Interior Design Business Podcasts - Episode 227

Today’s curated collection of interior design podcasts include episodes from hosts Kate Bendewald, Caroline Touzeau, Chrissie Hart and LuAnn Nigara.

Podcast guests include Jo D'Elia, Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino.

3 of the world’s best interior design business podcasts. Get ready to learn something…

Episode Highlights:

• Designer’s Oasis - Kate Bendewald - How to Serve Clients Well Without Being On 24/7 - 30 min

• Design Duet - Caroline Touzeau and Chrissie Hart - The Art of Fabric: A Conversation with Jo D'Elia from Elliott Clarke - 24 min

• A Well-Designed Business - LuAnn Nigara - Power Talk Friday: Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino: A Virtual Team for Your Interior Design Business - 1 hr, 10 min

Designer’s Oasis - Kate Bendewald - How to Serve Clients Well Without Being On 24/7 - 30 min

Serving clients well and building an interior design business with excellent communication can be done without always being available. Today's episode is all about how to create systems, processes, and communication that allow clients to feel nurtured and cared for without having to always be ON and responsive in the moment. This doesn't come naturally for most of us.

Here's a glance at this episode:

• [5:40] Host Kate Bendewald shares examples of when a client may reach out for something that seems "urgent" and how it can truly interrupt your flow. She also shares strategies for how to handle these situations.

• [9:50] Kate discusses ways to set boundaries with clients from the start that allow you to share some of your boundaries (holidays, working hours, etc) initially prior to signing a contract.

• [12:05] Kate dives into how to set up communication guidelines with your clients around when they can communicate with you and expect a response along with how they can communicate with you (text, email, etc). Kate also shares how to leverage your team to help with communication.

• [16:45] Kate share my thoughts about response time and when a client can expect a response from you. Kate shares how she responds even if it's quick to acknowledge a client's concern and share when they can expect a more detailed response. She also dives into a little bit about how we handle responses with autoresponders and commonly asked questions.

• [21:37] Kate jump into how project management tools can help ease communication and allow clients access to information and concerns they may have. She also shares the ways that they update our clients regularly to help answer the questions that may come up before they even have to ask.

• [27:10] Kate discusses how and when Kate share with my clients when she is going to be away for more than a day or two. Kate encourages you to take time off and truly give yourself permission to take the time off when you need it in a way that truly allows you to relax (and allows for you to tap into your creativity!)

Design Duet - Caroline Touzeau and Chrissie Hart - The Art of Fabric: A Conversation with Jo D'Elia from Elliott Clarke - 24 min

In this episode, hosts Caroline Touzeau and Chrissie Hart sit down with Jo D'Elia from Elliott Clarke, a true connoisseur of textiles, who's been working in the industry for over 10 years. In this captivating conversation, we explore the art of choosing the perfect fabric for your space, whether it's for upholstery, drapery, or decorative accents. Discover the secrets of pairing fabrics with different design styles, and learn how textures can elevate the ambiance of any space. Jo shares her expertise on the latest trends, sustainable fabric choices, and the timeless classics that never go out of style. Whether you're a seasoned designer or someone passionate about creating a cozy home, this episode is your gateway to the enchanting world of fabrics.

A Well-Designed Business - LuAnn Nigara - Power Talk Friday: Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino: A Virtual Team for Your Interior Design Business - 1 hr, 10 min

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know the power of outsourcing. But if you’ve outsourced before, or if you’re just considering it, you also know that it comes with its own set of headaches—from figuring out what you need to hiring to onboarding.

In today's episode, host LuAnn Nigara is joined by Shayna Pellino and Evelyn Roberts, creators of 4D Biz. 4D Biz is essentially a virtual team for interior designers, providing the strategy, the marketing, the admin, and even design support at the level you need for your business. Learn how their set up supports designers and why a virtual team might be right for you!

Pick It Apart

• [1:02] Shayna shares her design story and how the mistakes she made led to 4Dbiz.

• [17:00] Evelyn and Shayna begin to discuss the 4 pillars of support 4Dbiz offers for designers.

• [19:46] Shayna and Evelyn break down how they offer business development help to designers

• [24:08] Evelyn and Shayna unpack how a virtual marketing team for designers works.

• [37:35] Evelyn and Shayna discuss the ways 4Dbiz offers design assistance.

• [42:46] Shayna and Evelyn talk about admin support for interior designers.

LuAnn Nigara, Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino's Ah-Ha Moments

• “The business can suck the soul out of you if you are overworked, if you are not getting the money that you deserve and you are just putting in endless hours and you're not feeling it in your bank account.” -Shayna

• “This new way of doing business is I'm all about it because every single person that works for me has a skill set in an expertise that has been identified as their superpower.” -LuAnn