Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast Hot Young Designers Club

You know what they say – Niche Is Riche. Finding a niche for your interior design business can make you rich and successful. But how do you get there, hotties? Shaun and Rebecca discuss the importance of finding and defining your niche in your business. They also share different approaches to finding and defining your niche, from being true to your personal style and skills to identifying unmet demands in the market. They also explore how to define and market their niches through refined language and curated portfolios.
They encourage you to get out there and find your niche. With the right niche, you can build the business and life you want! 

In this episode, they discuss:
Shaun and Rebecca’s plans for the 2024 High Point MarketWhat is a niche, and how can interior designers find and define their nicheDifferent approaches to finding and defining your niche:Being true to your personal style and skillsDoing research and understanding the market gaps to find your niche and not just following trendsHow can interior designers niche down in terms of project type, price point, design style, home type, or target demographicsHow Shaun and Rebecca have been refining their business niche over the yearsImportance of finding a niche that aligns with your skills and expertiseHow niching helps with marketing, branding, and attracting ideal clientsEditing your portfolio — hiding projects that don't align with your style, highlighting projects that showcase your styleHow to overcome common challenges in niching like differentiating from other designersShowcasing your niche through imagery, mood boards, Pinterest, blog posts, etcWorking remotely or nationally to broaden your market size


Mentioned:
Episode 121: Evan Larkin, SEO for Interior Designers: https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/episodes/121-evan-larkin-seo-for-interior-designers/ 

How to Find Your Business Niche on Business News Daily: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6748-business-niche-characteristics.html 

Our links:
Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram
 
Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Today's guest, Jennifer Ramsey, has not only mastered the art of creating stunning personalized spaces but also seamlessly incorporated furniture sales in her design process – a feat that has increased her furniture sales to a new height. In this episode, Jennifer talks about her strategic approach to design and furniture sales that has transformed the way her clients experience the design journey.
In this episode, they discuss:
Jennifer's journey from working for a luxury designer to starting her own businessJennifer's remodeling projects with Tankersley construction Incorporating furniture sales into her design servicesHer client inquiry process and how she communicates costs upfrontThe importance of discussing the budget during initial client callsJennifer’s experience with Sandler Sales System and how it helped her improve her sales processUsing investment guide to set client expectationsJennifer's approach to setting client expectations for minimum purchasing, especially for furnitureThe importance of identifying client pain points during the initial conversation to build trust and tailor her services to meet their specific needsUsing permission statements like “If at any point I’m not a good fit for you, or you’re not a good fit for me, is it okay if we say that to each other?” to establish trust and an open dialogueHandling client's budget fatigue during a projectSetting expectations with clients around furniture and window treatments How using Buildertrend allows contractors to be more organized and also facilitates better coordination with designersThe power of using phrases like, "I don't do unfinished work” to indicate that all phases of the design, including the purchasing part, are scheduled and integrated into the overall project planPosting about her furnished spaces on social media and attracting new clients from it

Mentioned:
Jennifer Ramsey Interiors’ Website: https://jenniferramseyinteriors.com/ 

Follow Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferramseyinteriors 

Episode 105 A Conversation with Tankersley Construction: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/d137f52d-bc81-4f53-b0d2-6c19512c73f7/EP105-Hot-Young-Designers.mp3 

Client Purchasing Guide: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/client-purchasing-guide 

Investment Guide: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/interior-design-investment-guide 

Coach Matt Saia: matt.saia@sandler.com 

Sandler Sales System
a href="https://www.salesleadership.sandler.com/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Ot3xDKiu9dPb6yoZ_eLVnRDMSNkyq3E3DARAaMUNaKXLW_cao4YD5nlWPhm2v1LfGFoHzzPQvzj7P69kVQjSCLuC2oVaMUaFBmQpYfMtIsSdlRKY&_hsmi=310988710&utm_content=310988710&utm_source=hs_email" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Shaun and Rebecca are back with another Ask Us Anything. They answer your questions about marketing, photography, vendors, building and organizing a sample library, managing projects, using tools to help keep your work organized, growing your business, and much more!
In this episode, they discuss:
Shaun and Rebecca’s plans for the upcoming High Point MarketThe best marketing strategies for interior designers starting out — social media, SEO, networking, consistency, etcHow did Shaun and Rebecca start and grow their interior design businesses without a coach or mentorTips for transitioning from buying retail for projects to developing vendor relationships and shopping wholesaleFavorite vendors with a variety of products at different price points for interior designersHow much to invest in your first photo shoot for your website and portfolio, especially when working with a limited client budgetIs working with someone on website strategy a good investment for services like configuring Google Analytics, conducting an audit, and providing reportsIs joining a Chamber of Commerce beneficial for business expansionTips and strategies for building a sample library and keeping it fresh and stockedUsing tools like Harvest and Studio Designer to track time and invoice clientsWhat to do or say when a client wants to be super involved or compromises the designTaking business loans to grow your business
Mentioned:
Ep 83 Acquiring Clients without Instagram
E121 Evan Larkin, SEO for Interior Designers
May Hottie Hangout
https://www.patreon.com/posts/may-hottie-104017706?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
RP Rue Feature
https://ruemag.com/home-tour-2/grandmas-house-gets-a-refresh-how-studio-plumb-updated-a-cherished-family-home-in-east-sacramento
E111 For The Newbies - Things we wish we knew when we started
E001 Meet the Hot Young Designers
Patreon Episode: You’re not making money unless you’re buying wholesale
https://www.patreon.com/posts/youre-not-making-97208553?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Client Purchasing Guide
https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/client-purchasing-guide
Join design community groups like:
NKBA
https://nkba.org/
NARI
https://www.nari.org/
IDS
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Why do interior designers need SEO? Why is SEO the key to keeping your interior design business ranking on Google? SEO expert Evan Larkin explains why SEO is so important for your business’s online presence and gives a live SEO audit of Shaun’s website. Listen in to Evan’s observations on Shaun’s website, Wrensted Interiors, and learn what to fix on your own website.
In this episode, they discuss:
SEO audit of Shaun’s website: https://wrenstedinteriors.com/ Best platforms for website creation for designersThe importance of website accessibility and ADA compliance for SEOMistakes that hurt your SEOImportant on-site SEO elements like meta titles, descriptions, and headersImportance of image optimization for SEO and the best practices that should be followedWhat should be the word count and keyword usage in the website content How to utilize Pinterest to rank up your websiteDo designers need blogs and alternatives to blogsSEO techniques for small businesses — website optimization, link building, using search console, etcThe importance of optimizing your profiles and reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, Yelp, etcWays to optimize a website and service pages for SEO and the user experienceUsing location-specific details in content to improve SEO and connect with local audiencesThe value of local traffic versus national traffic for small businessesHow much SEO work can designers do themselves versus needing help from an agencyThe process for doing an SEO audit with North County Digital

Mentioned:
HYDC Pinterest Masterclass
https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/pinterest-for-interior-designers-masterclass
Listen back to our Pinterest episode with Leah Reinert
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-young-designers-club-interior-design-business-podcast/id1505427626?i=1000637166871
Google Search Console
https://search.google.com/search-console/about
Google Business Profile
https://www.google.com/business/
North County Digital Website: https://www.northcountydigital.com/
Follow North County Digital on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/northcountydigitalmarketing/
Follow Evan on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/evanslarkin/
Our links:
Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
a href="https://www.instagram.com/studioplumb/?hl=en" rel="noopener...

The design industry can be exciting to explore, but it's not always easy to break into. If you're looking to shift careers and work in interior design, Shaun and Rebecca have some valuable advice for you. They talk about the skills from your previous job that will add value to your design career, the challenges career-shifters face when switching into the design industry, and share tips that will help you break into the new field.
In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun discuss:
The challenges of switching careers in interior designTips and strategies for someone transitioning from another career into interior design Transferable skills someone can bring from another career that offers value in interior designChallenges entrepreneurs face when switching industriesThe need for entrepreneurs to set aside their ego to have a successful learning experience when switching industriesChallenges designers face in taking on inexperienced interns or employeesHow can career changers demonstrate value beyond just design skills when pursuing opportunities in interior designThe challenges of transitioning from DIY home projects to working professionally in the design industryWhat designers look for when it comes to hiring and training new employeesWhat does it take to find the right fit when switching to a new industry like interior design
Our links:
Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
Rebecca’s Instagram 
Shaun’s Instagram
For more information - Check out the website
Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
Design Resources - Check out our shop
Mentioned in this episode:
Moe's Home Collection
Moe's just released their new Tailored & Timeless Collection.
Create an accout at https://moeshomecollection.com/hydc

Today’s guest, Ashley Ausland, shares her journey of growing her design business over the last few years while dealing with personal hardships—divorce, cancer, and becoming a single mother of four kids. She discusses the lessons she learned about business management, client relationships, and creating homes with soul and timeless appeal.
In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun speak with Ashley Ausland to discuss:
Ashley’s journey of starting her business from her garage with no employees to now having a team of 4Ashley’s struggles and healing process of going through divorce and cancer and learning the importance of boundaries, self-care, and forgivenessGrowing her design projects from small remodels to ground-up constructionsVetting clients carefully by looking for red flags like clients who want to change contractsHow Ashley balances her business with caring for her four kids as a single momAshley’s struggles with delegating design work and maintaining creative control over projectsIncorporating vintage elements and old designs into new homesPreserving historical details in home renovationsFocusing on durability and value over trendsAshley’s billing model and the challenges she faces while time trackingThe challenges designers face with sharing their work and receiving feedback
Mentioned:
Ausland Interiors Website: https://www.auslandinteriors.com/ 
Ashley Ausland on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/auslandinteriors/ 
Ausland Interiors on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/auslandinteriors/  

Our links:
Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts
Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram
Rebecca’s Instagram 
Shaun’s Instagram
For more information - Check out the website
Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon
Design Resources - Check out our shop
Mentioned in this episode:
Moe's Home Collection
Moe's just released their new Tailored & Timeless Collection.
Create an accout at https://moeshomecollection.com/hydc