Trade Tales

Latest Episodes:

Donna Mondi on the search for a leadership structure that keeps her close to design Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Donna Mondi opened a second office in a new city amid the pandemic’s upheaval. As she entered a new phase of growth, she began reckoning with a new era of leadership at her firm—and what it means to chase a professional goal that never stops moving.

This episode was sponsored by Room and Board.

LINKS
Donna Mondi
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Christopher Courts and Edel Legaspi on navigating a professional uncoupling Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

Christopher Courts and Edel Legaspi are a husband-and-wife team who recently decided to split up—not their marriage, but their design firm. They share what it takes to uncouple after more than a decade of working together, and why they’re embracing a new era that will give each of their voices space to grow.

This episode was sponsored by Room and Board.

LINKS
Christopher Courts and Edel Legaspi
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Why Ali Budd wants to do design TV differently May 22, 2024

Show notes

Ali Budd had a shot at TV stardom—and decided she wanted to bring viewers a side of the industry they hadn’t seen before. As the business she spent years building enters the spotlight, she’s sharing what it took to find her voice—and how she built a team that could carry that vision even further.

This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture

LINKS
Ali Budd
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Why Kai Williamson lets her clients change their mind May 08, 2024

Show notes

After launching her own image consulting business and scaling a nonprofit from 3 people to a team of 22, Kai Williamson entered the design world with a strong entrepreneurial streak. As she’s found her footing in the industry, she tells us about her innovative approach to refining internal practices that will make her firm more profitable.

This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture

LINKS
Kai Williamson
Studio7 Design Group
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How the pursuit of simplicity defines Brian Paquette’s fee structure Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

Brian Paquette launched his career determined to build a brand. That’s not really his dream today—but his story offers the refreshing reassurance that it’s OK for your goals to change. He tells us about closing his store and downsizing his firm—and, more recently, about turning a scary slow period into an opportunity to perfect his systems.

This episode was sponsored by Hudson Valley Lighting Group.

LINKS
Brian Paquette
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Want to build your brand authority quickly? How Michael Hilal looked abroad Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Michael Hilal spent his first career in the tech world, working for Google and several startups before making the leap into interiors. Though he left Silicon Valley behind, that tech mindset stayed, shaping everything from his approach to design documentation to how he thinks about client education.

This episode was sponsored by Hudson Valley Lighting Group.

LINKS
Michael Hilal
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Why Georgia Zikas prizes people over process Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

Georgia Zikas took her time building a team. When she finally started hiring, she knew exactly what qualities she was looking for. Her story is a lesson in how putting the effort into your company’s culture can attract all the right people—in this case, experienced employees with the skills to take on a higher caliber of clientele.

This episode was sponsored by The Shade Store and Minted.

LINKS
Georgia Zikas
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Christine Lin on putting client experience first Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

Christine Lin kicked off her career with a ten-year stint in the tech world, before using her digital skills to establish a design firm that was easy to find on the internet in an effort to cultivate a following that would outlast her immediate circle of potential clients. As the business grew, she soon found herself at a crossroads: She could keep taking every job that came her way, or she could embrace a new, elevated vision for her firm.

This episode was sponsored by The Shade Store and Minted.

LINKS
Christine Lin
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How Wesley Moon said goodbye to hustle culture Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

Wesley Moon realized early on that he had a gift for understanding a client’s vision, even when the client couldn’t quite articulate it themselves. He shares how what you don’t say to a client is just as important as what you do—and how a change in his personal life prompted him to say goodbye to the hustle that had defined his workload for so long.

This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture.

LINKS
Wesley Moon
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How Amy Storm shifted her team structure in pursuit of healthy growth Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Amy Storm has always embraced change within her firm. From reconsidering the brick and mortar space her team occupied to getting more specific about the types of projects she wants to take on, she’s learned to lean into the hard lessons of entrepreneurship and find beauty in a business that changes with time. In this episode, she shares the story of the business consultant that finally pushed her firm into profitability, along with how she navigated a massive overhaul of her team structure.

This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture.

LINKS
Amy Storm
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home