Business of Home Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why did Food52 buy Schoolhouse? Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Amanda Hesser—CEO of kitchen-oriented content-meets-commerce brand Food52—and Sara Fritsch—president of Portland-based manufacturer Schoolhouse—have been on The Business of Home Podcast before, but never as partners. Following the news that Food52 had bought Schoolhouse in a deal valued at $48 million, they return to the show to discuss what goes on behind the scenes in a high-stakes, high value acquisition and why they believe the pandemic has permanently elevated the value of home.

This podcast is sponsored by High Point Market and Modern Matter

LINKS
Food52
Schoolhouse
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

Rethinking the rules of the design trade with Stephane Silverman Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

The last time Stephane Silverman—founder of the fabric brand Castel and the president of the Decorative Furnishings Association—was on the podcast, he delivered a masterclass on why fabric costs what it does. This time around he shares a breakdown of the trade industry as it is today, ranging from rising competition from retail brands to the endless complications of doing business online.

Stephane tells host Dennis Scully why inflation might have some surprising positive effects in fabric, whether interior designers are technically retail businesses, and why he thinks now is finally the time for the industry to come together and embrace transparent pricing.

This podcast is sponsored by High Point Market and Modern Matter

LINKS
Castel
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

John Pomp's quest for self-reliance Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

As a young man, John Pomp fell in love with glassblowing. What started as an obsession soon became a thriving business, one that eventually grew to include handmade lighting and furniture. A maker, through and through, at every step of the way Pomp has pushed to control and perfect everything his company does—whether that’s manufacturing its own nuts and bolts in-house, or building a skateboarding ramp for his kids onto the floor of his Philadelphia workshop.

On this episode of the podcast, Pomp speaks with host Dennis Scully about why makers need to own their own real estate, the delicate balance between scaling a business and staying creative, and why everything he does comes down to a quest for self reliance.

This podcast is sponsored by High Point Market and Modern Matter

LINKS
John Pomp
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

No showrooms? No problem. How Maker & Son is building a furniture brand on the road Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

Alex Willcock and Felix Conran are the father-and-son team behind the direct-to-consumer furniture brand Maker & Son. Founded in the UK in 2018, the company has grown quickly with an unorthodox approach. Its core product is a pillowy sofa that retails for over $10,000, and rather than brick-and-mortar showrooms, Maker & Son relies on a fleet of decorated vans that will visit potential customers in person. On this episode of the podcast, Willcox and Conran chat with host Dennis Scully about whether sustainability and the value of craftsmanship are finally connecting with consumers, their unique approach to marketing, and how they’re using a surprisingly sophisticated tech operation to make data driven decisions in an old-school industry.

This podcast is sponsored by High Point Market and Modern Matter

LINKS
Maker & Son
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

How Meridith Baer built a staging empire Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

A successful actress and screenwriter for decades, Meridith Baer got into staging by chance. In the late 1990s, one of her friends needed help with a home that was languishing on the market. Baer helped decorate it, the house sold in a matter of days, and a business was born. Today her eponymous company dominates the industry, staging thousands of homes all over the country every year. On this episode of the podcast, Baer speaks with host Dennis Scully about what the housing market looks like from her perspective, whether midcentury modern style will ever go out of fashion, and why buzzy technology like augmented and virtual reality can only do so much when it comes to selling a home.

This episode is sponsored by Juniper Market

LINKS
Meridith Baer
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

Douglas Friedman photographed your favorite room Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

If you’ve opened up a design magazine in the past decade, you’re familiar with Douglas Friedman's work. As one of the premier interior and architecture photographers of his generation, he’s worked with everyone from Steven Gambrel to Bridget Romanek to Ken Fulk—to say nothing of the portraits he’s shot, ranging from Hilary Rodham Clinton to Faye Dunaway. On this episode of the podcast, Douglas chats with host Dennis Scully about the challenges of photography in a digital age, how the shifting economics of magazine publishing can create opportunities for designers, and why a great photograph can sometimes come down to moving a single flower in a vase.

This episode is sponsored byJuniper Market

LINKS
Douglas Friedman
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

Orlando Soria wants to expose the messy reality behind design TV Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

Two years ago, designer Orlando Soria was riding high, with a hit book, buzzy brand partnerships and a new show on HGTV. In 2020, it all came crashing down in a series of unfortunate events that he’s been chronicling online. On this episode of the podcast Soria shares with host Dennis Scully a rare inside look at how design TV really works, and highlights the perilous nature of the influencer economy. Topics covered include the long hours, tough working conditions and low pay that go into making an HGTV show, the pressure to be positive on social media, and why being an influencer is a lot less glamorous than it might seem.

This episode is sponsored by Juniper Market.

LINKS
Orland Soria
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

Custom furniture is booming. Grant Trick knows why Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

Grant Trick’s custom upholstery workshop is a little off the beaten path: He operates in Irondale, Alabama, just outside Birmingham. But that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a secret source for designers around the country, who come to Grant for his impeccable technique and fine-tuned appreciation for the tailoring that goes into a custom piece. On this episode of the podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about how the lead time crisis has actually helped his business, not hurt it; what he’s learned from launching his own line; and why custom furniture is more important to designers than ever.

This episode is sponsored by Juniper Market.

LINKS
Grant Trick
Dennis Scully
Business of Home

The education of a designer, with Suzanne Tucker [Rebroadcast] Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

Suzanne Tucker earned her stripes working first for Peter Hood in London, then for iconic California designer Michael Taylor. Now she leads Tucker & Marks, one of the west coast’s most prestigious firms. On this episode of the podcast, she tells Dennis Scully some incredible tales from her storied career, shares the secret to working well with architects, and explained how clients have (and haven’t) changed over the years.

This episode is sponsored by Juniper Market.

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Looking back on an eventful year in the design industry Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

Business of Home’s editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen and executive editor Fred Nicolaus have spent the past 12 months reporting on the highs and lows of an unprecedented time in the design industry. On this episode of the podcast they join host Dennis Scully to take stock of an eventful year, discussing everything from how long the home boom is going to last, what long-term effects out-of-control lead times and rising inflation will have, and what lies ahead in the new year.

This episode is sponsored by The Bruno Effect and Coppersmith.

LINKS
Kaitlin Petersen
Fred Nicolaus
Dennis Scully
Business of Home