Posted on

598: Judith Taylor: How an Introvert Networks in an Extroverted Industry

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Judith Taylor of Judith Taylor Designs returns as a guest today to share her ideas on networking for introverts. As Judith says, it can be a struggle to be an introvert in an extrovert’s industry! She has many things to say that can help not just introverts, but anybody looking to strengthen their networking skills. Listen in to this fascinating conversation about how you can set yourself up for success, even if you’re an introvert, and how to overcome the challenges when it comes to networking.

Judith is an international award-winning designer with a flair for making personal, meaningful spaces. She is the granddaughter of a once-prominent furniture manufacturer, and as such, is passionate about style and the tradition of quality fine furniture making.

Liveably luxury is achieved through her timeless aesthetic. Classic details, and refined clean lines anchor a love of the mix of contemporary traditional, and global influences. Mixing patterns, unexpected combinations, dressmaker’s details, and often vibrant colours distinguish her style. 

A few things you may not know about her:

She started her career in Information Technology as a mainframe programmer/analyst but after 20 years as an IT consultant, her love of colour and pattern got the better of her. While working in IT, she also completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and later studied fine art at Toronto School of Art, and then most recently she studied Interior Design at the International Academy of Design and Technology where she received High Honours for her work.

She is the first (and so far only) Canadian to have won a “Designer of the Year” award from the Interior Design Society out of High Point North Carolina, and was also the first to win Crate and Barrel’s “designer challenge” and you can see the “Judith chair” on the “about” page on her website, or sit on the winning entry in her living room (by invitation only)!

She enjoys travel and always looks forward to spending more time at their summer place at Cape Cod.

Follow along with her blog to read posts about her travels, her design insight, and lifestyle thoughts that cross her mind. She hopes you enjoy the read. 

Show Highlights:

  • Judith shares her personal experience with introversion.
  • There’s a difference between being shy and being an introvert.
  • Judith reveals the ingenious way she prepares herself for a group event.
  • Avoid delivering phony-sounding elevator pitches.
  • Tips and tactics for networking at group events.
  • How Judith handles consultations.
  • Since introverts tend to look inward and be self-critical, Judith had to learn to turn her vision towards her client and assess them.
  • Marketing and writing is a place for introverts and shy people to shine.
  • Building connections is what Judith attributes to getting her jobs.
  • If you care, and you want to help people, potential cients are going to see that.
  • Judith imparts her final thoughts and suggestions on getting new clients.

Connect with Judith!

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

Blog

Links :

Design-Build For Profit

Coming Back Soon!

Increase Confidence, Increase Profits

Coming Back in February 2021!

The Profit Is In the Numbers

Coming Back Soon!

Process Leads to Profits – Returning November 2020! Learn the Four P’s of design from Sara Lynn Brennan: Processes, Partnerships, Packages and Profits…as well as the “secret sauce” that has doubled her business in the last year! Sign Up For Updates HERE!

Eileen B. Hahn’s Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

Jaipur Living’s Website – Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.

Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!

Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.

Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM

#340 Judith Taylor: Strategies for Working with Family and Friends

#584 Lesley Myrick: Building a Business From the Ground Up, Again

#557 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Develop Your CEO Mindset

#475 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: How to Create More Time

 

Posted on

597: Power Talk Friday: Mary Pat Wallace:Designers, The Time Is Now to Grow Your Business

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Mary Pat Wallace, the founder of Chicago Luxury Beds, and today’s focus is the luxury client! Mary Pat shares important perspectives about the surprising  opportunities you have today in the midst of the pandemic, and not just how we can deal with it and accommodate it, but how we can truly serve our clients in a bigger and better way.

She also shares her insights on how she’s managed to maintain an excellent client experience and continue to be a strong leader for her team, even in a retail setting, throughout the challenges of Covid-19. Listen in for an inspiring conversation!

Mary is a 30-year veteran of the design industry. Committed to sourcing the highest-quality, bespoke mattresses and sleep products from across the globe, Mary Pat and her team of experts have spent the last 15 years helping clients transform their lives through sleep. Once she spent her first night in a Hästens bed, Mary Pat knew that mattresses should be viewed as a necessity in one’s life. Extensive experience in the design industry allowed Mary Pat to develop a perspective on value per use — we sleep a third of our lives, the mattress is the most important piece of furniture in the home. Restorative sleep is the foundation for optimum health. Having witnessed firsthand that the right mattress is critical to a deeply restful night of sleep she brought that experience and her unique expertise to the luxury market in Chicago, opening the first Hästens retail store in North America in 2005. Mary Pat eventually rebranded the business to Chicago Luxury Beds in order to expand her curated offerings. With the success and longevity of Chicago Luxury Beds, she opened a showroom in Dallas (Dallas Luxury Beds) furthering her team’s reach in helping clients get their best night of sleep. It is Mary Pat’s life passion to help clients create environments that are deeply restful and support transformational sleep.

Show Highlights:

  • As Mary Pat declares, “The time is NOW.”
  • Due to the coronavirus, people are spending more time at home, and that is not likely to change.
  • The luxury clients are working more from home, and they’re all considering how they can reconfigure their spaces to work more productively.
  • Money from luxury clients is being reallocated and being refocused back at home.
  • Mary Pat’s tips on how to revive your client list, even if it’s 15-20 years old.
  • Mary Pat offers strategies for conducting your business virtually, while maintaining or increasing productivity.
  • Being successful with the luxury client involves real expertise. Mary Pat expounds on this philosophy and what the luxury client wants from us.
  • Listening to and understanding your client’s priorities within a budget is critical.
  • Once a client and designer understand each other, the relationship is priceless.
  • The collaborative buddy-system builds confidence with the client and reduces anxiety.
  • Mary Pat explains how to do business with Chicago Luxury Beds.

Connect with Mary Pat!

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Links :

Design-Build For Profit

Coming Back Soon!

Increase Confidence, Increase Profits

Coming Back in February 2021!

The Profit Is In the Numbers

Coming Back Soon!

Process Leads to Profits – Returning November 2020! Learn the Four P’s of design from Sara Lynn Brennan: Processes, Partnerships, Packages and Profits…as well as the “secret sauce” that has doubled her business in the last year! Sign Up For Updates HERE!

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!

Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!

My Doma Studio A Well Designed Business

Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!

Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.

 

Posted on

596 #BLM: Jamel Williams: A Call to Create Opportunity and Change at the University Level

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we are joined by Jamel Williams for another conversation in our Black Lives Matter series. As a young black designer and teacher, Jamel has a unique perspective on what can be done at the university-level to empower students of color. Please join us in this discussion on how mentorship in the university years could be a game-changer for all of our young designers, and especially our black designers, and Jamel’s suggestions on how schools can be that agent of change.

Jamel Williams is a young and passionate Interior Designer, Educator, and Entrepreneur who specializes in Residential Interior Design in all of New York and surrounding areas. Shortly after graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Class of 2017 with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Jamel founded To Be Designed, a full-service Interior Design Studio. Already having an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, his interests in people, cultures, and ways of life fuel his passion to approach design with a multidisciplinary perspective. His delicate persona, fortified drive, and a keen eye for detail provide the perfect foundation for every project he takes on, creating beautiful, and functional spaces in collaboration with his clients.

Also passionate about design education, Jamel took on his first two higher education teaching positions during the Spring 2020 semester at both Pratt Institute and Parsons Open Campus at the New School. He has had the pleasure of teaching both technical and theoretical courses; namely, AutoCAD 1, Professional Practice for Interior Designers, Interior Design Portfolio, Residential Interior Design, and Now Construction and Assemblies. Jamel’s active Interior Design practice and educational experience allow him to provide his students with the information needed in order to understand the principles of design so they too can create aesthetically beautiful, functional, and responsive spaces for their future clients.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and racial injustice spread across America, there has been an increased need for awareness, representation, and social change. Jamel has begun to think about ways he can use his platform to evoke change within the industry he serves. Being in direct contact with aspiring Interior Design Students and being a Black Designer in the Industry, Jamel thinks that one actionable solution may be to create relationships between students of color and designers of color, through mentorship, to create a sense of community and support for the young designers who may feel underrepresented once they cross over into the world of Interior Design.

Show Highlights:

  • Jamel addresses the disparities he observed during design school.
  • As Jamel points out, spaces are designed socially and politically to not reflect racism on the surface. It’s the systemic aspect of racism that prevents schools from addressing the issues.
  • Systemic racism is strongly psychological and ingrained. We are all in a system of racism that none of us built but we are left to deal with the pyschological aspects of it.
  • As a teacher at the prestigious Pratt Institute, Jamel’s philosophy is that all students should have a voice and that education should be conversational and collaborative.
  • Ideally, Jamel would one day like to teach a course with a culture-centered curriculum.
  • There seems to be a general disconnect in design education, beyond culture and race, because students do not have the opportunity to choose the track that is most meaninguful to them once they graduate.
  • Offering more classes of diverse subject matters and giving the students opportunities to choose more of the classes they take is one solution to enabling design graduates a more personalized, meaningful career track.
  • Jamel shares his thoughts on black culture in America.
  • Jamel sees a wide-open opportunity for schools to promote community and empower young black designers by facilitating mentorship.
  • True mentorship is a two-way street: The mentor also gains perspective, fresh ideas, and the joy that comes with paying it forward.

Connect with Jamel!

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Great Resources From Jamel to Check Out!

Architectural Digest: 25 Black Interior Designers Speak Frankly About Their Careers, Successes, and Challenges

Interior Design: 7 African American Designers on How They’re Pushing The Design Industry Forward

The Designer’s Workshop

BAIDA

Black Artists + Designers Guild

Links :

Design-Build For Profit

Coming Back Soon!

Increase Confidence, Increase Profits

Coming Back in February 2021!

The Profit Is In the Numbers

Coming Back Soon!

Process Leads to Profits – Returning November 2020! Learn the Four P’s of design from Sara Lynn Brennan: Processes, Partnerships, Packages and Profits…as well as the “secret sauce” that has doubled her business in the last year! Sign Up For Updates HERE!

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service! Kravet

Use promo code AWDB10 for a 10% discount on Kravet fabric, trim, and wallcovering!

When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.

Are You Set Up with Monogram‘s Design Partner Trade Program?

 

Posted on

595: Karin Bohn: Mastery of the 80% Business Provides Freedom For The 20% Creative

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! We’re super excited to have Karin Bohn join us on the show today.

Karin Bohn is the founder and creative director of the award-winning House of Bohn design studio. She established the interior design firm in 2009 and has made her mark in many industries including luxury residential, multi-family, restaurants, and retail.

Karin stars on Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge in which she travels with a team of experts to provide design, marketing, and culinary consultation to establishments in some of the most beautiful locations in the world.

With her continuously growing YouTube channel, Karin offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, collaborative partnerships, and life as an entrepreneur.

Listen in to hear how in 11 years, Karin went from struggling to start a design business all the way to having a Netflix show and managing a luxury interior design firm with a team of 10!

Show Highlights:

  • The first few years of Karin’s YouTube videos showcased her challenging entrepreneurial journey.
  • As Karin explains, her Netflix series did not come about because of her YouTube channel.
  • You don’t have to be perfect to start something new, just start! Learn as you go.
  • Karin shares her pivotal moment regarding her realization that she needed to develop her business skills before she could take advantage of her creative side.
  • Karin discusses the current structure of her design, operations, and content teams.
  • Why ‘alignment’ is Karin’s favorite word right now.
  • Building a brand must include consistency. People need to be able to recognize a brand’s repeated aesthetic cues.
  • Karin divulges her client budgeting tactics.
  • LuAnn and Karin discuss the frustration of hiring new employees. The struggle over writing job descriptions and adding new team members can be solved by using Eileen B. Hahn’s Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkit.
  • Remember your vision! You do have a vision, right?

Connect with Karin!

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

Links :

Process Leads to Profits – Returning November 2020! Learn the Four P’s of design from Sara Lynn Brennan: Processes, Partnerships, Packages, and Profits…as well as the “secret sauce” that has doubled her business in the last year! Sign Up For Updates HERE!

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

Jaipur Living’s Website – Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.

Kirsch’s motorized Briza collection is the perfect answer to high end drapery treatments. Connect with Your Local Kirsch Distributor Now! Kirsch

Other shows mentioned to link to  and to tag in SM

#237,#325, #485 Claire Jefford

#363, #589 Eileen Hahn

 

Posted on

594:  Reena Philpot: Ideas for Flexing Your Sales Muscles

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today, Reena Philpot joins us to share her love of sales – and you’ll never guess what she’s selling!

Reena (pronounced “Re-Nay”) and her husband own Precision Duplicating Solutions, and for 18 years, Reena’s helped build a successful business selling…copiers. That’s right folks – she sells pricey copy machines – and she loves it! It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, because sales is sales, and Reena’s techniques can absolutely be applied to the design business.

Listen in to learn what sales tactics Reena has used to build her business, and how you can apply them to your own business to bring in those dollar bills!

Daily Reena manages the sales side of the business and part of the admin duties. She started her career as a telemarketer/appointment setter 26 years ago. She quickly transitioned to outside sales and vowed it was so awesome she would learn how to become successful.

When her boys had grown into young men and needed her less, Reena started joining some masterminds and groups of ladies with amazing businesses.  Through that process, she learned she had something to offer them to help them grow their businesses.  While Reena has had the advantages of learning sales and a process and then starting a business, not everyone has had the same opportunity.

Reena began using her background in high-ticket competitive sales and experience as a business owner to help other entrepreneurs and teams increase their customer base and sales revenue.  Reena Philpot Sales Coaching began last year, and now she offers strategy sessions, workshops, and VIP days to those who want results.

Show Highlights:

  • You must first know your value, then you must be able to convey that value to your client.
  • Reena discusses her techniques on proposals and contracts.
  • When assessing their needs, t’s important to repeat back to the client what you are hearing them say. Repeating their words back to them both clears up any misunderstanding and makes the client feel heard.
  • Ask the client if your assessment is corrent. When they say yes, then you can give them a simple solution to their problem.
  • Save the little details for the contract. By this time, you have already worked out the details. You will bring the details as backup just in case your client is interested in that leveal of knowledge.
  • Using these tactics, it’s simply a conversation between two people about a problem they have and the solution you can give them. There is nothing needy or manipulative about it.
  • While the client is absorbing the proposal, give them a moment then ask, “What do you think? Is that what you were thinking?
  • If the client doesn’t seem happy with the proposal, ask, “How do you feel about that?” then stay silent and wait for them to speak.
  • Find out what’s important to your client. If you give them the opportunity, they’ll tell you exactly how to sell to them.
  • Reena shares how she has hand-picked 90% of her customers.
  • Reena describes her brilliantly unique sales pipeline.

Connect with Reena!

Reena’s Website

FREE! How to Develop Questions to Improve Closing

Reena Philpot Sales Coaching – Facebook

Reena Philpot Sales Coaching – Instagram

Reena Philpot Sales Coaching – LinkedIn

Links :

Carol’s Virtual Summit

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service! Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative: Kravet

 

Posted on

593: Debbie Mathews: Systems for Stress-Free Growth

Debbie
1x
0:00
1:4:44

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC, and Debbie will be walking us through easily implementable, effective systems to take care of all those tiny details so that we have the time to focus on the big things in our business. Debbie revamped her growing business to ensure she and her team are less stressed while consistently providing their clients with an A+ experience. Be sure to listen and see if some of her ideas will help you be more productive and less stressed, too!

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC is a full-service interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. From new construction to simple refreshes, their goal is to realize each room’s greatest potential. With a keen focus to detail, their team works collaboratively with clients to navigate through the many decisions involved with high-quality, custom design work. Clients repeatedly tell them that their diverse experience, infectious energy, and unparalleled service make the process efficient and enjoyable. Debbie’s passion for beautiful things, paired with her love of antiques and timeless architecture, gives each of their interiors a sense of history and purpose. She is uniquely recognized for her hallmark design aesthetic of anchoring a room with timeless antiques and layering in more contemporary furniture and accessories. Her 30+ years of experience buying and selling fine antiques has proven to be a design distinction often unmatched. Because of this dedication to timeless and classic elements of design, her projects always reflect charm, warmth, and curated beauty. Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC welcomes the opportunity to showcase their mantra to you: Timeless. Collected. Beautiful.

Show Highlights:

  • “As my business grows, it does not mean that my plate gets larger.”
  • Growing pains forced Debbie to take a look at what was on her plate, and what could be delegated.
  • The biggest gift Debbie ever gave herself was when she outsourced her bookkeeping and accounting services.
  • Debbie discusses the project management software that she has implemented to streamline her work.
  • After 30 years of being in business, Debbie starts tracking her metrics.
  • Being proactive rather than reactive has been Debbie’s focus over the last year.
  • Debbie learned from reading LuAnn’s books, The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action and A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts, plus the classic The E-Myth.
  • “The Daily Checklist” is something Debbie and her team members use each day and it gives them all confidence that the office administration can get done if Debbie needs to be away from work.
  • What is covered in their weekly and monthly meetings.
  • Debbie is a new member of EO – The Entrepreneur Organization, and she shares how impactful it has been for her.
  • How to set a really good rhythm to the week, set expectations with the team, and let everyone consistently plan by time-blocking.
  • Client meetings involve a designer that takes minutes for a comprehensive summary of the entire visit, which are later turned over to the client for confirmation that everyone is on the same page.
  • You only have one chance to make a good first impression on a client, and these steps that Debbie has implemented has given her confidence that she will.

Connect with Debbie!

Debbie’s Website

Debbie’s Instagram

Debbie’s Facebook

Debbie’s Pinterest

Debbie’s Email

Links :

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

Design-Build For Profit – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Desi Creswell

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

LuAnn University

The Profit Is In The Numbers

The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson

The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang

Coming September 2020!

Early Bird Registration Sept 4 – Sept 20

Classes: Sept 22 – Sept 24

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!

Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!

My Doma Studio: A Well Designed Business

 

Posted on

592: Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Profitable Firms Build Estimates Before They Sign The Contract

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn welcomes Kimberly Merlitti, the Virtual CFO, back to the show. Kimberly also happens to be one of the co-authors for our third book, A Well-Designed Business, Power Talk Experts Volume 2, which is coming out in November.

On today’s show, Kimberly is sharing with us the importance of preparing an estimate for your job before you sign a contract. If there’s one thing Kimberly knows, it’s numbers! And she is going to walk you through not only WHY preparing an estimate at the very beginning is important, but also how to do this the right way, how to stay on track, and how to rely on data, so that you’re not playing a guessing game and risking losing money in your business. Because at the end of the day, you are not just a designer, you’re an entrepreneur, right?

Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. She has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies such as Swinerton Builders, WRNS Studio, and Martin Group. She has her Masters in Accounting from Golden Gate University. Located in Washington D.C. Kimberly’s clientele includes a diverse group of service-based companies, with the main focus on small interior design, construction, and architectural firms. The goal of her firm is to make the businesses she works for as profitable as they can be by educating them on accounting, cash flow management, tax deductions, project reporting, and business management.

Show Highlights:

  • Kimberly sums up WHY you need to learn how to estimate.
  • Kimberly has a streamlined process when it comes to teaching others how to estimate.
  • Tracking your time and taking really good notes is imperative, not only for interior designers but for architects and contractors, as well.
  • What to do if the job is outside of the original scope.
  • Respect a client’s time and money, and they will be thankful for it.
  • Although Kimberly can be hired to teach how to estimate, she explains the way that you can also teach yourself using these four categories:
    • Design fee
    • Purchasing fee
    • Installation fee
    • Indoor & Outdoor furniture fee
  • Tracking your time is one of the biggest factors in your profitability.
  • Have cross-checks in place.
  • Confidence is in the knowledge and execution of the process and makes fielding clients’ questions more systematic.
  • If you’re new in the business, here’s Kimberly’s advice!
  • The data drives your whole company. You’re not just a designer, you’re an entrepreneur.
  • FREE From Kimberly: 7 Tips for Estimating BEFORE the Contract

(Without Just Guessing!) – get yours HERE!

Connect with Kimberly!

Kimberly’s Website

Kimberly’s Facebook

Kimberly’s LinkedIn

Kimberly’s Email

Links :

FREE From Kimberly: 7 Tips for Estimating BEFORE the Contract

(Without Just Guessing!)

Available in Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Design-Build For Profit – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Desi Creswell

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

LuAnn University

The Profit Is In The Numbers

The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson

The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang

Coming September 2020!

Early Bird Registration Sept 4 – Sept 20

Classes: Sept 22 – Sept 24

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

When your client wants the finest in luxury appliances for their kitchen.

Are You Set Up with Monogram‘s Design Partner Trade Program?

FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!

Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!

Mydoma Studio: A Well Designed Business

Other shows mentioned to link:

#361 Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Does Your Interior Design Business Need a CFO?

#442 Power Talk Friday: Kimberly Merlitti: Do You Know Your Cash on Hand Number?

#384 Sarah Magness: Practical Strategies for Talking Budgets

 

Posted on

591: #BLM Nicole White: Life Long Allyship

1x
0:00
1:5:24

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Nicole White, CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, back to the show. When they last visited, Nicole shared details about her client questionnaire, how she gets press, and the confidence she now has as a designer.

On today’s Black Lives Matter episode, you’ll hear about Nicole’s business and personal life, viewed specifically through the filter of being black.

As a trained journalist and Jamaican immigrant, Nicole has a unique perspective on what we can do to effect lasting change. We hope you join us!

Nicole White is the CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, a full-service boutique interior design firm, based in Sunrise, Florida.

Nicole, known for her renovation prowess, has been featured in various local, national, and international publications including – HGTV, House Beautiful, Better Homes, and Gardens magazines; Ocean Drive, Huffington Post, and Domino online magazines and The Miami Herald and Jamaica Observer. Voted among the top 25 Interior Design Firms by the South Florida Luxury Guide, Nicole has also twice been noted as an emerging designer to watch by the Black Interior Designers Network and was a recipient of the Z-Gallerie Design Award Fall/Winter 2013. Nicole is also a brand ambassador/influencer for The Home Depot, Zephyr, Purple Drywall, and City Furniture.

Before launching her successful design firm, Nicole was an award-winning journalist whose stories appeared in The Miami Herald, Village Voice, and Vibe magazine. Her combined love of design and writing spawned the creation of her blog,  Live Laugh Decorate, where she showcases the behind the scenes details of design projects, shares tips on affordable design ideas, and dishes about design trends.

Her blog was nominated for Best Renovation Blog by Domino Magazine in 2018.

A Jamaican native, Nicole is deeply inspired by the colors and textures of the Caribbean and constantly fuses those elements in her designs. Nicole prides herself on designing a home guided by her client’s passions, be it contemporary, traditional, vintage or modern. Nicole is an avid foodie and wine lover who is always busy plotting a travel escape. Her greatest design however is her 8-year-old son, Xavier – artist and dinosaur aficionado.  

Show Highlights:

  • Nicole is thankful that black interior designers are getting more attention since the BLM movement has gained momentum. Not because they’re black, but because they are talented.
  • Addressing the topic of police officers (and how to behave around them) with your children is an added layer of life for black moms.
  • Educating others about BLM should not be a burden to people of color. Be proactive in researching and reading about their issues so that you can have a more appropriate dialogue.
  • Be a lifelong ally and speak up when you see injustice.
  • Nicole shares intimate thoughts about the concerns that black interior designers face.
  • How Nicole and her son, Xavier, builds relationships with community police officers.
  • Nicole relates an upsetting experience at a high-end business event.
  • Nicole offers encouragement and advice on what we can all do to make a difference.

Connect with Nicole!

Nicole’s Instagram

Nicole’sFacebook

Nicole’sTwitter

Nicole’sPinterest

Nicole’sWebsite

Nicole’s Email

Nicole’s Recommended Resources:

Black Artists + Designers Guild

Black Interior Designers Network 

NAACP 

Resources:

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Design-Build For Profit – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Desi Creswell

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

LuAnn University

The Profit Is In The Numbers

The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson

The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang

Coming September 2020!

Early Bird Registration Sept 4 – Sept 20

Classes: Sept 22 – Sept 24

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:

Take Advantage of Kravet Inc.’s Extensive Digital Tools & 24/7 Customer Service!

Set Up a Virtual Appointment with Your Local Sales Representative:

Kravet

Open Your Trade Account with ARTICLE.com Here!

Be the hero for your clients, and be the solution they need right now with Article.

Other shows mentioned:

Nicole’s 1st appearance on the show: #366

#BLM Shows:

#579 Albie Buabeng

#573 Cheryl Luckett

#568 Arianne Bellizaire

#562 Rasheeda Gray

#556 Kae Whitaker

#549 Corey Damen Jenkins

 

 

Posted on

590: Tawna Allred: At 10 Years in Business, Hard Choices Brought the Best Results

Tawna

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! What do you do when you realize that the business you have nurtured over the years is no longer bringing you joy? Tawna Allred joins LuAnn in this conversation that is not so much about how Tawna built her design business, but how, after 10 years in business, she took a pause, looked inside, and shifted gears to bring back the spark and create the life that she really wanted. Listen in to this inspiring conversation for lessons on learning to trust your gut instinct and following through with simple changes.

Tawna Allred opened her interior design business (a single person LLC) in 2009, and she is still a one-woman business today. Tawna labels herself as a multi-passionate creative. Her interior design focus is design-build (new construction and remodeling), and she offers full-service design from plan conceptualization to installing furniture and styling. Tawna’s husband is a contractor and although they have separate businesses, he’s a huge mentor and supporter of her work. She started her business right after finishing school because there weren’t any designers in her town and she had three young children. Tawna has been learning in the school of hard knocks ever since!

Show Highlights:

  • Tawna relates the overwhelming feelings she experienced before making a decision to go in a different direction.
  • Tawna was burned out on the “people part” of the business but discovered that she had great interest in design challenges.
  • “What do I want to do now?”
  • Art was pivotal in reigniting Tawna’s spark and her next move.
  • LuAnn addresses our inner voice and why it’s so important to pay attention to it.
  • How Tawna reverse-engineered a second business by streamlining the processes that worked and getting rid of things that didn’t.
  • Learning to say ‘no’ to potential clients was not an easy task.
  • Tawna’s lightbulb moment: What if she took design-build jobs if the client also hired her contractor husband?
  • Zeroing in on eliminating the parts of her design business that she did not absolutely love allowed Tawna to create a whole new life for herself that she loves.
  • “Chase the meaning, not the money”: The lesson Tawna learned from Chase Jarvis’s book, Creative Calling.

Links:

Tawna’s Websites: –Tawna Allred & Tawna Allred Art

Tawna’s Instagram

Tawna’s Pinterest

Links :

Interior Design Standard is Back!

Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!

Enrollment: September 16th – September 28th

Investment: $3,989

Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Design-Build For Profit – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Desi Creswell

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

LuAnn University

The Profit Is In The Numbers

The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson

The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang

Coming September 2020!

Early Bird Registration Sept 4 – Sept 20

Classes: Sept 22 – Sept 24

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business

LuAnn’s Favorite Resources

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to These Podcast Sponsors:

Jaipur Living’s Website – Easy to Browse, Custom Calculator, Products Ready to Ship! Open Your Trade Account to Begin Your Relationship with This Admirable Company.

FREE Trial! A One-Stop Shop to Keep Everything Organized!

Check Out Their Client Portal and Time Tracking Features!

My doma Studio: A Well Designed Business

Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM

#348 Albie Buabeng

#160 Kelli Ellis

#344 Lori Paranjape

#440 Tobi Fairley

#413 Leslie Carothers

#315, #283 Madeleine MacRae

 

Posted on

589: Power Talk Friday: Eileen Hahn: Scaling from 2 Million to 5 Million

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today, Luann and her guest, Eileen Hahn, dig into how to scale your design business from 2 million to 5 million. Going from 2 to 5 million is not easy, and it does not happen by accident. Intentional is the name of the game when scaling at this level. Who better to take us through that than Eileen? She’s the HR whisperer from LuAnn’s first Power Talk Friday Experts book. Eileen was with us all at LuAnn Live and she also has a chapter in LuAnn’s upcoming second Power Talk Friday Experts book, as well. Oh, and did you know that LuAnn and Eileen are COUSINS? Tune in to their conversation for expert advice on hiring, retaining, and scaling, and be amazed as Eileen takes

this overwhelming task of scaling and breaks it down into a simple (not easy, simple) to-do list!

Eileen Hahn is a leadership consultant who works with firms like Anheuser-Busch, Ericson Worldwide, General Motors, Legoland, San Diego Padres, and interior design firms, as well as smaller entrepreneurial firms. She teaches leaders in these organizations how to hire and lead exceptional employees who bring fire and energy to their work, achieve high levels of performance, and generate financial results. Eileen’s work has improved productivity, profitability, and employee work passion. It has also brought the employees joy, peace, purpose, and prosperity.

Show Highlights:

  • Create a compelling vision statement that defines your firm. Make it something your team can get excited about and feel proud to be a part of.
  • Then take that vision and get real with it – set a monetary goal.
  • Now, back up that financial goal with a sales strategy. It’s human nature to just hope you’ll hit your goal. But just hoping isn’t going to get you where you want to go. To hit your dollar amount goal, you must dedicate considerable time to developing your sales strategy.
  • Dissect your business. Think about:
  • What has worked before?
  • Can this take us to the next level, or is this activity maxed out?
  • What am I going to do differently to scale?
  • Eileen breaks down the overwhelming task of scaling and breaks it down into these simple steps:
  • What do I like doing?
  • What am I good at doing?
  • What market segment do I enjoy working in?
  • Each year you should spend a minimum of 2-3 days of strategic analysis and planning for your business. Quarterly planning is even better!
  • The world is changing and so is business, so we must keep on eye on what is working and plan for new strategies.
  • Understand where you are as the business owner, what you need, and where you see yourself so that you can set yourself up for success with the right people.
  • Eileen shares hiring considerations and tips.
  • If you’re thinking about growth, recognize this time as the last opportunity you’ll have to assess whether each person on your team fits and is utilizing their strengths and skills.
  • Eileen has put in the work for you on preparing Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkits for hiring Exceptional Designers, Design Assistants, Expediter/Purchasers, Bookkeepers, and Office Administrators. The investment is $297 for each role, or purchase the bundle for a discounted price!

Connect with Eileen!

Eileen’sWebsite

Eileen’s Instagram

Eileen’s LinkedIn

Eileen’s Interior Design Firm Hiring Toolkits

Eileen’s Email

Links :

Interior Design Standard is Back!

Sandra Funk is a game changer for our industry!

Enrollment: September 16th – September 28th

Investment: $3,989

Interior Design Standard is a digital program that covers everything you need for running an efficient and joyful business! Interior Design Standard

Is Chairman of the Board Right for YOUR Business?

LuAnn Nigara COB

LuAnn Live – Coming February 2021

Join the E-Mail List to Get Updates!

Design-Build For Profit – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

Increase Your Confidence, Increase Your Profits – Kicking Off September 23, 2020!

With Desi Creswell

Investment: $2195

Register Now!

LuAnn University

The Profit Is In The Numbers

The Profit Is In The Numbers 101 with Kathleen Anderson

The Profit Is In The Numbers 102 with Peter Lang

Coming September 2020!

Early Bird Registration Sept 4 – Sept 20

Classes: Sept 22 – Sept 24

Get the Goodies! – For checklists, resources, and extra goodies!

Courses and Products to Dive Deep into Specific Elements of Your Business

LuAnn’s Favorite Resources

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

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Podcast – Please SUBSCRIBE, Rate & Review!

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

A Big THANK YOU to This Podcast Sponsor:

Mydoma Studio – All your clients, numbers, and info in one place! Stay organized, source products, and get paid. View a demo of the interior design software today!

Other shows mentioned to link to and to tag in SM

#363 Eileen Hahn

#364 Janelle Photopoulos

#127, #388, #549 Corey Damen Jenkins

#130, #215 Kate O’Hara

#64, #492 Laura Umansky