Damn Good Interior Design Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan

Today's episode is about the cost of doing business.
Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters.
Here is the drum roll take away.
It takes money to make money. Ta da!
Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how important it is to pay for a good attorney in your state to develop a contract to suit your needs--or to get a CPA help to know when to become an S corp. -
- Yes Virgina! it costs money to do these things.
Who sold people the fairy tale this is a cheap business to get into?
It is not. There are money and time costs.
If it were a cake walk, everyone would do it.
And by the grace of all intelligent creatures--- anyone who balks at pay to play, orders 9.99 contracts off Etsy, crowd sources tax advice---- and then has the huevos to complain about clients shopping them or not wanting to pay their 200 buck an hour fees??? Are ya kidding me with this?
Stay tuned for the Damn Good Truth!
The Damn Good Designer Magazine is out! Click here to read it!
Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, 12 written 300+ page workbooks, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.
The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, please join the free Facebook group Small Business Think Big --for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT THE HOSTS: Cheryl Kees Clendenon
2021 KBB Person of the Year
2022 Design Studio winner Dallas Arts Awards
2021 Changemaker Design Hounds
Interior Design Business Coach since 2017
Liz Lapan
VP of Everything, Interior Designer, 
Work Wife, Team Cook, Unicorns

Why are selling products a win? Cheryl and Liz delve into the balance between selling design services and products and unveil key strategies for successful navigation of the procurement process. Selling product is not for the faint of heart - you will face challenges in managing inventory, shipping and managing vendor relationships but is worth it in the long run.
And here is the biggest win of all---Creating a dynamic where "the price is the price". We rarely have issues with pricing. In fact we never have issues with pricing-- because we create the win for the client too. This is the biggest secret of a business like yours and ours---making the process a win for all involved. How? Listen to this episode and get a kick start!
The Damn Good Designer Magazine is out! Click here to read it!
Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.

Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, 12 written 300+ page workbooks, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.
The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, please join the free Facebook group Small Business Think Big --for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.

ABOUT THE HOSTS: Cheryl Kees Clendenon
2021 KBB Person of the Year
2022 Design Studio winner Dallas Arts Awards
2021 Changemaker Design Hounds
Interior Design Business Coach since 2017
Liz Lapan
VP of Everything, Interior Designer, 
Work Wife, Team Cook, Unicorns

Today, Cheryl and Liz focus on the difference between the calls to "charge what your worth" vs charging your value. Are you choosing to engage with a client simply because they are willing to pay your hourly rate, or is it because their project will bring real currency in terms of value to your firm? Have you set an hourly rate arbitrarily with no concrete reason? Cheryl underscores the significance of the “education of experience” in accepting a job that might not be your typical project. Still, it allows you to solve problems and build value for your business.  Don’t miss Cheryl’s damn good truth at the end of this podcast.
The Damn Good Designer Magazine is out! Click here to read it!Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR THIS EPISODE:
You must first assess your services and experience to create value in your business. Ask yourself what services you can deliver.Be careful not to price yourself out of the market. You may have a high hourly rate but have no clients. Assess what learning opportunities each job presents before turning it down. It could offer currency to your business in value if not financially.
RESOURCE LINKS:
RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
The Business of Kitchen & Bath
Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, 12 written 300+ page workbooks, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs.
The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
Led by interior Design Business coach, Cheryl Clendenon, Small Business Think Big is a free Facebook group for designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing, promotion, and the realities of owning a business that sells products along with services. No cry babies!
ABOUT THE HOSTS: Cheryl Kees Clendenon
2021 KBB Person of the Year
2022 Design Studio winner Dallas Arts Awards
2021 Changemaker Design Hounds
Interior Design Business Coach since 2017
Liz Lapan
VP of Everything, Interior Designer, 
Work Wife, Team Cook, Unicorns
An accomplished designer in her own right with an amazing sense of color and pattern, Liz can wear the designer hat in the morning and the project manager hat at noon and return to the office as the ultimate manager of all things.

SummaryDo your clients have a fear of creativity? In this episode, Cheryl and Liz dive into the art of building strong client relationships by addressing and alleviating the client's fears during the design process. The episode demonstrates the importance of understanding clients' psychology and the need to create unique, growth-inducing experiences while considering the significance of empathy and highlighting the challenges of balancing innovation with budget constraints and timelines. Cheryl and Liz provide valuable strategies and examples to enable business owners to navigate client concerns, foster trust, and deliver outstanding design outcomes.
The Damn Good Designer Magazine is out! Click here to read it!Take a peek at the latest issue of the Damn Good Designer Magazine! Click below to get access. The latest design competitions - what you should be doing in 2024, answers to burning questions and more.
In this Episode:[0:45] Cheryl discusses how to build solid relationships with clients who are threatened by their own fear during presentations.[7:19] Cheryl emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing clients' fears and uncertainties to secure a successful design outcome and how to overcome them.[10:01] Liz and Cheryl highlight the value of creativity in leadership and the challenges of balancing creativity with budget and timelines by organizing and addressing potential concerns before presentations to clients, ensuring intelligent communication and successful project implementation.[14:44] Empathy is important in understanding the client's fears and concerns. Cheryl and Liz share examples of how they addressed their clients.[20:20] Clients may initially reject design ideas without fully understanding the benefits, leading to a change of heart once the design is presented. Design rationale and visual openness of a space need to be considered, rather than simply following trends.[25:10] Cheryl and Liz emphasize the need to look beyond what is accepted or expected, and instead focus on creating new and unfamiliar experiences that lead to growth and development while also understanding clients' psychology when designing, as they may fear being rejected by their peers or not fitting in with the norm.[39:16] Cheryl's damn good truth
RESOURCE LINKS:Thompson Traders
Want to view their gorgeous line? We love this line and is a part of our trade program!
Damn Good Designer - Website
Business coaching for interior designers with honest, real-deal guidance from Cheryl.
The Business of Kitchen & Bath
ENROLLMENT ENDS NOVEMBER 13!!
Want to recession proof your business? Become the expert in the room. Let Cheryl and Liz help YOU do it with this go to "kick butt" three month kitchen and bath design coaching program.
Cheryl's excitement for kitchens and baths is contagious! Gain extended knowledge in kitchens, baths, remodels, and new construction and how to anticipate the needs of clients and contractors.
Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about...

The word “transparency” has been hijacked. Cheryl and Liz discuss the cake story and how it relates to business by stressing the importance of clear communication, pricing, and setting expectations with clients. They emphasize building trust from the start and having a structured business plan to succeed in the design industry. Designers should be asking themselves "How can I improve transparency and communication in my business to build trust and better serve my clients?" Cheryl provides invaluable insights into solving this problem and achieving success in the design industry.
The Damn Good Designer magazine is out! Click here to read it! In this episode[0:33]Cheryl and Liz discuss their recent projects and what is going on in their business today.
[5:21] The word "transparency" is overused in the interior design industry, and what should it actually mean in the context of business by understanding business and processes in order to be able to sell your services.
[8:21] Cheryl talks about baking a cake and how this can relate to your business
[11:25] Managing client expectations emphasizes the importance of explaining why you do what you do. The ideal customer wants a seamless cake-buying experience, including quality ingredients and a reputable baker.
[14:37]Cheryl emphasizes the importance of building trust with clients from the beginning, laying a strong foundation for every decision made and communication.
[21:44] You need to have clear communication in business to avoid confusion and foster the connection you need to have with your client.
[25:44] Having a business plan (or a recipe) and a system for charging clients is crucial for designers to run their businesses effectively.
[29:16] Cheryl and Liz encourage small business owners to be brave and take risks to succeed. There are many ways to approach business and it is important to find a unique approach that works for each individual or company.
[33:02]Cheryl wishes that designers would start taking responsibility and not blaming clients for design issues and instead develop the proper communication and understanding between each other.
[37:17] Liz highlights the benefits of a flat fee model, including more transparency and engagement from clients, and the potential for better scalability in the business.
[42:57]Cheryl’s damn good truth
RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Designer - Website
The Business of Kitchen & Bath
PRESALE ENDS OCTOBER 31ST!!
Want to recession proof your business? Become the expert in the room. Let Cheryl and Liz help YOU do it.
Cheryl's excitement for kitchens and baths is contagious! Gain extended knowledge in kitchens, baths, remodels, and new construction and how to anticipate the needs of clients and contractors.
Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, 12 written 300+ page workbooks, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs. The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
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Cheryl does not hold back today on how she feels about being “overwhelmed.” In their conversation, Cheryl and Liz discuss the influence of negativity within our language on one's mindset, self-assurance, teamwork, and client relationships.
As you reflect on their discussion, remember two key points:
Resilience is king
&
Confidence is the currency of success.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[:39] Cheryl and Liz discuss the word “overwhelmed” and what it does to your thought processes and emotions[3:45] Words matter, and being “overwhelmed” should be reframed to “overcoming obstacles” and being “resilient”[10:12] There are things to do to be response-oriented[13:47] Liz discusses how she and Cheryl approach obstacles. Cheryl insists on being active and not passive[18:50] Cheryl talks about the importance of the client seeing that you are in control[24:34] Building trust with the client is essential, and it’s not about your feelings. It is about how you think about your feelings[32.54] What is the recipe for how to manage obstacles and the importance of your team seeing confidence and not falling apart[42:19] Cheryl’s damn good truth
RESOURCE LINKS:
Damn Good Designer - Website
The Business of Kitchen & Bath
Want to recession proof your business? Become the expert in the room. Let Cheryl and Liz help YOU do it.
Cheryl's excitement for kitchens and baths is contagious! Gain extended knowledge in kitchens, baths, remodels, and new construction and how to anticipate the needs of clients and contractors.
Sponsored by: The Design ParadigmDisruptive Reinvention. Are you ready? The Design Paradigm is a 12 month comprehensive and powerful business coaching program for creative entrepreneurs who are serious about running a profitable business and being the expert in the room.  It is the only coaching program to combine individual attention & accountability with live group workshops, 12 written 300+ page workbooks, honest video presentations and customized attention to your needs. The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Small Business - Think Big - Facebook
ABOUT THE HOSTS: 
Cheryl Kees Clendenon
2021 KBB Person of the Year
2022 Design Studio winner Dallas Arts Awards
2021 Changemaker Design Hounds
Liz Lapan
VP of Everything, Interior Designer, 
Work Wife, Team Cook, Unicorns