Business of Design ™ | Interior Designers, Decorators, Stagers, Stylists, Architects & Landscapers Kimberley Seldon

So many design professionals dream of hiring an office manager to, well, manage the office day-to-day. What’s that like? What are the benefits and challenges of adding this person to your team? What should you pay for the service? Should this person be a designer? In this episode, non-designer Hilaire Martin, answers all these questions and more.

In this episode we learn:
- what’s the difference between a COO and an Office Manager
- what size firm would benefit from an office manager
- be honest with yourself, it’s OK if your current process isn't working
- map out your internal process, especially the client facing side of your business
- good motivation vs. bad motivation for hiring an office manager
- start small and identify one area you want to improve
- define what you want to accomplish for that one area
- celebrate the small and big wins

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com

In this solo episode, Kimberley shares a current job frustration. She asks the question, how complicated can it be to make over a set of stairs. The answer may surprise you.

In this episode we learn:
- there's no such thing as an easy job
- working with a reliable team of professional trades is the best way to ensure projects run smoothly

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

If you want to gain more from Instagram than praise from fellow designers, than you have to get intentional. Your ideal client is likely online and looking for you. Have you peppered your feed with the kind of information that she’s looking for? SEO and UX expert, Darla Powell, says anyone can create a compelling message and reach their ideal clients.

In this episode we learn:
- optimize your user handle and name on your Instagram account
- grow your account with proactive engagement
- engage with suppliers and vendors if your clients are doing the same
- growing an online presence is a long-game
- authenticity will attract your ideal clients

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

It’s all too evident that many professionals within the design industry are out of step with the latest technology available in the lighting category. Too many decisions about lighting come down to, “that’s just how we’ve always done it”. Designing your lighting plan early and consulting a lighting expert is the most effective way to enhance the quality interior design scheme you created.  

In this episode we learn:
- how to bring technology into the home without it looking industrial or institutional
- your lighting drawing from 2023 should not look exactly like your lighting drawing from 1985
- design early to accommodate everything on the client’s wish list
- create lighting scenes for the best impact
- a light fixture costs more because it is a better functioning
- verify lead times and stick to realistic schedules

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

The designer’s journey towards mastery is a complicated path. You manage trades, clients, and staff. In addition, for those who procure products for your clients, you manage suppliers, vendors, and manufacturers. Given time, you develop a strong relationship with your best suppliers and finding the latest, best product is as simple as reaching out to the providers you know well. But none of us can afford to be complacent as new products emerge rapidly. That means we not only rely on an A-Team of suppliers, but we are continually scanning the horizon to find out what’s new and stay ahead of our clients’ knowledge base.

In this episode we learn:
- it takes 21 impressions for a new brand to register with a client
- a journey map of your brand experience can identify areas that are working well and those that need improvement
- A.C.E. the journey, A awareness, C consulting, E executing
- modernize your approach to sales; it’s a new world now

Success is not an accident. It's a strategy.
Business of Design® is that strategy. Become a member, today.
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting a design book published and wondered what exactly is involved, then this is your episode. Dallas designer, Courtney Warren wrote her first book and shared some of the challenges (it’s a real drain on your time) and the rewards of getting to print.

In this episode we learn:
- don’t underestimate the amount of time it will take to write the book and then work with the publisher to promote the book
- having an office manager who can run the business when you are pulled away for writing or editing, is a good idea
- when your publisher needs something, you’ll need to drop everything in order to meet the timelines
- publishing is not a free ride toward promotion, you’ll need to do most of the leg work

It’s time to take control of your business.
Become a member of Business of Design®, today:
https://businessofdesign.com/?ref=2&campaign=podcast