Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Today, LuAnn will be talking to us about the kinds of problems and obstacles that stand in the way of designers with the running of their design firms. Although everyone is unique, there are still certain themes that play out, and problems that we all tend to share, as entrepreneurs. Listen in today, to learn what you can do to overcome the challenges that we, as designers, all face in our businesses.

LuAnn has put a lot of thought into the best way to address these things in a precise way that would benefit each of you the most, as individuals. This has not been an easy task because designers are such a diverse group, with varying levels of experience. In today’s episode, LuAnn will teach you how to grow your client base, increase your net profits, improve your business acumen and sharpen your sales skills. She will also talk about goal setting and great ways to expand your network. Be sure to tune in today, to find out how to grow your business in 2020.

Show Highlights:

• You can turn your business around by listening to the podcast. It’s your number one free resource!
• Systemizing every aspect of your business.
• About Sara Brennan’s eight-week course, Process Leads to Profits.
• How to talk confidently with your clients about window treatments, with Vita’s eight-week course.
• You need to know what you don’t know.
• LuAnn’s superpower is sales, which is all about listening.
• Creating client loyalty and lasting relationships.
• If you’d like to get inside of LuAnn’s brain, whatwouldludo.com will be meeting once a month, live, via Zoom. Go to whatwouldludo.com to sign up.
• Jenny Slingerland’s DesignBuildForProfit course will be starting in February 2020.
• A great opportunity for #seasoneddesigners.
• LuAnn Live is coming in November of 2020.
• Are you going to settle for normal in 2020 or will you strive to be exceptional?

Previous shows mentioned in this episode:

Darci Hether #220

Darla Powell #203 and #330

Kelsey Gross #167

Kimberley Kay #234

Christine Lin #470

Sara Brennan #463

Links:

LuAnn Nigara

Process Leads to Profits

Profit With Window Treatments

Design-Build For Profit

Whatwouldludo

LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn Nigara

Welcome to the show! Today, Britany Simons joins us. Britany founded her full-service design firm, Britany Simon Design House, in 2010. Her work caught the attention of national media and this helped to launch Britany into the world of television and media. In today’s episode, she talks to us about her experience of being in the seventh season of the hit HGTV design challenge series, Design Star. She shares the lessons she’s learned from doing the show, and how she applies them today, to her design firm. Be sure to listen in today, to hear about Britany’s extensive experience of doing television shows.

For the last fifteen years, Britany’s design career has covered everything from large-scale commercial renovations to budget-friendly builds, including entire home makeovers. With a degree in Business and Interior Design, Britany’s professional career started with working for some of the top design firms in Arizona, where she specialized in kitchen and bath design, as well as the whole construction process, from conception to completion.

In addition to being a regular design contributor to television, digital, and print media outlets, Britany has also been the host for the Holiday House series on HGTC.com, a designer on Travel Channel’s hit series, Hotel Impossible, co-host of We’re Moving In, on the FYI Network, and a featured designer on Bravo Network’s new design show, Best Room Wins. Tune in now, to find out more!

Show Highlights:

• Britany enjoys supporting and having the support of other designers.
• Britany discusses how she stumbled into doing TV design shows.
• Being on TV isn’t as glamorous as it looks.
• Why you don’t make good money on TV unless you get into the fifth season of a show.
• Some of the lessons Britany learned from being on a TV show.
• TV challenges are very stressful and you have to be self-sufficient and savvy with your resources because you’re left to your own devices.
• You have to be highly organized to pull off a TV challenge. It’s a very testing experience.
• It’s very rewarding to complete a TV challenge.
• Being on TV is not what you would imagine because it’s more exciting for the producers if the designer breaks down and falls apart.
• What Britany learned about herself, as a designer, from being on TV.
• Being on TV taught Britany to be more efficient and trust her gut.
• Learning to understand the process of how things are made, and what’s involved with the different aspects of a renovation process.
• Britany gained a lot of confidence from being on TV.
• Being on TV certainly opened doors for Britany.
• You need to know what you want from being on TV before you start because it’s a huge time commitment.
• You need to be mindful of where you’re putting your energy.
• Television has been the marketing that Britany has used in her business.

Bio:

To Britany Simon, the foundation of good design is about the experience that it gives you. She believes in spaces that blend fashion with function and luxury with livability.  With a focus on creating a space that is a reflection of who you are, and an emphasis on how it makes you feel.  Her artistic nature, a penchant for the details, and eye for the unexpected have helped her create incredibly distinguished living spaces and striking commercial projects for her clients.

Over the last fifteen years, Britany’s experience has spanned across a vast array of projects – from large-scale commercial renovations to whole home makeovers to budget-friendly builds. Although she has had a lifelong love affair with interior design and architecture, Britany received formal training through her bachelor’s degree in Business & Interior Design. She began her professional career working for some of the top design firms in Arizona where she worked on new residential homes, specializing in both kitchen and bath design, from conception to completion throughout the entire construction process.

In 2010, she founded Britany Simon Design House – a full-service design firm. The signature style and unmatched execution of BSDH have garnered a notable client roster with projects all over the country. Additionally, her work has caught the attention of national media and helped launch Britany’s foray into the television and media world.

Upon being selected on the seventh season of the hit HGTV design challenge series, Design Star, Britany discovered a new passion for television and video production. Her natural talent for design and on-camera presence earned her the accolade of “Fan Favorite” from her season. In addition to being a regular design contributor to television, digital and print media outlets, she has also been the host for the Holiday House series on HGTV.com, a designer on Travel Channel’s hit series, Hotel Impossible, co-host of We’re Moving In on the FYI Network, and a featured designer on Bravo Network’s new design show, Best Room Wins airing May 2019.

Previous episodes mentioned in this show:

#420 Amanda Berlin

#478 Amber Roy

#297 Mikel Welch

#338 Orlando Soria

#127 Corey Damen Jenkins

#255 Anne Rue

#220 Darci Hether

#258 Lisa Escobar

#182 Christie Leu

#296 Ruthie Staalsen

#291, #397 Cheryl Luckett

#267 Rasheeda Gray

#486 Christina Bruce

#376 Cat French

#463 Sara Brennan

Links:

Website: Britany Simon

Pinterest: Britany Simon

Instagram: BRITANY SIMON

Facebook: Britany Simon Design

Welcome to Power Talk Friday! We are delighted to introduce you to Wendy Cohen today. Wendy is the founder and CEO of a suite of Powerhouse Companies comprising of PowerHouse Advisors, a consulting firm, PowerHouse SMART, a luxury industry education and networking leadership community, and PowerHouse Recruiting, which is a division of the consultancy, PowerHouse Advisors. This expert group of companies is committed to serving the best people in the luxury industry by teaching and speaking to them about luxury, and educating them about new luxury technologies. Wendy herself is a powerhouse lady, and in today’s episode, she talks to us about building a company culture, creating a complete customer experience, and what it takes to get ahead in business. She also discusses the Luxury Home Conference that is coming up in Chicago, in February, where she has invited LuAnn to be the keynote speaker. Listen in today, to find out what this dynamic and special lady has to share!

The family of PowerHouse Companies was formed in 2006. It is recognized most for successfully guiding hundreds of luxury industry brands and firms in the fields of design, build, and development, across the US and in Canada. PowerHouse SMART was also formed in 2006. It was intended to power-up the very best leaders in the luxury market by creating a platform for elite relationship building, to lead to business collaborations, new business development, referrals, knowledge sharing, and cutting-edge education. Then, in 2015, PowerHouse Recruiting was created as a division of PowerHouse Advisors, to continue with the exceptional recruiting and placement guidance that was established under the consultancy umbrella. Tune in today, to learn what it takes to win in the arena of luxury design, build.

Show Highlights:

• Wendy started her career as a realtor.
• Wendy was part of a four-person team in a building company that grew the company from having ten employees to eventually having 120 people working there.
• Creating a culture in her company.
• Great success for builders doesn’t come overnight but it is possible.
• Growing the design, build concept.
• Teaching her sales team about the complete experience was the thing differentiated from any other builder that a consumer might be going to, in 1989.
• You don’t brand yourself. Your audience brands you.
• Treating sub-contractors, tradespeople, and suppliers with respect, as if they are part of your company.
• In 1995-1996, Professional Builder Magazine named Wendy’s company one of the best eight companies to work for in the nation.
• Being selected by Custom Builder Magazine as Custom Builder of the Year.
• The satisfying way that Wendy’s vision for the company became contagious.
• Consulting with other companies to teach and advise them about systems, processes, and how to replicate Wendy’s success.
• For ten or eleven years, Wendy’s main focus was on business development.
• Consulting about recruiting, and helping everybody grow, is where Wendy finds herself today.
• Wendy views the placements that she makes within other companies as a reflection of her reputation.
• Wendy talks about PowerHouse Smart. This is how she gives back to her community.
• Wendy is all about sharing and giving.
• Every month, PowerHouse Smarts had one big event, called the Builder Architect Hard-Hat Tour.
• PowerHouse Smart is always looking to grow like-minded individuals. This is why they host a Luxury Conference every year.
• The next PowerHouse Smart Luxury Home Conference is being held on February 5th, 2020, in Chicago. LuAnn has been invited to be the keynote speaker.
• Wendy explains what will be happening at the upcoming Luxury Home conference.

Bio:

Wendy Cohen CEO

PowerHouse Companies

PowerHouse Advisors, LLC

PowerHouse SMART

PowerHouse Recruiting, LLC

Wendy Cohen is the CEO and Founder of the PowerHouse Group of Companies comprised of PowerHouse Advisors, a consulting firm, PowerHouse SMART, a luxury industry education & networking leadership community and PowerHouse Recruiting, a division of the consultancy PowerHouse Advisors LLC.

The family of PowerHouse Companies was formed in 2006 where it is most notably recognized for successfully guiding hundreds of luxury industry brands and firms in the design, build and development arena across the nation and in Canada. PowerHouse Advisors’ profound impact is working with owners and senior managers in refining business development efforts, implementing process improvement platforms, developing operating systems and procedures, properly managing and executing manpower and creating strategic growth plans.

PowerHouse SMART also formed in 2006 was intended to power-up the best of the best leaders in the luxury market by creating a platform for elite relationship building leading to business collaborations, new business development, referrals (give and get), knowledge sharing and cutting-edge education. From the onset, the goal was to bring all the talents needed to create an ultimate luxury project and educate on the value of collaboration at the highest level. Today PowerHouse SMART supports leaders in the industry in growing their businesses with over 30 events a year, an Annual Luxury Conference and a robust online connection website. While PHS operates in the United States Midwest Market, there has been discussion for future plans for expansion via franchise opportunities tying other local luxury market chapters to the headquarters in Chicago.

PowerHouse Recruiting was created as a division of PowerHouse Advisors in 2015, to continue the exceptional recruiting and placement guidance established under the consultancy umbrella. PHR as a dedicated division can help more employers and career-minded candidates find the perfect fit for continued success and growth.

PowerHouse Recruiting is unique in that recruiting services are performed as if the employer owner was personally conducting the screening and recruitment process. PowerHouse Recruiting has proven results in supporting trusted colleagues in the luxury design, build, develop and real estate industry in hiring top talent from CFO to Design Assistant. Wendy Cohen has over 30 years of luxury industry experience and is often referred to as the ultimate power connector, with an exceptional network among top-tier professionals. PHR connects the right people (top talent candidates) to the right career opportunities (employer client’s job openings). PHR believes there is such a thing as a perfect fit.

The PowerHouse Group of Companies is dedicated to being experts in the luxury industry by teaching luxury, speaking about luxury, educating on new luxury technologies, building new relationships every day, and proudly serving the best people in the industry.

Previous episodes mentioned in this show:

Claire Staszak #166

Nicole Heymer #125, #317, and #466

Links:

Conference Registration: Power House Smart

Instagram: Power House Smart

Facebook: Power House Smart

LinkedIn: Power House Smart

PowerHouse Smart