Page 19 – Claire Jefford

How To Run An Interior Design Business

I think there is a romantic idea about being an entrepreneur, especially as an interior design business owner. No one sees the hard work you put in.

The focus tends to be Instagram-worthy after photos, unless you share ‘behind the scenes’ on site in your IG stories. (which I highly recommend!)

When you tell others what you do, the response, “Oh that must be so fun!” is not uncommon. Am I right? You know you’ve heard that one before!

But honestly, running an interior design or decorating business can be tough. Don’t worry though, I’m here to help you!

The Business Start-Up Checklist is a good place to start in understanding what you will need to run your business.

Now to see my highest viewed Coaching video, ‘How To Run An Interior Design Business’, click on the video below.

1. Determine What Services To Offer

With every client project and experience, you’re going to quickly find out what you love about the interior design business and what you’d rather not do.

As your business gains traction and you make more money, outsource the tasks you don’t enjoy or simply remove them altogether as a service you provide.

For example, I used to do all our renderings and concept designs for clients. Now I outsource this task so I can focus on other aspects of the business that I love, like meeting with clients; curating beautiful designs and making videos!

Design by Claire Jefford Inc., Photography by Stephani Buchman.

Either way, make sure you know what services you’re going to offer. This way you can confidently explain not only what you do, but also the benefits of working with you.

Get my FREE 25+ Page Guide Now

I like to have a Discovery Call with every potential client and then an initial consultation to make sure everyone is a good fit for the proposed project.

2. Helpful Resources & Design Tools

You will need to invest in some key design tools for your business. This will rely heavily on my first point listed above in terms of knowing what type of services you are going to provide.

For example: Software for creating 3D renderings, large colour boards, an accounting system, an intuitive project management system and anything else you need to work efficiently and effectively.

3D Software Program

See how fabulous this room turned out in real life here

Clients living room in 3D using Chief Architect, Design Pro. By Claire Jefford

Project Management Software

Mydoma is the premier platform for interior designers who want to spend less time managing, get paid faster, grow their business, and get supported by an incredible community while doing it.

Watch the video below for more information on how it works.

If you like what you see, since I am a proud brand ambassador of Mydoma you can take advantage of my promo code to try it out. (Note, this is an affiliate link)

Large colour boards have been another huge asset for my business. They make it easier to choose the right paint colour and I can show clients why I recommend one colour over another colour.

I take my large paint boards to every meeting and confidently specify paint colours.

Materials to Hand

In my office I have a small library of fabric and wallpaper books; brochures & catalogues as well as many samples that I am able to reference as needed. I can also bring some of these items to clients’ homes to be best prepared for the initial consultation meeting, depending on their needs.

Go check out ‘What’s in my bag‘ to see contents of what I might bring to a consultation.

You can order many of my favourite items here from my Amazon shop.

3. Organized Processes

Sure, Interior Decorating and Design can be fun, but there is a lot that you need to know and keep track of!

You MUST be organized and professional with your onboarding process, tracking inquiries, sourcing and placing orders, customizing designs and much more.

To make the most efficient use of your time while maintaining your sanity, you NEED to have streamlined processes.

Design by Claire Jefford.

Having a background in Human Resources has served me well in this area, I actually thrive on being super organized! If you hate coming up with wording for email and making checklists and forms, or creating a process flow chart, let me help save you a ton of time with my proven processes.

My ‘ROCK the Initial Consultation Processes Package‘ takes you from the very first call to the end of the initial consultation. EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS HERE.

Ready to knock your clients socks off? Heck yeah!

With more than 20 forms/templates/checklists to download; 7 pre-drafted emails and 3 videos, it’s full of so much invaluable content that is already done for you. All you have to do is add your own branding such as logo and font colours!

Stop re-inventing the wheel with every new client or worse, flying by the seat of your pants and making it up as you go along!

Contract Templates for various services & for the best price here.

As part of your process, DO NOT underestimate the importance of having clear and thorough contracts. Learn more about my Contract Templates, they are available now and for immediate download.

4. Establish Relationships with Quality Tradespeople

One huge benefit that you will serve to clients, is as a resource to quality and trustworthy trades.

Customers will want to know that they can rely on you for recommendations of great referrals such as builders, general contractors, painters, plumbers, electricians, and anyone else who might be required to carry out work on a renovation or decorating project.

However, this is where it’s super important to understand how you will work with your trades.

Will you happily pass along their details and have clients liaise with them directly?

Or, will you oversee each project while scheduling, managing and collecting payment for all of the trades?

If you haven’t heard my podcast episodes with 2 of my contractors, you’ll want to take a listen here.

I personally don’t love project management. Therefore, we happily recommend trades to clients, but typically only to clients who have hired us for ongoing design services. Good trades are hard to come by, so do your homework and be clear on your working relationship.

Bernhardt Showroom, Highpoint Market.

You will also need to set up accounts for vendors and suppliers for various products such as plumbing fixtures, appliance, flooring, tile and furniture. When you’re attending trade shows, build your relationships with local vendors to make purchases.

If you haven’t been to a furniture trade market and you offer custom decorating services, click here to get insider tips from other designers’ on how to navigate the showrooms and plan your trip.

5. Plan Your Marketing Strategies

In today’s busy world, you will want to be promoting yourself through social media platforms, as well as with face-to-face interactions in your local community. (Unless you will be focused only on E-design).

No matter what services you choose to offer, you will need a solid marketing strategy in place so people can find you to understand how you will save them money and how you can offer so much value to a project! This is why having a great online presence and strong relationships with others in the industry (both on line & in your local community) is imperative.

A great way to express yourself is via video. I’ve been using video in my business since 2013.

Video is one of the best tools for connecting with and speaking directly to your ideal clients.

With Facebook Live and Instagram stories, however, it couldn’t be easier to hit the record button and share what you have to offer with the world! And because what we do is so visual, there’s a ton of content ideas that we can share on a daily basis.

Physical promotional materials are perfect to pass onto with trades, suppliers, friends, neighbours and clients. See here for the brochure that I created to showcase my services and learn how I use it in my business to attract new clients.

6. Build your reviews

Ask your happy clients for a testimonial after the project is finished. Businesses are often successful because of repeat business and referrals, and our interior design industry is no different.

I used to ask for reviews on Houzz as I get a lot of my business from that platform. But over the past couple of years, I have turned my focus to Google for getting reviews and it’s paying off.

Then be sure to SHOUT ABOUT each review and share in your social media posts.

I appreciate that Houzz is not very well-liked in our industry, so you will need to consider which platform you wish to align your business with and where you end up getting most of your online traffic to your website from.

You will always want to add them to a testimonials page on your website, as reviews are a BIG DEAL to consumers.

7. Make money!

You are in business to make money. Sure, this business is our passion, but it’s still a business.

What are you going to charge? How are you building multiple revenue streams? Are you making commissions on furniture sales?

In running your interior design business, you will find that you have a lot of outgoing expenses. Everything starts to add up fast and it’s mandatory for you to be making a profit at the end of the day. This doesn’t make you greedy, it makes you a smart business owner.

You may very well be leaving money on the table, when you should be charging for your time and invaluable knowledge.

In this video I show you how you can make more money…like up to $25,000 or more per year!! Yeah, you don’t wanna miss that, it’s a game-changer.

Want to take your business to the next level? Here are a couple of more ways that I can help.

Apply to join my FREE FB group with over 6000 members

Join my FREE Facebook Group – Interior Design Business Strategies. IDBS…where there is no BS. It’s a supportive, highly resourceful and incredible group of talented designers from all over the world.

The engagement is unparalleled and people are sharing so much, every single day. Click here to request to join my tribe and be sure to answer the required questions to be considered for approval.

Work with me one-on-one for a video coaching call! See what other designers are saying about hiring my services here. Feel free to reach out and connect with me to find out more information or to book your one on one coaching session today.

Book your call with me here

What else do you consider important in terms of running an interior design or decorating business? Comment below, tell me what you think!

Please note: some links on this page are affiliates and therefore earn me a small commission should you choose to purchase a product or sign up to a program. There are no extra fees incurred at all. Thank you for your trust and support.

The Initial Phone Call: 5 Must-Ask Questions

Before I take on any new client, I recommend having an initial discovery call first. This phone call gives you the opportunity to get to know the needs of a potential client and figure out if you are a good fit for one another.

This discovery call will also help to identify possible red flags, which is another good indicator as to whether or not it’s the type of client or project that you wish to take on.

BUT!! Before we dive into my post with video, I’ve got something that may be of serious interest to you.

If you want to tighten up your processes, ROCK the Initial Consultation AND see a video of how I conduct a discovery call, as well a consultation meeting, listen up!

Do you feel like you’re flying by the seat of your pants & re-inventing the wheel with every new client project you take on?

Are you lacking organized processes that are essentially holding you back from converting inquiries into clients and client consultations into design projects?

Would you like to feel more confident when communicating with potential clients on the discovery call and in the initial consultation meeting so you can charge more?

Get ready to make things happen in your business, because I can help! I’m so freakin’ excited about this because I know it’s going to be valuable for so many in our industry. To buy now, click here.

In addition, I’ve also got a Quickstart Interior Design Business Plan.

Find out more about the Quickstart Interior Design Business Plan here.

This is ideal for you if you are a student; in the early stages of setting up your business or thinking about starting your interior design or decorating business.

Okay, here are the 5 questions I ask on the initial call:

1. Where did you hear about me?

Always take notes to log the date of the call; where the person inquiring about your services found you & if they booked an appointment for an interior design or decorating consultation.

This data will help you keep track of each inquiry in order to determine any patterns or consistencies. You will also want to use this information to know where to focus your future marketing efforts and understand which platforms are working the best for you.

2. Where do you live?

If you have a location-based business like I do, this is very important. I don’t like to stray too far from my interior design studio here in Burlington, Ontario. If a potential client lives over 25 – 30 minutes away from me, I’ll factor in a time allowance for travel/gas/wear and tear on my vehicle etc and advise them of this rate, which is in addition to the initial consultation fee.

My outdoor studio.

Always be upfront with your processes and rates, then people can decide if they still want to work with you and pay the extra costs.

If this is important to you as well, be sure to ask this question before getting into too many details about the project.

If a potential client is out of my service area, I can almost always recommend another design professional who can help. It’s nice to refer business to other colleagues you trust, so I find that this is a win-win for everybody.

3. What are your timelines?

Asking about timelines can reveal so much about a potential client and their expectations. When asked this question, if the response is that they are already in the middle of a project and things are getting crazy with all the decisions they need to make, you will then need to decide if that is the type of situation you want to be walking into or not.

Kitchen Design by Claire Jefford.

Personally, I prefer not to take on projects where homeowners are in a panic and have tight timelines for making decisions. There are of course exceptions and you will need to go with your gut instincts.

Another element to consider is that if you make yourself available too soon, you could be setting the tone and their expectations going forward, should they decide to hire you on for further services.

When homeowners recognise the importance of having a plan and they understand that things take time, that is music to my ears!

I highly recommend understanding and setting their expectations from the beginning. Don’t let someone else’s lack of proper planning become your red alert emergency.

4. What is your budget?

It’s not uncommon for most home owners to either underestimate the price of a renovation project or be completely oblivious to realistic costs. (We mainly have HGTV to thank for this!)

If a potential client doesn’t have a realistic expectation of what things cost, have an open conversation with them early on. Never shy away from talking about their ‘investment amount’ because it’s imperative to know this in order to successfully plan, source and manage their expectations going forward.

I like to send clients one of my ‘Naked Truth’ videos where I highlight all the costs of a custom decorating project. This gives them a very good idea of what type of investment we are looking for them to make, should they wish to work with us on our Elite Decorating Package.

Click here to see how much this living room cost.

During the initial consultation, you can provide them with ideas of costs involved for their specific project. I like to break it down by room or by items for purchase and give ranges of pricing as opposed to throwing out one ‘ballpark’ figure.

If you aren’t sure about costs yourself, it’s fine to let them know that you need to review their ‘wants’ list and possibly even speak with your trades before you can get back to them with estimated pricing.

5. Have you worked with a designer before & do you have trades & suppliers already lined up for the project?

You will want to know if a potential client has previously worked with a designer and if “it didn’t work out”, this may be a red flag.

If they have worked with an interior design professional, ask for feedback about the dynamics of that relationship and really listen to the answers to establish if there is a pattern or if they simply were not a good fit.

I also like to ask if they have specific contractors or buyers that they want to use on the project. This helps me to understand the level of involvement that they may be seeking in terms of design assistance.

If they already have active supplier and/or furniture accounts, you will need to decide whether or not this is the way in which you want to work with clients, knowing that there may be little to no room for making commissions on products.

Some designers prefer to bring in and manage all of their own trades on a job, while others are happy to work with a clients’ contractor. If you choose to work with trades that you are not familiar with, be sure to state in your Letter of Agreement or contract that you will not be liable for their work and clearly state how you will communicate with them for details of the project.

The discovery call is a great place to begin a new client relationship. Make the most of your call by asking the right questions.

What other questions do you like to ask on the initial phone call with potential interior design client?

Laminates are back and ‘Steam’ is hot!

Laminates are back. Yes, you read that correctly.

Quartz may be the preferred choice at the moment for counter tops (at least they are here in Canada) but in Europe, laminates have been slowly creeping back into the spot light in the interior design industry.

More on that a little later in the post. But first, things are about to get steamy…

I wanna be here now! Image courtesy of Mr.Steam

You may have noticed that I’m sticking with the theme of kitchen and bath design as I wrap up my final post from the sponsors of the fabulous Modenus KBIS Blog tour last month.

There are so many different aspects of interior design, it’s actually one of the things that I love most about this business. I am always learning something new.

Take ‘steam’ for instance. While I figured that it had positives effects for those who use it and that it’s certainly known as a wonderful way to relax, I had no idea how many other benefits there were to using steam!

My husband has eczema; my daughter has asthma; and both my son & daughter have different types of allergies. Using steam can help with all of these issues! We learned so much about this & much more at the fabulous luncheon that ‘mr.steam‘ hosted on the last day of our tour.

On the boat from our hotel on our way to lunch hosted by ‘Mr.Steam‘

Using steam also has benefits for holistic heath, like removing toxins from the body -ah em, like alcohol. 😉 Steam relieves stress & promotes deep, restful sleep as well as increasing blood circulation and muscular flexibility.

With all of these positive effects, it’s definitely something to consider suggesting to clients for your next bathroom renovation project. To learn more and to see the new Lexington Collection of Towel warmers from mr.steam, click here or on the video below.

I simply must share with you whose gorgeous bathroom design that is in my thumbnail above and in the image below. Designer extraordinaire, Erica Islas was also on the KBIS Blog Tour and it was so nice to meet her. She used mr.steam in this clients’ bathroom design.

Erica told us at the luncheon that she explained to her client the benefits that steam would have for the entire family, especially her children…and that sealed the deal!

See more of Erica’s beautiful design work here. EMI Interior Design

Next up…

This next topic is just as ‘hot’ as steam, but it hasn’t always been this way.

When you are working with your clients, would you say that the majority ask for natural stone or a quartz when sharing their wish list for their counter-tops in either the kitchen, bathroom or laundry room? I know quartz has long been the most popular go-to for me when specifying counter-top materials for clients over the last 5 years.

However, that could be changing soon.

The counter, cabinet covering and the back splash are all laminates! From Wilsonart

Wilsonart has coined the term ‘Material Mixology’ and as in many areas of design and decor, we are encouraging home owners to mix metals, textures and other finishes. Gone are the days when everything was ‘matchy matchy’. There are more great examples in my final video from KBIS which you can see here or click on the image below.

You can even test what their products will look like in various rooms of the house by using their new on line visualising tool! Below is just one ‘material mixology’ combination that I came up with while playing around with this highly effective (and addictive) program.

Show your clients the possibilities of what their space will look like, before committing to the space! Very similar to 3D design, which I strongly believe in and has been invaluable for my business.

Create your own design here

If you are still not convinced about laminates, Wilsonart also have stunning quartz that you can choose from, like these latest ones shown below.

New line of quartz from Wilsonart. A bit more expensive and oh so pretty!

So that’s a wrap from this years’ KBIS! I’d love to hear from you to know if laminates are warming their way back into your designs? Are you convinced?

Or leave a comment to let me know if you’ve used steam for a clients’ bathroom design. Our bathroom renovation is WAY overdue, so I will definitely be looking into using this product. Plus, the people behind all of the brands sponsoring the Blog Tour were so great and that makes all the difference when choosing who to partner with for any design project.

Please note that according to FTC rules, I need to disclose that my trip to KBIS was a free trip. My hotel, airfare & some meals were covered. It was fabulous, I won’t lie. Plus, I got to escape the -40 degree temperatures here in Toronto, so I was thrilled about that. However, all views expressed in this post are my own, no body tells me what to do…nobody puts baby in the corner!

This Is Why Homeowners Hire Designers

As an interior designer, you should always be seeking out new ways to elevate your client projects to give them that ‘WOW’ factor.

After all, it’s the subtle yet exquisite details that set you apart as an Interior Design professional and that’s why your clients are paying you the big bucks, right?!

In this post I’m featuring two sponsors from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS).

First up, Metrie!

Known for their quality craftsmanship and beautiful designs, Metrie was founded in Vancouver, Canada more than 90 years ago.

Every house has trim, doors and baseboards (obviously). But if these are the ‘builder basic’ moldings, then this is where there is opportunity for you to show your clients the possibilities of how they can enhance these elements in their home while consulting on a renovation project.

To watch my latest video, click on the image above. That stunning bathroom design in my YouTube thumbnail is a design by the very talented Lisa Mende, of whom I had the pleasure of meeting, as she too was on the Modenus Blog Tour.

You’ll want to be sure to see the other side of that gorgeous space in my video, as well as truly awe inspiring designs by Sophie Burke Design and Atmosphere Interior Design. Click here to watch it now.

Here’s some teaser shots in case you are not convinced to press play on my video just yet…

Metrie’s shiplap series (like Joanna Gaines uses). They are also introducing a new line which will be pre-painted!!!

Bohemian look with custom built in bench seat

The pink and black doors below remind me of the Pink Ladies’ jackets from Grease. 🙂

Get inspired daily by Metrie (feed shown below) , follow them here on Instagram.

Metrie Instagram Feed

Now let’s skip to the loo!

Did you know that based on a study done in America, those who live to be 79 years old will spend an average of 1.5 years of their life in the bathroom?! Weird statistic, I know.

Though it makes you give some serious consideration (and it could be a great selling point to your clients) to just how important it is to ensure that if we are spending that much time in one place, we need to enjoy our time while we are there.

Our next sponsor of the KBIS Blog Tour is a powerhouse of many brands that can help you achieve great design in an array of style for any bathroom project. My video shows you just some of the ways that the Lixil Group have incorporated technology and beauty to enhance the moments we experience in most personal and private room in the home.

Crucial design elements in the washroom can often be overlooked by homeowners & builders, so that’s where you as the interior designer extraordinaire can really shine!

You will no doubt recognise these well known brands that can be found under the Lixil umbrella – American Standard, Grohe and DXV.

In the video I feature the Spectra+ Touch shower head which has 5 different spray options that can all be changed with the touch of your finger, even when wet. (shown in image below)

With the Spectra+ eTouch, you can mount the remote control on any shower wall. This is ideal if you (or your clients) have trouble reaching the shower head due to age, mobility restrictions or height – like me at just 5′ tall!

Easy peasy touch system

You will also see the new Spa Let Toilet from DXV. This is an all in one, hands free toilet and bidet. Yes, this beauty will rinse & dry you…it even has 4 different temperatures settings for the dryer!

I bet you are probably wondering if it can do your groceries and put your kids to bed as well, right? Well, not yet. But if we ask DXV nicely, they may consider this for the remodel. HAHA!

Lastly, I couldn’t write this post and not mention the super talented designers that were part of the DXV 2017 Design panel. Below is the extraordinary design created by the talented Michele Alfano, who I had the pleasure of meeting on the 2016 Modenus Blog tour.

Mid Century Hygge style by Michele Alfano Designs (the image in my thumbnail is also by Michele)

On a side note, Michele is in my Video For Profits (VFP) Facebook group which is exclusive to anyone who bought my VFP course. She has made some great marketing videos and I’m really proud of how my peeps there are embracing video! If you are ready to attract better clients and make more money, click here to find out more.

There were also 3 other fabulous designers who participated in the panel that you will want to see. You can see their designs and learn more about the DXV panel event here.

So many amazing products to see at KBIS! Click here to see my entire video series from the show so you can see the latest trends in interior design.

Sexy & Smart?! It is possible…

What makes a kitchen?

I’m not talking about you as the fabulous one who designs it and chooses the finishes. Nor am I referring to our talented contractors who actually build it.

I mean, what really makes a kitchen? It’s the ‘hub of the home’. The place where everyone comes together when there’s a party. The place you make memories baking cookies and licking the icing off of the spoon with your little ones.

We as interior designers can make a kitchen sing with a carefully thought out design and stunning aesthetic, that’s for sure. But when combined with innovative products that function for our clients’ busy schedules; everyday rituals & entertaining needs, now that is the secret behind the magic of great design.

Earlier this month, I was in Orlando at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) as a part of the Modenus Blog Tour. This was my second time attending KBIS as a Designhound and I was privy to see many of the latest products and trends in kitchen & bath design.

If you’d prefer to dive right into my video & all the eye catching goodness I’ve packed in there for you, click here or on the image below.

Thermador was one of the sponsors of the tour and it was especially exciting to be there this year because it was the largest launch in the company’s history with over 300 new products!

I couldn’t possibly fit them all into a 3 minute video, but I do share the appliances of theirs that stood out for me the most.

If you are in Canada like me, go to Thermadors’ website here to see more. For my friends south of the border in the US, here is the site you want.

My video will tempt your taste buds. It will give you a sneak peak of what’s available and how you can totally up your game and wow your clients when specifying these appliances for your next amazing kitchen renovation project.

Gas cooktop and down draft from Thermador

What I love about all the brands who sponsor the blog tour is that they truly care about the end consumer. Thermador is a leader, a brand that others in the industry look up to. They pride themselves on listening to feedback from those who use their products, in order to improve upon them.

Plus, they sure know how to throw a freakin’ party! Below, rocking out with design besties to One Republic at the private launch party.

Jana Rae of Jana Donohoe Designs and Sheri Brunea of GITYYC

When I can finally convince my husband to renovate our kitchen, even though I don’t cook, Thermador will definitely be the first place I go. I am purely thinking about my husband of course.

Okay, that may be a slight white lie. It’s important for me to know that a kitchen is going to look good too. It needs to be functional, without compromising on look, that’s the best way to put it. Without a doubt, Thermador is leading the way at ticking both of those important boxes and much more.

Next up from KBIS, Metrie! Stay tuned for that video soon.

Claire xo

Interior Design Marketing Brochures

How do you get the word out about your business? What do you provide to potential clients or business partners such as your trades or kitchen companies to show them all the amazing services you offer? If you don’t have anything yet, don’t sweat it, that’s why I’m here!

In this post, I want to share with you my latest marketing brochure for my interior design business & tell you:

Why I created this brochure?
Who will I give it to?
What am I hoping to accomplish with it?

Check out the video below to find out answers to those questions and more.

I decided to design a marketing brochure to be able to share it with my contractors; other trades; my kitchen company and also with clients.

On the cover of my brochure, I wanted to have a ‘WOW’ factor to grab attention. So I used a professional photograph of my infamous white bathroom. I also added my logo and tagline to tie in with my branding. (it looks blurry here because I copied the cover photo rather than grabbing the original..but you get the idea!)

Inside, it has information about my services with a quick synopsis with bullet points. Creating this professionally printed brochure allowed me the the opportunity to meet with trades for a catch up and I made sure that I also met up with the kitchen company who built my clients’ custom kitchen that is shown inside my brochure.

So consider how you can continue to build on the relationship that you already have with your suppliers or with your trades as well.

Not only does this feature what we can do, but it also has a client testimonial which is always powerful to include and share with others. (see below) Remember, if you don’t toot your own horn, ain’t no one else gonna do it for ya!

As we do a lot of 3D designs, I wanted to include this as a featured service. This is great because when I give this to my contractor, he can show this to his clients and confidently recommend why they should hire our interior design or decorating services.

The brochure lists what our packages includes & who would benefit from hiring our services. PLUS, with the rendering and then the after photo, then can also SEE what magic we can do for them!

On the reverse side of the brochure, you can see all the other services that we provide. Adding photographs are great visual tools so potential clients can see the fabulous work that you do and you’re also setting the standard for your level of professionalism.

When you are designing a similar marketing product, be sure to add in any awards you have received; memberships you are a part of and a professional headshot of you – so potential clients can connect with you on a more personal level.

I’d love to hear if you’ve done something similar and if you found success with it. Let me know by commenting below.

Want more one-on-one advice for your business? Did you know that I offer Coaching?

Find out more about my 90 minute video coaching call here.

‘A Well Designed Business’ Podcast

Earlier this year at the Las Vegas market, I had the pleasure of meeting LuAnn Nigara, the host of a ‘Well Designed Business Podcast’. If you are familiar with the podcast, you already know how fabulous LuAnn is!

What I especially love about the way LuAnn conducts her interviews with guests on her show, is how she asks the hard hitting questions that we all want to ask. She’s so great at taking a step back to fully understand the scope of any issue or topic, before digging deeper to find out more.

I was so excited when I got the request to be a guest on her show!

LuAnn’s podcast focuses on many aspects of the business side of interior design (hence the name of the show AND another reason why I love her so!).

While we obviously discussed business strategies & marketing during my interview, it will probably come as no suprise to you that our conversation had a great deal of focus around video and how it’s been invaluable to growing my business.

To check out the podcast, click here. Normally I’m the one doing the interviews, so this made for a nice change!

If you aren’t already subscribed to a Well Designed Business podcast, you need to go sign up here.

For an idea on what we discussed, please see below for the Show Highlights:

Claire’s incredible level of interaction, leadership, and expertise, on her Facebook Group, Interior Design Business Strategies.
What Claire’s career in Human Resources involved and how it’s informed her career in Interior Design.
Claire explains how she manages to produce her really professional looking videos- all by herself!
The difference between doing a Facebook Live and doing a Youtube video.
The importance of having a plan, ahead of time, for your video.
How and where Claire uses her videos on the services she offers. People really relate to them.
Claire explains some of the technical aspects of how she makes her videos.
You really don’t need a fancy setup to make professional looking videos if you’re using a smartphone.
If the content is good, people are going to watch, even if you don’t look your best.
How Claire edits her videos and the software she uses to do that.
The numerous things that you can do with the Camtasia App.
Creating a moving video out of still pictures with Camtasia.
How long it took for Claire to become adept at using Camtasia. It really isn’t that complicated.
How Claire cues herself when making her videos.
How Claire manages to re-use her video content from Youtube to Facebook Live, Instagram, or even to send to a client.
How to let people know where to find your videos.
The benefits of not being perfect.
The marketing value in producing a body of work on Youtube.
Why you need to keep asking your clients for reviews for your videos.
How Claire goes about asking her clients for reviews.
Claire’s great, actionable tips for new Designers who don’t yet have a portfolio.
Claire’s course on making videos.
The great resources available for those of you who are looking for more in-depth information from Claire, on how to market your business through video.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level via video marketing? My Video For Profits course is available now! Find out more about it here or by clicking on the image below. What are you waiting for?

Learn more here about this dynamic course that will elevate your business.

Make More Money In Your Interior Design Business

Making more money is something we all want to do, right? We are running a business after all, so even though we love what we do, working for free is not an option – not for this gal anyway and it shouldn’t be for you either!

There is a simple way to make more money in your interior design business and I’m sharing this with you today in my latest video. What is the secret sauce, you ask? Watch my video below to find out and start making more money TODAY!

So here’s the secret, in case you decided to jump past my video and keep scrolling.

Charge for your time.

I know what you might be thinking, “Claire, I do charge for my time.”

But do you really? Do you charge for ALL of your time?

As entrepreneurs, we have many outgoings to consider such as bookkeeping or website services and business insurance, just to name a few. This all adds up, so we need to be profitable at the end of the working day, to be smart business owners.

So, how are you going to make more money in your interior design business?

Let your clients know how you charge

You have to be upfront with your clients from the offset. We can’t assume that people know how we work. We may do what we do everyday, but our clients do not. We need to educate them on our processes and this includes being up front, confident and clear about our billing methods.

In order to manage expectations, you first explain to them on the initial discovery call, how you work.

Hang on though, let me back up for a second. A potential clients first touch point with you, is likely going to be through your interior design website. Your website should clearly convey your brand message; the services you provide; give a good indication of how you work with clients; and the value that you can bring to a renovation or decorating project. (like I do in this video)

This is a whole other topic for a blog post, but to manage expectations in the best way possible and to find your ideal clients, adding video content to your website will help you with that 100%. To learn more about how to do this effectively, click here.

Now back to my point at hand.

In order to be sure that you are billing for your time, it’s imperative that clients understand your processes. You can clearly outline this in your letter of agreement (LOA.) For our clients, we review the LOA at the end of the initial consultation before commencing design services.

This one page contract keeps everyone on the same page. Now, when you charge for your time – no matter how small of a task – your client understands that you batch your work in time-based increments, and they’ll know what to expect from you in terms of invoicing for your time. It’s always best that there are no surprises when it comes to invoicing your client.

How does this work in my business?

I bought a simple agenda from an office supply store that has each day broken up by time. I prefer to use the style of agenda that includes 15-minute blocks of time. I log everything that I do for each client in the appropriate time block.

Why do I do this?

Because in the past, there were many times that I was sat at my desk for hours, diligently working away before I realized that I hadn’t charged a single client for my time!

Every email that you reply to; conversations with your contractor about details of a project; phone calls to follow up on orders – all of this is billable time. You are working on behalf of your client, offering your amazingly invaluable services in order to make their life easier. All of this time needs to be logged and billed for.

It might seem like you’re just clearing out your inbox, but if you’re not charging for your time, you are simply doing free work. Don’t give away your billable time for free!

For example, when I’m working on a project for clients and I see emails in my inbox from the painter, my electrician, and my clients themselves, I will pull the file for this project, note the time in my agenda, and start working on the clients’ project.

When I’m finished doing these necessary tasks, I write down the details of what I did in my agenda, and then I log this information into QuickBooks immediately as well.

PRO TIP: Do not wait until the end of the week to log your time in your accounting software. If you do, you’re more likely to question the tasks that you did or forget to add everything that you did. Do it that day and you won’t miss out on the income you’ve made.

What does this look like in the long run?

Let’s look at it over a stretch of time, as that’s when you can see how this really adds up and how you may be leaving a lot of money on the table.

Let’s say you charge 5 extra hours a week for billable administrative or travel time that you are currently not billing for, and for that time you charge $100/hr. This means you could be making an extra $500 a week! Think about that over the course of a year – or let’s say 50 weeks because you are going to take 2 weeks vacation. (yes, you deserve and should be taking vacations – if you didn’t think you could afford to, after reading this you will know that you can!)

That’s $25,000 a year! Wowzers!

That’s enough money for a new bathroom or a new car or an incredibly lovely holiday with your family. Even if you half that and bill for 2.5 hours a week more for time that you are currently letting pass you by, that’s still $12,500!!

As I mentioned before, everything that you do in your business adds up – your website, advertisements, assistants, bookkeeping, outsourcing CAD or 3D designs, membership fees, coaches, etc. When you charge for your time, you’re making more money which means that you will be more profitable.

This is your business, not a hobby. So, run it your way and make sure you get paid for the hard work you do and for the hours you put in.

Are you charging for all of your time?

Where are you giving your time away for free?

Go grab my Letter of Agreement and confidently charge your worth and bill for your time & hard work.

BOLD: Business of Luxury Design = Bloody Brilliant!

Ever dreamed of being a Luxury Interior Designer?

After attending the BOLD (Business of Luxury Design) Summit in Chicago this past September, I can tell you that the BOLD Masters were down to earth, friendly and willing to openly share their expertise and knowledge.

I was thrilled to attend the summit with fellow #Designhound Michael Ryan, representing both Modenus – The Design Directory and also on behalf of the BOLD summit. I was invited by Veronika Eagleson (Modenus) & Julia Molloy (BOLD). What an honour it was to attend and cover this event!

BOLD has a reputation of being one of the most prestigious interior design business conferences in the world & after attending, I can see why! Not only was the event held at an awe inspiring setting – the Historic Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago – but also, many of the panelists and presenters were A-list designer celebrities.

Can you believe that this was my first time in Chicago?! What an amazing city! I had no idea that this wonderful city was famous for their architecture and skyscrapers, but I quickly learned this after setting out on the Architectural Boat Cruise for 1.5 hours on the Sunday before the show. It was truly fabulous for me to experience this adventure to start off my trip.

I’m spoiling you here because I have not just one video to share with you from BOLD, but two!

The first is a montage of photographs and video footage, showcasing all of the fabulous designers at the event including the panelists; those who participated in the round table discussions; many of the presenters & of course, all of the amazing networking that takes place.

Oh, and did I mention that we also attended a Black Tie Dinner Affair on the 96th floor atop the Hancock Building in the Signature room? Pretty fancy schmancy, eh?!

Lots of valuable business talks, but plenty of fun too!

At BOLD, one of the unique elements that sets this conference apart from other networking events, is the opportunity to ask questions about business practices and marketing strategies with talented designers who have made it big & with other influencers and top leaders in the industry.

But don’t think for one minute that this means you are going to feel inferior or intimiated, quite the opposite actually. It’s very empowering and inspiring to be involved in these discussions and to also hear that many others have struggled with the same issues that we do in our smaller design firms or as single entreprenuers.

Julia Molloy also likes to lighten things up by injecting the occassional dance break where everyone is up on their feet and shaking their booty! She also organised a game that was similar to the Dating Game Show from the 1970’s, but with a focus on Interior Design.

BOLD Masters Pamela Babey, Jamie Drake and Barclay Butera make fabulous contestants as Ray Langhammer hosts the panel and Julia has to guess the answers to the questions asked. You can see that, in the video below!

Did you attend the BOLD summit or would you like to attend? Post below and share your comments.

Before I leave you, I want to say thank you so much for voting me #3 in the Top 100 Influencers contest by Modenus! What an honour and I totally appreciate all your support.

Go here to see all Top 100 finalists, they are a great bunch of designers and very talented group, so I am thrilled to be a part of it.