A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

By: LuAnn Nigara
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  • Summary

  • In today's world being a talented interior designer isn't enough to ensure that you have a profitable and successful business. Design school curricula doesn't always equip you with the business skills to have your interior design business be everything you imagined it would be! A Well-Designed Business® is here to fill in the gaps and give you real live business skills from some of the top interior designers. Your host, LuAnn Nigara shares her 40 years of success in the interior design industry, and she finds the most successful guests to share their interior design business best practices. This podcast is sponsored by Kravet Inc and Mydoma Studio.
    2016
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Art Economics
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Episodes
  • 1033: Ann Kottler: From Cold Calls to Custom Homes: How to Build Trust with Luxury Builders.

    1033: Ann Kottler: From Cold Calls to Custom Homes: How to Build Trust with Luxury Builders.
    Nov 5 2024
    Today With Ann Kottler: Today with Ann Kottler, we're learning all about designing for elite home builders and managing luxury residential projects. Ann is the founder and principal designer of her namesake firm based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she's established herself as the go-to expert for 7-8 figure new home construction and remodeling projects. In this episode, Ann shares her strategies for building strong relationships with custom home builders, mastering material selection, and creating comprehensive spec books. She reveals how her sales background has been crucial in positioning herself as an invaluable asset to both builders and clients. Ann also offers insights on embracing trades, establishing trust on job sites, and effectively translating complex building information to clients. LuAnn Nigara and Ann Kottler's Ah-Ha Moments “You really need to know your way around a job site. You really need to know how to read a blueprint. You need to understand an electrical plan. You need to understand the HVAC plan. You need to understand the window schedule, all of the things.” - Ann “I'm here to help you and make you look good and make this a positive experience for the homeowner.” - Ann “Your rate goes up because you are getting better. You're worth more” - LuAnn “I'm passionate about this and we're gonna have fun and you're gonna love it when it's done. That's the value that a professional designer provides. But you have to be confident in saying it.” - Ann More About Ann Kottler This Wisconsin girl had big shoes to fill. As a Business graduate from Marquette University in Milwaukee, I knew my dreams went beyond just business and into design. Thus back to school I went to the Illinois Institute of Art where I acquired my Residential Interior Design degree. I’ve been a professional designer for close to a decade now, and it’s been a lifelong passion. I love each and every project from remodeling bathrooms, to helping select materials for gorgeous Lake Geneva vacation retreats. As an interior designer, my goal is to always deliver a space that exceeds client expectations. That includes all phases of a project from concept to installation. My focus is You and our relationship—a relationship which reflects good listening on my part and also building trust so that you know I will deliver something beyond your wildest dreams or hopes. Connect with Ann Kottler Website Instagram What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Kravet Workspace in Basking Ridge, New Jersey Other Shows: AWDB #683: Jessica Matteson: The Client Experience Is #1 in Design AWDB #1018: Power Talk Friday: Connie Whitman: Heart-Centered Strategies to Successful Selling
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • 1032: Power Talk Friday: Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz: The Four Growth Markers of Successful Businesses

    1032: Power Talk Friday: Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz: The Four Growth Markers of Successful Businesses
    Nov 1 2024
    Today With Shayna Pellino: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. If you're feeling stuck in your business, wondering how to make that crucial transition from being self-employed to running a true business, this episode is for you. My guest today, Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz, has identified clear growth markers in the journey of interior design business owners. Through her work with designers - about 20 new conversations every month - she's noticed a common thread: many are stuck in Growth Marker 1, doing everything themselves. Today, she's breaking down what it takes to move beyond that stage, sharing her hybrid pricing approach, and most importantly, helping you understand if you're ready for that transition. But here's the thing - before she tells you how to fix it, Shayna emphasizes that you have to be ready for it and actually want it. It's about more than just implementing new systems; it's about fundamentally changing how you operate your business. LuAnn Nigara and Shayna Pellino's Ah-Ha Moments “It really just simply comes down to if you want to run a business, you have to have clean processes and systems so you can step away and they can run themselves,” - Shayna Pellino “There isn’t one technology out there that is going to solve every piece of this process. It doesn't really matter how you get things done. As long as we carve it out, it's consistent, and other people know exactly how it gets done,” -Shayna Pellino More About Shayna Pellino Shayna Rose is the CEO and Founder of both Shayna Rose Interiors and 4Dbiz. Shayna never expected to create the modern business model that would change the way interior designers run their business! 4Dbiz was born out of her own experience, failures, successes, and needs as an interior designer/business owner. After working in the interior design industry for three years, Shayna knew she had to set out on her own. Working for someone else, Shayna was astounded by the unnecessary obstacles that she was working with - from overly-extended lead times, to a lack of custom solutions, to poor service all along the supply chain. She truly felt she had no choice but to start her own business and revolutionize the industry standard. In 2017, Shayna Rose Interiors was born, followed by 4Dbiz in 2019. Shayna’s guiding principle is “Everyone wins.” She is most inspired by what other people see as problems. She is a solution-oriented visionary, hell bent on changing people’s lives with her ideas and execution - starting with the design industry. Connect with Shayna Pellino 4Dbiz - Special Offer for Listeners Website Facebook Client testimonial, Hannah Lowe Interiors Client testimonial, Leone Interior Designs Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Mydoma Studio Other Shows: AWDB #923: Power Talk Friday: Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino: A Virtual Team for Your Interior Design Business AWDB #990: Power Talk Friday: 4DBiz: An Executive Team for Your Interior Design Business
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • 1031: Dan Mazzarini: Empowering Your Interior Design Team to Succeed

    1031: Dan Mazzarini: Empowering Your Interior Design Team to Succeed
    Oct 29 2024
    Today With Dan Mazzarini: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. When you think about the future of your firm, what do you envision? Are you going to stay small? Or do you hope to grow your team? There’s no right or wrong answer. Different business owners have different goals. But if you do want to build a team, you have to learn how to lead efficiently, create strong processes, and cultivate the right team culture. My guest today, Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director of BHDM desig, knows what it takes to manage a large team. On their website, BHDM design describes itself as a creative collective of designers, architects, artists, and illustrators—and they truly do approach their projects from this collective, collaborative perspective. Dan has worked hard to establish that collective—and today, he’s here to share how. LuAnn Nigara and Dan Mazzarini's Ah-Ha Moments “With clarity comes confidence.” -Dan “Having good partners in leadership, having trusted voices in the room, has helped me make decisions around the business on things that we do or don’t do and ways that we do or don’t grow the business.” -Dan “You’re not angsting over not designing or having to manage people. It feels like what you’re saying is you find, connect with, and enjoy the parts in two very different roles—being creative and being the head of the company.” LuAnn More About Dan Mazzarini With a background in branding and retail design, Dan Mazzarini has an unique design capability to adapt to each client’s personal narrative and needs, never staying stagnant on one look. For 10 years, his designs helped define such brands as Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Waterworks, Movado and more. Since launching BHDM in 2012, Mazzarini has parlayed his craft of storytelling through the built environment to a multitude of project types, including hotels, restaurants, food halls, start ups, corporate interiors, showrooms, pop-ups, and single and multi-family residential. He has worked in historic spaces like Grand Central Terminal and the Harvard Club of New York, and helped to create new concepts for Google, One Medical, Hudson’s Bay Company, and Target. Through the years he’s worked to enrich heritage brands such as Ralph Lauren, Kate Spade, and Calvin Klein, and define new brands like Tend, Real, and Casper. Connect with Dan Mazzarini BHMD Design Archive By Dan Mazzarini Instagram BHMD Design Instagram Archive By Dan Mazzarini What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design The Hiring Toolkit Bundle Chairman Of the Board with LuAnn Nigara Other Shows: WTFP #227 Rebecca Munster: The Art of Effective Organizational Development AWDB #757 Power Talk Friday: Nitesh Chaudhary: Jaipur Living: The Manchaha Initiative AWDB #811 Power Talk Friday: Heather Hansen: You Are Your Own Advocate
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    1 hr and 3 mins

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Profile Image for B. Morais

Eye opening

I loved this episode so so much! Thank you Luann!
it opened my eye to see another dimension. This is the good stuff!

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Such valuable content

So informative with valuable tools on how to grow and evolve your business. Thanks Kaitlyn and Luanne

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