Posts by Pearl Collective
Collaborate and Compete – A Winning Formula for Success
Winning is a great feeling. When you land a new project or gain a new client you feel validated. Your work and your talent are valued. You’ve demonstrated that you are just as worthy as those other designers out there, maybe better. So shouldn’t you play to win? Well, yes and no. There’s nothing wrong…
Read MoreWhat You May Not Know About Problem Solving in Business
When it comes to running a business, interior designers have a critical asset that many managers lack—a problem-solving mindset. Doing design is all about solving problems, large and small. So, too, is managing a business. However, some of the types of problems that arise in operating a business are different from those that designers encounter…
Read MoreIs Your Design Firm Using Video? Here’s Why it Should
We are rapidly becoming a nation of viewers. Industry data indicate that some 245 million Americans regularly view online video content. On average viewers spend 100 minutes a day and up to 16 hours a week watching videos of some sort. In 2021, 96 percent of consumers increased their video viewing time, and 90 percent…
Read MoreLocal SEO Guide for Interior Designers
These days, even clients who rely more on referrals or word-of-mouth when selecting a designer spend some time online. They scan project images and scope out local firms, whether it’s their websites, social media pages, or listing in a designer directory. You want to be sure that when they’re searching “interior designers in [my town]”…
Read MoreDo You Need a Business Plan? To Realize Your Dreams, You Do
I want to encourage you to take a step back from your day-to-day tasks and commitments to spend some quality time thinking about the future of your business. Regardless of how things are right now, what do you want them to be like in five years, ten years? You don’t have to do this all…
Read MoreA Little Financial Knowledge Goes a Long Way
One of the biggest financial issues preoccupying many creatives is determining the value of what they’re worth. Curiously, far fewer creatives concern themselves with knowing what their business is worth. That’s a shame, because they could be earning a lot more if they had just a little bit of financial knowledge. In control or driving…
Read MoreWhy You Shouldn’t DIY Your Marketing
We all know the reasons why some consumers prefer to attempt to do their own home improvements. It’s less expensive. They can do it at their own pace and on their own time. Even if they’re willing to work with a pro, they aren’t sure who they should hire, whether they will be reliable, and…
Read MoreGail Doby’s Top 5 Books of 2021
Anyone who knows me knows that I read a lot of books. During my 6-week sabbatical in December 2021, I stayed true to form and read more than 20 books. It wasn’t easy to distill these amazing books down into my top 5, but here we are! These are the 5 books that I think…
Read MoreAn Attitude of Gratitude Can Help Your Business Grow
How often do you show gratitude to your clients? You may send them a card for the holidays or give them a gift at the end of a project. But do you stay connected throughout the year? Ways to stay connected with past (and present) clients should be part of your marketing plan and budget.…
Read MoreNot Everyone Knows About You – And That’s Okay
With everyone resorting to digital marketing these days, how can a designer stand out against the competition? That’s the question I put to my colleague Ken Lewis, managing partner with Client Expander, a digital marketing agency that works exclusively with companies in the design industry. He graciously shared with me some of his insights from…
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