Are You Asking The Right Questions

Are You Asking The Right Questions

By Drue Lawlor, FASID Director of Coaching at DSU Whether interviewing for a virtual assistant or for someone who will be working in your office, making the decision about who to hire is critical.  They need to fit into the culture of your firm and, depending on their job, being a team player might be…

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What to Say When Clients Say “No”

What to Say When Clients Say No

At any point in a design project the client may raise objections.  They may feel the budget or your fees are too high.  They may not like the design concept or the colors you’ve chosen.  They may refuse to accept an item you have purchased for them.  You may feel confused, frustrated, angry, or even…

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A Project Management Tool for Every Designer

A Project Management Tool for Every Designer

If you’re still using to-do lists, checklists, voice reminders and sticky notes to manage your projects, I encourage you to consider switching to a project management tool.  Whether you’re a sole practitioner or a large A&D firm, there is a tool to suit your needs.  The time you invest up front in getting familiar with…

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Take Your Client on a Design Journey

Take Your Client on a Design Journey

Experience is the new luxury.  Affluent consumers are spending more on travel, resorts and fine dining, less on luxury goods and home furnishings.  For interior designers, that means you need to rethink your marketing strategy.  Instead of promoting your access to custom and to-the-trade-only products, or showing them pictures of someone else’s project, offer them…

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Where Affluent Clients are Shopping

Where affluent clients are shopping

According to a  trend report from Unity Marketing published in 2015, Affluents Online:  A Generational Perspective of How Affluents Use the Internet in their Luxury Lifestyles,  shows that since 2015 retail sales have grown steadily at 17% while online shopping has doubled. “Online e-commerce is the growth darling at retail, continuing a steady upward trend…

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Goal Setting Strategies That Will Help You 10x Your Results

Goal setting strategies that

Have you been reviewing your goals at least once a month to make sure you’re on track? You might be surprised that very few people in business take the time to write down their goals, let alone keep themselves on track? According Brian Tracy: “Only 3% of adults have clear, written, specific, measurable, time-bounded goals,…

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How to Confidently Set Your Client’s Expectations

How to confidently set your client’s expectations

By Gail Doby, ASID CVO & Co-Founder, Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting & Design Success University There is nothing worse than feeling like you are constantly feeling like you are at the beck and call of your clients. It can zap your energy, drain the joy and creativity right out of you! The way to…

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How To Nicely Say “No” To Non Ideal Clients

How To Nicely Say No To Non Ideal Clients

How do I politely tell a non-ideal client that we are not a good fit? I am asked so often how to answer this question that I thought it would be a good idea to address it in this article. What you ultimately want to accomplish in this scenario is to be authentic, handle the…

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Developing a “Golden Ticket” Referral Program

By Drue Lawlor, FASID Director of Coaching, Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting & Design Success University Do you, like so many business owners, spend a great deal of time and money on advertising, networking to meet prospective new clients, and searching for new ways to reach prospective clients? And yet, how many of you really…

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