Design Biz Survival Guide

Today we welcome DuVal Reynolds - founder and principal designer of DuVal Design - a full service interior design firm based in Fairfax, Virginia. In this episode, DuVal shares his journey of design from med school to design school and how he learned the inter workings of the business of design before launching his own design business six years ago. We also discuss his personalized approach to mar...

Today, we welcome Donna Johnson of Luxe Design, a luxury interior design firm with offices in Orange County and Las Vegas. In this episode, Donna shares her lifelong passion for interior design and how relationships – both organic and strategic – have fueled the growth and success of her design business. We also discuss the value of continued education, changes in the industry, and the pros and co...

Today, we welcome Josiah Lilly—owner of EPIC Ceramic + Stone, a high-end residential tile and stone installation company based in Orange County, CA. In this episode, we discuss Josiah's entrepreneurial journey from age 17 and his steadfast commitment to service and leadership, which has helped him grow his multi-faceted business model.  Josiah candidly shares the pressure of being the youngest bui...

Today, we welcome Britney Glass, a transformational interior designer and life coach based in New Jersey. In this episode, Britney shares the evolution of her design business, Glass Touch Interiors, and her holistic approach to uncovering her client's true needs and desires in life and their surroundings. We also discuss her journey of design from the moment she realized that coaching is a natural...

Today, we welcome Barette Widell and Christina Boschetti, the talented duo behind Widell + Boschetti, a boutique interior design firm based in Moorestown, New Jersey. In this episode, we discuss the partnership that is synonymous with their brand and how they collaborated to launch their interior design business eight years ago. Barette and Christina have paid their dues along the way, and they ca...

Today we welcome Amber Guyton, founder and principal designer at Blessed Little Bungalow based out of Atlanta, GA. In this episode, Amber shares her journey from corporate marketing and advertising to design business owner. We discuss the strategy behind her e-design business model, her approach to visibility, and the real demands of running a business and building a brand. Our conversation wouldn...

Today, we welcome Margaret Donaldson, founder of MDI Interior Design based in Charleston, South Carolina. In this episode, Margaret shares her 35-year journey of design from the birth of her business and first child almost simultaneously to the evolution of her design studio, which is currently 17 team members strong.  We also discuss the value of team culture and the importance of collaboration a...

For this final podcast episode of 2023, host and founder of Design Biz Survival Guide Rick Campos recalls when he discovered Leadership and Community in a fourth-period classroom in high school back in 1985 and how lessons learned over 30 years ago influence his business model today. We also re-cap our highlight of the year, acknowledge our supporting partners, and make a very special announcement...

Today, we welcome Antonio Deloatch, owner and principal designer of his namesake design firm based in New York and Los Angeles. In this episode, Antonio shares his global journey of design and the experiences that inspired him to launch his own design business eleven years ago. We also discussed his move from LA to New York and his strategy for establishing a brand in a new market. Antonio's story...

Today, we welcome Heather Vercellino, owner and principal designer of Verce Design based in Troy, Michigan. In this episode, we discuss Heather's "all-in" approach to overcoming obstacles and pursuing her passion. As a mom of three, Heather understands the need for boundaries and shares how she has developed a business model that allows her to be her best self for her clients and her family. Heath...

Today, we welcome Peter and Alex Spalding – brothers and co-founders of Daniel House Club, a to-the-trade purchasing platform for interior design professionals. In this episode, we speak to Peter and Alex about the development of their own design firm, the challenges they experienced, and their response to the most common pain point in the business of design – profit margin. They uncover the hidde...

Today, we welcome Keri Petersen, founder of KP Spaces based in Seattle, WA. In this episode, we discuss Keri's journey of figuring out the back end of the business of design and the self-work she had to put in to grow her business with confidence. We dive deep into the concept of SEO and online advertising and the impact it has had on the visibility of her business. Keri also pulls back the curtai...

Today we welcome Jessica Jones of Jess Jones Design Group, a full-service interior design studio based in Orange County, California. In this episode, Jessica shares how ten years under the wing of an established designer prepared her for her own entrepreneurial journey in the business of design. Jess shares the self-discovery process she experienced while developing and refining her business model...

Today, we welcome Michelle Lynne and Ben Rutledge, co-founders of Sidemark - an all-in-one marketing and sales software for interior designers. In this episode, we discuss the most common pain points for designers when it comes to processes and productivity and the valuable leads and revenue you could be missing out on by not implementing a comprehensive customer relationship management strategy -...

Welcome to our Las Vegas Market Re-Cap + High Point Warm Up episode! In this episode, I'll share a little about my Las Vegas Market Experience along with some tips and advice if you have never been. I'm also going to provide some insight into the upcoming High Point Market to help you plan ahead and make the most of your time there.  Then we'll chat with the Director of Content and Community for A...

Today, we welcome back Meredith Huck of House of Huck, but this time she'll be asking the questions, and I'll be sharing "my" journey as part of our 5-Year Anniversary Podcast Takeover! In this episode, we reveal how I juggle the podcast, coaching, and producing learning opportunities for design professionals using information and advice that I learn from every conversation I have with fellow entr...

Today we welcome Peter Lang, Founder of The Designer CPA - a public accounting firm that specifically works with interior design business owners. In this episode, we discuss the nuances of accounting for the business of design, best practices, and the value of integrating your CPA into your regular business and financial strategy sessions. Peter also shares how he has leveraged years of data speci...

Join us as we journey with Gideon Mendelson, founder, and creative director of the Mendelson Group, as he reflects on his two-decade-long journey in the interior design industry. With experiences ranging from team development and client experience to marketing and striking a work-life balance, Gideon shares his insights into how the industry has evolved and the factors behind the success of his fu...

Today we welcome Amber Peterson - Director of Store Design and Planning at PIRCH. In this episode, we explore Amber's design journey and how she filled in the gaps in her design education to pursue a retail design career. We also discuss her design team's approach to setting expectations, collaborating with brands, and the delicate balance of designing with consumers and designers in mind. If you'...

Today we welcome UK Interior Designer Rachel Usher to the podcast. Rachel is our first international featured designer on the podcast, and in this episode, she shares her journey of transitioning from a career filled with structure and authority into a new creative career path and some of the challenges she faced and overcame along the way. We also discuss international and cultural nuances when i...

Today we welcome back producer, author, and storyteller Jude Charles to the podcast. In this episode, Jude walks us through the process of producing his newly released docu-series about the life and journey of our favorite design community guru LuAnn Nigara. We revisit the five pillars of dramatic demonstration, and then we dive deep into the value of leadership and how communicating examples of y...

Today we welcome Ali Faulkner of AEF Interiors, a full-service design studio based in Costa Mesa, California. In this episode, Ali shares how her hospitality background instilled a high level of service when developing her design business model and her perspective on the client experience. We also discuss Ali's emphasis on detailed documentation to translate the design journey to clients, contract...

Today we welcome international speaker, coach, and author Wanda Allen to the podcast. Wanda is an expert in helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and sales professionals increase pipelines, improve sales performance and strengthen relationships by developing strong follow-up skills.  In this episode, we discuss how our mindset impacts lead generation and follow-up, the role that perseverance pla...

Today we welcome Gina Hacken – principal designer and owner of Gina Lauren Interiors. In this episode, we talk about work-life balance, and Gina shares how she leveraged years of experience in the industry to ultimately launch her own design business in order to be there for her family and fulfill her passion for design on her own terms. We also discuss her realization that designing and running a...

Today we welcome Hillary Kaplan and Miriam Silver Verga – principal designers of Mimi & Hill, a full-service interior design firm based in Westfield, New Jersey. In this episode, Hillary and Miriam share how they met, their shared passions, their distinct differences, and how their relationship culminated into a design business. We also discuss their team structure and how they rely on an untapped...