Interior Design Business
How Designers Charge
Among the questions I get most frequently from designers, especially designers who are launching their own business, are how should I charge and how much? It’s never an easy question to answer. Fees vary greatly depending on a designer’s level of experience, reputation, demand, the type and size of project, and other considerations. To help…
Read MoreIs Your Interior Design Firm Setting the Standard?
I have to admit, I’m a bit of a Seth Godin fanatic. In fact, I look forward to every single post that I have delivered to my email by RSS feed (automatically sends me his latest post). What I love about this post is his view about defining the market. It’s all about changing the…
Read More80% of Millennials Prefer On-The-Spot Recognition Over Formal Reviews
Small design firms must start understanding the most powerful generation since the Baby Boomers if they want to attract and keep talent (for three years or less – that’s the recent statistic for how long they will stay in a position). Today’s workers have different goals and aspirations than other generations – and much of…
Read MoreAre You An Entrepreneur Or Is Interior Design a Hobby?
When you signed up for interior design school, did you have any idea what the real world of interior design really involved? I know I didn’t. It never occurred to me that 90% of the job was administrative, detail and project management. It was a rude awakening for me, and I adapted, but it wasn’t…
Read MoreHow to Create the Illusion of A Bigger Business
Many designers work alone and feel that their clients don’t value them as much as if they were in a nice studio or office. Today’s clients are more pragmatic and understanding, but at the same time, they want great service and a great experience. One of my wonderful VIP clients told me about a telephone…
Read MoreHow to Get Your Interior Design Clients to Sell You on Working with Them
Interior designers … this is for you! So many interior designers have told me that the get nervous when they meet a prospective client for the first time. That’s completely understandable. After all, you want them to like you enough to hire you, right? How would you like to learn an easy way to change…
Read More5 Things They Don’t Teach You in Interior Design School
By Gail Doby, ASID Interior design colleges do their very best to teach you how to design and to do the technical parts of the business. Please do not think I am knocking them at all. Their time is limited in their curriculum, and it is impossible to teach you everything you need to know…
Read MoreGetting More Prospects Or Clients
What would it take to double your business? It might take less than you think. Two-thirds of the designers who participated in this year’s Interior Design Fee & Salary Survey said they needed to convert more prospects into clients. The question is, do you need a higher rate of conversions or do you need more…
Read MoreAre You a Known “Brand” in Your Market?
If you are like most designers, you have a passion for your work, and yet you don’t see your business or yourself as a “brand.” It is actually a good idea to think of your design work and your business as a “brand.” Why? Because a brand needs to evoke emotions and ultimately, emotions trigger…
Read MoreDesigners Top Challenges
Industry indicators show a definite upswing in interior design business activity this year. But the word on the street gives a picture that is more mixed. Some designers are very busy, while others still struggle to land more than minor projects and consultations. Earlier this year, in our Interior Design Fee & Salary Survey, we…
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