Design Biz Survival Guide

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119: Heidi Callier Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

No two paths are the same. Someone may know what they want, go to design school, and land a job out of college. Another person could try other careers before deciding to learn more about interior design. Regardless of the level of education or the length of time it takes to get there, both could very well reach the same conclusion.

Today we welcome Heidi Callier to the podcast. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of her widely respected brand and the impact that becoming a brand has on the continued growth and development of her interior design business. We discuss her approach to supporting projects across the country, her team structure, and her streamlined project selection process. Heidi also shares the process of developing her first book, due this Fall, and her collaboration with long-time friend and photographer Haris Kenjar.

We hope you feel inspired and refreshed by Heidi's evolution.

Show Highlights:

How Heidi got into the design business and the necessary experience to get her foot in the door.
The benefits of working in a showroom when you're first starting in design.
How the design landscape has changed and expanded after COVID.
Being intentional about only putting out work that you want to bring back.
How Heidi is handling collaboration opportunities and retaining her brand image.

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

118: Michelle Dirkse Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

Today we welcome Michelle Dirkse – owner and Creative Director of her namesake interior design studio. The Seattle, Washington-based design business is celebrating their 10-year anniversary, and Michelle is pulling back the curtain to reveal some valuable lessons learned along the way.

In this episode, we discuss allowing yourself time and grace to learn from experience, tips on growing and leading a team, and the importance of building a sustainable, authentic design process.

Listen in to learn more about Michelle's first 10 years in business and all she learned. Feel free to take notes!

Show Highlights:

Michelle's biggest learning experiences from owning her interior design business over the last 10 years.
Valuable tips for updating your website on your own – to make Google and your bank account happier.
What social media looked like for Michelle 10 years ago vs. today.
The biggest lessons Michelle learned as a leader.

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Episode Credits

117: Jarret Yoshida Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

You are not alone if you feel disorganized in your business and finances. It’s common for interior designers to attempt to be CPAs for their business which usually results in added stress and anxiety and accomplishes nothing. If you’re working remotely, having a structure in place to keep projects organized and on track and hiring people such as a CPA to manage your finances will do wonders for your business, your teammates, your clients, and yourself. Today we welcome Jarret Yoshida, owner and principal designer of Jarret Yoshida Interior Design based in New York. In this episode, Jarrett shares his journey from politics to interior design and the challenges he faced and overcame during the development of his interior design business. We also discuss facing the fear of finances and how the adoption of reliable systems has supported the growth of his team and the diversity of projects he pursues. Listen in to learn how implementing reliable systems can help keep you in your zone of genius.

Show Highlights:

What Jarret’s path from politics to interior design looked like
The characteristics Jarret looks for in a client he wants to work with
Why you have to trust your instincts when deciding if you want to work with someone
The importance of being transparent with clients before a problem occurs
How Jarret’s team expanded during Covid
The internal structures Jarret developed to make remote work possible for his team
How staying in your zone of genius is crucial for your success

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*** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

117: Jarret Yoshida Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

You are not alone if you feel disorganized in your business and finances. It's common for interior designers to attempt to be CPAs for their business which usually results in added stress and anxiety and accomplishes nothing. If you're working remotely, having a structure in place to keep projects organized and on track and hiring people such as a CPA to manage your finances will do wonders for your business, your teammates, your clients, and yourself.

Today we welcome Jarret Yoshida, owner and principal designer of Jarret Yoshida Interior Design based in New York. In this episode, Jarrett shares his journey from politics to interior design and the challenges he faced and overcame during the development of his interior design business. We also discuss facing the fear of finances and how the adoption of reliable systems has supported the growth of his team and the diversity of projects he pursues.

Listen in to learn how implementing reliable systems can help keep you in your zone of genius.

Show Highlights:

What Jarret's path from politics to interior design looked like
The characteristics Jarret looks for in a client he wants to work with
Why you have to trust your instincts when deciding if you want to work with someone
The importance of being transparent with clients before a problem occurs
How Jarret's team expanded during Covid
The internal structures Jarret developed to make remote work possible for his team
How staying in your zone of genius is crucial for your success

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***

Episode Credits

116: Alex Brzozowski Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

Interior designers have a lot of documents to keep track of, from emails, invoices, shopping receipts, pictures, and more. A lot of the time, they are saved in multiple locations on a computer and phone or in physical folders. Files are lost, which adds stress to our lives, whether we realize it or not. Today we welcome Alex Brzozowski of Be Organizing, a digital organizing service designed to help businesses go paperless by organizing their digital files. In this episode, Alex shares how her legal career influenced her decision to launch her specialized business model and how her team helps businesses of all sizes become more organized and efficient. If you're sharing digital files with your team, vendors, and clients, you need consistent and comprehensive file organization. We've got you covered! Listen to learn how to go paperless and organize your digital files! Show Highlights:

Alex's history of working in law firms where all documents were digital & streamlined
Examples of what digital organizing is
Alex's top tips for digital organization
Alex's process for working with interior designers
How to organize your documents for tax purposes
Alex's advice on organizing photos

Subscribe and Review We'd appreciate you subscribing to this podcast and leaving an Apple Podcasts review. Reviews help others discover and learn what Design Biz Survival Guide is all about. It only takes a second and helps us out a lot! Supporting Resources:

beorganizing.com

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115: Candy Barton Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

If you frequently work on job sites where there is a general contractor, a floor guy, a plumber, and more, there can be communication errors and other variables that slow down the project. As the interior designer, you already have a lot of say over the project. Why not make the process more streamlined and become a licensed contractor yourself? Today we welcome Candy Barton, principal designer of Barton + Barton Interiors based in Del Mar, CA. In this episode, Candy shares her passion for the construction side of design and her decision to become a licensed general contractor in the state of California. Candy shares the qualification process, things to consider, and the benefits of providing licensed project management and GC services to their clients. We also talk about the business and legal implications associated with adding this new layer of service and responsibility to her design business. Listen in to learn more about becoming a licensed contractor. Show Highlights:

Why having a general contractor's license is beneficial
The importance of having a mentor
What to know before taking the general contractor test

bartonandbarton.co

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114: Katie McFarlan Jan 02, 2023

Show notes

Today we welcome Katie McFarlan of Dakota Design Co., an operations consulting and support service business for interior designers and event planners. In this episode, Katie shares her top three tips to protect your creative business from times of economic uncertainty. Our conversation dives deep into ways to control your expenses, diversify your streams of revenue, and market smarter at a time when messaging is everything. Listen to this episode for recession strategies for your design business. Show Highlights:

The number one challenge Katie helps interior designers with
Tips to help designers protect themselves from the recession
How to know your numbers and control your expenses
Tips for diversifying your revenue streams
Why you should never stop marketing
Katie's secret to survival

dakotadesigncompany.com

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113: Kate Lester Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Today, we welcome Kate Lester, owner of KL Interiors and Kate Lester Home in southern California, to the podcast. In this episode, Kate keeps it super real and shares her design journey and the many realizations she had along the way. From the moment she committed to a career in design, she also committed to creating a profitable and effective business model. Kate shares her top tips for setting a budget and expectations with clients, defining and owning your business model, and the impact that your processes and procedures have on the client experience and your ability to sell with confidence. Show Highlights:

Kate's top tips on handling the business side of design
Why you should use software specifically created for designers
The importance of standing by your business model
Know how much your services cost and charge accordingly
The importance of team meetings and setting expectations
Kate's secret to design and what has kept her going
What Kate wishes she knew when she first started that she knows now

112: John McClain Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Today we welcome John McClain, Creative Director and CEO of John McClain Interior Design, based in Los Angeles, CA, and Orlando, FL. In this episode, John shares the pivotal moment in his design career that prompted him to implement formal processes and an extensive client agreement into his business model to protect his profits and his sanity. John also shares how that experience helped him develop an office environment of trust, independence, and growth, which has enabled him to pursue other creative endeavors like his new book titled "The Designer Within" – a professional guide to a well-styled home. Show Highlights:

Who is John McClain, and how has history and experience influenced his career?
The importance of systems and processes so the team can thrive and the client feels confident.
Why John's team values overcommunicating with the client and each other.
The moment when John realized who his ideal client was.
How John practices "diligent delegating."
The common sense approach that John offers in his teaching style.
Giving yourself permission to succeed, fail, or adapt to a new method.

Ep 111 Ashley Clark Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Today we welcome Ashley Clark to the podcast - owner and principal designer of SKOUT Interior Design. In this episode Ashley shares how when "life happened" in 2020 for her, she leaned on the dedication of her team and the strength of her business model to allow her to focus her attention on family. Ashley also shares how the experience redefined her perspective on work life balance, setting client expectations, and honoring that every project is an opportunity to create something truly extraordinary.

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