

“The more clarity you can put around things the less opportunity there is for designers to complain about “scope creep.” If you didn’t define what it is that you do, how is the client supposed to know that it’s out of the parameters?” -LuAnn

“When you do the same thing over and over again, it’s good at getting you to be more efficient and working out the kinks. Your clients will enjoy working with you more when they know what to expect.” -Katie

More About Katie McFarlan:

As a former wedding and event planner with 16 years of experience in operations and project management, Katie enjoys using both her creative and analytical sides to find solutions that work for her clients. With her intimate knowledge of how both industries work, she knows what it takes to get behind-the-scenes operations running smoothly so businesses can grow in a sustainable and professional way. Today her business, Dakota Design Company, helps interior designers and wedding planners who are buried in business operations get back to doing the creative work they love. Through consulting and done-for-you implementation, she and her all-female team streamline their clients’ services and pricing, create strategic client experiences, and refine and implement processes their teams and customers will appreciate.

Connect with Katie McFarlan

Client Experience Download for listeners

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What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

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Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

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For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#678 Power Talk Friday: Katie McFarlan: The Client Experience Starts with Processes

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Mydoma Studio, your complete designer toolkit. Mydoma makes it easy to streamline your processes, track projects, communicate with clients, and get organized. It’s created by designers for designers, specifically to address what you need as a business owner. I’ve said countless times that systems and processes are how you reach the next level of profitability. Mydoma Studio makes it easy to do that. You can get 20% off your first three months by going to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness

07-26-202208-13-2024

794: Renee Biery: Do Clients Know You Can Handle Project Management?

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794: Renee Biery: Do Clients Know You Can Handle Project Management?

Today With Renee Biery:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am chatting with Renee Biery, owner of deVignier Design, Inc. and Only Girl On the Jobsite podcast. Renee works in restoration as well as new construction and she wanted to share with my listeners how renovation management is a stable income for interior designers throughout the year, as procurement and decorating ebbs and flows per job. A lot of takeaways here. Enjoy!

LuAnn Nigara and Renee Biery’s Ah-Ha Moments

“Many designers are doing renovation management, but don’t necessarily lead with it in their marketing.” – Renee Biery

“There’s a lot of different people with different skill sets that are needed to complete the project, but they don’t have overlapping skills. A designer can add to that and elevate any project.” – Renee Biery

“View yourself as an equal on the team. You are not above and you are not below.” – Renee Biery

“In order to be taken seriously, you have to show up seriously.” – LuAnn Nigara

More About Renee Biery:

Renée deVignier Biery, ASID, is an interior designer based in Wilmington, Delaware. She is a graduate of the New York School of Interior Design, one of the country’s oldest conservatory interior design programs, earning a degree with distinction in 1994 as an Associate in Applied Science in Interior Design. Biery is formally trained in practical interior architecture with advanced technical and rendering proficiency. Her credentials include NCIDQ board licensing as a professional member of the ASID, the design industry’s highest certification.

For Biery, design is a lifelong calling. It is a throughline of home life, from the traditional American houses of the Delaware Valley, to her training and professional experience in the design world of New York, and back again to her roots in Wilmington. Across this map of influences, design has given Renée the way to celebrate a sense of place that is both local and original.

Renée deVignier Biery was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, home to the Winterthur Museum among many important and historic residences and gardens. Good design was always in her surroundings, “a common language of big rambling homes filled with proper antiques,” she explains. She drew her inspiration early from a number of grandly formal old houses belonging to members of her own family in Virginia and especially from her two grandmothers—one, a southern, Virginia lady with an eye for cutting-edge New York and European fashion, and the other, a social worker who had a talent for understanding people deeply. Those qualities combine in Biery’s approach to design. She puts people and their practical needs first. She aims to create work that will be lasting and meaningful. She views tradition with an edge but also with a natural, truly southern civility.

During and following her schooling, Biery worked in the design field in New York. She began in 1993 as an associate in the legendary Lexington Avenue boutique of designer Charlotte Moss. She spent several years as a senior designer in the firm of Barbara Hauben Ross, a well-known New York designer who specializes in refined, luxury Art Deco interiors. During this tenure Biery honed her skill not only in historical and architectural renovation, but also, specifically, in the edited simplicity of early modern color, shape, and structure. The experience has given her a quietly pared-down viewpoint to balance more embellished, traditional environments.

Biery returned permanently to Wilmington in 2000 and established her own firm, deVignier Design, Inc. She works in restoration as well as new construction, and remains committed to the personal attention of a studio practice where she is fully involved from inception to installation with every assignment. “These are people who are sharing their lives with me, who will often spend a number of years with me on a project,” she says. “If I do my job right, the relationship is as lasting as the work, and the resulting house will look like the homeowners, not me.”

Connect with Renee Biery

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

#16- Charles Pavarini: Behind the Scenes of the Architectural Digest Design Show 2016

#305- Elizabeth Scruggs: The Things I Learned From A Well-Designed Business.

#380- Circle Design Studio: Architect & Interior Design Firm: John & Theresa Dorlini

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Mydoma studio, the project management tool for you to organize your communication with your team, your clients and your trades. Invoices, proposals, presentations, project milestones all in one place. See it for yourself- go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness

07-22-202206-30-2025

793: Window Treatment Friday: How To Breakdown Pricing for Your Customers

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1:5:18

793: Window Treatment Friday: How To Breakdown Pricing for Your Customers

Today with Vita Vygovska

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 4 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer.

Today, we are talking about how to breakdown your pricing for a client. How much detail do you include? How do you explain labor, fabric, hardware, and installation costs? We talk about it all! Tune in to learn how to have this tough conversation like a pro.

More About Vita Vygovska

Vita is the CEO and founder of Vitalia Inc., a nationally recognized authority on quality window treatments and soft furnishings, located in the Metro Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania. Vitalia Inc. is your workroom and your partner for custom window treatments. Their mission is to provide value to their clients and improve their lives.

Vita would love to talk to you. Share your feedback, questions, problems, and challenges with her, and also your wins. You can email her at vita@vitaliainc.com

Connect with Vita Vygovska:

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point

Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A BIG Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

Kravet. Have you heard? The majority of Kravet Inc. product is in stock and ready to ship within days. Order your favorite patterns from Kravet’s exclusive in stock collections like Barbara Barry’s Midsummer to CuratedKravet’s exclusive decorative accessories. Keep your design projects on track with Kravet Inc. and order memos today at https://www.kravet.com.

07-19-202206-30-2025

792: Jessica Davis: How to Establish Client Accountability

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1:14:01

792: Jessica Davis: How to Establish Client Accountability

Today With Jessica Davis:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, Jessica Davis of JL Design in Nashville, Tennessee is joining me to share her tried and true strategies to hold clients accountable at the beginning, middle, and end of your project. We’ve all been on a tense phone call with a client about something not going their way. You think about all the ways this could have been avoided. Today Jessica shares her strategies to hold your clients, and yes sometimes even holding yourself accountable.

More About Jessica Davis:

Jessica Davis founded JL Design in 2005. She is a graduate of Watkins College of Art in Nashville Tennessee, and brings 18 years of Interior Design experience to the JL Design team.

“I knew I wanted to be involved in Design at a very young age, when I realized there were always new challenges to overcome. I have always been surrounded by the arts and I have always felt that my inner creativity would ultimately guide me in my career. I wanted to be a part of something that would allow me to work closely with people and enrich their lives through design. For me, Interior Design is defined by functional, unique, creativity tailored to each individual.”

With a degree in Interior Design, Jessica began consulting on Design projects in Middle Tennessee, and was soon being commissioned for jobs in New York, New Jersey, and Miami. JL Design’s reputation for innovative Interior Design solutions has made it a leader in its class.

“I feel so fortunate to be able to bring my devotion and energy to my clients every day, and forge relationships that I find so crucial when working in someone’s home or personal space. There will always be a need for functional, progressive Interior Design, and I am committed to the art form and the evolving industry as it meets the needs of today.”

Carrie Flynn is the owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC., which specializes in helping our clients get their online programs created, designed, and ready to launch with simplicity and ease, so they can launch + maximize profits fast. We offer custom funnel design + tech setup in Kajabi, and full launch management strategy/support. Carrie loves yoga, her daily coffee, British TV shows and movies, and college football (Go Gators!). She’s been married to her husband for 17 years, and together they have two daughters, ages 13 and 5. Carrie lives in the Mount Dora, FL area with her family.

Connect with Jessica Davis

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

07-15-202202-10-2025

791: Power Talk Friday: Carrie Flynn: Launching an Online Product or Service With Simplicity

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1:3:54

791: Power Talk Friday: Carrie Flynn: Launching an Online Product or Service With Simplicity

Today With Carrie Flynn:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today Carrie Flynn, owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC. is joining us to talk about all things, launching. Listen, I’ve launched a lot of successful programs; Money, Mindset & Sales, the Power Talk Friday Tour…but I would be lying if I said I did it all by myself and knew exactly what I was doing in terms of the TECH side. Thank God for my team! We, as creatives, have the brains, expertise, and superpower, but launching can be overwhelming.

Carrie is a certified Master Marketer and Launch Manager and is here to prepare us for what to expect (including the roller coaster of emotions), do, and not to do when it comes to launching a new product or service. Enjoy!

More About Carrie Flynn:

Pick it apart:

[1:50] Carrie explains what it means to be a certified master marketer and certified launch manager.

[10:30] Carrie gives some ideas you can take on your own to vet your launching idea to see if it will even work.

[23:55] Carrie gets more in depth on how to prepare for the emotional side of a launch.

[37:40] Do you need to invest in ads and if so, what is a healthy budget?

LuAnn and Carrie Flynn’s Ah-Ha Moments

“The clientele for your one on one business, won’t necessarily be the same clientele for your new launch.” – Carrie Flynn

“You could have come up with an awesome idea that your people don’t need. They want to buy a transformation” – Carrie Flynn

“The vehicle is your choice to decide how you want to put your idea out there.” – Carrie Flynn

“Like I always say, if you are going to do it, do it like a business.” – LuAnn Nigara

Connect with Carrie Flynn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

The Product Development Podcast Collection

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

EPISODE 32 Robin Baron – The President of ASID NY Metro Chapter Talks with us about PR and Brand Development

EPISODE 540 Robin Baron: Strategic Thinking on Product Development

EPISODE 474 Bria Hammel: Keys to Scaling Your Interior Design Firm

EPISODE 731 Chloe Mackintosh: Chloe Mackintosh: How She Went From Blogger to Interior Designer

EPISODE 476 Amanda Hamilton: Running a Mid-Size Firm & Creating Additional Revenue Streams

EPISODE 687 Demetrius Robinson: Show Up & Do The Work

EPISODE 701 Kristen Rivoli: New Brand, New Year: How Rebranding Can Work for Interior Designer

07-12-202210-07-2024

790: Rick Campos: Design Biz Survival Guide- The Answer to All Your Business Questions

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1:6:10

790: Rick Campos: Design Biz Survival Guide- The Answer to All Your Business Questions

Today With Rick Campos:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Whether we’ve had it for 6 months or 5 years, we still have questions when running our design business. The experience may not be the same, but the questions we ask ourselves are. It’s the circumstances that change.

Today with Rick Campos, who does freelance consulting exclusively for the interior design community, we tackle these questions that linger in our minds and all of the resources that are all around us that can answer them.

More About Rick Campos:

Rick Campos is a self proclaimed “recovering interior designer” with fifteen years of experience in the design industry. Formerly Director of Business Development for a notable Orange County design firm, his daily interactions with architects, builders, vendors and clients contributes to a broad perspective of the design industry.

In 2018 Rick traded in his tape measure for a microphone and launched Design Biz Survival Guide – a podcast about life and business for interior design professionals – with the intention of informing and inspiring the design community.

In 2019 Rick integrated freelance consulting into the platform with an emphasis on “the business of design” exclusively for the interior design community. He has since helped numerous design entrepreneurs grow their business to new levels.

The platform has since evolved to include annual business development retreats, learning opportunities, networking events, and an online community.

“My mission is to be the source of information and inspiration to interior design entrepreneurs that I needed when I launched my own design business back in 2007. To promote and further develop a design community that supports and empowers fellow design professionals on their journey in life and business.”

Pick it apart:

[4:00] Rick introduces what we will be talking about today, that a creative business is still a business.

[6:57] Rick addresses challenges that may arise from three to ten years down the road of owning your design business.

[16:24] Rick tells us the types of questions designers ask each other when they connect.

[33:40] Our conversation continues with great questions to ask your colleagues, including their background.

[38:27] Rick gives us details about his 3rd annual Design Biz Retreat.

[42:05] Rick talks about his expertise; selling luxury.

LuAnn and Rick Campos’ Ah-Ha Moments

“No matter how long we’re in our design business the questions we have are the same, it’s the circumstances that are different.” – Rick Campos

“It’s the conversations with other people in the business that answer your questions, not Google or Youtube.” – Rick Campos

“What I have said one billion times is that people buy people and process, not products.” – LuAnn Nigara

“If anyone is going to help guide you, it’s going to be a fellow designer because they’re already doing it.” – Rick Campos

“Getting together with other people who do what you do is one of the most enjoyable ways to push the envelope on your business.” – LuAnn Nigara

Connect with Rick Campos

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned

#06- Identifying Your Transferable Skills With Erika Ward

#50- Veronica Solomon: Powerful Marketing for Your Interior Design Firm- Website to Fan Engagement on Facebook

#180- PowerTalk Friday: Michele Williams Talks About Profit First and Why It Matters to You

#482- Cheryl Clennendon- Small Business, Think Big

#485- Power Talk Friday: Claire Jeffers- Rock the Consult

A Big Thank You to Today’s Sponsor:

07-08-202206-30-2025

789: Flashback Friday: Michelle Wiebe: Breaking into New Construction as an Interior Designer

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1:10:49

789: Flashback Friday: Michelle Wiebe: Breaking into New Construction as an Interior Designer

Today With Michelle Wiebe:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday epsiode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Michelle Wiebe’s episode that originally aired as episode 148!

On the show today, we have Michelle Wiebe! Michelle is the principal of Studio M in Tampa, Florida. The specialty of Michelle’s firm is luxury residential new construction. I know we have talked to quite a few designers in this field I haven’t really picked their brain as much as I did with Michelle today.

Her firm in addition to luxury residential, new construction they also do family condominiums, corporate headquarters, medical offices and small-scale hospitality spaces. Michelle is a busy lady! In addition to all of this, she serves on the board of interior design at Florida State University her Almer mater. She also serves on the high point market authority board and she goes all over the country speaking on design social media. She is the editor of Impression, the Studio M design blog.

Pick it Apart:

How many years has Studio M been in business?
How does one show their specialty in luxury residential new construction on social media?
What should a new designer know before taking on a big project in luxury residential new construction?
What is a CEU?
How can a designer educate themselves on different codes that need to be known before going into a project?
What should the contract consist of?
Can you really learn what you need to know from classes?
How should make your client feel?
Are there times when certain “projects” in a project should be hired outside of the firm?
Who does Michelle have on her team at her firm?
What does Michelle look for when going through the hiring process?
What is High Point Market Authority?
What sort of app can you use at the High Point Market Authority?
How long can you serve on the board for High Point Market Authority?

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