Interior Design Business
Remove Stress From You & Your Business
By Gail Doby, ASID There are over 60,000 interior designers in the US, and of those designers, every single one has stress from the following: 1. Working too much 2. Cash flow concerns 3. Struggling to get business or enough business 4. Managing the paperwork 5. Setting up systems and processes that work What do…
Read More“Houzz” Your Ranking and Success?
By Drue Lawlor, FASID Director of Coaching at DSU Many of you include Houzz in your marketing efforts, but have you created a profile that will “connect” with your “ideal clients” and outranks your competition? The tagline for Houzz is ‘The New Way to Design Your Home’ and many have seemingly embraced that statement as…
Read MoreHow Scary is Your Cash Flow?
I’ve heard from a few designers lately that their cash flow is very low right now. Why is that? There are many reasons: There was some time in the past that your marketing was happening inconsistently. You may not see the immediate effect of not marketing consistently – it always shows up months later. You’re…
Read MoreDo You Enjoy the Hunt for Interior Design Clients? Part 2
In the first part of the series, I asked if you enjoy the hunt for interior design clients. Here are some questions to contemplate whether you are a seasoned veteran, or you are thinking of being an interior designer: What is your real reason for being an interior designer…what is your why? Do you have…
Read MoreDo You Enjoy the Hunt for Interior Design Clients? Part 1
You have to enjoy the hunt for interior design clients or your business will falter and/or fail. I’ve discussed this “non-negotiable” with many designers that come to me for coaching or advice. Some whine because they don’t really enjoy marketing and sales. My advice? Get over it or get a job. I know that sounds…
Read MoreThe Biggest Mistake Interior Designers Make with Fees, Part 4
If you missed our earlier articles about mistakes interior designers make with fees, be sure to read them for the “full picture.” The articles are listed at the bottom of this part. Yet another mistake designers make is not getting paid for your fees long before the project is over. Have you finished an…
Read MoreThe Biggest Mistake Interior Designers Make with Fees, Part 3
Not offering tiered pricing and services is the third mistake interior designers make with fees. The model of offering an hourly fee and mark-up is one of the least effective ways of working with clients today when they are so conscious of every penny spent. Even if you offer a fixed fee for your…
Read MoreThe Biggest Mistake Interior Designers Make with Fees, Part 2
Not doing a good job of qualifying clients with effective questions that help uncover potential problems before developing a design proposal is mistake #2. What are some of the problems that may be encountered? Pricing a project based on a typical client instead of understanding that someone may be indecisive may cost you money,…
Read MoreThe Biggest Mistake Interior Designers Make with Fees, Part 1
I’ve been guilty of this before, and it usually happens when I am swamped with work. This is also one of the reasons so many interior designers lose money. What is it? Tracking your time. I know. This is a royal pain, but it is part of doing business. What happens when you don’t…
Read MoreAvoiding Client Nightmares, Part 3
This week we are finishing up our tips and ideas for avoiding client nightmare situations. We discussed some of the basic things to look for and ask about in the initial client interview. You can read more about that in Part 1. Last week, we talked about clues and specific questions you can ask to…
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