Trade Tales

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For Jean Stoffer and Grace Start, starting slow is the key to growing big ideas Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

Jean Stoffer and Grace Start’s multigenerational firm always has an eye towards the future. They’ve paved a path to growth by launching new ventures—including a cabinetry business, a home store and a Magnolia network show—all while making sure to protect the creativity that got them here in the first place.
LINKS
Stoffer Home
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Joon Loloi and Serena & Lily.

Ask Us Anything: Georgia Zikas on staying nimble amid a business slowdown Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Georgia Zikas joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer whose firm is experiencing a slowdown in new business. Zikas, whose firm has offices in Boston and West Hartford, Connecticut, jumps in with advice on why slower periods provide an opportunity to fine-tune processes, tips for curating a network that produces potential clients and the importance of conducting regular assessments on a firm’s financial health.

LINKS
Georgia Zikas
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

Lindsay Anyon Brier on building space for joy into her firm Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

Lindsay Anyon Brier’s business spans a full-service firm and a home boutique with outposts in San Francisco and Dallas. As she explains, she couldn’t do it without her team—a group guided by a shared set of core values that shape everything from strategic planning to the way they reply to client emails.
LINKS
Lindsay Anyon Brier
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Regina Andrew and The Shade Store.

Ask Us Anything: Dwayne Bergmann on how to purchase another designer's firm Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

Dwayne Bergmann joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who recently received an offer from the principal of her firm to purchase the business. Naples, Florida–based Bergmann jumps in with advice on how to assess the financial health of a firm that’s on the market, a breakdown of the two most common types of business acquisitions and how a simple pros and cons list can help identify the challenges that lie ahead when it comes to leading a firm.
LINKS
Dwayne Bergmann
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

How Luis Fernandez structured his firm to foster creativity Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

Luis Fernandez’s boundless creative energy led him to a career in architecture, fashion, and ultimately, interiors. Now, he’s intent on pushing the limits of his craft with new challenges, like designing in the metaverse and some special side projects that have no client attached to them. Along the way, he is establishing airtight systems to guide his firm’s output even as his inspiration runs wild.

LINKS
Luis Fernandez
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Regina Andrew and The Shade Store.

Ask Us Anything: Michael Hilal on how good photography drives growth Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

Michael Hilal joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer about how to prioritize project photography after missing out on the opportunity to shoot a great job. San Francisco–based Hilal explains how he knows when it’s time to photograph a project, why he no longer feels the pressure to photograph everything he designs, and how to strategically leverage a firm’s best work to further your business goals.
LINKS
Michael Hilal
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

Anne McDonald’s roadmap to investing in yourself Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

Anne McDonald made a big push a few years back to take her firm to the next level—toward bigger projects, more robust budgets, and new opportunities. The process required not only refining her team, but also learning to trust her own abilities. On this episode of the podcast, the Minneapolis, Minnesota–based designer shares why bringing on a CFO has helped her look toward the future, how she is navigating a shift towards smaller projects, and how her team is adjusting to a new pace of work.
LINKS
Anne McDonald
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Joon Loloi.

Ask Us Anything: Jean Liu on the best way to use credit cards for purchasing Aug 20, 2025

Show notes

Jean Liu joins the show to answer a question from a designer who is wondering whether or not to pass along vendor processing fees to clients. The Dallas–based designer jumps in with advice on communicating additional fees to clients in a pre-invoice estimate, the value of using credit cards as a form of consumer protection and preparing for tariff-related fees.
LINKS
Jean Liu
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

How acquiring another design firm helped Dwayne Bergmann get back in touch with his creativity Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Dwayne Bergmann’s multifaceted approach to business growth has included everything from repping cabinet lines and cofounding a slab importing company to acquiring another Florida designer’s firm. He shares how, despite his passion for expansion, he now finds himself more in the weeds than ever when it comes to creative work.

LINKS
Dwayne Bergmann
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home
This episode was sponsored by Joon Loloi.

Ask Us Anything: Brian Paquette on warehouse insurance that works for designers Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Brian Paquette joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who wanted to know the best way to protect items in storage for her clients. The Seattle-based designer jumps in with advice on vetting storage partners, how warehouse insurance can result in profitability for both parties, and why the design business is 95 percent execution and logistics.
This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Brian Paquette
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

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