Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we’re talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that’s keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We’re hitting a big one: shopping retail.

Yep. I’m talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar?

I get it. I’ve been there myself—and I’ve coached hundreds of designers who’ve struggled with the same thing. Whether it’s the fear of clients balking at markups, the desire to be “helpful,” or the looming fear of liability… retail feels like the easy button.

But babe—it’s not. It’s costing you big time.

• Why retail shopping chips away at your profits, your positioning, and your authority

• How sending links is training your clients to bypass you

• Why markup is NOT a dirty word (and how to confidently talk about profit)

• Real talk from a designer named Lindsay who learned this the hard way

• The difference between being a personal shopper vs. a professional designer

• How to shift your business model so sourcing becomes a strength—not a stressor

• The mindset shift that leads to a more profitable, scalable, and luxury-level business

Here’s the truth: when you rely on retail, you lose control—of the quality, of the client experience, and of your income. Your design becomes replicable. Your service looks DIY. And your value? Flattened.

But when you embrace trade sourcing, you gain back authority, margin, and process. And yes, you can absolutely educate your clients about it without apologizing.

So ask yourself: where are you defaulting to retail out of fear or convenience? And what would shift—financially, creatively, emotionally—if you trusted yourself to lead like a CEO?

You’re not selling stuff. You’re selling an experience. A transformation. A feeling when someone walks into a room and says “Wow.” And that? That’s worth protecting.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Sure! Here's a set of conversational, first-person podcast shownotes based on your transcript:

Hey, hey! Welcome back to The Designed for the Creative Mind podcast. I'm Michelle Lynne, and y’all are in for a treat today. I sat down with the incredibly talented Bekah Hernandez, the founder and principal of Rebekah Nicole Interiors here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—and this conversation is such a gem, especially if you're in the early years of growing your interior design business.

Bekah launched her firm in the middle of the 2020 pandemic (yes, that 2020!) and has grown it into a soulful, elevated brand known for furnishings and cosmetic updates—no major renos here. She’s built her business around what brings her joy, and she’s proof that you can do design your way and still build something thriving and profitable.

What we cover in this episode:

• How Bekah went from studying in Australia to building her dream design firm in Texas

• Why she chose to specialize in furnishings and styling (and how it's brought her the most joy)

• The difference between cosmetic updates vs. full-scale renovations—and how she's made it work

• How she built a business model around a la carte and virtual services to stay profitable year-round

• Her approach to building a lean, supportive team (hint: she found some folks from this very podcast!)

• Tips for using smaller projects as both “paid marketing” and portfolio builders

• How she trusts her intuition to make smart business decisions

Bekah is living proof that you can build a design business on your own terms. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to pivot into a more joy-filled business model, I know you're going to take away so many gems from this one.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production

Hey y’all, welcome back to the Designed for the Creative Mind Podcast! I’m so glad you're here. We’re kicking off a brand new season: Rookie Mistakes and Real Talk — where I’m mixing up business blunders and behind-the-scenes truths from running an interior design firm.

Today’s episode is for every designer who’s ever said “yes” when they really wanted to scream “oh hell no” — and then paid the price for it. We're diving into the sneaky ways people pleasing shows up in client relationships, why it’s so damaging to your business, and how to set boundaries like the confident CEO you are (even if you feel a little nasally like I do — thanks, Texas allergies!).

What we cover in this episode:

• What people pleasing actually looks like in an interior design business

• How saying "yes" all the time leads to scope creep, burnout, and resentment

• Why being liked is not the same as being trusted — and why trust matters more

• Real talk about the mindset shift from being "kind" to being a true leader

• A story about my client Claire, who broke the people-pleasing cycle (and how you can too)

• Practical examples of how to set confident, kind boundaries without feeling pushy

• Why you are a business, not a bestie (and why that’s a GOOD thing!)

Big takeaway:
Running your business with clear leadership and boundaries doesn’t make you mean — it makes you trustworthy. Your clients want you to lead them. If you’re bending over backwards for approval, it’s time to rethink it. Being liked isn’t nearly as valuable as being trusted.

If this episode hit home for you:
Take a screenshot and share the one boundary you're going to practice this week! Tag me on Instagram at @designedforthecreativemind or come share in our Facebook group, The Interior Designers' Business Launchpad. I would love to cheer you on!

And if you loved what you heard, don’t keep it to yourself — send this episode to a fellow designer who could use a little nudge, and leave a review wherever you’re listening. Your reviews seriously help this show grow, and I appreciate every single one.

Coming up next week:
We’re tackling why shopping retail could be wrecking your profits and how to explain trade pricing without sounding defensive. You definitely don't want to miss it.

Remember:

Success doesn’t happen by chance — it happens by design.
Keep designing your business with intention. And if you ever need a hand, I’ve got you.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

A Podcast Launch Bestie production