Trade Tales

Latest Episodes:

How eliminating a markup has fueled Bella Mancini’s creativity May 21, 2025

Show notes

Bella Mancini’s firm was flying high for nearly two decades when the pandemic hit, shattering her project pipeline. With a bit of outside help, she embarked on an overhaul of her systems, ultimately building back a business that’s prepared for whatever comes next. On this episode of Trade Tales, she explains how she overhauled her firm’s processes with the help of a business coach, why it’s crucial that clients communicate with every member of her team and how ditching a markup has transformed her business for the better.

This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center and Crate & Barrel.

LINKS
Bella Mancini
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Ask Us Anything: Kevin Isbell on what to do when an order goes wrong May 14, 2025

Show notes

Kevin Isbell joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who reached out with the story of an order gone awry, and is now looking for advice on what it takes to make things right for clients while also holding vendors accountable. The Los Angeles–based designer jumps in with advice on vetting vendors, navigating expensive mistakes, and ensuring that the client’s experience comes first—no matter the cost.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Kevin Isbell
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How Studio DB took their firm out of its startup phase May 07, 2025

Show notes

Britt and Damian Zunino are a husband-and-wife duo whose creative partnership was a perfect match—bringing together expertise in architecture and design to create spaces where each discipline informs the other. But as the years went on, they realized they couldn’t do it alone—it would take a carefully curated team to produce the kind of results they had always dreamed of.

This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center and Crate & Barrel.

LINKS
Studio DB
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Ask Us Anything: Victoria Sass on how to get published Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Victoria Sass joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who is hoping to land her young firm’s first magazine feature. She has a project she’s excited to share with the world—but finding press placement has been a challenge. The Minneapolis-based designer jumps in with advice on different approaches to working with a public relations agency, how digital placement can actually yield longer-term results for your business and why local press contains a wealth of value that’s often overlooked.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Victoria Sass
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Why Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry get real about the design process on social media Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Pulp Studios was born when Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry bonded over similar aesthetics—despite their very different working styles. On this episode of Trade Tales, they explain what it takes to operate a firm with employees and offices across the country, and how they’ve leveled up their approach to team development over the years.

This episode was sponsored by Surya and The Shade Store.

LINKS
Pulp Studios
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Ask Us Anything: Dane Austin on taking design presentations to the next level Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

Boston designer Dane Austin joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who knows the basics when it comes to presenting design ideas, and is now looking for advice on how to take her strategy a step further, ultimately selling her vision—and commitment—to her clients. Austin offers advice on bringing a theatrical edge to big-picture design planning, a strategy for physically packaging ideas that invokes the world of luxury shopping, and the value of refining the decision-making process through three levels of presentations.

Plus: Ask Us Anything is going live! Join host Kaitlin Petersen at High Point Market this month as she sits down with two former guests of the show to workshop designers’ business questions in real time. To RSVP, visit fourhands.com/event-rsvp.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Dane Austin
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How making a handbook for her firm helped Isabel Ladd fall back in love with design Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Isabel Ladd’s lifelong penchant for pattern and color set the stage for a maximalist approach to life and design. But after several busy years, she realized that she was falling out of love with her business—she explains how focusing on her process helped her recapture the spark.

This episode was sponsored by Surya and The Shade Store.

LINKS
Isabel Ladd
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Ask Us Anything: Clara Jung on building community as an introvert Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

San Francisco Bay Area designer Clara Jung joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer who identifies as just that. She’s craving community, collaborators and deeper conversations, but often feels flummoxed in a room full of strangers. Jung offers advice on mentally preparing for large industry events, networking from a place of sincerity, and how introversion can be a superpower when it comes to building relationships with clients.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Clara Jung
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

How Arianne Bellizaire stopped chasing the industry’s standard of success Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

Earlier in her career, Arianne Bellizaire worked hard to build a large firm—only to realize that the pursuit of what she thought success was supposed to look like had taken the joy out of the work. Her biggest pivot point came when she let her old dream go, and started working on a new one: a nimbler team, fresh opportunities, and reclaiming her love of design.

This episode was sponsored by Surya and Regina Andrew.

LINKS
Arianne Bellizaire
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Ask Us Anything: Regan Baker on how to scale without putting client relationships at risk Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

San Francisco–based designer Regan Baker joins the show to answer a question from a fellow designer whose five-person firm is going through some growing pains. She’s already brought on a senior-level hire who can run their own jobs with some creative oversight. Now, she’s wondering how she can get some of the junior employees on her team ready for the same level of responsibility. Baker offers advice on communicating a senior designer’s role to clients, the software she uses to track employee progress without micromanaging and how to delegate duties based on an employee’s strengths.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Regan Baker
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

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