The BEST Residential Interior Design Podcasts - Episode 219

We’ve got eight essential interior design business podcasts episodes for y’all today. They’re coming at you from hosts Michele Williams, Terri Taylor, Darla Powell, Dennis Scully, LuAnn Nigara, Michelle Lynne, Melissa Galt and Laura Thornton.

Today’s podcast guests are Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole, Hunter and Meredith Ellis, Lisa Scott and Masha Koyen.

If you’re looking to grow or start your interior design business, I guarantee that there is some nugget of info in today’s podcasts that will help you level up. Enjoy.

• Profit is a Choice - Michele Williams - Get Uncomfortable by Choice in Your Design Firm - 58min

• Interior Design Business - Terri Taylor - The Luxury Mindset - 33 min

• Designed by Wingnut Social - Darla Powell - Mini News: Do Hashtags Still Matter? - 12 min 

• Business of Home Podcast - Dennis Scully - The James showroom has taken Texas by storm. New York is next - 55 min

• Window Treatments for Profit - LuAnn Nigara - What Would Lu Do?: Leveraging Industry Relationships for Success - 14 min

• Designed for the Creative Mind - Michelle Lynne - Getting Your Design Business Started The Right Way - 28 min

• The Affluent Creative - Melissa Galt - From Zero to $1.5M in 18 Months with Lisa Scott - 40 min

• The Business of Beautiful Spaces - Laura Thornton - Let's Talk about Copywriting with Masha Koyen from Content Vertical - 31 min

Profit is a Choice - Michele Williams - Get Uncomfortable by Choice in Your Design Firm - 58min

In today’s episode, host Michele Williams is joined by Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs. Kelly and Joann have been together for about 18 years, and they do something every year that has just really been inspiring to me. They go on a mission trip to Guatemala to help others in need.

On the podcast today, Kelly and Joann are going to share about the process of how they came together as business owners, how they implemented and embraced this mission trip, and how they look forward to it every year. There is truly profit in giving to others and you're going to experience that on the podcast today.  

Topics Mentioned:

• Philanthropy 

• Perspective 

• Gap and gain 

Key Thoughts:

• But for ourselves to stay safe sane, and to have a good attitude all the time, that is kind of where we come from that we have our heads on straight. I have to say giving back and going to Guatemala and all those things have helped us to maintain that, so we don't get too wrapped up in ourselves and stupid stuff. Kelly 14:58 

• Yes, I think perspective is a really big deal. Because you need to be reminded, you get kind of on that wheel and if you don't remind yourself, you can get carried away. So, I feel like we do have a really good perspective, we don't work ourselves to the grind. Joann 17:17 

• So, I think for us working in luxury environments, because it is such a big difference in some cases. Honestly, the longer we stay in our luxury ways and luxury businesses, the more we become accustomed to that, and it's important, I'm not saying any of it's wrong, it's just a very different view. The beauty that I think you have, in your perspective, is you've seen both. Michele 33:30 

• Get uncomfortable, put yourself in that place, and go help somebody. Let them be a blessing to you because it'll change the way you deal with other people, the way you approach your business, the way you calm your anxieties, and how you are always chasing that gap that ideal that you'll never get and cause you to relax. It'll help you. Kelly 34:29 

• You know, to look back at that house, it's almost like when we're there, you're kind of on autopilot. You're not sitting here thinking about, oh, I'm hungry, you're just doing it. You're with the group and everybody's doing it and it just kind of happens. It's really amazing. It really is, and I urge people to try to do it. Joann 38:30 

• I say that because sometimes for people who have never done this, this feels so big and so overwhelming, and like there needs to be so much that happens to be ready. That it really is about creating it the same way as if it is a personal vacation. It gets put on the calendar, you plan up to it, you work around it, and you keep going. Michele 44:48 

Interior Design Business - Terri Taylor - The Luxury Mindset - 33 min

In this episode, host Terri Taylor is taking us through the elements of a luxury mindset and how to start implementing them to build your luxury business. 

What is a luxury mindset? 

This is an important concept for interior designers and service providers to understand, so I wanted to revisit this favorite episode. 

There’s a misconception that once you start getting luxury clients, you’ll become a luxury designer, but it just doesn’t work that way. Your luxury mindset needs to come first and the clients will follow. 

Topics covered in this episode include:

• What a luxury mindset is

• Understanding what your luxury client wants

• Why high-end clients don’t make you a high-end designer

• How to avoid caving on your pricing

Designed by Wingnut Social - Darla Powell - Mini News: Do Hashtags Still Matter? - 12 min 

Are you struggling to build your audience on Instagram? Wingnut Social’s Social Media Manager, Whitney, has lots of great tips on how to properly utilize hashtags to get your content discovered by potential clients.

Business of Home Podcast - Dennis Scully - The James showroom has taken Texas by storm. New York is next - 55 min

Hunter and Meredith Ellis are the husband-and-wife team behind the James network of showrooms. The Ellises make for an intriguing pair: Before starting James, Meredith was a designer—Hunter was a news anchor and navy pilot. Together they’ve created a fast-growing, much-admired showroom business with locations in Austin, Dallas, Houston and soon, New York.  

On this episode of the podcast, the Ellises speak with host Dennis Scully about what the design industry can learn from the military, the pros and cons of digitally printed fabric, and why the two of them want to bring a touch of Texas hospitality to the Big Apple. 

Window Treatments for Profit - LuAnn Nigara - What Would Lu Do?: Leveraging Industry Relationships for Success - 14 min

In today’s episode, host LuAnn Nigara talks about the benefits of cultivating strong relationships in the design industry, as we go over the 5 most common and tangible reasons to do so.

LuAnn's Ah-Ha Moments

• “Strong relationships open the door to collaboration. Partnering with other businesses or professionals can lead to new opportunities and increased revenue.” - LuAnn

• “When you have a solid reputation and trust with clients, they are more likely to refer you to others and become repeat customers.” - LuAnn

Designed for the Creative Mind - Michelle Lynne - Getting Your Design Business Started The Right Way - 28 min

In this episode, host Michelle Lynne dives into what it actually takes to start your Interior Design business whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a few years.

Building the foundation of your business the right way is essential to your business success.

In this episode Michelle breaks down the checklist that you can use to make sure you have all the business essentials covered, and talks about how important it is to invest in yourself and your business as well as getting used to being comfortable getting uncomfortable. 

The Affluent Creative - Melissa Galt - From Zero to $1.5M in 18 Months with Lisa Scott - 40 min

In todays episode of The Affluent Creative, host Melissa Galt chats with Lisa Scott, the creative genius behind the highly successful Scott Design Studio. Lisa's story is an inspiring one. In a short span of just 18 months, she's managed to skyrocket from having no clients to making a whopping one and a half million in revenue! 

Today, we're excited to dive deep into her journey and the secret strategies behind her rapid success. Lisa's journey is inspirational, not only because of her rapid rise but also because of her unique approach to business. She believes in the power of visualization and the importance of taking a bold leap of faith. These strategies helped her land the biggest contract of her life, propelling her towards rapid success. 

During our chat, Lisa shares the challenges she faced while expanding her business and managing her team. From procurement to impressing clients with stunning renderings, Lisa spills the beans on how she navigated these obstacles. She also provides valuable advice on how to handle last-minute design changes and collaborate with design rookies. Lisa also highlights the importance of self-awareness and strategic planning for personal growth and business success. We delve into her transformative journey towards becoming an entrepreneur and the mindset shift that came with it. 

From future aspirations to plans for generating additional revenue streams, Lisa's story is packed with practical advice and inspiration. So whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or a budding one, tune in to this episode and learn from Lisa's experiences. It's a conversation filled with nuggets of wisdom that will help you navigate your journey to success.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Lisa Scott's journey from having no clients to making one and a half million in revenue in 18 months

• Strategies and hurdles she faced while managing a design team and expanding a business

• The significance of self-awareness and strategic planning in promoting personal growth and achieving business targets

• How to build a successful creative business and manage a design team's challenges in procurement

The Business of Beautiful Spaces - Laura Thornton - Let's Talk about Copywriting with Masha Koyen from Content Vertical - 31 min

In today’s episode, host Laura Thornton talks with Masha Koyen. Masha specializes in messaging strategy and website copywriting for the interior design industry. Her secret sauce? A data-driven approach using her signature REVEAL framework. She dives deep into the audience's psyche, creating engaging narratives that resonate with their core needs and desires.