Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay

Rebecca Hay
  • 4.9 (58)
  • Business
  • Updated Biweekly

I'm Rebecca Hay and I have built a successful interior design business by trial and error, podcasts, online courses and books. Over the last decade I have grown from an insecure student to having career false starts and now I've finally landed where I want to be. Throughout my journey I've become deeply passionate about business and helping other entrepreneurs and career minded women. Each week I'll share tangible takeaways from my own experience and the experiences of other badass women to help you build your confidence and change your business.

  1. 1d ago

    340. How I Went From Budget Clients to Selling $300-a-Yard Fabric

    I didn't go from sourcing $20-a-yard fabric to confidently presenting $300-a-yard fabric overnight. In the early years of my business, I wanted to create elevated, custom spaces, but I was constantly trying to save my clients money. Cheaper fabric here. Retail instead of custom there. And eventually, the design I had envisioned would get watered down. In this episode, I'm sharing what actually helped me break out of that cycle. We're talking about knowing your numbers, setting realistic client expectations, presenting higher-end options with confidence, giving clients fewer choices, having a backup ready, and getting comfortable with the fact that sometimes your client is going to say no. Because if you want to move your design business upmarket, you can't wait until you magically find clients who are already asking for $300-a-yard fabric. Sometimes, you have to be the one willing to put it on the table first. Listen in for the behind-the-scenes story of how I learned to do exactly that. -- FREE WORKSHOP: Ready to Book Better Full-Service Clients? If you're ready to move beyond clients who question every dollar and start booking better-fit, bigger-budget projects, join me for my free workshop: 3 Mistakes Standing Between You & The Full-Service Design Business Of Your Dreams I'm breaking down the common mistakes that can keep talented designers from booking dream clients, plus the practical shifts I used to build a more professional client experience, present proposals with confidence, and grow my own design firm. Save your spot for the free workshop → rebeccahay.com/dream   -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    340. How I Went From Budget Clients to Selling $300-a-Yard Fabric

  2. Sep 15

    339. Want Premium Clients? Become The Designer They Want To Hire.

    Where do you find premium design clients? I think that might be the wrong question. In this episode, I'm breaking down why you don't simply "find" better clients. You have to become the designer they want to hire. I'm sharing my own experience getting stuck in the budget client referral loop, why your portfolio can either reinforce that loop or help you break out of it, and what I've learned about the way premium clients actually make decisions. You'll hear why professionalism matters beyond beautiful design, how your website, photography, offers, and process influence the calibre of projects you attract, and why premium clients often want fewer choices and more confident leadership. I'm also explaining an important distinction: a big budget does not automatically equal a premium client. If you're ready for bigger projects but feel like your current inquiries aren't reflecting where you want your business to go, this episode will help you identify what may need to change.   Resources:  Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp  Learn more about Power of Process   --   This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    339. Want Premium Clients? Become The Designer They Want To Hire.

  3. Sep 8

    338. The Design Business Decisions That Keep You Profitable in a Slower Market with Karin Bennett

    What do you do when the big design projects aren't coming in as quickly as they used to? In this episode, Rebecca sits down with interior designer and business owner Karin Bennett for a candid conversation about the decisions that help keep a design firm profitable when the market shifts. They talk about when it makes sense to take on smaller projects, why Karin continues investing in marketing during slower seasons, and how she balances keeping her team busy with protecting the standards of her firm. Then they get into the numbers: flat fees, tracking hours, implementation fees, and why your pricing model needs to evolve as your services and projects change. You'll also hear why Karin prefers hiring experienced team members, how that has made delegation easier, and what she wishes she had understood about hiring much earlier in her business. If you're navigating a slower season, questioning your pricing or trying to make smarter decisions about what your design business needs next, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.   Episode Resources Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp  Episode 71: Focus on your strengths and take back control of your business with Karin Bennett Learn more about Karin at her website and follow her on Instagram. --  This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    338. The Design Business Decisions That Keep You Profitable in a Slower Market with Karin Bennett

  4. Sep 1

    337. Want More Design Clients? Fix The First Two Minutes Of Your Discovery Call

    Want more design clients? Before you focus on generating more leads, take a closer look at what happens once you actually get a potential client on the phone. In this episode, I'm breaking down how to run a discovery call that helps you pre-qualify the right clients, communicate your value, talk confidently about investment, and move the conversation toward a paid consultation. And a lot of it comes down to what happens in the first two minutes. We're talking about why designers need to stop winging discovery calls, why listening is more powerful than pitching, how to set expectations from the beginning, what to say when it's time to ask for the next step, and why you should never end the call with a vague "let me know." I'm also sharing one number I want every designer to start tracking: your discovery call conversion rate. Because your discovery call isn't just a sales conversation. It's the beginning of your client experience.   Episode Resources: Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp  Ready to create repeatable systems throughout your design business? Learn more about Power of Process. Pricing with Confidence Course   -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    337. Want More Design Clients? Fix The First Two Minutes Of Your Discovery Call

  5. Aug 25

    336. The Power of Pivoting in an Uncertain Design Market with Sascha Lafleur

    What happens when the market changes and the way you've always run your design business isn't working quite the same anymore? In this episode, I'm joined by Sascha Lafleur, co-founder of West of Main, for an honest conversation about adaptability, growth, structure, and what it really takes to build a sustainable interior design business. Sascha shares how West of Main has evolved through different economic cycles, from expanding into furniture and décor services and hourly consulting to building e-commerce, retail, and a designer trade program. We talk about why adding more services isn't always the answer, why smaller firms need to protect their capacity, and how financial data and strong systems allow you to make smarter decisions when the market feels uncertain. You'll hear: How to recognize when your design business needs to pivot Why different revenue streams perform differently depending on the market The hidden operational cost of launching something new Why structure becomes increasingly important as your business grows How to choose what deserves your time and attention Why knowing your numbers gives you more freedom as a business owner How West of Main is supporting designers through its trade program If the design market feels different right now, this episode is a reminder that changing course doesn't mean something has gone wrong. Sometimes adapting is exactly how you build a business that lasts.   Resources: Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp  Episode 68: Scaling your business & virtually servicing your clients with Sascha Lafleur Learn more about Sascha Lafleur at her website and follow her: @westofmain & @westofmainshoppe. Designer Trade Program Discount code: enter code resilientbydesign at checkout   ---- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    336. The Power of Pivoting in an Uncertain Design Market with Sascha Lafleur

  6. Aug 18

    335. I Changed My Business Model. Here's What I Got Wrong.

    Welcome back to the Resilient by Design Podcast. We are back and kicking off a spectacular Season 8!  -- Have you ever looked at your interior design business and thought, How did something I love become this exhausting? Between client requests, invoicing, hiring, managing a team, keeping projects moving, and constantly being the person everything comes back to, it's easy to become so focused on running the business that you lose touch with why you started designing in the first place. I've experienced my own version of that this year. In the first episode of Season 8, I'm taking you behind the scenes of some major changes I made in my business, including stepping away from design projects, changing my business model, and retiring an offer I was known for. And I'm sharing what I got wrong. We're talking about burnout, scaling, systems, becoming the bottleneck, changing your mind, and why trying something that doesn't work is not the same thing as failing. Most importantly, I want you to ask yourself: "Am I actually building an interior design business that I want to run?" Because the goal isn't just more clients, a bigger team, or more revenue, it's building a profitable, sustainable business that gives you the freedom to spend more time doing the work you're actually great at. I'm also sharing what I'm changing next, why Power of Process is returning, and what you can expect from this new season of Resilient by Design.   Resources: Learn more about the Consultations that Convert Bootcamp: https://rebeccahay.com/bootcamp  Join the Power of Process Waitlist for its 2026 Fall Return as you've never experienced before: https://rebeccahay.com/pop-waitlist/   -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

    335. I Changed My Business Model. Here's What I Got Wrong.

  7. Jul 7

    Stop Ignoring your Finances - Here's why its costing you with Danielle Hendon [Rebroadcast]

    Are you avoiding the numbers in your interior design business? In this rebroadcast episode, I revisit my conversation with Danielle Hendon of Four Corners CFO about profit, cash flow, financial planning, and why your bank account balance is not the full story. If you've ever wondered why you're making more money but still feeling stressed, or why your business feels busy but not necessarily profitable, this episode will help you start looking at your numbers differently. Danielle explains why revenue and profit are not the same thing, why designers need to understand their project profitability, and how your finances can become a tool for better decision-making instead of something you avoid. We also talk about bookkeeping, tracking time, understanding expenses, preparing for feast-or-famine cash flow, and using your numbers to build a stronger, more sustainable business. This is the final rebroadcast before the podcast takes a short summer break. New episodes will be back soon. Episode Highlights: Why designers tend to avoid their numbers Why your bank account balance is not enough information The difference between revenue, profit, and cash flow How to think about revenue-generating costs versus operating expenses Why tracking your time matters for pricing How to review your year and plan ahead with more confidence Why understanding your numbers helps you lead like a CEO   Episode Resources: Learn more about Pricing with Confidence: For the designer who's done guessing, undercharging, or dreading "the money talk" and wants to start pricing profitably in just a few hours. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

    Stop Ignoring your Finances - Here's why its costing you with Danielle Hendon [Rebroadcast]

  8. Jun 30

    Picking your Profitable Pricing Model [Rebroadcast]

    Are you busy… or are you actually profitable? In this rebroadcast episode, I'm revisiting an important conversation for interior designers who want to build a more sustainable business: how to choose a pricing model based on real numbers, not guesses. I share why revenue and profit are not the same thing, how to look at the different ways money comes into your business, and why your most profitable revenue stream may not be the one you expect. If you've ever wondered whether your design fees, implementation, consultations, or product resale are actually supporting your business, this episode will help you start looking at your numbers with more clarity. Episode Highlights: Why you need to look at profit, not just revenue How to identify your revenue streams Why tracking your time matters when choosing a pricing model How product resale and implementation can impact profitability A simple exercise to help you understand where your business makes the most money   Episode Resources: Pricing With Confidence   -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

    Picking your Profitable Pricing Model [Rebroadcast]
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About

I'm Rebecca Hay and I have built a successful interior design business by trial and error, podcasts, online courses and books. Over the last decade I have grown from an insecure student to having career false starts and now I've finally landed where I want to be. Throughout my journey I've become deeply passionate about business and helping other entrepreneurs and career minded women. Each week I'll share tangible takeaways from my own experience and the experiences of other badass women to help you build your confidence and change your business.

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