Damn Good Interior Designer

What is the #1 marketing asset of your business? Your website! It is a living breathing entity of our firm. Join us with our special guest Victoria Marcouillier, owner of Brandwell and host of the Branding Business School podcast , as we discuss the importance of branding, the value of marketing throughout the client relationship lifecycle why your the website's role is a crucial marketing asset....

It is never too late to start over. This week we have a wonderful special guest from New York! I have known and coached Diane Bianchini of Dream Interiors NY for a number of year and she is here to talk with us this week about her path to becoming a designer with a background in Aeronautical engineering--talk about weathering the seasons of change (see what I did there?!) We discuss the importance...

Are you hiring too late? What I have found is that most designers do not hire soon enough! Hiring a team challenges and helps elevate your business to a level where sustainable growth and scalability are achievable. When we look to hire we are looking to cater to some bonus projects and also the way that our current team is developing in terms upward mobility for other team members. This is where...

Are you facing new challenges or going through a season of change? We are--yes we are in the trenches with you, really! Weathering the seasons of change is unpredictable and it is in these moments where we find out how resilient and adaptable we are. If you are not not prepared, then one of these events such as maternity leave, death in the family or a career change can disrupt your business to a...

The legal aspects of a business are super important to me as a business owner. We will always face project delays, especially in the last couple years, and we must be thinking about how we can protect ourselves. In my world, clients have to recognize the delays in executing are unrelated to our performance and we must get new bids/pricing or get the job up and running again after potential delays,...

Cheryl is passionate about what she does and loves seeing other small business owners and creative entrepreneurs succeed. We often get to hear success stories and want to be able to share this with others while also focusing on the unique market, business and experience other designers have around the country. This week we are starting a "DESIGNER FEATURE" series where once a month we will introdu...

We're trying something new this week and Cheryl is in the hot seat while Liz interviews her about her process for initial consultations, also known as "The Cheryl Show." Cheryl goal is simply to get to know the potential clients and see if her firm can help them. She doesn't worry about being overly prepared for these meetings because they are organic--this is IMPORTANT! You must find the balance...

Are your clients dragging their feet, hemming and hawing after the presentation and maybe even ghosting you--what do you do? In this episode we discuss five considerations when a client is not making decisions and how to handle them. Designers need to ask themselves certain questions to help determine exactly where the problem lies and if the indecision rooted in something deeper than uncertainty....

Our firm, In Detail Interiors, gets a lot of leads and I am grateful for every single one of them. However, that doesn't mean we take on every job of every size and every type--and neither can you. You must have guidelines (NOT A SCRIPT PLEASE RUN FROM THOSE WHO WANT YOU TO HAVE A SCRIPT! ) on how you determine what will work for your set up of your firm, your bandwidth and your resource capacity....

Going to High Point Market and learning about what you sell is the BEST investment you can make for your business! After 29 markets Cheryl had the honor of talking with Tammy Nagem, CEO of High Point Market authority, to tell you why market is still one of the best business investments you can make. Learn how Tammy and her team help optimize the experience for designers and why it is important for...

Successful businesses, do not operate on a basis of having to trick people--so why are businesses doing this? Fear. We have to consider where we are as an industry if we are so fearful of clients finding something out about the names of our vendors or comparison shopping. Interior design is about creativity, expertise, and creating unique spaces that reflect the client's personality and needs. It'...

We are not holding back this week - the term "red flag" is banned! (at least in my book) Stop the mob mentality that a client is a "red flag" for asking questions about your contract or process. Your mindset must shift from "run, run, get out now!" to "they do not know, what they do not know". You must be educating your client and positioning your company for your ideal client. This episode will h...

It is a choice to be professional. One you make to uphold professional standards and practice in such a way that you are advancing your firm. No one is going to do it. In order to advance as a strong contender in the marketplace and someone that is respected and viewed as a serious business owner, then you must be aware of what is happening in the industry. Hear what makes Cheryl’s Top Ten Trouble...

Liz and I have decided that the holidays need to be further spread apart. How do we talk to Congress about making that happen? Just kidding! We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole--we are already busy enough. This is about being in control and how we are going to respond to certain situations that are going to come up in your business. What actions can you take and be prepared for when it affec...

Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing passion is one of the most important things you can do as a business to demonstrate to your clients what it is that you are bringing to the table. Passion for my work is why I get up in the morning and being excited about what the day holds---and have an eagerness to jump into it. It’s not always roses and mai tais but still--I am passionate ab...

Cheryl the “easy-chair” psychologist is back today and we are going to throw a little reverse psychology at you! Have you ever thought about throwing all the negatives on the table to reinforce positive thoughts in your client? Whoa--I know it seems a little crazy. BUT disarming people with an approach that is not expected can work beautifully, if done right, to relax your potential client with yo...

Are you really considering where the interior design industry (and market) are going today? How you got started in this business is NOT what is going to keep you relevant. This is one of the fastest growing and ever-changing industries out there and we as business owners must be thinking about and asking your clients for feedback. Feedback should be considered a gift in how to understand and meet...

Today's episode is about the cost of doing business. Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how...

Why are selling products a win? Cheryl and Liz delve into the balance between selling design services and products and unveil key strategies for successful navigation of the procurement process. Selling product is not for the faint of heart - you will face challenges in managing inventory, shipping and managing vendor relationships but is worth it in the long run. And here is the biggest win of al...

Today, Cheryl and Liz focus on the difference between the calls to "charge what your worth" vs charging your value. Are you choosing to engage with a client simply because they are willing to pay your hourly rate, or is it because their project will bring real currency in terms of value to your firm? Have you set an hourly rate arbitrarily with no concrete reason? Cheryl underscores the significan...

Summary Do your clients have a fear of creativity? In this episode, Cheryl and Liz dive into the art of building strong client relationships by addressing and alleviating the client's fears during the design process. The episode demonstrates the importance of understanding clients' psychology and the need to create unique, growth-inducing experiences while considering the importance of empathy and...

The word “transparency” has been hijacked. Cheryl and Liz discuss the cake story and how it relates to business by stressing the importance of clear communication, pricing, and setting expectations with clients. They emphasize building trust from the start and having a structured business plan to succeed in the design industry. Designers should be asking themselves "How can I improve transparency...

Cheryl does not hold back today on how she feels about being “overwhelmed.” In their conversation, Cheryl and Liz discuss the influence of negativity within our language on one's mindset, self-assurance, teamwork, and client relationships. As you reflect on their discussion, remember two key points: Resilience is king & Confidence is the currency of success. Have a question-- click here to ask...

If your goal is to become a full-service design firm, it's important to embrace innovative design and challenge your clients to do the same. You must push yourself beyond your comfort zone to persuade clients to explore unfamiliar territory. You're not merely a personal shopper but a designer who brings ideas to life, overseeing a project from inception to completion. Stick around until the end fo...

"Are you ready for this?? I think you are! My contention is designers do not hire soon enough. They are driving the boat trying to navigating the rough currents alone. Don't let this be you--Look for an integrator to climb into the boat with you. ( And if you are an integrator and need the visionary to get you onto a bigger boat--well that can happen too! ) If so, consider bringing an Integrator o...