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661: Lucy Harris: 5 Steps to Launching Your Interior Design Business

  Today with Lucy Harris:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. This week, I’m joined by New York City designer Lucy Harris. Lucy shares her top five “musts” for new interior design firms. This nine-year high-end design firm veteran has learned a thing or two about the non-negotiables when starting out on your own. Learn what Lucy did to get to where she is today!

Pick it apart:

[13:25] Lucy explains the need for community, the first of five musts when starting an interior design firm

[17:57] Lucy shares her take on the importance of photography and photo styling

[27:41] Lucy talks about how she approached outsourcing

[36:14] Lucy and LuAnn share why creating an online presence is vital

[48:35] Lucy shares the three reasons to consider taking a project

LuAnn and Lucy Harris’ Ah-Ha moments:

“People want to believe that you’re an amazing interior designer. And all it takes is one or two good enough projects to give people that confidence.” – Lucy Harris

“Starting a business is about making baby steps.” – Lucy Harris

More About Lucy Harris:

Growing up in a modernist house in Concord, Massachusetts, Lucy Harris was surrounded by, and given an appreciation for thoughtful design. From her great-great grandparent’s eclectic art- and antiques-filled Federal townhouse in Beacon Hill (now the Nichols House Museum) to her great-grandparents’ Arts and Crafts summer home in Ipswich, Massachusetts to the Mid-Century house where she currently lives in Westchester’s Usonia, Lucy has always surrounded herself with thoughtful, beautiful, timeless design.

Building on that heritage, Lucy continues to be influenced by many different movements in art and design, from the Bauhaus to Minimalism. Eclecticism is at the root of her designs, and her work is reminiscent of the “impossible bouquets” of Dutch Master painters, in which flowers that would not normally grow together exist side-by-side in the name of art. An avid traveler who has lived in Rome and Milan, Lucy visits Europe often for inspiration, and sources furniture, rugs, lighting and materials from all over the world. She also works with skilled craftspeople from Los Angeles to Brooklyn to realize her custom designs.

Connect with Lucy Harris:

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

I am honored to be on the Window coverings Association of America (WCAA) national board and I cannot tell you enough about my colleagues in this organization. We have chapters all over the US. Both Vita and I are members and I encourage you to do the same. For designers, it’s where you can meet the trusted trades to help you offer the best window treatments to your clients, and for us window treatment pros, it’s where you can stay on top of resources and education to make sure you are delivering your A-game. Go to wcaa.org

 

The IDS annual conference is coming up, May 6th, 2021, and I will be keynoting for this. So, please join us, all kinds of sessions and the chance to meet new colleagues and be introduced to a fantastic organization. Go to interiordesignsociety.org/conference

 

 

 

Other Shows Mentioned:

  • Stephen Karlisch #369
  • Charlotte Safavi – #623
  • Mike Van Tassell- #563
  • Raquel Langworthy- #343
  • David Livingston- #51
  • Sarah Winchester – #444
  • Jessica Delaney- #630

 

 

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660: Sandra Funk: Level Up Your Business Through Mentorship, Coaching, and Classes. Sponsored Show: “Interior Design Standard”

Today’s Show Sponsored by the “Interior Design Standard.”

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share all the details of her upcoming course, the “Interior Design Standard”.

I’m so excited to share Sandra Funk’s business program, the “Interior Design Standard”, with you because I know it will be the best investment for your business.

Enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann

How to Start an Interior Design Business

Interior Design Pricing

Here’s what you need to know:

The Interior Design Standard is composed of modules that outline Sandra’s entire business. Within each module are resources that you can start using right away.  She walks you through how to implement all of these templates via videos along the way.

Program highlights include:

Design fee calculator – confidently calculate flat design fees in moments

Design agreement, that both clients and designers love

The exact process that each interior design project follows, from the first potential client contact to pitching the photos to press

Important dates for your calendar:

April 21st – Registration opens!

April 28th – Enrollment closes at midnight

May 3rd – Program begins

Designers who have implemented the Standard in their businesses:

“A rising tide will raise all ships – and man, is Sandra bringing in the tide!  The Interior Design Standard is incredible.  I feel so lucky to have stumbled into Sandra’s circle of light. To say it is ‘exactly what I needed’ is the understatement of the year!”

– Jenn O’Brien, Jenn O’Brien Interiors

“The Standard is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for. Sandra “speaks my language” – she’s relatable, quick and to the point, yet thorough enough for me to understand. I’ve been in other programs. This is the best one.”

– Taylor Johnson, Taylor Johnson Interiors

It’s your turn, enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann

Share this with someone who deserves joy and efficiency in their business just as much as you do. It’s time for our entire industry to rise together.

Watch Sandra Funk’s feature in LuAnn’s new 3-part docuseries:

Watch the full 3-part Docuseries here. See behind the scenes of what it took to build A Well-Designed Business® podcast.

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659: Power Talk Friday: Michelle Butt: A Unique Idea to Improve Your Sales

    Today with Michelle Butt

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. By now, we all know that sales isn’t about convincing someone to buy what they don’t need or want. You care about your clients and their happiness. You want to make a sale that gives you the profits you want and provides your clients with something that will bring them happiness. Today, I’m talking with Michelle Butt, Master Coach and creator of Facial Intelligence, to talk about how using visual cues and facial features can help you relate to your clients in a stronger way, making the sales process even more of a win/win.

Pick it apart:

  • [1:37] Michelle defines what facial intelligence is and why a conscious understanding of faces is helpful for business owners.
  • [13:50] Michelle gives us insight into the 5 Facial Archetypes and how to use them to relate to sales targets.
  • [20:00] LuAnn and Michelle discuss the importance of understanding yourself before you can truly understand others. 
  • [32:09] Michelle provides a key takeaway that can help you start applying Facial Intelligence right away. 
  • [51:37] Michelle shares more ways you can use facial understanding to strengthen relationships with potential clients.

LuAnn and Michelle Butt’s Ah-Ha moments:

“We all do unconsciously read faces, and most of the time we read faces for expressions because there are universal expressions that we can mirror and match and understand. And we do unconsciously to some degree read features to understand what they mean, but most of us don’t consciously do that.” -Michelle Butt

 

“We tend to think, ‘Oh well if I like this, then all I have to do is tell people all the reasons why I like it, and then they’ll like it too and they’ll want to buy it,’ but really people want to be treated the way they want to be treated.” -Michelle Butt

 

“Sales is a win/win. Sales isn’t about convincing you to have something you don’t want or need. Sales is my responsibility to figure out what’s the best and most wonderful thing that will complete whatever it is you’re trying to do. So every tool that we can utilize in order to illuminate what it is that you want, need, and drives you, and will help you become more successful in connecting with that sales target or potential client—I love it.” -LuAnn Nigara

More About Michelle Butt:

Michelle Butt holds an Honours BA in Linguistics from The University of Toronto, is a Master Coach and a Facial Intelligence Expert.

After more than 10 years of studying human communication and creating the Facial Intelligence body of work, Michelle has come to know a thing or two about how and what drives people to believe in someone else enough to buy from them.

She’s built an understanding of how coaches, consultants and mentors need to show up to that crucial sales call in order to get that “yes” and truly begin the process of changing someone else’s life (and their own in the process).

By creating and implementing the F.A.S.T Method (Facial Acuity Sales Tactics), she has helped herself and many other coaches and consultants to use the face of others as the blueprint and catalyst for gaining a client and increasing their business’s success and revenue.

Michelle has been featured at TedXToronto, Reinvention Radio and OMTimes Magazine.

All her research and results have shown that the face is the starting place of any transformational journey and leveraging the information you see in a face is the key to changing the results you are getting in your sales process.

Connect with Michelle Butt:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

LinkedIn  

YouTube

FAST Guide download link: https://www.michellebutt.com/fastguide

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kirsch: Kirsch recently unveiled their new Briza Motorization, allowing your clients to control their draperies in an instant from anywhere. It’s simple to install, quiet, and easily integrate with third-party systems. It’s even available on most of their most popular rods. Visit kirsch.com today to learn more! 

 

Kravet: Kravet is always finding ways to make shopping easier for you. That’s why they refreshed their website to help your experience be even simpler. With the new redesign, you can quickly access all of your tools, like your account settings, price lists, current and past orders and more. The product has also been enhanced to offer more tailored results to get you what you’re looking for quicker. Visit kravet.com today to explore it for yourself. 

 

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#363 Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Building An Exceptional Interior Design Team

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658: Genevieve Trousdale: Genevieve Trousdale: Running Your Interior Design Business On Your Own Terms

Today with Genevieve Trousdale:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. This week, I’m joined by Genevieve Trousdale. After coming from working in two large firms, Genevieve launched her own firm. She grew her business to serve luxury clients and tackle high-income projects. But unlike most other designers on her level, Genevieve chooses to keep some things simple, running her business on her own and taking on just a few projects per year. Today, we’re talking about how she manages it, why she chooses it, and the importance of staying true to your values in your business.

Pick it apart:

[7:18] Genevieve talks about the experience of working under great influences and what she learned along the way.

[11:58] Genevieve shares why she chooses not to expand her firm and bring on other designers. 

[20:44] Genevieve reveals what she looks for in others when she does need to outsource work.

[25:03] LuAnn and Genevieve talk about the expectations in the design world and how to stick true to who you are.

[33:51] Genevieve explains how she created a resource for other designers to get questions answered and form a community.

LuAnn and Genevieve Trousdale’s Ah-Ha moments:

 “This is amazing to me…it’s unusual that you’ve reached that level of design client but you’ve maintained the solo firm and you’re making money.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“The pretty part, I can take care of. I like to take care of that. So I’m looking for someone with street smarts.” -Genevieve Trousdale

 

“There are pressures of ‘Why aren’t you scaling your company and searching for the next best thing.’ I am—but I’m doing it my own way.” -Genevieve Trousdale

More About Genevieve Trousdale:

Steeped in Southern tradition and influenced by sophisticated French style, Genevieve’s finely-honed design sense was originally fostered by two generations of discerning familial role models with exquisite taste. On assignment designing homes, chalets, and estates throughout Europe, the Middle East, and America, Genevieve developed inspired and inventive ideas for each client’s passions and desire for the very best.

 

Highly regarded for sophisticated design, meticulous attention to detail, creative sourcing of one-of-a-kind pieces, and the ability to manage thousands of special details at once – Genevieve has earned the respect and admiration of the most thoughtful and discriminating clients, worldwide.

 

Ms. Trousdale, a Louisiana-born designer, boasts a stunning repertoire of world-class projects from American ski chalets, a Parisian flat to a luxurious Middle Eastern palace. Working alongside top AD 100 industry icons, Genevieve is one of the nation’s most accomplished designers.

Connect with Genevieve Trousdale:

Circaphiles Website 

Website

Circaphiles Instagram 

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:

Kirsch: your leaders in drapery hardware. Kirsch recently unveiled their new Briza Motorization, allowing your clients to control their draperies in an instant from anywhere. It’s simple to install, quiet, and easily integrates with third party systems. It’s even available on most of their most popular rods. Visit kirsch.com today to learn more! 

Mydoma:

The free industry-leading event for designers is back! This April 13th and 14th, get ready for the return of 19 Hours, a virtual design conference by Mydoma and A Well Designed Business.

We all know by now that the world has changed, and while 2020 was very much about insulating yourself, and your business from what comes next, this year, it’s time to learn the lessons that the industry has learned the hard way this past year, and set yourself up for success. It’s time to make 2021 your year, with a number of panels, presentations, and talks from some amazing industry partners and experts.

So what are you waiting for? It’s a free event, so you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! Register for 19 Hours at mydomastudio.com/19hours. I’ll see you there!

 

Other Shows Mentioned:

#433 Nate Berkus: Introducing His Collection with Kravet

#91 Sarah Daniele – Co-Founder & CEO of Mydoma Studio

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657: Power Talk Friday: Dolores Hirschmann: Unlock Your Message, Unlock Your Business

Today with Dolores Hirschmann

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. When someone asks you what you do, how clear are you? Are you able to communicate what you do, the value you bring to the table, who you help, and what sets you apart? Or do you struggle to define what message you’re trying to put out with your business? The truth is that so many of us have trouble getting clear on our message, our differentiators, and our business. But until you gain that clarity, you’re going to hit roadblock after roadblock. Today, I chat with Dolores Hirschmann, a strategist and coach who helps her clients get that clarity in their message so they can start impacting the world.

Pick it apart:

  • [2:16] Dolores and LuAnn share why it’s so important to get clear about our message and how we communicate it. 
  • [6:08] Dolores unpacks the way our belief systems impact our clarity.
  • [22:28] Dolores breaks down her “9 Layers of Clarity” and how she uses the framework to help her clients.
  • [41:28] LuAnn and Dolores dive into the process of tapping into your unique differentiator.
  •  

LuAnn and Dolores Hirschmann’s Ah-Ha moments:

“If people can’t ‘get’ what we do, if people cannot understand how we’re going to help them, it’s almost impossible for them to hire us.” -Dolores Hirschmann

 

“It is a rare time when you talk to someone and you say to them, ‘what do you do?’ and you get a straight-line answer. So often we talk in a circle.” -LuAnn Nigara

 

“What gets in the way of clarity is not more knowledge or sexy words—it’s our emotional state of being and our belief system.” -Dolores Hirschmann

 

“That’s the purpose of the proprietary system. Each of the designers listening to this podcast is unique in the way they approach the project. Each of them is unique in the way they interact with the client, in the way they go about the whole process. So there’s value in understanding your uniqueness because that’s your secret recipe.” -Dolores Hirschmann

More About Dolores Hirschmann:

Dolores is an internationally recognized STRATEGIST & COACH and has been a remote employee and virtual business owner for over 20 years. She helps clients clarify their “idea worth sharing”, design their communication strategies, and implement business growth systems. Her clients become speakers and authors and take their message to larger audiences like TEDx and beyond. She works through group coaching, workshops, one-on-one coaching, as well as public speaking. Dolores is a writer, TEDx Organizer, and CTI certified and ICF accredited coach with a business degree from the Universidad de San Andres, Argentina. Originally from Buenos Aires, Dolores speaks fluent Spanish, English, and French and lives in Dartmouth, MA with her husband and four children.

Connect with Dolores Hirschmann:

Website 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Twitter 

LinkedIn 

Free gift: The TED Way to Raise Visibility & Get More Clients eBook https://www.we.mastersinclarity.com/standout-podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Mydoma Studio: Mark your Calendars! You’re invited to the 2nd annual 19 Hours Interior Design Conference. Join us for 2 days, with 10 presentations on April 13-14th19

Register now, and you’ll also be signed up to receive the recordings once the event finishes, as well as a digital workbook we’ll send a few days ahead of the event!

RSVP now – We’ll see you at the conference! 

Kravet: Kravet is always finding ways to make shopping easier for you. That’s why they refreshed their website to help your experience be even simpler. With the new redesign, you can quickly access all of your tools, like your account settings, price lists, current and past orders and more. The product has also been enhanced to offer more tailored results to get you what you’re looking for quicker. Designers can now also search more specifically by color with Kravet’s new advanced color search, which allows you to create the exact custom color you are looking for and get filtered search results that best match your selection. Visit Kravet.com today to see it for yourself!

Other Shows Mentioned: 

#466 Power Talk Friday: Nicole Heymer: You’ve Defined Your Brand…Now What?

#317 Nicole Heymer: 6 Keys to Planning A Website That Makes Things Happen

#125 Nicole Heymer- How To Brand Your Business. Yes, again! Do not miss this one!!!

#174 Power Talk Friday- Fred Berns- Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours

 

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656: April Jensen: How to Establish Client Expectations for Successful Projects

  Today with April Jensen

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. April Jensen of St. Louis-based ADJ Interiors was in business for 25 years before she created an onboarding doc for her high-end interior design business. April and LuAnn walk step-by-step through her onboarding doc as April lets us in on how it has helped her handle client expectations and sticky situations.

Pick it apart:

[16:13] April shares her response to a client who is unsure of their budget

 

[22:44] Why mutual respect with clients is necessary for a successful project 

 

[27:40] April advises how to respond to a client who is worried about a single product

 

[36:33] April and LuAnn share their mutual frustration with clients who text

 

[42:55] LuAnn and April chat about how to handle clients who don’t pay

LuAnn and April Jensen’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I’m a designer, and it’s okay to be a business person too.” – April Jensen

 

“You asked for a burger and a coke. If you want fries, it’s more money.” – LuAnn Nigara

 

“You have to put the whole picture together before you judge.” – April Jensen

 

More About April Jensen:

Prior to founding ADJ Interiors in 1994, April Jensen worked for interior design firms in Chicago and St. Louis. She works equally as hard to create seamless and enjoyable design experiences for her clients as she does to foster a fun, collaborative, and creative work culture. April received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design and a certificate of Art History from Michigan State University. She is a Professional Member of ASID and is NCIDQ Certified, having completed specialized courses, necessary experience, and a rigorous examination. Under April’s leadership, ADJ Interiors has been featured in several publications and has received a plethora of design awards. For more, please visit https://www.adjinteriors.com

April Jensen of ADJ Interiors was originally scheduled for an interview on September 15th of last year but had to reschedule to the 24th of February due to Covid.

Connect with April Jensen:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Mydoma’s 2nd annual 19 Hours Interior Design Conference is almost here! Join us for 2 days, with 10 presentations on April 13-14th19

Register now, and you’ll also be signed up to receive the recordings once the event finishes, as well as a digital workbook we’ll send a few days ahead of the event!

RSVP now – We’ll see you at the conference!

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655: Power Talk Friday: Theresa Gresham: Asking for Help in Parenthood and Your Interior Design Business

Today with Theresa Gresham

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Single mom to a toddler and suddenly laid off when Covid started, Theresa Gresham moved into a 200ft studio to save on rent. Theresa shares her journey of building a Virtual Design Assistant business from scratch and learning the importance of self-care and hiring help.

Pick it apart:

  • [14:30] Theresa shares her story about starting her business after getting laid off due to Covid.
  • [19:32] Theresa tells LuAnn how a parenting coach helped her flip her mindset about self-care.
  • [23:20] Theresa shares how things changed when she limited her office hours
  • [27:41] Theresa shares about motherhood during Covid and the importance of asking for help
  • [35:43] Theresa tells Luann about how she started her e-design business
  • [41:30] Theresa gives an overview of the services she offers interior designers

LuAnn and Theresa Gresham’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Everything wonderful in life is scary at first.” — Theresa Gresham

“You just keep going – and that little face smiling back at you is all the why you need.” — Theresa Gresham

More About Theresa Gresham:

Meet Theresa Gresham, a toddler mommy, a business owner, a virtual design assistant, and an educator, in that order. A truly well-rounded design professional, Theresa has worn many hats in the interior design industry. Her favorite aspect of the design world, however, is creating stunning presentation content, such as 3D renderings, and teaching her skills to other interior designers. Born and raised in sunny South Florida, her passion for interior design began at a young age when her mother gave her free rein to design her room. She loved using her creativity to up-cycle furniture and paint murals on her walls. Creativity runs deep through Theresa’s soul and she is living the dream by letting her creative juices flow in her career. Prior to opening her own virtual design business in 2020, Theresa attended California State University, Northridge, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design in 2009. She then went on to work for various firms that specialized in everything from luxury yachts and aircraft to high-end homes and restaurants. Theresa’s formal interior design training and varied experience in the field allows her to work seamlessly on a virtual level with interior designers across the country. Theresa’s passion is helping interior designers de-stress and enhance their business with stunning presentation content. She not only creates design visuals, such as CAD drawings, 3D renderings, and concept boards, for her interior design clients across the US, but she also offers 1:1 virtual training to interior designers who want to bring their own presentation skills to the next level. In Addition, Theresa teaches Digital Design to interior design students at Istituto Marangoni in the Miami Design District. When Theresa is not behind the computer immersed in a 3D rendering or in the classroom, you will likely find her dancing in the living room with her beautiful daughter, Leilani, or sipping on an iced latte while soaking up some warm South Florida sun.

Connect with Theresa Gresham:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

7 Perks of Hiring a VDA with Formal Interior Design Training: https://theresagdesign.com/gift/

Virtual Design Mentor: https://www.virtualdesignmentor.com/online-learning

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

IDS:

The IDS annual conference is coming up, May 6th, 2021 and I will be keynoting for this. So, please join us, all kinds of sessions and the chance to meet new colleagues and be introduced to a fantastic organization. Go to interiordesignsociety.org/conference

Mydoma’s 2nd annual 19 Hours Interior Design Conference is almost here! Join us for 2 days, with 10 presentations on April 13-14th19

Register now, and you’ll also be signed up to receive the recordings once the event finishes, as well as a digital workbook we’ll send a few days ahead of the event!

RSVP now – We’ll see you at the conference!

Posted on

654: Jenny Madden: Navigating Maternity Leave in Your Interior Design Business

T

Today with Jenny Madden

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. As business owners, we face many difficult situations, including how to balance personal life with business ownership. Maternity leave is one of those situations that can change the course of your business. But my guest today, Jenny Madden, has navigated the difficult territory of maternity leave five separate times, both in her own leave and in the leaves of her employees. She believes that planning can make the situation more smooth on all sides. Today, we’re discussing the tricky waters of maternity leave, and how you can make decisions now that will impact it in the future.

Pick it apart:

  • [1:40] Jenny and LuAnn discuss the emotional aspect of maternity leave from both an individual side and a business owner perspective.
  • [10:26] Jenny shares insights into the financial implications of maternity leave and your responsibilities as a business owner.
  • [22:57] LuAnn and Jenny talk about distributing the workload during maternity leave.
  • [34:41] Jenny discusses the differences in her two maternity leaves and how her business growth changed them.
  • [42:24] Jenny and LuAnn talk about hiring freelancers during maternity leave.

LuAnn and Jenny Madden’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I like what you’re saying about thinking now about what you want to do. If you don’t have any employees now, or you don’t have any that are pregnant, think about how you want to handle it.” -LuAnn Nigara

“As a business owner, I had no idea that offering an unpaid maternity leave meant I was still paying. I’m still paying a significant chunk of their healthcare and I’m still paying taxes on the checks they’re getting from the state. I’m happy to do it, but I do think it’s helpful to understand what you’re in for.” -Jenny Madden

“If you want to try to maintain your same productivity at the firm through their leave, then obviously you have to hire someone.” -Jenny Madden

“You have to put one foot in front of the other with the information you have at hand. You cannot predict everything…make a plan for yourself and your business and try not to get too worried about the ‘what-ifs.’” -Jenny Madden

More About Jenny Madden:

Jenny Madden Design has been in business designing beautiful spaces since 2011. Prior to founding Jenny Madden Design, Jenny acquired formal training from top-tier programs in both Architecture (BA, Columbia University) and Interior Design (MS, Drexel University). She then gained invaluable professional experience across multiple facets of the industry, including construction management, architecture, furniture sales and interior design. The years she spent working for a general contractor, managing large-scale construction projects, are particularly unique within the interior design industry. This breadth of experience places Jenny Madden Design in the distinctive position to not only design beautiful interiors but to successfully manage projects through to completion. Jenny is able to speak the language of the broader industry and build successful partnerships with architects, builders, and vendors. She understands that a smooth, professional project experience is as important to her busy clients as an excellent aesthetic design.

Jenny built out her team to ensure she has the right mix of talent to enhance and support your project. Stefania and Maggie support the design and drafting phases, while Greg keeps operations and budgets tightly controlled. Our goal as a firm is to maintain boutique customization while providing the systems and support typically reserved for firms with a larger headcount.

At the end of the day, we believe our portfolio speaks for itself. We love that our work has been recognized in local and national publications, both in print and online. But we take the most pride in our ever-growing list of happy clients.

Jenny Madden Design offers luxury interior design services in the greater New York City area, based out of our Hoboken, NJ office. Whether you are embarking on a new construction project, a gut renovation or looking to furnish your existing space, our interior design team will guide you through the design process and into your dream home.

Connect with Jenny Madden:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kravet: Kravet is always finding ways to make shopping easier for you. That’s why they refreshed their website to help your experience be even simpler. With the new redesign, you can quickly access all of your tools, like your account settings, price lists, current and past orders and more. The product has also been enhanced to offer more tailored results to get you what you’re looking for quicker. Visit https://www.kravet.com today to explore it for yourself.

Mydoma’s 2nd annual 19 Hours Interior Design Conference is almost here! Join us for 2 days, with 10 presentations on April 13-14th19

Register now, and you’ll also be signed up to receive the recordings once the event finishes, as well as a digital workbook we’ll send a few days ahead of the event!

RSVP now – We’ll see you at the conference!

Other Shows Mentioned:

#332 Jenny Madden Design: Husband & Wife Series

#346 Do Not Let Us Design: Taylor Dieterich & Yashlie Negron

#149 Brittanie Elms – Founder of My Design Assistant – She Could Be Your Next Employee

oday with Jenny Madden

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. As business owners, we face many difficult situations, including how to balance personal life with business ownership. Maternity leave is one of those situations that can change the course of your business. But my guest today, Jenny Madden, has navigated the difficult territory of maternity leave five separate times, both in her own leave and in the leaves of her employees. She believes that planning can make the situation more smooth on all sides. Today, we’re discussing the tricky waters of maternity leave, and how you can make decisions now that will impact it in the future.

Pick it apart:

  • [1:40] Jenny and LuAnn discuss the emotional aspect of maternity leave from both an individual side and a business owner perspective.
  • [10:26] Jenny shares insights into the financial implications of maternity leave and your responsibilities as a business owner.
  • [22:57] LuAnn and Jenny talk about distributing the workload during maternity leave.
  • [34:41] Jenny discusses the differences in her two maternity leaves and how her business growth changed them.
  • [42:24] Jenny and LuAnn talk about hiring freelancers during maternity leave.

LuAnn and Jenny Madden’s Ah-Ha moments:

“I like what you’re saying about thinking now about what you want to do. If you don’t have any employees now, or you don’t have any that are pregnant, think about how you want to handle it.” -LuAnn Nigara

“As a business owner, I had no idea that offering an unpaid maternity leave meant I was still paying. I’m still paying a significant chunk of their healthcare and I’m still paying taxes on the checks they’re getting from the state. I’m happy to do it, but I do think it’s helpful to understand what you’re in for.” -Jenny Madden

“If you want to try to maintain your same productivity at the firm through their leave, then obviously you have to hire someone.” -Jenny Madden

“You have to put one foot in front of the other with the information you have at hand. You cannot predict everything…make a plan for yourself and your business and try not to get too worried about the ‘what-ifs.’” -Jenny Madden

More About Jenny Madden:

Jenny Madden Design has been in business designing beautiful spaces since 2011. Prior to founding Jenny Madden Design, Jenny acquired formal training from top-tier programs in both Architecture (BA, Columbia University) and Interior Design (MS, Drexel University). She then gained invaluable professional experience across multiple facets of the industry, including construction management, architecture, furniture sales and interior design. The years she spent working for a general contractor, managing large-scale construction projects, are particularly unique within the interior design industry. This breadth of experience places Jenny Madden Design in the distinctive position to not only design beautiful interiors but to successfully manage projects through to completion. Jenny is able to speak the language of the broader industry and build successful partnerships with architects, builders, and vendors. She understands that a smooth, professional project experience is as important to her busy clients as an excellent aesthetic design.

Jenny built out her team to ensure she has the right mix of talent to enhance and support your project. Stefania and Maggie support the design and drafting phases, while Greg keeps operations and budgets tightly controlled. Our goal as a firm is to maintain boutique customization while providing the systems and support typically reserved for firms with a larger headcount.

At the end of the day, we believe our portfolio speaks for itself. We love that our work has been recognized in local and national publications, both in print and online. But we take the most pride in our ever-growing list of happy clients.

Jenny Madden Design offers luxury interior design services in the greater New York City area, based out of our Hoboken, NJ office. Whether you are embarking on a new construction project, a gut renovation or looking to furnish your existing space, our interior design team will guide you through the design process and into your dream home.

Connect with Stacy Garcia:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kravet: Kravet is always finding ways to make shopping easier for you. That’s why they refreshed their website to help your experience be even simpler. With the new redesign, you can quickly access all of your tools, like your account settings, price lists, current and past orders and more. The product has also been enhanced to offer more tailored results to get you what you’re looking for quicker. Visit https://www.kravet.com today to explore it for yourself.

Mydoma’s 2nd annual 19 Hours Interior Design Conference is almost here! Join us for 2 days, with 10 presentations on April 13-14th19

Register now, and you’ll also be signed up to receive the recordings once the event finishes, as well as a digital workbook we’ll send a few days ahead of the event!

RSVP now – We’ll see you at the conference!

Other Shows Mentioned:

#332 Jenny Madden Design: Husband & Wife Series

#346 Do Not Let Us Design: Taylor Dieterich & Yashlie Negron

#149 Brittanie Elms – Founder of My Design Assistant – She Could Be Your Next Employee

Posted on

653: Window Treatment Friday: Rising from the Ashes

Vita Vygovska Systems Driven Operations




1x

0:00
1:32:05


 

  Today with Vita Vygovska

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s WTF— Window Treatment Friday, Vita and I are talking about rising from the ashes of the fire that destroyed her workroom. It’s every business owners nightmare. Fortunately for Vita’s diligent dedication to the processes and systems within her business, Vita was able to literally rise from the ashes over night, and continue to keep her business running. 

More About Vita Vygovska

Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services exclusively for interior designers.  In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are experts in their narrow field, providing designers with superb quality product and excellent communication.  Most importantly, they take off the stress, save time, and give peace of mind in the job is well-done.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

 

Posted on

652: Stacy Garcia: Transitioning Your Interior Design Business When Times Get Tough

Stacy Garcia

Today with Stacy Garcia

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. We spend a lot of time talking about starting your business, growing your business, and implementing the basics that lead you to success. Today, we’re talking about what happens when that success is threatened. Recessions, disasters, and unforeseeable circumstances can threaten your business. But the way you respond to those situations shows your grit, determination, and ultimately determines your success as a business owner.

That’s what Stacy Garcia is talking to us about today. When the pandemic hit, the hospitality industry was hit hard. But Stacy figured out how to pivot, make changes, and grow a new portion of her business to meet the people’s needs and keep her business strong.

Pick it apart:

  • [9:16] Stacy and LuAnn discuss the difference in starting your business and the challenges that come later on.
  • [17:03] Stacy gives her insight into how the hospitality industry was impacted by COVID.
  • [28:03] Stacy shares how she transitioned into the consumer side and grew a massive Facebook presence in just six months.
  • [41:22] Stacy and LuAnn discuss the need for adjusting the way you operate your business during tough times.
  • [45:15] Stacy dives into the way that going back to the basics of networking and sales saved her business.

LuAnn and Stacy Garcia’s Ah-Ha moments:

“Being brutally aware of the reality of your situation is goal #1.” -Stacy Garcia

“When people are in pain, there’s not a better opportunity to solve people’s problems, and when you solve people’s problems, you bring value to the table, and when you bring value to the table, the money will follow.” -Stacy Garcia

“The reason that the first recession we went through at Window Works, back in 91-92, was so difficult was because we did not face it soon enough.” -LuAnn Nigara

“When you’re the owner, you have to take a long-term investor’s approach, and so there may be years where the business just doesn’t produce for you personally. But the goal becomes keep it alive, because that’s how you can grow it back when the economy turns around.” -Stacy Garcia

More About Stacy Garcia:

An established leader in the world of design, Stacy Garcia is a successful creative entrepreneur and founder of multiple business enterprises: LebaTex, Inc., a distinctive textile supplier and Stacy Garcia, Inc., a licensing firm and design house. With brands like Stacy Garcia Commercial, Stacy Garcia | New York, Stacy Garcia Home, and Stay by Stacy Garcia, this internationally renowned designer and forecasting expert has partnered with some of the world’s leading manufacturers to create products that span from floor to ceiling for resorts and homes all over the world. She was voted one of the 10 leading voices in the hospitality industry and honored by ASID for Design Excellence. Her work has been featured in Interior Design, Boutique Design, New York Spaces, LUXE, Rue Daily and Architectural Digest.

Stacy has an established reputation as a preeminent forecaster of color and design trends, and is a Chairholder of Color Marketing Group, the premiere international color forecasting association. Stacy is also a dynamic public speaker with experience hosting panels, workshops and keynotes.

Connect with Stacy Garcia:

Website 1

Website 2

Blog

Instagram 1

Instagram 2

Facebook 1

Facebook 2

LinkedIn 1

LinkedIn 2

Twitter

Pinterest

Watch Stacy Garcia’s feature in LuAnn’s new 3-part docuseries:

Watch the full 3-part Docuseries here. See behind the scenes of what it took to build A Well-Designed Business® podcast.

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

luannuniversity.com

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

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

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

Power Talk Friday

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

A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsors:

Kirsch: Kirsch is the solution for all your custom drapery hardware and window covering needs. Kirsch just unveiled their new Briza Motorization that allows your clients to control their drapery from anywhere. It’s easy to install, easy to integrate to existing smart home systems, and available on their most popular tracks. Visit https://www.kirsch.com today to learn more.

Mydoma Studio: Mydoma is the designer toolkit. Their seamless workflow software organizes your design project from beginning to end, saving you time, money, and keeping everything in one place. You can get 20% off your first three months today by signing up at https://www.mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

Other Shows Mentioned:

#21 Stacy Garcia- A Thoughtful Conversation with a Design Visionary