Today With Heather Vitti Pruett: My guest today is a great example of taking control and choosing her own path. Heather Vitti Pruett, owner of Vitti Interiors is here to share her successes of using connections to help her business, being recognized for heart-centered projects, and her experience taking a client to small claims court. No matter what is going on in life, we always have the option to choose a different path. Heather is an active member of the American Society of Interior Design (ASID). And we are also getting into all of the value of joining a professional organization. Pick It Apart [1:47] Heather shares her first experience taking a client to small claims court and how she won! [16:43] Heather shares her positive experience with the ASID chapter in San Diego. [25:58] Heather did a design re

Today With Nancy Ganzekaufer: Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Nancy Ganzekaufer’s Profit Insiders Academy Group Coaching Program which kicks off in January 2024. Nancy joins us once again to discuss how designers can approach marketing the way Taylor Swift does. Let’s face it fan or not, she is a marketing genius. This #smartlady continues to upgrade the Profit Insiders Academy with new additions including The Key- the Designer’s Ultimate Pricing Tool and NancyGPT which gives you NEXT LEVEL search capabilities. Listen in to learn how to apply to The Profit Insiders Academy and have a chance to win an additional one-on-one with Lesley. Pick It Apart [6:35] Viewing your marketing strategy from the example of Taylor Swift. [10:57] How Taylor pe

Today With Eddie Maestri: In today’s episode we’ll be touching on a topic I love, project autopsies. My guest today, Eddie Maestri, has also found these autopsies to help not only improve his overall business, but also the relationship with his team members. Eddie Maestri started designing homes in Dallas in 2004 and officially founded Maestri Studio in 2008. Certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), he is a registered architect in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Nevada.  Eddie delivers custom architecture and interiors tailored to his client’s style and needs. Each project influenced by the grand, yet approachable architecture of his hometown, the clean lines and patterns of mid-century design, and his exposure to far away places through his love of travel. More About Eddie Maestri

Today With Leslie Carothers: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. You’ve probably heard about new technology developing—AI, chatGPT, the metaverse—all the things. But are you jumping on the bandwagon? Today Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership, a digital marketing firm for interior designers, is here to talk about how metaverse applications and AI are changing the future of the world, business in general, and our industry. Pick It Apart [2:30] Leslie unpacks all things metaverse and how they’re being used. [11:20] Leslie discusses how big brands are using metaverse activations. [46:54] Leslie and LuAnn talk about AI and its implications for designers. [0:09] Leslie discusses the ethical implications of AI. [10:05] Leslie shares a product design project she completed with AI assistance. LuAnn Nigar

Today With LuAnn Nigara:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. In this episode, we'll talk about how to turn your aha moments into actionable steps that will help you achieve your goals for your business and your life. You will hear some of the amazing insights from Amber De La Garza, a productivity coach who was a guide at LuAnn Live, and how she taught us to get our CRAP together. LuAnn's Ah-Ha Moments: <span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ox

Today With Matthew Finlin: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. If you’re a long-time listener of the show, you already know that I was a salesperson basically from birth. Selling is a part of my nature. But for most designers, that doesn’t seem to be the case.  Why is that? Why do some of us gravitate toward selling while it sends others into a panic? My guest today, Matthew Finlin, CEO of The Human Potential Academy, believes he knows—and he’s shedding light on why this happens and what designers can do to b

Today With April Gandy: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by April Gandy, owner and Principal Designer of Allure Designs. With six successful years in the design industry and an appearance on HGTV, April could teach us a lot! But today she wanted the focus to be on what you, and your client, can expect both mentally and financially when working on a renovation project.  This is an episode that will give you simple AHA moments. Any episode where my guest wants to help with the process with our clients, is a win. Pick It Apart</

Today With Christina Frei: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Christina Frei, owner of Innate Marketing Genius, a boutique marketing practice where she helps solo business owners own their voice, market to their strengths, and get the right clients consistently. Christina takes a holistic approach to marketing, and helps us discover how to market from our strengths by identifying our marketing archetype.  In this conversation, we dig into what it means to be a Nurturer, Adventure Guide, Door Opener, Steady Presence, and Celebrator, and how this can help you show up better in your business. Pick It Apart [2:38] Christina defines marketing archetypes as different w

Today With LuAnn Nigara:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a solo show and we'll be talking about charging. We'll go over the three common beliefs that hold us back from achieving our full potential: that our clients only want the biggest discount, that we deliver a shoppable product, and that we are competing with everyone else. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Power

Today With Bernadette Smith: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Bernadette Smith, Founder and CEO of the Equality Institute, a boutique diversity, equity, and inclusion firm whose mission embed equity and inclusion into organizational systems and culture, enhancing outcomes for employees and customers. When we are afraid of offending someone, we tend to say nothing. We get so comfortable in our lanes, that we dont do much to move diversity forward. Bernadette and I discuss how to have the courage to address diversity. She talks about her ARC Method that helps people become open and actionable, and much more! Pick It Apart [5:28] Bernadette explains how her experience with DEI derived from the wedding industry. [13:2

Today With Emmy Marek: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Emmy Marek of Emmy Couture Designs, an award-winning full-service interior design firm based in Scottsdale, Arizona, and serving clients nationwide. In 2016, after working for both an architectural design firm and a luxury design-build firm, where she became fluent in creating custom homes, Emmy decided to go into business for herself, opening Emmy Couture when she was only 26 years old. Since then she has spent her time growing her luxury design firm and growing her family.  Now, with two children under the age of five and projects all over the country,

Today With Monica Sharma-Patnekar: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Monica Sharma-Patnekar, Marketing Strategist and Fractional CMO and owner of Business with Monica. We are deep-diving into how to attract your REAL audience, the ones who actually respond to your brand messaging and marketing. Monika explains how to find out what attracted your clients to you. What it was that made them choose you over your competition, what resonated with them in your messaging, and how to keep doing it to get even more clients. Pick It Apart [10:26] LuAnn and Monica discuss the importance of even as things change in the market, the key is always knowing who you are reaching out to. [12:30] The multiple ways that you can determine who your “real” customers are over your “ideal” customers.  [1

Today With Kylie Tyrrell: As creatives, we're often expected to wear multiple hats, and today's conversation with Kylie Tyrrell, an interior designer turned mentor, lifts the veil on the exciting, challenging, and rewarding world of design and coaching.  Kylie is a seasoned interior designer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Her love for the industry has led her to mentor and guide the next generation of interior designers. She is passionate about helping women in the industry gain confidence and make money doing what they love! LuAnn Nigara and Kylie Tyrrell's Ah-Ha Moments “Action builds confidence” - Kylie Tyrrell <div cla

Today With Evelyn Roberts & Shayna Pellino: 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.  My guests today Shayna Pellino and Evelyn Roberts, creators of 4D Biz, understand that very well. 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.

Today With Cory Simon: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. There are many designers out there looking to grow and scale their businesses, whether they’re coming in from a different career or launching their own firm. But what if you are working your business as a side hustle—and you actually want to keep it that way?  That’s the situation for my guest today, Cory Simon of 290 Eliot Interiors. She’s working a full-time job, keeping a healthy business on the side, and spending time with her family—all within the same 24 hours a day we all have! You might be wondering how that’s possible—and the answer comes down to efficiency.  This is a must-listen if you are juggling your interior design job as a side hustle, or if you simply want to work less ho

Today With Danielle Hendon: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Danielle Hendon, owner of 4 Corners CFO. Don’t worry, Danielle is one of those CFO’s who explains money in an understandable way to us “non-finance” people. She shares her six-part framework she uses with her clients, to handling their finances. She and her team offer calculations, information, and tools in an understandable way so then you can do what you want to do with your business.  Danielle has the technical knowledge and over a decade of experience in corporate finance and accounting to small businesses on a scale that fits their budget and their needs, and she’s ready to spill the tea. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [3:42] Danielle starts to walk us through her si

Today With Kate Figler: A Well-Designed Business. Today I have with me Kate Figler, of Kate Figler Interiors. After moving her firm from the northeast to Nashville, Kate exponentially rebuilt and expanded her clientele and became a well-established design name. Kate has this motto that I was excited to dive into with her that can hint: increase your success and profitability. Listen, to my chat with Kate on the beneficial meaning of “Begin Where You Mean To Go.” Pick It Apart [1:51] Kate explains what she means by “Begin as you mean to go.” [13:55] How Kate developed her processes and procedures off the bat. [18:00] Kate’s advice in handling client onboarding. [29:55] Explaining to the client that thi

Today With Sara Lynn Brennan: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Sara Lynn Brennan, a successful entrepreneur, CEO, and the Principal Interior Designer at Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors. Sara shares her unique philosophy on how she incorporates window treatments into her design projects, and why she considers them to be essential for creating beautiful and functional spaces. LuAnn Nigara and Sara Lynn Brennan's Ah-Ha Moments “The idea behind full-service design is to take care of all the details and ensure that the space is fully completed and functional, so that everyone can enjoy it without feeling that there’s something else that needs to be done to it.” - LuAnn “Sara sets the expectations early on, from their marketing to their consultat

Today With Lorna Gross: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Lorna Gross, owner of Lorna Gross Interior Design. After finishing two business degrees and leading a very successful life in corporate America, Lorna ended up disappointed and unhappy. Even as successful as she was with winning awards and being up for a promotion. It was time for her to pivot. Lorna and I discuss the art of pivoting, how to recognize when you should, and how to confidently execute it. Pick It Apart [2:40] Lorna starts us off with her background and growing up. [8:00] Lorna talks about her journey to discover what she is supposed to be doing for a living. [19:30] The importance of taking the time go sit in silence with yourself. [28:50] Recognizing the signal of when people complement you o

Today With Fred Berns: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Fred Berns. Fred has been on the show many times, and I often refer to him when I talk about finding your Fred Berns Only. Knowing your “only” is essential. After working in the interior design industry as a business coach, speaker, and copywriter for 35 years, Fred has spent the past five years traveling the world. He visited 33 countries on four continents, and talked to business owners everywhere he went. Fred has studied the most successful business professionals across many industries around the globe, and he discovered they all share several traits. Today Fred is here to explain The Five Things these people have in common, along with actionable ways we can bring these habits into our own lives and businesses. Pick It Apart [04:07] Fred and LuAnn discuss the first habit: Focus, especially when it comes to your financial goals.  [08:57] F

Today With Marilyn Watson-LaVergne: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined Marilyn Watson-LaVergne. In her first career, Marilyn worked in marketing and public relations in New York City, witnessing the progression of branding for products and creative services, including interior design.  Now a seasoned designer and owner of Marilyn LaVergne Interiors, Marilyn is teaching us that we can’t be all the things to all the people—and what to do instead. It all starts with identifying what you believe and finding y

Today With Masha Koyen: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday.  Your website matters for so many reasons. It’s the gateway for how your clients get to know you, whether they trust you, and ultimately whether they ever contact you or not.  My guest today, Masha Koyen, understands the importance of web copy. She is the founder of Content Vertical, a copywriting agency for the interior design industry. She helps designers and builders level up their brand and create messaging that connects, engages, and

Today With Maria Palantino: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. My guest today, Maria Leigh Palantino, came into the interior design industry as her second career. She started a career in fashion design then pivoted, and brought with her many skills from her fashion career that guide her phil

Today With Terri Taylor: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s sponsored show, I’m excited to welcome back Terri Taylor, creator of the Interior Design Business Academy – an education and coaching resource that provides a unique mix of business strategies and systems along with powerful positive mindset practices to help interior designers create meaningful success. <span style= "fon

Today With Jessica Bantom: <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-d

Today With Jenna Gaidusek: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Jenna Gaidusek, Director of Community and Education at Mydoma Studio. <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #1c1917; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre

Today With Christina Richardson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today we’re traveling outside the country. My guest Christina Richardson from Christina Richardson Interiors. Christina is a <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #313131; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;

Today With Traci Connell: Today’s show is sponsored by Traci Connell’s free masterclass The Reveal which begins on September 11, 2023. Traci joins us once again to share all of the ways you can work with her in The Gloss, including her free masterclass The Reveal where she “reveals” all of the secrets and shortcuts she has learned in the interior design industry. This is a five-day, one-hour-per-day event. In The Reveal, you will learn the strategies Traci teaches designers to hit one million in revenue. This FREE course is for any interior designer who wants to reach the next level. Who wouldn’t that be, right?  Traci and I also discuss all of the valuable ways you can work with her in The Gloss. She uses her own four-pillar framework; More Purpose, More Precision, More Profit, and More Prestige to help designers achieve more wealth financially, mentally, and personally.  This #smartlady continues

Today With Jessica Bantom: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined Jessica Bantom, interior designer, DEIB practitioner, and author of <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #323338; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: base

Today With Manuela Keller & Philip McKay: Today’s episode is sponsored by Messe Stuttgart, a German company that specializes in organizing trade shows, particularly for the home decor industry. They have been in the trade show business for more than 80 years, annually organizing around 60 shows and 100 conferences worldwide. </s

Today With Katie Wick: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What would you think if I said that you could be a successful interior designer working as an employee? For some, you may think, nah. For others, you may be thinking tell me more!  <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: nor

Today With Fernando Duque: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by friend and colleague Fernando Duque, the CEO of Duke Renders. I am also joined by designers Nicole Salceda, from Eye for Pretty, and Elle Odori, founder of Decorelle, who are living proof that using 3D rendering from Duke Renders can uplevel your projects. <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #000000; backgrou

Today With Megan Pisano: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that social media can be a great marketing tool—if you can build up a big following. But if you’re struggling to gain a big number of followers, is it even worth the time?  <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style:

Today With Adam Stevison: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Adam Stevison, Luxury Showroom Manager of the newest Home Depot Design Center in Vauxhall, New Jersey. While the Home Depot has been around for almost 50 years, this new concept is a store-within-a-store, offering an interactive, luxury experience aimed to serve a customer it was unable to before. The Vauxhall location is the third Design Center that the Home Depot has opened, with other locations in San Diego, California, and Rockville, Maryland. In this episode, sponsored by the Home Depot Design Center, Adam tells all about this extraordinary opportunity for des

Today With Rama Dandamudi: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know the value of relationships in business—but what about the HOW? How are people going about building solid business relationships that make a difference? <span style= "font-size: 12pt; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; wh

Today With Anna Nelson: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I welcome my friend Anna Nelson. I met Anna in September 2022 at the HPS. Out of the 60 or so people that were there, Anna was the first person I immediately connected with. In the episode you will hear her say that this is her strength, connecting with people on a deeper level, and I can personally vouch for that.  Anna is here to talk about how she helps entrepreneurs find and use their own strengths to get focused and aligned in their businesses. Pick It Apart [8:10] Anna explains the importance of appreciating the value of your ideas in relation to benefitting your business.  [12:15] How your client can have an impact on utilizing and recognizing your strengths. [13:50] Anna shares for people not ready to invest, how they can recognize their strengths on their own. [22:20] Anna shares an example of when it cli

Today With Sara Hamza: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Sara Hamza, a Danish-Egyptian designer and the founder of Nina June, a custom furniture and styling brand. Based in Cairo, Egypt, Sara operates her business from a place of compassion, genuinely seeking to know and understand her clients so she can serve them better.  Sara is sharing how being diagnosed with RA as a teenager impacted her life and career, how she currently defines success, and what listening to the podcast for the past few years has taught her. Pick It Apart [6:33] Sara talks about how she operates her design business in Egypt and how the podcast has helped answer many questions she has along the way. [12:17] LuAnn and Sara discuss why connecting to your clients with compassion is important, and how Sara’s medical history has informed this lesson in her business. [19:34] Sara explains how being diagno

Today With Janine Aurichio: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On this Power Talk Friday, I am joined by Janine Aurichio, Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM which creates the mindset and mental fitness needed to run their business with clarity, purpose, and ease.  We are discussing something we all have in common, no matter where we come from; inner voices, or what she calls your inner Sage and Saboteur. It’s a battle. And Janine is here to guide us on how to do the inner work to intercept our negative Saboteur voice. Pick It Apart [6:40]  Does our environment add to the intensity of our negative thoughts, or Saboteur?” [9:09] Why do we focus on the negative thoughts and stories we tell ourselves?  [14:00] How the impact of the inner Saboteur impacts everything. <p dir=

Today With Janine Aurichio: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On this Power Talk Friday, I am joined by Janine Aurichio, Certified Life Coach, Mental Fitness Coach, Speaker, and Founder of YES2YUM Life Styling. Janine coaches design professionals on The Inside JobTM which creates the mindset and mental fitness needed to run their business with clarity, purpose, and ease.  We are discussing something we all have in common, no matter where we come from; inner voices, or what she calls your inner Sage and Saboteur. It’s a battle. And Janine is here to guide us on how to do the inner work to intercept our negative Saboteur voice. Pick It Apart [6:40]  Does our environment add to the intensity of our negative thoughts, or Saboteur?” [9:09] Why do we focus on the negative thoughts and stories we tell ourselves?  [14:00] How the impact of the inner Saboteur impacts everything. <p dir=

Today With Jillian Lare: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined once again by Jillian Lare, a trained engineer, experienced college lecturer, and award-winning interior designer. A few years ago, Jillian partnered with her friend and fellow designer to start Morris Lare Interiors in Des Moines, Iowa, and it has been a growing success. Jillian credits a lot of her success and smooth business operations to the technology she implements. She is sharing what is working well in her business, along with suggestions on where to get started integrating technology into your businesses as well. She’s also got a great prompt if you want ChatGPT to create a great Spotify playlist just for you. Pick It Apart [4:12] Jillian explains how she uses various project management software platforms in her firm. [19:04] Jillian shares how her team does a daily check in each morning on Slack to stay up to date on their priorities without

Today With Adrien Cotton: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by Adrien Cotton, menopause expert, transformational concierge wellness coach, and founder of Alexandria Wellness. Adrien’s luxury services and holistic approach bring beauty and confidence to her clients. Like many interior designers, Adrien operates a very personal pursuit that can impact every facet of an individual or family’s life and well-being.  Driven by systems, efficiency, and meaningful connections, Adrien is here to share effective business insights that will move the needle in any industry. We talk about qualifying clients, building a solid team, the importance of systems and consistency, and the value of human connection. Pick It Apart [5:45] Adrien explains her intake process and how she has refined it to make sure her clients are committed. [12:03] LuAnn and Adrien discuss the back end of her business and how her team

Today With Cléophée Poli: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business today. I am very excited to welcome to the show a long-time listener, Cleo Poli.  Cleo is from Paris, but traveled abroad, living several different places around the globe. She worked in interior design in London, but moved back home to Paris when she found out she was expecting a baby. It was there that she discovered her niche—her Fred Berns only—serving English-speaking clients in France.  Today, she’s here to share what she has learned embarking on an interior design career in Paris, establishing and developing her niche, and serving an unfulfilled need for English-speaking clients.  Pick It Apart [4:00] Cleo shares her journey and how she ended up back home in Paris serving English-speaking clients.  [9:04] LuAnn and Cleo discuss how Cleo’s niche took shape and the importance of nich

Today With Sandra Funk: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that thriving in business takes a specific mindset. But what is the millionaire mindset, really? How can we break out of fear mode and start doing what it takes today to take our business where we want to be? In today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to chat about the Interior Design Standard and the millionaire mindset for designers.  Pick It Apart [7:54] Sandra and LuAnn discuss why waiting for the “right time” hurts designers.  [21:26] Sandra and LuAnn talk about the importance of investing in your business. [40:07] Sandra and LuAnn share the value of setting expectations with your clients.  [45:44] Sandra shares how important it is to have a process for estimates—and to stick to it.  <p dir="ltr" role="presen

Today With Jessica Duce: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Jessica Duce, principal designer at both JDuce Design and Vacation Rental Designers is back on to talk about her Vacation Rental Design Summit she held in spring 2023 at High Point. We talk about the importance of noticing gaps in the industry and how she used them to her, and everyone’s benefit, in more ways than one. We also learn about the membership program she and her partners started, and everything else Jessica has been up to since she was last on! Pick It Apart [1:45] Jessica fills us in on why she was so passionate to create the Vacation rental Design Summit. [5:00] Jessica explains that there are, in fact, differences between vacation rental design and regular design. [13:09] Jessica shares what the new summit consisted of for both new and old vacation rental designers. [24:20] Jessica talks about the membership progr

Today With Michelle Clayton: Today on A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday. I am sitting down with Michelle Clayton, the Brand Strategist, and Designer behind Let Her Fly, a studio for successful women who are ready to level up and look like the pro they are. Michelle wanted to come on and first of all, give us some great actionable branding tips, but also to debunk the misconception that using Fiverr or Pinterest for your logo is a good idea. Spoiler alert, it’s not. Michelle will explain why and what you should be doing for your brand.  Pick It Apart [3:25] Michelle tells us the first place we should turn to when considering a rebrand. [14:58] Michelle explains the difference between your brand logo made from someone on Fiverr compared to a professionally made logo. [30:45] Michelle and LuAnn discuss brand consistency among all of your platforms. [39:49] Additional actions y

Today With Sharon L. Sherman: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Sharon L. Sherman, founder of Thyme and Place Design. Sharon has been practicing award-winning kitchen and bath design for the past 40 years, is a Past President of the American Society of Interior Designers, New Jersey chapter, and was named 2022 Innovator of the Year by Kitchen Bath Design News magazine. She has worked with every personality out there and is here to discuss personality traits.  We delve into the four personality types she categorizes: Fire, Air, Earth, and Water. We talk about their traits, how to recognize them, and how to work with each one best for successful outcomes every time. Pick It Apart [2:09] Sharon explains that everyone has a different idea of what a difficult client is, but by understanding our own personality traits we can better understand and work with all types of clients. [9:30] Sharon intr

Today With Judy Brower Francher: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday. Today I am joined by Judy Brower Fancher, of Brower, Miller & Cole Art Consulting. Judy is certified in interior design, and while she isn’t currently working as one, she knows that most interior designers are not trained, nor confident, in selecting art for their clients. Judy is here to help my audience understand that buying those color Xeroxes is never the answer, and some tangible tips for those unfamiliar with the art world.  Pick It Apart [2:32] Judy explains what she means about the difference between xerox art and real art. [9:17]  Just explains how the budget for art should be separate from the design budget. [20:58] Tangible benefits for an interior designer when they add art into their projects.  [25:46] Judy lets us know where we can go to source art. [42:12] How the

Today With Lucy Penfield: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Long-time listeners of the show will know that I rarely get into the pretty, the actual designs, or even the creative process itself. For the most part, I’m focused on the business—not what happens in the creative mind, but the systems and processes and moving parts on the outside of that.  But every once in a while, I make an exception—and today’s episode is one of those. When you hear my guest, Lucy Penfield, speak, you’ll understand why. She’s going to share her creative insight into the design process—and why she relates it to an anthropological discovery.  Pick It Apart [3:50] Lucy explains why designing is like an anthropological dig.  [13:43] Lucy shares how going back to school helped her redefine her design process [part 2 12:55] Lucy details her six-step

Today With Cathy Heflin: Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We all know that Pinterest is a valuable tool for designers. But how you use it matters. It’s about so much more than just tossing up pretty pictures like on Instagram—in fact, in many ways, it seems like it’s more of a search engine than another social media platform.  We have so many marketing tools that we can add to our toolbox. Today, my guest, Cathy Heflin, is here to teach more about how Pinterest can help businesses grow, and how to put it to work for your business.  Pick It Apart [2:46] Cathy and LuAnn discuss how Pinterest offers more opportunities for businesses than other social media platforms.  [10:16] Cathy shares how Pinterest helps drive traffic to your website.  [25:50] Cathy describes how to get started with Pinterest. <p dir="ltr" role="pres

Today With Brittany Steptoe-Wright: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Brittany Steptoe-Wright, owner of BSW Design. BSW Design is a certified Vegan Design Firm. Brittany holds design, animals, and the environment near and dear to her heart, so everything they source is cruelty-free and animal friendly. BSW Design also focuses on Sustainable Sourcing, whether it be a renewable product, a sustainable manufacturing process, or highly recycled content, Brittany’s aim is to bring ethically sound products into her client’s home. Tune in to learn more about this important and ever-growing topic, so join in and make our world a better place one client at a time. Pick It Apart [1:00] Brittany gets right into what inspired her to take Deborah Resenberg’s course. [8:42] How Brittany believes what you put into your home promotes a certain energy and karma. [19:15] How Brittany navigates when pieces that are crue

Today With Renee Bush: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s common for business owners to feel burnt out, lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of where to go next. Today, Renee Bush of Tandem is sharing her insights on how to reignite the spark when you just don’t know how to move forward.  Pick It Apart [14:21] Renee shares why creative businesses are so different from other industries, and why inspiration matters to us.  [26:33] Renee discusses the value of having a “north star” guiding you in your business.  [30:59] Renee breaks down the three pillars of taking control of how your brand is perceived.  [35:40] Renee and LuAnn discuss how to attract clients that align with your values.  LuAnn Nigara and Renee Bush’s Ah-Ha Moments <p dir

Today With Victoria Larson: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by textile and wallpaper designer Victoria Larson. After creating gorgeous hand-screen-printed textile collections and dreamy wallpaper patterns for more than a decade, Victoria made a plan to leave the textiles behind (but in good hands) and focus solely on the wallpaper, which allowed her to reenergize her brand and grow with intention. Good businesses are grown strategically, and believe it or not, sometimes, we have to shrink in order to grow. In this episode, Victoria shares her story. We talk about finding creative solutions, leaving a legacy, and gaining creativity by crunching numbers, and so much more.  Pick It Apart [0:51] Victoria explains how she scaled back the fabric side of her business in order to focus on her wallpapers <

Today With Stacey Brown Randall: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Stacey Brown Randall, a business referral whiz who is here to help us understand referral marketing strategies and to share her methods of generating referrals naturally—without manipulating, incentivizing, or even asking.  Stacey is the host of the Roadmap to Referrals Podcast and the multiple award-winning author of Generating Business Referrals Without Asking, as well as my co-author in A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts (volume 1). In this episode we talk about systems and strategies, the client experience, and how to find key referral moments throughout your interactions that will make you the designer your clients refer over-and-over again. Pick It Apart [3:40] Stacey explains her approach to getting fabulous referrals and ho

Today With Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Running a business is hard. Running one through economic downturns and recessions is tougher. My guests today, Virginia Toledo and Jessica Geller of Toledo Geller, have been running their firm together for 17 years. They’ve seen ups and downs in the financial climate—and through it all, they’ve pivoted, built up their network, and come out stronger than before. Today, they’re sharing what you can do in your business to come through even the toughest of economic climates. Pick It Apart [3:58] Jessica and Virginia share what they’re most proud of in their business over the years.  [17:03] Jessica and Virginia discuss how they’ve always ensured they had a strong pipeline of clients. [26:40] Jessica, Virginia, and LuAnn talk about the importance of flexib

Today With Aubre Fox: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today with Aubre Fox we answer everything you’ve ever wondered about working with Revel Woods. As the first point of contact and an interior designer herself, Aubre takes us through all of the steps and benefits to getting your flooring through Revel Woods. She also talks about their new showroom packages, which she is very passionate about.  Pick It Apart [1:24] Aubre starts us off talking a little about herself and how she got into Revel Woods.  [6:10] What is the process when a designer wants to work with Revel Woods? [26:34] How the backend works with how you get your commission. [28:28] Aubre breaks down the types of products Revel Woods offers.  [44:37] Aubre tells us about Revel Woods new showroom package. LuAnn Nigara and Aubre Fox's Ah-Ha Moments <p class="monday-block-1" contenteditable="true" data-monday-

Today With Bria Hammel: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am welcoming back Bria Hammel. Bria is the Creative Director and CEO of Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou. Bria was on before giving tips on how to scale your interior design business. And let me say, she is still a #smartlady. Bria has perfected her process for her out of state clients, as well as her team, to make the experience as easy and seamless as possible. Today she is sharing how, and the changes that her businesses have experienced since her last visit. Pick It Apart [1:35] Bria shares what she and her business, Bria Hammell Interiors, have been up to since her last visit. [16:50] Bria talks about how she knew to incorporate prices that match a longer time getting projects finished.  [19:00] How EOS has been a lifesaver for Bria’s business and how they use it.

Today With Katie McDonald: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I'm joined by Katie McDonald, certified holistic health coach, raw food chef and instructor at b.nourished. Katie’s motto is self-care is not fluff and it isn’t selfish. That is exactly what she helps her clients through so they can both take care of their business and take care of themselves. Katie has worked with several interior designers over the years and has discovered that in service to their clients and their craft, they ignore their own wellbeing, dismissing their needs, and even their own spaces. If this sounds like you, then you will enjoy this episode. Pick It Apart [2:00] What started Katie on her belief that self-care is not fluff and not selfish. [6:01] Katie explains what to look for in yourself to determine if you are on the brink of needing self-care. <p dir="

Today With Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum, AKA the Brownstone Boys. Barry and Jordan are designers, DIY-ers, renovators, and restorers who followed their passions and serendipitously fell into a flourishing business together. In 2018, Jordan and Barry bought a brownstone in Brooklyn and started The Brownstone Boys blog the day they closed on the house, and that’s just the beginning of their adventure. Today they are renovating their way across Brooklyn and New York City, one brownstone at a time.  In our interview, The Brownstone Boys share how they grew their business organically, how they are implementing systems and processes, and how to balance work and life when you’re in business with your partner. Pick It Apart [2:33] Jordan talks about the si

Today With Sarah Daniele: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by software designer Sarah Daniele. Sarah is the CEO and co-founder of Mydoma Studio, an all-in-one project management solution for interior designers. Sarah is a professionally educated interior designer, and she is passionate about building tools and technology that help other designers grow their businesses.  Through Mydoma, Sarah has a unique, top-level perspective on industry trends, and she is here to help us interpret those insights and share her predictions for what’s to come. We talk about task management software, virtual team members, advances in 3D rendering and virtual staging, and the benefits of adding convenience to clients and projects with technology. Pick It Apart [1:47] Sarah and LuAnn discuss how the design ind

Today With Brad Leavitt: Today we’re doing a Throwback Tuesday with Brad Leavitt! Brad is the President and Founder of “A Finer Touch Construction” - a Scottsdale based luxury residential and commercial builder. He’s also one of the speakers at LuAnn Live 2023, which is why we couldn’t miss the chance to bring one of his shows back. In today’s episode, we’ll learn what is his perspective on working alongside interior designers for his project and how this has made his life easier!  More About Brad Leavitt Brad Leavitt is President and Founder of “A Finer Touch Construction” - a Scottsdale based luxury residential and commercial builder. AFT Construction, as known throughout the industry, is an award-winning construction firm and has been nationally published in magazines such as: Fine Home Building, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Professional Builder. Brad was awarded as an “Icon” in the AZ b

Today With Jisun Sunny Fisher: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I often talk about the power of mindset. Limiting beliefs are tied to almost every issue you can have in your business, and in all of my years of coaching and helping other business owners, I can say that almost every single time, the key came down to mindset. Today, I’m joined by psychologist and happiness coach Jisun Sunny Fisher. She works at the intersection of spirituality and science, helping courageous leaders remember their true north and re-discover what makes them fall in love with life again. Jisun is sharing with us why the brain is the blueprint for success and what you can do to harness it.  Pick It Apart [3:48] Jisun shares why the brain is the blueprint for success (and why “success” might not

Today With Natasa Jones: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I’m joined by my good friend, Natasa Jones. She is the CEO and Principal Designer of Natasa Jones Interiors. European architecture and fashion are rooted in her design style. Today she’s back on the show to tell us how she has been scaling her business the last few years. LuAnn Nigara and Natasa Jones' Ah-Ha Moments “I’m never afraid to ask, what’s the worst thing that can happen?” - Natasa Jones “There is no such thing as competition in this industry” - Natasa Jones “If I wanted that luxury client, I wanted to be able to provide them with a luxury experience” - Natasa Jones <

Today With Vita Vygovska: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s Window Treatment Friday, which means I am joined by Vita Vygovska. Vita is the founder of Vitalia Inc. and a regular here on the podcasts. She is an expert in all things window treatments, and today Vita will share her knowledge of unstable fabrics to help us better understand the qualities of these linens, wools, open weaves, and anything viscose.  Window treatment professionals can’t guarantee the results when working with these fabrics, so neither should you as the designer. But don’t worry, Vita is here to eloquently help us navigate these temperamental textiles and give us the knowledge we need for better success. Pick It Apart [7:22] Vita and LuAnn discuss the battle of getting drapes to skim, or “kiss” the floor. [17:53] Vita offers language to say no, without actually saying “no.” [24

Today With Zane and Emily Williams: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I’m joined by a power couple, Zane and Emily Williams from Z Properties. They have established a reputation for evocative design and quality construction, materials, and furnishings. Zane and Emily have worked with every type of client and strongly know how to best navigate relationships for creative freedom on their end and a happy customer on the other, and today they share with us how they do it!  LuAnn Nigara and Zane and Emily Williams' Ah-Ha Moments “Never back away from what you love and what you feel good about.” - Emily Williams. “If they’re a good client they are coming to you because they trust you and they want your confidence and input.” - Emily Williams More About Zane and Emily Williams: About Zane Williams - Driven by a belief th

Today With Peter Lang: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Peter Lang of The Designer CPA, the only CPA firm in the country specializing in the business of Interior Design. Peter is a repeat guest on the show and the co-author of A Well Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts.  Peter has spent the last several years compiling all of his numbers and all of his knowledge into a beautiful industry-standard report. If you’ve ever wondered what profits look like for an interior design business your size, or how much the average owner pays themselves annually, or what standard monthly overhead costs add up to, then this is for you. This guidebook has every benchmark number along with thorough video explanations to help you make better decisions and have more success in your interior design business. Pick It Apart [5:13] Peter explains the differences when choosing between cash basis an

Today With Amber Lewis: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, today we’re doing something a little bit different: Throwback Tuesday. With over 900+ episodes in our back catalog, it’s hard to keep up with all the great designers that have shared their knowledge with all of us, that’s why we’re bringing back Amber Lewis’ 2017 episode. Amber and I talked about what it was that catapulted her to a level above her own in the beginning, the importance of figuring out your system and the chain of command in your firm, parenting and running a business and so much more! Let’s dive right into it. More About Amber Lewis: As principal at Amber Interior Design and founder of the blog, All Sorts Of, she has garnered clients and followers from around the world. As pioneer of the white-wall, laid back California aesthetic, Amber’s eclectic design approach and affinity for found objects

Today With Desi Creswell: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. In today’s sponsored show, I’m sitting down with Desi Creswell, a friend of the show, Power Talk Friday expert, and creator of Out of Overwhelm—a six-month, intimate group experience for interior designers that will take you from overwhelmed & stressed to in control and profitable. What really impresses me about Desi isn’t just her ability to teach people time management skills. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, the skills, tools, techniques, and practices are only half of the puzzle. Desi’s real ability lies in the other half—the mindset hurdles that are blocking us from transforming our relationship with time. Pick It Apart [2:13] Desi shares why time management is much more than the perfect color-coded calendar or time-blocking system.  [7:45] LuAnn and Desi discuss the concept of a relationship with time and

Today With Jillian Lare: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. On today’s episode, I am joined by Jillian Lare, of Morris Lare. Jillian achieved a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and spent her early career with Intel Corporation. During her time as an engineer, she honed the invaluable skills of critical thinking, project management, leadership, and effective communication, which she applies every day as an interior designer and entrepreneur. Today, she’ll tell us the different systems she uses to keep track of her numbers. More About Jillian Lare: Jillian Lare is a native of northeastern Pennsylvania. She achieved a Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University and spent her early career with Intel Corporation. During her time as an engineer, she honed the invaluable skills of critical thinking, project management, leadership, and effective communication, wh

Today With Nancy Ganzekaufer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. For today’s sponsored episode, I’m welcoming my friend Nancy Ganzekaufer back to the show. If you’re a long-time listener, you’ve probably heard of Nancy’s coaching program, Profit Insiders for Interior Designers Group Coaching + Mastermind. In today’s episode, you’re going to hear why Profit Insiders is not your average coaching program, beginning with a testimonial of how it helped someone quintuple—yes, quintuple their revenue. Pick It Apart [2:37] LuAnn shares one of Nancy’s raving testimonials that show how one client quintupled their revenue after Profit Insiders.   [7:57] Nancy and LuAnn discuss the value of group coaching.  [19:44] Nancy breaks down how Profit Insiders provides consistent ROI for designers.  [32:03] Nancy discusses how Profit Insiders helps you price your services right and fine

Today With Jill Cole: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I'm joined by Jill Cole, an icon of the hospitality interior design industry. At Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates, Jill has made a name for herself, designing fabulous hotel and resort interiors worldwide for over 40 years. She joins us to discuss how she has sustained this impactful and extensive career in an ever-changing world. This is a great conversation with one of the best in the business that touches on a little bit of everything, from finding inspiration to embracing tech and staying true to your core values. Pick It Apart [11:13] Jill talks her first hotel design, the Adolphis Hotel in Dallas, and how that motivated transitioning her firm from office and retail design into hospitality design [18:17] Jill and LuAnn discuss designing high-end senior living, how it mimics luxury resorts and was another opportunity for Jill’s fir

Today With Casey Gromer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. On today’s episode, I am joined by Casey Gromer, of C-Suite Boutique. Casey and her team currently serve women entrepreneurs as Fractional Integrators. Under their leadership, clients have scaled their businesses while working less and spending more time doing things they love. Casey tells us all about what a Fractional Integrator is, in addition to a COO, DOO, and OBM, and how these roles may benefit your design business. Pick It Apart [2:00] Casey explains when it is time to hire an executive assistant. [10:46] What is a director of operations? [18:38] Casey shares what we should be on the lookout for when incorporating these roles into our business. [31:50] What should we be looking for when hiring an integrator or fractional integrator? [36:52] Strategies to develop accountability within

Today With McCall Dulkys: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. On today’s episode, I am joined by McCall Dulkys, Founder and Principal Designer of Interiors By McCall. McCall successfully grew her design firm in Florida while living thousands of miles away. McCall has quite the story to share and I think it may humble some of you hearing challenges she faced while building her business. McCall has consistently doubled her yearly revenue and she is here to share how. Pick It Apart [6:20] McCall shares how the time she spent in Europe sparked her love of design. [14:08] McCall shares what was happening personally during this experience. [17:10] McCall’s experience with postpartum depression. [20:15] McCall explains how during all of the hurdles she was thrown, how she was building her design business. [35:54] McCall and LuAnn talk about the value from Ri

Today With Terri Taylor: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday. Today, I’m joined by my friend Terri Taylor for the 8th time. This episode is sponsored by her Interior Design Business Academy and specifically The Real Deal which takes place this May 10th, 11th, and 12th 2023.  You know that Terri is an expert at coaching designers on how to be profitable on remodeling jobs. One of the factors of a successful remodel job is how you communicate and interact with your contractor. Today, she is sharing the five mistakes to avoid when working with a contractor.  This information is just a taste of what Terri has in store for her upcoming Real Deal presentation. Her once-a-year three-day event is, in her own words, the recipe for a highly profitable remodeling job. Pick It Apart [23:38] A common occurrence for when a designer gets a lead

Today With Hillaire Pickett Martin: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. On today’s episode, I am joined by Hilaire Pickett Martin. Hilaire runs the day-to-day operations at Design Lines, an interior design firm started by her mother, Judy Pickett, in 1979. Hilaire is here to share how she finds operational gaps and implements technological frameworks to support the workflow at Design Lines, with helpful tips and applications you can utilize in your own business. Listen in and learn how to streamline your systems, save time, and maybe even take next Tuesday off. Pick It Apart [2:33] Hilaire talks about her background and coming to work for her mother’s design firm. [6:48] Hilaire explains how she compartmentalizes the operational tasks and organizes processes by mapping them out and understanding the different steps involved to see where any gaps might be. [11:57] LuAnn and Hilaire dis

Today With Howard A. Lim: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. What does it take to build a ten-figure world-class brand? Today, Howard A. Lim of HOW Creative is here to walk us through all of the steps and inner work needed to build a brand on this level. Even if you aren’t striving to be known around the world, Howard’s DNA of a brand that he teaches us will benefit you and take you where you want to be. Howard says that you must clearly define your Brand Architecture at the outset in order to sustain value, growth, and equity. So there’s some inner work to do first. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [7:11] Howard shares what we should be thinking about if we want to be a big brand name in the industry. [13:55] Howard explains the importance of your vision and how it works.  [17:45] Ideas so we can tap into our philosophy when we don’t have one.  [30:54]  You’ve done all of the i

Today With Bryan Mason and Jeanine Hays: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason of AphroChic—a media and design brand celebrating African Diaspora cultures through their lifestyle magazine, podcast, and product lines. Jeanine and Bryan are helping us relearn history as we dive into their latest book, AphroChic: Celebrating the Legacy of the Black Family Home. This is essential reading, not only for designers, but for everyone, and the conversation we have around it is an important one so that we can be an active part of the change in this country. Pick It Apart [2:48] Janine talks about how the AphroChic blog was inspired by a gap she saw among home décor blogs at the time that left out people of color. [15:20] Bryan explains that design is diverse by nature, and is a human thing to do so it happens in cultures all over the world, yet here in America,

Today With Darla Powell: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Darla Powell of Wingnut Social. If you’re an avid listener of the show, you know how much of a social media guru Darla is. Now, she has come out with a course called Instagram for Interior Designers which consists of everything you would learn about Instagram if you were to personally pick her brain. Pick It Apart [10:13] Darla tells us about her new course Instagram for Interior Designers. [23:20] The importance of knowing yourself and your value proposition before tackling your social media strategy. [31:00] Why you need to have your ducks in a row, for example having your website in order.  [35:20] LuAnn and Darla talk about module two of Instagram for Interior Designers. [53:25] Wingnut’s specific impact on client Anne Gillyard’s business grOH! Playrooms. [59

Today With Antonio Deloatch Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. What’s the difference between a designer who thrives in business and one who doesn’t? It isn’t talent. It isn’t passion. It isn’t motivation. It’s simply the ability to commit and get things done. My guest today, Antonio Deloatch Jr, is one of those real action-takers—someone who I just have no doubt is going to be big and successful, not just as a designer, but at whatever he puts his mind to. It’s a combination of his outlook, his attitude, and his ability to put one foot in front of the other and make it happen. Today, he’s sharing his story and insights with us. Pick It Apart [3:39] Antonio shares his experience at the Black Interior Designer’s networking event. [7:30] Antonio discusses how grassroots marketing worked for him.  [21:00] LuAnn and Antonio talk about marketing opportunities that can make a difference. </

Today With Robyn White: We all know that marketing matters. But so often when I’m talking to newer designers, I realize that marketing is misunderstood—especially when it comes to the luxury client.  My guest today, Robyn White, understands that. Today, she’s here to talk about what marketing really is, how marketing for the luxury client is unique, and how to incorporate your personality and story into your messaging. Pick It Apart [2:26] Robyn and LuAnn reflect on what marketing really means. [6:54] Robyn explains the difference in marketing to a luxury client. [15:54] LuAnn and Robyn discuss how important it is for your website to show what makes you unique.  [27:43] Robyn explains how to convey luxury through your website.  [43:14] Robyn and LuAnn reflect on how important your website is. LuAnn Nigara and R

Today With Veronica Solomon: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Veronica Solomon of Casa Vilora Interiors. Veronica is an award-winning designer and business mentor who believes that knowing yourself, understanding your convictions, and trusting your purpose can impact your business for the best. She has turned self-awareness into her superpower, and she is here today to encourage you to do the same so that you can run your business with intention. Pick It Apart [6:14] Veronica shares that competition has never been something she has focused on in her business. [13:01] Veronica talks about how she feels like she was predestined to become an interior designer, and because of that is is called to always show up as her true, authentic self. [15:29] LuAnn and Veronica discuss what it means to develop a signature style.  [23:55] Veronica shares wh

Today With Shannon Lopez: You’ve heard of the PPP, but did you know that there’s another government program waiting to give you as much, if not more money back? It’s called the ERC. Today, Shannon Lopez breaks down the program, who it’s for, how you can take advantage of it, and the deadlines you need to know. Pick It Apart [8:55] Shannon breaks down what the ERC is and why it matters. [13:53] LuAnn and Shannon discuss the challenges of running a business at the beginning of the pandemic.  [31:16] Shannon explains who qualifies for the ERC.  [44:00] Shannon walks us through how her company can help.  [53:53] Shannon and LuAnn talk about why this program isn’t more well-known. LuAnn Nigara and Shannon Lopez's Ah-Ha Moments “It’s so incredibly important. We’re really lucky that we have someone like you that really

Today With Enrique Crespo: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Enrique Crespo of Crespo Design Group. Enrique is here to share how developing a Type A personality approach can ensure success, especially in an industry as creative as interior design. Type A personalities are organized, ambitious, and like to have an agenda. But don’t worry—you don’t have to be one to become one. Over the years, Enrique has refined this mindset and honed the skills to guide and grow his firm, and he shares those stories with us today. Pick It Apart [1:57] Enrique explains how Type A personality traits can help maintain a well-run business through organization, which allows you to offer a higher level of luxury service. [8:50] LuAnn and Enrique discuss how he invested in his business by hiring someone who specializes in interior design processes, and how he tailored that structure to the specific

Today With Hunter Lowder: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. We’ve all heard that we should free ourselves up for CEO-level tasks. But knowing we should and actually following through with it are very different things. It can be hard for entrepreneurs who feel like they have to carry everything in their business. Sometimes, the operations get jumbled along the way. My guest today, Hunter Lowder, runs a business that steps in and serves as fractional COO to get designers back on track. She’s sharing how we can let go, how to find the right person for the job, and how the process of bringing someone in actually works. Pick It Apart [1:48] LuAnn and Hunter discuss what bringing in an outside COO looks like and how it can work.  [5:15] Hunter shares why business owners often experience overwhelm.  [10:33] Hunter and LuAnn discuss the importance of mission, vision, and values when bringin

Today With Lindye Galloway: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode features Lindye Galloway, of Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop. Lindye is here to share the inspiring story of how she followed her heart, creating a business model for her e-commerce shop and Designed by Lindye collection that does good for others by giving a portion of the profits to provide microloans to entrepreneurs in underserved parts of the world. Lindye encourages us to find meaning through our own business ventures by exploring our whys and living our truths. Pick It Apart [1:39] Lindye tells the story of how she and her husband Winn started the e-commerce shop alongside her design studio in 2020 as a way to make a meaningful impact and help others. [17:47] Lindye and LuAnn examine the logistics of running an e-commerce site. [22:08] Lindye talks about the importance of offering unique, custom produc

Today With Brittany Murphy: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I have Brittany Murphy of One Thing Marketing joining me. Just when you think you are starting to understand SEO, Google switches up the algorithm.  SEO is a very important element to our businesses. A lot of us wonder; how do we incorporate SEO? Who do we hire that we can trust to help us? These are very important and common questions and Brittany is here to answer them, and then some. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [2:19] Brittany starts us off by explaining SEO and what it means. [8:34] What to look for in finding a reputable SEO company.  [12:16] What should you be seeing from a marketing company to know they are getting you results.  [31:11] Brittany gets into some DIY tips for those who want to try improving SEO themselves. LuAnn Nigara and Brittany Murphy's Ah-

Today With Nicole Salceda: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today I’m joined by Nicole Salceda! Her career in interiors began as a passion for making the polished, functional design more accessible. She is going to share with us how she built the amazing team that is behind her brand, the “not so pretty” things she had to overcome during the first years in business, and how she manages her Instagram account of over 295,000 followers. LuAnn Nigara and Nicole Salceda's Ah-Ha Moments “The error isn’t in investing in your business, the error was in understanding how, where, and when the tracking of it.” - LuAnn Nigara “It was time for me to find the right people, get them in the right seats so I could really scale this business” - Nicole Salceda “Once an entrepreneur fully owns their finances, the whole business changes” - LuAnn Nigara More About Nicole Salceda:

Today With Alexis Varbero: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today with Alexis Varbero, we discuss how she expanded the family-owned business Schwartz Design Showroom. How? Well many ways, but one way that is no stranger of a topic to the show, is by building relationships. Alexis strengthened the relationships her mom started to form with interior designers when she owned the business. A big way she was successfully able to do this was how she built and maintained positive relationships with her manufacturers. Listen in to see how fostering relationships in your business can go full circle. Pick It Apart [2:44] Alexis shares the history of Schwartz Design Showroom starting with her mom and grandfather. [12:11] Alexis explains how she is that support for the design teams she works with.  [15:30] The importance of building a supportive team. <p dir="ltr

Today With Shaun Crha & Rebecca Plumb: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I have Shaun Crha of Wrensted Interiors and Rebecca Plumb of Studio Plumb on the show. They met on Instagram and are now design besties—together hosting the Hot Young Designers Club podcast, where they explore the emotional, practical, and humorous side of the interior design world. Shaun and Rebecca are here today to inspire community, not competition, between fellow designers, and we’re talking about relationships, boundaries, rates, and red flags. We hope that you join us. Pick It Apart [4:28] Rebecca and Shaun talk about how they met and became friends [11:50] Rebecca explains how the peer-to-peer mentorship between her and Shaun works and why it is helpful to have this relationship</

Today With Staci Davidson: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. Today I am joined by Staci Davidson, owner of Everything but Design, where she does just that. Staci is capable of taking on every aspect of an interior design business, from accounting and bookkeeping to consulting and customer service, freeing up her clients so that they can get back to what they do best: Design. Staci is here to talk about her experience and the value that outsourcing your back-end operations can bring to your business, boosting not only your confidence, but your profits. Pick It Apart [3:39] Staci recounts her experience as an operations manager and bookkeeper for a residential design firm, handling “everything but design” in the business and growing it to a multimillion-dollar firm. <span style="font-weigh

Today With Amy Youngblood Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It’s no secret that I love systems and processes. They are the absolute backbone to increasing your profitability. My guest today, Amy Youngblood, principal of Amy Youngblood Interiors, has a very specific process that has helped her not just increase her profitability and bring in more clients, but also to bring in the right clients. She’s taking us through her intake process and discussing why and how it works to ensure that she works with her ideal clients. Pick It Apart [0:57] Amy shares her story of why she realized she needed to make a change in her business.  [7:07] Amy and LuAnn begin a deep-dive into Amy’s contact form. [20:58] Amy highlights why it’s important to ensure that partn

Today With Julia Marcum: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s show is a Flashback Friday, an episode from the archives that was so good, and so relevant, we wanted to share it with you again! I hope you enjoy Julia Marcum’s episode that originally aired as episode 480! Julia started blogging more than ten years ago, and her readership has grown to include millions of people. In 2016, Chris left his day job to join Julia as a blogger on a full-time basis. With their blog, this remarkable couple shares their original, authentic, and sincere perspective on the daily coups and challenges of their DIY home renovations. People follow them to learn how to improve their space and to get inspiration, tips on trends, and motivation to get things done.  In today’s episode, Julia explains that they know exactly why they’re doing what they do

Today With Kellie Burke: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Join me this week as I sit down with Kellie Burke, owner of Kellie Burke Interiors. One of Kellie's philosophies when designing a home is that "it should feel like a well-traveled home and not have a matching, store-bought look." Tune in to hear about her journey, the importance of failure, and the ups and downs of having a business. LuAnn Nigara and Kellie Burke's Ah-Ha Moments “The failure comes the lessons.” - LuAnn Nigara “I think we mistakenly see all the beautiful things and believe that that is the business of it, and it’s not.” - LuAnn Nigara More About Kellie Burke: Kellie studied design at Skidmore College in New York and overseas in Florence, Italy. Whi

Today’s Show is Sponsored by the “Interior Design Standard.” Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share all the details of her upcoming course, the “Interior Design Standard”. I’m so excited to share Sandra Funk’s business program, the “Interior Design Standard”, with you because I know it will be the best investment for your business. Enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann Today With Sandra Funk: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Have you ever found yourself apologizing for delays due to elements that are completely out of your control (backorders, supply chain issues, labor shortage, etc.)? My guest today, Sandra Funk, believes it’s time to stop apologizing.  Sa

Today With John McClain: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined for the second time by John McClain. John is an accomplished interior designer, business coach, and author of The Designer Within. In this episode, he shares a bit about his back story with us—from crisis to conquest. John is here to help you understand that you can learn and grow from your mistakes, and success can be born out of failure. John shares his dark night of the soul story with us, but it didn’t end there. He turned that rough patch into a catalyst to organize his business for the better. Since then he has implemented a “How We

Today With Carla Titus: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business Podcast. Today we are joined by financial expert Carla Titus, founder and CEO of Wealth & Worth Within, a financial planning company offering fractional CFO services to transform business profitability.  Carla helps us understand what a fractional CFO is and how this service can provide the financial support and insight many businesses need to achieve financial clarity and plan for a profitable future. She specializes in helping 6- and 7-figure businesses gain control of their numbers with a 5-step framework she calls 2C3P that tackles financial health from all sides. Listen in to find out more. Pick It Apart [3:08] Carla walks through the roles of bookkeeper, CPA and CFO and the conversations you as a business owner should be having with each.

Today With Joshua Smith: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Joshua Smith, of Joshua Smith Inc. Joshua draws on decades of experience transforming functional spaces into inspiring environments that engage the senses and nourish the soul. By cultivating the connections between mind, body, spirit, and space, he helps his clients elevate their experience each day. Join us for a great conversation about the power of meditation, the importance of being connected to your passion, and his amazing working philosophy! LuAnn Nigara and Joshua Smith's Ah-Ha Moments “It's the responsibility of the industry to educate the consumer” - LuAnn Nigara “We’re wanting to do what we can to make sure that we’re leaving the world

Today With Nancy Ganzekaufer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday. Today, I’m joined by my friend Nancy Ganzekaufer. Nancy is here to talk about her new program Profit Insiders for Interior Designers Group Coaching + Mastermind which is packed full of value. But also, Nancy is here to share how certain events in her life forced her to slow down and how she shares her lessons with others on the importance of a work-life balance. Pick It Apart [3:58] Nancy tells us what interior designers can expect from her Profit Insiders for Interior Designers Group Coaching + Mastermind program. [13:00] LuAnn breaks down the process of joining Profit Insiders.   [21:02] Nancy shares her past continued health scare and how she turned it into a

Today With Jean Stoffer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we are joined by the one and only Jean Stoffer. Jean is an award-winning independent designer, star of The Established Home on the Magnolia Network, and author of the newly released book Establishing Home. In our conversation, Jean offers a glimpse into her journey, showing us the joys of intertwining work and family, the benefits of an unhurried attitude, and the blessings each season of life has to offer. Pick It Apart [6:01] Jean discusses “being in the trenches” as she built her business from the ground up, learning cabinetry design, kitchen design, and troubleshooting at her own pace. <

Today With Candice Olson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Candice Olson's episode that originally aired as episode 74! On today’s show, Candice talks about her journey and how she became successful! More About Candice Olson: With over 25 years experience as an Interior Designer, Candice Olson has imparted her distinctively timeless yet on-trend aesthetic on countless residential and commercial projects. <div class= "elementor-element elementor-element-6732ab3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-

Today With Regan Baker: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Regan Baker, of Regan Baker Design. Have you ever had that client where you thought, “we could be friends!” How about that client where you noticed and were impressed with their work ethic? Why not employ them? That’s what Regan did and with three employees that were once clients of hers, she admits she wouldn’t be where she is today without them.  Join us for a great conversation about strong leadership and building a team from places you don’t usually expect. Pick It Apart [4:39] Regan’s first experience turning a client into an employee.  [15:18] Regan’s experience of when her long term goals have changed as time goes on. <span styl

Today With Nicole Gibbons: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Nicole Gibbons’ episode that originally aired as episode 411! On today’s show, Nicole talks about how she created her career by design, how TV really doesn’t pay as much as you would expect, the way that Nicole helps people with their color choice, and so much more! More About Nicole Gibbons: Nicole Gibbons is an interior designer, tastemaker, blogger and on-air personality best known for her fashion-forward point of view on style for the home. As a highly sought after expert, Nicole has been featured in top media outlets such as HGTV, TLC, The Rachael Ray Show, InStyle, House Beautiful, Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Apartment Therapy, Lonny, People Magazine, Domino, Elle Decor and more. She

Today With Susie Novak: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am speaking with Susie Novak, owner of Susie Novak Interiors on a variety of topics. One being what it’s like being a part of a mastermind group. Spoiler alert: it’s fantastic to be a part of a mastermind. And hey, why not start your own? Susie has a good size design team too, so we also talk team tips, sustainability and networking.  Pick It Apart [1:50] Susie shares with us how she formed her mastermind group. [11:20] How accountability plays a role in her mastermind. [25:10] LuAnn and Susie discuss the importance of having diversity within a group. [35:03] Susie shares tips on how to manage a big team. <span style="font-we

Today With Michelle Nussbaumer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Michelle Nussbaumer’s episode that originally aired as episode 124! On today’s show, Michelle talks about her career, her opinions on the business, and her globetrotting lifestyle. Enjoy! More About Michelle Nussbaumer: Michelle is an interior designer, textile and furniture designer, an author and owns a beautiful shop: Ceylon et Cie located in the Dallas design district. Michelle’s journey includes a husband and four children and it starts in west Texas. She goes from New York, Rome, Los Angeles and all the way back to Texas. Her book for Rizzoli, Wanderlust: Interiors That Bring the World Home was released and it includes thirty years of interior design as well as her travels. Connect with Michelle Nussbaumer

Today With Paul Mencel: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today on the show we have Paul Mencel, a former rock star and the craftsman/entrepreneur behind the gorgeous handmade furnishings at Philadelphia Table Company. What started as a side job between his music tours has grown into a seven-figure business, and Paul is here to tell us how important it is to hire wisely, pay attention to the business end of operations, and price your goods and services appropriately in order to remain profitable. Paul believes in asking for help when you need it, learning from your mistakes, and the power of mindset. He says that everything he knows about business he learned by being a rockstar, so this is a really fun conversation. Pick It Apart [4:28] Paul talks about being a working musician and starting his woodworking busi

Today With Mikel Welch: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Mikel Welch’s episode that originally aired as episode 297! On today's show, Mikel shares his really remarkable and encouraging success story. Listen in to hear about a turning point with Steve Harvey and other ways that doors keep on opening for Mikel. More About Mikel Welch: As a young boy growing up in Southfield, Michigan, Mikel Welch busied himself with the construction of sofas and dining tables using toy Legos for imaginary houses. It was evident to his family that an innate sense of creativity and a passion for design were embedded in Mikel from birth. Today Welch runs a New York based interior design business, Mikel Welch Designs, and works as a host and design expert on Quibi's Murder House Flip. On

Today With Christie Fleming: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m joined by Christie Fleming, principal of Lennon Nora Interior Design.  If you would have told me that there were any similarities between Occupational Therapy and interior design, I would have thought you were telling a joke. But for Christie, her experience as an OT led to her perfect niche, the one that let her leave her old career and strike out as the go-to designer for Aging in Place design. Pick It Apart [1:56] Christie shares how she went from occupational therapist to interior design.  [6:52] LuAnn and Christie discuss the value in working for another firm at the beginning of your career.  [14:03] Christie talks about how she stumbled onto

Today With Nate Berkus: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday episode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Nate Berkus’ episode that originally aired as episode 433!  In today’s show, Nate describes how his love of organic, rich, earth-tones is incorporated in the color palette he designed for this collection. Nate’s travels have been the inspiration for this collection. Each of his exclusive fabrics possesses a global point of view and the fabric collection, as a whole, represents his distinctly individual perspective, which blends history, architecture, and artwork from all around the world. Listen in to find out about Nate’s approach to his business, his perspective on color and design, and how he came to work with Oprah. More About Nate Berkus: Since designer Nate Berkus established his award-winning interior design firm at the age of 24, his a

Today With Anne Gillyard: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Anne Gillyard, co-owner of grOH! Playrooms, a luxury educational design firm. Anne had humongous growth in her business after doing some self-reflection and making an investment in her business. After listening to A Well Designed Business, she learned about Rachael Bozsik and Darla Powell and decided to work with them. She shares what she has learned and how much her business has grown in just one year of making moves. Pick It Apart [18:04] The time Anne had her business before meeting Rachael.  [28:50] Anne’s journey working with Darla and Wingnut Social.  [40:10] Anne explains her role of reflection and how it plays a role in her success.  <span style="

Today with Terri Taylor:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy. Terri Taylor is back to keep inspiring every single one of us! Today we talk about how did the Interior Design Business Academy start, and tells us about the IDBA Coaching & Education programs! More About Terri Taylor: Terri Taylor is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and showrooms throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics related to the business of interior design, incl

Today With Claire Ownby: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today, Claire Ownby of Ownby Design, makes running a large, successful firm look easy. But it only appears that way because she has worked so hard to create flawless systems and processes that keep everything running smoothly. She’s sharing how she does it, and how she stays true to herself in her business in the process. Pick It Apart [1:07] Claire shares how she has worked to perfect her systems. [7:05] Claire gives insight into how she manages to produce high-quality work for so many projects within time and budget constraints.  [15:11] Claire and LuAnn discuss having tough conversations with team members.  [25:08] Claire breaks down

Today With Bart Anestin: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Bart Anestin, owner and Creative Strategist of Creative Partner, a Toronto based studio and host of The More Life Podcast.  Marketing can be challenging with all of the other “hats” we have to wear as interior designers. Bart is here to help us with stress free strategies for design agencies, big and small, that will allow you to focus on your clients projects and not struggle with balancing working for your business while working ON your business. Pick It Apart [5:01] Bart shares the similarities that different designers/brands share across the board that he helps them with. [14:00] Bart explains how clarity in your goals and vision helps your marketing. <span style="font-

Today With Tanya Smith-Shiflett: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m joined by Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchen & Bath Designs. Tanya has grown her design firm exponentially over five years, expanding to multiple showrooms, engaging in luxury collaborations, and working with high-end designers. Find out how she built her business and what’s next on the horizon for her. Pick It Apart [1:45] Tanya shares the story of how she transitioned from medical sales to kitchen and bath design [7:12] Tanya discusses her expansion and her showrooms [18:10] Tanya breaks down how she forged high-end collaborations with well-known luxury designers [34:00] Tanya and LuAnn discuss Tanya’s collaboration process

Today’s Show is Sponsored by the “The Design Paradigm”: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. For today’s sponsored show, I’m joined by Cheryl Clendenon of In Detail Interiors. Cheryl has been coaching other designers to success since 2017. Now, she’s launching a program called The Design Paradigm to give business owners everywhere a strong, solid framework for a thriving business. Today, she’s sharing how to lay the foundation for your business to grow, succeed, and thrive. Pick It Apart [2:38] Cheryl discusses the places she sees most designers struggling today.  [13:20] Cheryl and LuAnn discuss why having an established process matters so much.  [16:58] Cheryl talks about the importance of weaving marketing into every phase of your business.  <span styl

Today With Kaitlyn Wolfe: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we have on Kaitlyn Wolfe, founder, general contractor, and principal designer at Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based design-build firm that Kaitlyn has grown from the ground up. Kaitlyn gives us a peek behind the curtain, speaking to what the past few years have been like for her business—one that started as a solo side hustle and has quickly grown to an award-winning firm with more than 15 employees. She shares how she strategized on the fly, but also how she has thoughtfully grown her team with intention and implemented organizational systems along the way. Pick It Apart [4:30] Kaitlyn shares how she fell in love with construction by working with interior designers, architects, and general contractors, all of which gave her wel

Today With Fernando Duque: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s episode is sponsored by Duke Renders. They are a 3D Render studio based in beautiful Tulum, Mexico, and specialize in Interior Design and Architectural photorealistic imaging.  Fernando Duque is here today to talk about how they have built Duke Renders in 2 years to over 100 employees and more than 500 interior design accounts. Make sure to grab your pen and paper! LuAnn Nigara and Fernando Duque's Ah-Ha Moments "We were very clear that we needed to get in place a good management team in order to get where we wanted to go." - Fernando Duque. "I think it was Tony Robbins who said that books are 10 or more years of an author's life compressed for 9.10 bucks." - Fernando Duque. "I've mentioned Tony Robbins before, I'm a big Tony fan, and I love when he says that the secret of living is giving, I really like that phra

Today With Layton Campbell: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I have Layton Campbell of JLayton Interiors on the show. Layton wasn’t always an owner of a successful design firm. He originally started out on Broadway in NYC and performed on cruise ships as a dancer and singer. He always had a passion for stage sets and the interiors of places which grew his desire to do interior design, an interest he already had. Ultimately, he moved back to his native Charlotte, NC and launched his own firm. While scary as it was, there were a lot of lessons Layton learned along the way, and shares with us today. Pick It Apart [7:30] Layton and LuAnn discuss how having prior experience in a career, like working for another design firm, will give you transferable skills. [10:25] Layt

Today on A-Well Designed Business: Today LuAnn recaps her experience at High Point Market this fall and her top takeaways from the Power Talk Friday Tour 2022. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.</

Today With Alex Alonso: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined with Alex Alonso of mr. alex TATE Design. Alex was recently on Bravo TV's hit design competition series, "Best Room Wins" where his "transitional" room design earned him a coveted spread in elledecor.com. What also is impressive is Alex’s knowledge that he is here to share. On multiple occasions he just knocked it out of the park for me in terms of when to turn down a client. Alex shares his ABCD approach that took him and his team months to formulate and now serves them, to be able to have their ideal clients and provide the best client experience. Pick It Apart [14:06] Do all of the ABCD’s of Alex’s ideal client have to check the “yes” box? [26:39] How Alex responds when a client comes back after they were declined.   <s

Today With Ebony Looney: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday and today we are having a conversation about your website. Constructing, revamping, or anything you have to do with your business website can be pretty intimidating. Ebony Looney, web designer,  creative director, and owner of Make Me Over Eb is here to tell us how to optimize our website in search, common website mistakes, what to hire out for, what we must include, and more that will give you more confidence and clarity in building your website. Pick It Apart [6:00] Ebony gives advice on how to share your portfolio or show your work on your website. [17:00] Mistakes people tend to make in constructing their website. [20:30] How import

Today With Tanna Edler: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today with Tanna Edler, owner of TANNA BY DESIGN we learn the seven strategies she implemented to cut her work time in half, but doubling her income. This wasn’t always the case for Tanna. She worked eight years in business before she came to a realization that things had to change. She was overworking herself and doing the backend duties the “long way.” After attending Mydoma Studio’s 19 Hours, she was inspired to live by her new motto to “live easy.” Pick It Apart [2:17] Tanna shares the catalyst to her come to Jesus moment after 8 years as an interior designer.  [11:35] Tanna talks about the first strategy she used to improve her business.  [13.41] Tanna shares how she personally utilizes Mydoma’s Studio M

Today With Kate Saunders: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today, Kate Saunders, is a designer with more than 18 years of experience. Over time, she realized that she has strength, talent, and even passion for the backend of the business. She has taken her experience and her strength to form The Designer’s Collab—a company that handles the backend for design firms of all sizes. Today, she’s sharing what she has learned about efficiency, file management, and streamlining your interior design business. Pick It Apart [1:38] Kate shares the journey that led her to form The Designer’s Collab [8:49] Kate and LuAnn discuss systems that streamline businesses [14:43] LuAnn shares a frustrating roadblock in her business that needs a system improvement

Today With Elsie St. Leger: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today on the show, I’m joined by Elsie St. Leger, president of IIDA New York, and founding member of the New York chapter’s Equity Council.  The Equity Council was formed to address racial inequality within the design industry and educate those who are interested in doing the work and having the real conversations about equality. Elsie shares what you can do as an individual and business owner to take accountability and make a change. Pick It Apart [19:50] Elsie shares how the Equity Council was formed and what their mission is. [22:40] Elsie and LuAnn discuss the four pillars of the Equity Council. [31:30] Elsie discusses the importance of workshops and educa

Today With Vita Vygovska: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 5 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer. More About Vita Vygovska: Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short!), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, and the LuAnn University instructor for Systems Driven Operations. Connect with Vita Vygovska Website Instagram  <a class="ql-link" href= "https://

Today With Michelle Lynne: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today I am joined by Michelle Lynn, president of ML Interiors Group, a successful design firm based in Dallas, and founder of Designed for the Creative Mind where she teaches interior designers and decorators the proven practices, effective processes, and profitable systems to run their businesses with purpose and efficiency. I get a lot of requests to talk about what constitutes billable hours. I think you’ll enjoy the answer to all of the tasks you should be charging your clients, but also we shift into the importance of standing by what we charge, knowing we’re worth what we charge, and yet again, educating our clients. Pick It Apart <span style="font-weight

Today with Terri Taylor:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy. Terri knows how to create successful design businesses—and this time she is here to teach us all about design fees VS hourly billing! More About Terri Taylor: Terri Taylor is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and showrooms throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics related to the business of interior design, including: business practices, sales, marketing, motivation, lea

Today With Susan & Paul Kadilak: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business. We’ve all heard about how valuable video can be for our business. But the idea of starting with video holds a lot of us back. How do we overcome our own insecurities? How do we get started? What do we even put in our videos?  Today, Susan & Paul Kadilak of Kadilak homes help answer that question. They’re taking us through their journey of video for their business and how you can start with video—even if video makes you nervous! Pick It Apart [2:46] Paul and Susan share how they got started with video and how they overcame the discomfort and nerves in the process.  [19:18] Paul and Susan discuss why they chose to bring someone in-house to handle their video needs <span style="font-we

Today With Heather Hansen: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today with Heather Hansen, of Heather Hansen Presents we’re talking about how to advocate for yourself in your business. For some, this can be challenging because it begins with believing in yourself. And after 20 years as a trial attorney, Heather has combined her experience, her psychology degree, and her time as a TV anchor to create specific tools to teach anyone to advocate. Pick It Apart [4:13] Heather explains to us how she helps people advocate for themselves, their ideas, and business. [8:00] Heather’s 3 C’s of advocacy. [19:36] What Heather does with her clients to instill better belief in themselves through the evidence journal. [40:

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Today With Michelle Rohrer-Lauer: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Have you been noticing brands in all industries going more “green?” Are you wondering how you can contribute as a designer?  Today I am chatting with Michelle Rohrer-Lauer a.k.a “The Green Queen”, owner of Michelle Interiors. Michelle will answer all of your questions on how you can learn about sustainability (clue: her 50 Shades of Green events) and how to sprinkle in eco-friendly design to your clients. Make sure to tune in because sustainability is a growing concept and you don’t want to miss out. Pick It Apart [1:45] Michelle explains how sustainability is a growing consumer mandate. [6:27] Michelle gives advice on how to sprinkle in information to clients. <span style="font-weight

Today With Hailey Kolbe: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today I am joined by Hailey Kolbe, the founder and principal designer of her referral-based design firm, Hailey Kolbe Design, which specializes in full-service design for new builds and remodels. Do you know the value of a thorough client work-up? Today, Hailey and I discuss the importance of a thorough evaluation of your client inquiry forms, how to spot red flags, and set expectations with your clients so you set yourself, and your client, up for success. Tune in today to hear how these critical steps can ultimately help you attract your ideal client and be more profitable. More About Hailey Kolbe: Hailey Kolbe Design is a referral-based design firm ran by founder and lead designer Hailey Kolbe. HK Desig

Today with Claire Jefford:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. In today’s sponsored show, I’m sitting down with Claire Jefford—a seasoned designer, a business coach, and one of my trusted Power Talk Friday experts.  Claire knows that the foundation of a successful business is trust and experience—and she’s formed the Interior Design Boss Academy to teach you how to build those two vital pieces for your business. Pick It Apart [13:38] Claire discusses why trust matters so much in business and how to build it from the very first tou

Today With Rebecca Hay: Today on A Well-Designed Business I am joined by Rebecca Hay, CEO of Rebecca Hay Designs. Through her podcast Resilient by Design and her course Power of Process, Rebecca is tapping into her experience with running her own business. She is sharing how she has learned to have a clear, organized, and thorough process of services resulting in success in every design project. Of course, it wasn’t always ‘success’ with Rebecca’s business. She had some eye-opening experiences, including what she calls a “lemon job” which, along with A Well-Designed Business and her peers, really opened her eyes to put proper focus on building a process of services.  Listen in as Rebecca and I discuss processes and how through trial and error and the knowledge that process is constantly evolving she

Today With Jeannie Andresen: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I often hear from designers who struggle to turn down undesirable businesses. That makes sense—it can be hard to say no to the wrong fit. It takes work on your own mindset to learn how to do that. Today, business coach Jeannie Andresen joins me to guide you through a straightforward process to determine your own worth, charge accordingly, and turn away the business that doesn’t align with it. Pick It Apart [7:52] Jeannie breaks down the art of the 10-minute phone call for crisis communication. [19:47] Jeannie explains why removing emotion makes business decisions easier.  <span style="font-weight: 4

Today With Sherry Schmidt: Today I am joined by Sherry Schmidt, owner of Form and Function. With 20 years of experience in the industry, Sherry offers individualized one-stop residential and commercial design services.   Today we are covering all things commercial design. Sherry puts all of her sales staff through a step by step training to teach them the art of conversation with clients. Whether you do commercial design, residential design and thinking about adding commercial, residential only, or you just think sales in general are scary, this episode will provide you with a ton of takeaways. You will also learn about Sherry’s course, the Consumer Centered Sales Method for Design Professionals, that will take sales training even farther giving you the confidence to close each and every sale. <div c

More About Amber De La Garza: Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist! Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, and creator of Leverage Lab®. She helps business owners improve their time management and elevate their productivity to maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most! Connect with Amber De La Garza Website  <a href= "http://instagram.com/amber_delagar

Today With Gillian Segal: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am sitting down with Gillian Segal, owner of Gillian Segal Design and HUGE supporter of relationships. But that’s not Gillian’s only passion. Gillian's skill of sourcing has also contributed to her company’s success. Tune in to learn how strong relationships in all aspects of her business and how growing her ‘black book’ of vendors has made Gillian’s firm successful in six years. Pick It Apart [3:00] Gillian starts us right off on what developing community means to her. [7:38] How Gillian develops her supportive and collaborative team. [26:36] Gillian brings the

Today’s Show Sponsored by the “Interior Design Standard.” Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share all the details of her upcoming course, the “Interior Design Standard”. I’m so excited to share Sandra Funk’s business program, the “Interior Design Standard”, with you because I know it will be the best investment for your business. Enroll here:  https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann Today with Sandra Funk:  Sandra's back on the show today, and we are talking all about growth and change. Mistakes and obstacles can lead to growth and transformation. Find out why Sandra never asks a client for their budget, and what she does

Today With Richelle Plett: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, with Richelle Plett, seasoned interior designer, and expert in upholstered furniture. We talk about her proprietary course, Upholstery Uncovered, which is accompanied by her, literally beautiful, book by the same name. We also talk about her exciting new 3-hour intensive course available through LuAnn University starting fall 2022, called "Close more upholstered furniture sales: No sit test required!". This episode and her courses are for you if you have ever struggled to sell upholstered pieces to your clients without a “sit test”. When you know the ergonomics of upholstered pieces and the construction of them, you can confidently specify comfortable, beautiful upholstered furniture without the stress and anxiety of “will they like it”? Be the expert and learn how to confidently sell upholst

Today With Jamie Van Cuyk: It seems like everywhere I turn, businesses in our industry are hiring. And yet, just as many of them are struggling to find the right way to hire and onboard for long-term success. Today, Jamie Van Cuyk of Growing Your Business joins me to discuss the ins and outs of hiring the best fit employee for your team. Pick It Apart [2:14] Jamie discusses why hiring has changed so drastically in the last year and what it means for businesses looking to hire.  [20:05] Jamie shares her insights on the interview process, beginning with the job description. [34:55] Jamie and LuAnn discuss the importan

Today With Brook Perdigon: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Brook Perdigon, artist, designer, and owner of  Brook Perdigon Textiles (BPT). Brook emailed me describing her transition from creative artist, to creative business owner.  She explains there is an artist identity and a business owner identity. And how do we navigate that? Well Brook and I discuss all of her aha moments along her seven years in a creative business, along with the different approaches she took to those stubborn recurring challenges. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [3:20] Brook starts off with how she learned the hard way the difference between the two business identities; artist and business owner.  <spa

Today With Andrea Liebross: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, Andrea Liebross, certified business and life coach, podcaster and owner of Andrea Liebross Coaching, LLC. is here to talk about self worth. She provides some great tips, strategies, and facts that will help us ditch our doubt in our skills and what we charge, and come out with one hundred percent assurance in how we conduct our business. Even I took a page out of Andrea’s book from the great tips she was offering. This is definitely worth the listen if you ever feel stuck or if your business feels stagnant due to not recognizing your own worth.  Pick It Apart [4:30] Andrea shares how she approaches the subject of worthiness with her clients.

Today With Allison Handler: Welcome to A Well-Design Business. Today I am joined by Allison Handler, owner of Allison Handler Design. Through listening to AWDB, taking courses at LuAnn University, facing hard challenges and creating important relationships, Allison earned $1 million in gross sales, in her first year of business. Allison reached out to me and I was impressed with her work ethic and story. She wanted to share with you everything she learned in that first year, including what she learned about systems and processes, forming relationships, and the hard lessons along the way. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [13:18] Allison starts to share her story. <span style="

Today With Katie McFarlan: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What does it take to be successful? We talk about it week in and week out on the show. There are so many details, so many facets to business success. But there are a handful of business practices that every successful designer puts into place—the things that set them apart from those who struggle. Today, Katie McFarlan of Dakota Design Co joins me to share the six business practices she believes are key to a well-designed business. Pick It Apart [11:54] Katie breaks down why setting a project minimum is important and the different ways to do it.  <span sty

Today With Renee Biery: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am chatting with Renee Biery, owner of  deVignier Design, Inc. and Only Girl On the Jobsite podcast. Renee works in restoration as well as new construction and she wanted to share with my listeners how renovation management is a stable income for interior designers throughout the year, as procurement and decorating ebbs and flows per job. A lot of takeaways here. Enjoy! Pick It Apart [3:50] Renee describes the scope of renovation management in her business. [14:26] Renee shares how she changed the initial conversations with her clie

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 4 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer. Today, we are talking about how to breakdown your pricing for a client. How much detail do you include? How do you explain labor, fabric, hardware, and installation costs? We talk about it all! Tune in to learn how to have this tough conversation like a pro. More About Vita Vygovska Vita is the CEO and founder of Vitalia Inc., a nationally recognized authority on quality window treatments and soft furnishings, located in the Metro Philade

Today With Jessica Davis: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, Jessica  Davis of JL Design in Nashville, Tennessee is joining me to share her tried and true strategies to hold clients accountable at the beginning, middle, and end of your project. We’ve all been on a tense phone call with a client about something not going their way. You think about all the ways this could have been avoided. Today Jessica shares her strategies to hold your clients, and yes sometimes even holding yourself accountable. More About Jessica Davis: <span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell,

Today With Carrie Flynn: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today Carrie Flynn, owner of Virtual Simplicity, LLC. is joining us to talk about all things, launching.  Listen, I’ve launched a lot of successful programs; Money, Mindset & Sales, the Power Talk Friday Tour…but I would be lying if I said I did it all by myself and knew exactly what I was doing in terms of the TECH side. Thank God for my team! We, as creatives, have the brains, expertise, and superpower, but launching can be overwhelming.  Carrie is a certified Master Marketer and Launch Manager and is here to prepare us for what to expect (including the roller coaster of emotions), do, and not to do whe

Today With Rick Campos: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Whether we’ve had it for 6 months or 5 years, we still have questions when running our design business. The experience may not be the same, but the questions we ask ourselves are. It’s the circumstances that change.  Today with Rick Campos, who does freelance consulting exclusively for the interior design community, we tackle these questions that linger in our minds and all of the resources that are all around us that can answer them. More About Rick Campos: Rick Campos is a self proclaimed “recovering interior

Today With Michelle Wiebe: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday epsiode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Michelle Wiebe's episode that originally aired as episode 148! On the show today, we have Michelle Wiebe! Michelle is the principal of Studio M in Tampa, Florida. The specialty of Michelle’s firm is luxury residential new construction. I know we have talked to quite a few designers in this field I haven’t really picked their brain as much as I did with Michelle today.  Her firm in addition to luxury residential, new construction they also do family condominiums, corporate headquarters, medical offices and small-scale hospitality spaces. Michelle is a busy lady! In addition to all of this, she serves on the board of interior design at Florida State University her Almer mater. She also serves on the high point market authority board and she goes all over the country

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a solo show. I am sharing my thoughts on the biggest piece of business advice I have to offer from my long career as a business owner. There are so many things you need to learn to run a well-designed business. If you’re a longtime listener than you can probably name many of them by now. But today, I am sharing my absolute greatest takeaway that you need to know. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara <div

Today With Adam Urbanski: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today is a Flashback Friday epsiode, where we revisit some of the most popular shows from our archives. I hope you enjoy Adam Urbanski's episode that originally aired as episode 280! Today's guest  is Adam Urbanski, aka The Millionaire Marketing Mentor and he’s a real headliner in Online Marketing and Podcast circles! There are so many ways that Adam could really help and influence all LuAnn’s Designer friends to get that extra ‘something’ to tweak their businesses, so today, she’s decided to go with Adam’s Dream Business Design Process. Listen in to find out how this process helps Designers to identify what they want to sell the most and also how to sell to the most clients. <div class="ql-editor" contenteditable="true" data-gramm=

Today With Meredith Huck: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined with fellow Jersey girl Meredith Huck, Founder of House of Huck. Meredith and I were chatting on Instagram, and it ended up with one of those instances in which I saw value in her being a guest on the show.  Meredith has successfully achieved a net amount of six figures within her first ten months of business. She is here to give my audience three helpful tips for those who are twiddling their thumbs about starting their design business. Don’t worry, we get it. But I know that you will find value and information that will give you the confidence you are desiring to go for it! <stro

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today we are going to talk about unleveling to new, different, bigger, and better projects. These are the projects that you want to do but currently are not doing because you don't have the experience yet. Let's talk about it! What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Power Talk Friday Tour Fall 2022 luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com 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 444

Today with Kelly Fridline: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For many of you, running a successful and profitable interior design firm is the ultimate goal. But sometimes, the goal might look different. Perhaps you’ve thought about coaching, course creation, or another avenue besides a traditional firm. There are many career paths in the industry, and all of them require adjusting, evaluation, learning, and making mistakes. Today, Kelly Fridline joins me to discuss what it looks like to take a unique career path and what she has learned as she has carved out her businesses. Pick it apart: <li style="font-

Today With Nancy Ganzekaufer: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday and this show is sponsored by Nancy Ganzekaufer and her newest program Profit Insiders for Interior Designers. She is back to talk about the importance of analyzing your profitability. More specifically, Nancy is here to discuss the importance of knowing your numbers for the jobs that are already completed. The whole point of our business right? Tune in to learn if how your pricing your projects is benefitting or hidduring your business, and how Nancy can help. More About Nancy Ganzekaufer: Nancy Ganzekaufer is a focused, motivated, and dedicated Interior Designer Business Coach. Through her work, Nancy empowers creative entrepreneur

Today with Pamela Durkin: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today with Pamela Durkin, author of Elevate and owner of Pamela Durkin Designs, we are discussing how to time block our tasks. Pamela is coughing up some great strategies on how we can set specific blocks of time for specific tasks that will help us, get this, “Get more done in one day then you used to get done in an entire week.” Pick it apart: [2:00] Pamela talks to us about time blocking to increase productivity.  [8:30] Pamela takes us to the next level of getting a weeks’ worth of things done in a day.  [11:15] Pamela explains a strategy for completing the potential tasks we get from when we check all of our emails. [26:00] Pamela and LuAnn discuss the importance

Today with Lori Morris Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Lori Morris, one of the most passionate and driven people LuAnn has ever come across, joins the show today to share what it takes to grow your business to the level of attracting luxury clients and delivering the level of service and design that they expect.  Even as Lori’s business has grown so large, she maintains creative control and has a hand in every project they tackle. If you want to attract those luxury clients, if you want to work on these magnificent homes, if you want to offer that truly above and beyond level of service, then stay tuned to LuAnn and Lori’s conversation for takeaways that you can apply to your business to help reach your goals.  Not one to merely dip her toe in the water, Lori Morris is an ‘all or nothing’ designer whose artistry is rooted in tradition, unconventional ideas and fearless execution of perfection. Reinventing the standard of design since 1987, her work can be found in

Today with Rydhima Brar: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, Rydhima Brar of R/terior Studio shares her story and her journey to design with us. From her childhood in Kuwait, to her corporate career in LA, to launching her own firm at the beginning of the pandemic, to amazing growth and press attention—Rydhima shares how her story, and how storytelling in general, laid the foundation for her design career. Pick it apart: [5:00] Rydhima shares her journey and discusses her connection to construction and design during childhood in Kuwait.  [16:08] Rydhima discusses how a difficult personal experience launched the rebirth of her career and pushed her into her passion—design.  <li style="font-weight: 400;" a

TODAY WITH MADELEINE MACRAE: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s Power Talk Friday, I’m sitting down with long-time friend of the show and Power Talk Friday expert Madeleine MacRae.  I often hear from listeners and designers who understand that the old adage, “You have to work on your business, not in your business,” is true if they want to grow and scale. But they don’t always understand what that actually looks like. Madeleine breaks down the CEO-level activities that let you scale at each stage of business. Pick it apart: [3:48] Madeleine breaks down the four stage of business and what each one entails.  <span st

Today with Deborah Main: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s episode is a little bit different than the usual business acumen. We’re diving into Deborah Main’s story of how she became The Pillow Goddess. Deborah is the epitome of an inspirational story—of resiliency, of overcoming hardship, and chronic illness, and of art and creativity serving as an outlet in times of suffering.  Deborah’s story serves as motivation, inspiration, and absolute proof that art and design can heal and bring joy in even the toughest of times. Pick it apart: [0:36] Deborah shares her inspirational story of battling chronic illness. [14:24] Deborah discusses how she found pillow design

Today with Desi Creswell: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. If you’re anything like me, you have a neverending to-do list. There’s always something else to get done, another box to check, another urgent task to complete. But when we get bogged down in those tasks, it becomes impossible to work on the business.  So how do we motivate ourselves to take a step back and work on the higher level needs? Interior Design Coach Desi Creswell shares her framework for getting big tasks done, even if it feels like you’ll never be able to. <a href="https://www.desiid.com/focusf

Today with Sonal Kotecha: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today we have on Sonal Kotecha, founder of Rumah Interiors, a Dubai-based boutique interior design firm. Sonal and I were going back and forth on Instagram and she was telling me all of the lessons that she had learned from the show. As we were chatting, a light bulb went off and I knew I had to have her on as a guest. I am so appreciative of her sharing her lessons that I know you will benefit from hearing her story. Enjoy! Pick it apart: [6:38] Sonal tells us about the first big lesson she learned from A Well-Designed Business. [17:30] Sonal explains her seco

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 3 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer.  Today, we are covering profit, and what designers can expect when selling window treatments. More About Vita Vygovska Vita is the CEO and founder of Vitalia Inc., a nationally recognized authority on quality window treatments and soft furnishings, located in the Metro Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania. Vitalia Inc. is your workroom and your partner for custom window treatments. Their mission is to provide value to their clients and improve their lives. Vita would love to talk to you. Share your feedback, questions, problems, and challenges with her, and also your wins. You can email her at [email protected] Conne

Today with Rick Campos: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Interior Designer and fellow podcaster Rick Campos of Design Biz Survival Guide. I had the absolute honor of turning the tables on Rick and putting him in the hot seat for his 4 year anniversary episode. I am delighted to share this with you today and thank you again Rick for the tremendous honor of making me apart of this milestone. More about Rick Campos: Rick Campos is a self proclaimed “recovering interior designer” with fifteen years of experience in the design industry. Formerly Director of Business Development for a notable Orange County design firm, his daily interactions with architects, builders, vendors and clients contributes to a broad perspective of the design industry. In 2018 Rick traded in his tape measure for a microphone and launched Design Biz Survival Guide - a podcast about life and business for interior design professionals -

Today with Corinne Bentzen and Melanie Kaplan:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s sponsored show, I’m sitting down with Corinne Bentzen and Melanie Kaplan from The Company Store. We’re talking about the importance of staying on color trends, seasonal rotations of products, how the brand stays dedicated to premium quality, and their commitment to sustainability. Pick it apart: [18:34] Melanie shares her background in design and textiles, including experience in cotton mills that laid the foundation of her expertise.  [23:27] Melanie discusses how her team plays into the success of the brand.  [26:30] Melanie talks about the company’s design process and valuable partnerships.  [31:30] Corinne and Melanie share

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Have you ever had a project where you felt undervalued and taken advantage of? A situation where someone else was taking credit for your work? What about mixing work and family?  These factors create a spiderweb of entanglements and equal a ticking time bomb of emotions and feelings. Today's episode comes from a listener who, while highly skilled, talented, and experienced, has found herself in a situation where she has mixed family and business in a high dollar project in which she is not getting the compensation or recognition for her contributions. Listen in as I break down the situation, the challenges, and what Lu would do. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration luannuniversity.com <a href=

Today with Michelle Feeney: Welcome to A Well Designed Business.  On this Power Talk Friday I am talking to Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street. Floral Street is a modern British fragrance that is both sustainable and eco-friendly. You’re probably wondering why I had Michelle on. Well despite her not being in interior design ,Michelle has provided me with a couple of aha moments that I want to bring to my listeners. She is an intelligent and accomplished business person and I can’t wait for you to hear about her experience to the top, how her fragrances make her customers feel, and how taking a break to stay at home gave her the information she needed to jump back in!    Pick it apart: [1:00] Michelle and LuAnn talk about the correlation between how a floral scent should make you feel on your body, b

Today with Tiffany Cassidy: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today I am joined by Tiffany Cassidy, co-founder and principal designer of Lagnappe Custom Interiors. Tiffany and I discuss the fear some have about niching down your business and how Tiffany powered through her own fear. Every guest that has been on the show that has chosen a niche has said that it was the best decision they made for their business. Tiffany couldn't agree more and she has done such a wonderful job at combining her past experiences with what she’s learned from coach Tobi Fairley to niche into her luxury vacation rental design business. Please join us to learn about Tiffany’s niching journey and the versatile services that Lagnappe Custom Interiors has to offer.    Pick it apart: [6:13] Tiffany starts to tell us about when she decided to niche her design

Today with Leah Neaderthal: Welcome to A Well Designed Business.  As you probably know, I am as extroverted as they come—a trait which I believe plays into my sales success. But extroversion isn’t necessary to be a good salesperson. In fact, my guest today, Leah Neaderthal, would say that introverts possess several qualities that make them natural sales superstars—if they know how to tap into them and use them. She’s sharing how to do just that, teaching introverts how to sell with strength and confidence.   Pick it apart: [2:00] Leah shares why being an introvert is actually a sales superpower.  [5:39] LuAnn and Leah discuss the importance of tapping into what your client is saying, even if they aren’t actually saying it.  [7:39] Leah talks about diving deep i

Today with Kate Lester: Welcome to A Well Designed Business.  On today’s sponsored show with Kate Lester Interiors, we’re taking a look at the Harman collection—a line of beautiful vintage reproduction rugs, inspired by Kate’s travels and passions. In collaboration with Jaipur Living, Kate launched the Harman collection to bring the beauty of one-of-a-kind elaborate vintage rugs to modern designs for all levels of clients.   Pick it apart: [1:29] Kate shares the story of how she and Jaipur Living came together to launch the Harman collection. [7:33] Kate gives insight into what reproductive vintage pieces are and why they are desirable.  [13:03] Kate discusses her vision for the collection and how it came to fruition. [18:

Today with Monica Froese: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. Over the last few years, more and more designers have started finding ways to build passive income streams into their businesses, through e-design options, curated shoppable lists, and more. Today, we’re talking more about this idea—how you can create digital products to help solve problems for your clients, attract new ones, and add an income stream to your business.   Pick it apart: [1:28] Monica shares her journey, from corporate marketer to mom blogger to digital product aficionado.  [19:15] Monica gives insight into how interior designers can use digital products to solve problems for their clients.  [36:31] LuAnn and Monica discuss how to create a pillar of content to help your clients along t

Today with Lesley Myrick: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. E-design has certainly grown in popularity in recent years. My guest today, Lesley Myrick has gone that route as well. But she missed the connection aspect of creating designs specifically for clients. So she forged her own service, the Design Master Plan, that offers a high-level customer experience, with everything but the procurement. Today, Lesley talks about finding the pieces of business she values the most and letting everything else go. Pick it apart: [3:56] Lesley gives an overview of the Design Master Plan and why she chose to create the service.  [14:24] Lesley discusses how a conversation with a coach helped her hone in on what she valued most in he

Today with Connie Vanderzand: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. Today I am talking with Connie Vanderzanden, who has developed the Going Beyond Revenue Cash Handling System. This interview is not only with a professional financial coach whose superpower is money, but it’s with someone who has financially hit rock bottom herself in her previous bookkeeping business, only to rise back up and take control of her finances and her money story. Now she’s here to share how she did it and to offer additional tips, support, and hope towards our finances.  If you want to change your emotions about money, feel empowered by it, and take full control of your financial situation in your business, this episode is where it’s at. Enjoy!   Pick it apart: [3:57] Connie tells us about the business she use

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today's question comes to us from a designer in a tough situation between a builder and a homeowner. Tune in to hear the designer's story and how I would handle the situation if I was in their shoes.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com 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

Today With Terri Taylor: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy and specifically, Terri's The Real Deal workshop.  More about The Real Deal: Get PAID What You Are Worth The industry’s premier event for serious interior designers who want to bring consistent high-profit remodeling jobs into their business Once a year Terri offers this very special training once a year that deep dives into how to run extremely profitable remodeling jobs This 3-day workshop is designed for IDBA clients but Terri is opening a few seats to the design community at large. 3 full days of training this May 4,5 & 6 Go to InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy.c

Today with Laura Martin Bovard: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today we’re talking with Laura Martin Bovard, founder of LMD Interiors and Divine Hustler. After realizing how easily triggered she would get from certain employee types or certain things that happen in business, Laura decided to train herself to work from soul, rather than ego, which is commonly how we approach things.  I think that this episode is very relatable and after listening, you will be inspired to learn how to work more from soul too! You will hear how Laura’s life has become more light, her business more successful, and how she was able to surround herself with like-minded, positive people. Laura really is a light herself and listening to her will give you hope for any challenges you may have. Pick it apart: [

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today is Window Treatment Friday, and we are debuting part 2 of our Pricing Window Treatment Series. Vita is back with some great tools that she has learned to use when pricing a window treatment to a consumer.  Vita and I understand the challenges with pricing, that it isn’t cutthroat and that there are so many variables that go into a window treatment. Tune in to learn the general pricing guidelines for a designer, and also how you can uplevel your conversations with your client by knowing how to ballpark the price within minutes of the consultation. Pick It Apart:  [5:59] Vita and LuAnn reflect on why you as a designer need to understand the numbers behind the formulas. [11:30] Vita breaks down what markup is and how to calcula

Today with Jessica Harling: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re talking about my favorite thing—sales. And I can think of nobody better to help me talk through sales than my colleague, Jessica Harling. She is walking us through the proven 7-Step Sales Process from Exciting Windows—the same process that she covers in her course at LuAnn University. You’re going to get a high-level look at every step along the way, its purpose, and how it folds into a successful sale. Pick it apart: [10:50] LuAnn and Jessica dive into the inquiry call and how it plays into the overall sale.  [19:16] Jessica highlights how the preparation for the appointment lays the foundation for success. <li style="font-weight: 400;" ari

Today with Rachael Bozsik: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. Today we have Rachael Bozsik, International Keynote Speaker and top elite branding coach. This is the second time we have had Rachael on and I cannot wait to share with you what she has been up to since last on the show.  In addition to working with myself, Rachael has worked with many leaders in the industry including Sandra Funk, Michele Williams, and many up-and-comers. I encourage you to listen to find out how you can work with Rachael, and also how she has used her marketing strategy of the 4 P’s (positioning, press, paid speaking, and partnerships) to gain luxury clients and be seen as the “go-to” in your industry.    Pick it apart: [15:45] Rachael shares with us her process when she starts a new Luxe Day client.  <span style="font-weight

Today with Sallie Lord: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I have said for some time that our business is only as strong as the relationships we build. Our relationships with vendors, partners, clients, and employees all play a hand in our success. But the relationships we have with fellow business owners, fellow designers or fellow window treatment professionals, can be extremely valuable as well. My guest today, Sallie Lord, knows that other professionals don’t have to be your competition. In fact, they can be collaborative partners and help empower your business. Pick it apart: [2:48] Sallie shares the story of how she and a group of local designers created a collabo

Today with Nitesh Chaudhary: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. Today, we bring you a sponsored show with Jaipur Living. Jaipur is not your average hand-woven rug company. They have a long-standing commitment to empowering their artisans, ensuring ethical and fair practices, and sustainability. Their latest initiative—the Manchaha was built on a history of those commitments. The story behind these rugs will move you. To learn more, go to Jaipurliving.com/luann   Pick it apart: [2:55] Nitesh shares the origins of the Manchaha collection and the way it has turned weavers into artists.  [10:45] Nitesh explains the power the program has brought into the l

Today with Claudia Ricciardone: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Claudia Ricciardone, founder of Claudia Josephine Design.  Claudia and I discuss those stubborn pain points that we face in starting a business. Coming from a psychology background, Claudia teaches us that pain is what actually causes us to grow in that it forces us to find a solution. Listen in as Claudia shares her own solutions as she navigated turning her hobby into a business.  I don’t know about you, but when a psychologist offers business advice, I am going to listen.  Pick it apart: [6:10] Claudia begins her discussion about some of the pain points she experienced while starting her interior design business. [16:44] Claudia tells us how she tra

Today with Liz Beaman Delman: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. I love today’s conversation because we are diving a little into the art world. How many of us designers have intimidation or lack of knowledge into having that conversation with our clients to incorporate fine art into their project? I see you in the back with your hand raised. Well we're in luck because today we are chatting with Liz Beaman Delman, founder of Above the Sofa, an art advisory firm. Liz aims to bring confidence to designers to have those “artsy” conversations with their clients and to incorporate fine art into their projects. You know that we love anything that will help a designer be more profitable. Enjoy!    Pick it apart: [1:36] Liz explains her reasoning behind wanting to empower designers to bring more fine art into their projects. <

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®! Managing our businesses over the last 2 years of the pandemic has been hard. It has been especially hard on those of you who own and manage bigger businesses. This revenue growth is absolutely something to be grateful for, but it has also been extremely challenging.  So today I am talking to you about The Power Talk Friday Tour next month at High Point Market. If your business finished last year with gross revenues between 2 million and 5 million or between 5 million and 10 million, this PTF Tour is for you. I know you need to be in a room with other leaders, other CEO’s who are going through what you are going through. Listen to today's show for all the details and I hope to see you there. Save your seat here! <stro

Today's Show Sponsored by the "Interior Design Standard."  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today's sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share insight on growing not just a luxury design firm - but a thriving luxury design firm. She'll share everything from the why, to the how, and everything in between. I am thrilled that Sandra will also be sharing the latest news about her business program, the "Interior Design Standard".  I know it will be the best investment for your business. Enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann Registration opens March 23rd! Designers who have implemented the Standard in their businesses: “A rising

Today with Kelsey Kurtis: Welcome to A Well Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday and we’re talking-branding! This is for everyone. Kelsey Kurtis, author of The Connection Method and professional lifestyle branding photographer, shares her principles to create an impactful brand through the power of connection.   Pick it apart: [16:17] Kelsey shares with us the steps from her book that she encourages people to take when defining their brand. [23:00] Kelsey and LuAnn discuss the importance of having three non-negotiables when having those hard discussions. [26:20] Kelsey tells us about everyone’s favorite chapter in The Connection Method.  [39:00] We learn the three steps of Kelsey’s branding and

Today with Sandra Vlock Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today I have the pleasure of talking with Sandra Vlock, founder of Studio Vlock. Sandra worked as an architect in her own firm for 30 years before shifting into, what she likes to refer to as, functional fine art. If that’s not impressive, wait until you see her illuminating, evocative sculptures. Let this episode serve as an inspiration for you to make that big move to change your life and success, like Sandra did. Pick it apart: [1:30] Sandra begins by explaining her concept of “functional art.” [6:05] Sandra tells us some of the ways that she leveraged being an architect into working as an artist. [12:00] Sandra and LuAnn discuss transferable skills and how important asking questi

Today with Erin Harding: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Social media marketing is a valuable tool for interior designers. Pinterest in particular is an excellent platform to leverage the beautiful visuals of your business in order to grow your audience and expand your reach. We’ve heard about the organic side of Pinterest from Simple Pin Media before. Today, Erin Harding of Simple Pin joins us to dive into the paid advertising side.   Pick it apart: 1:50 Erin shares why Pinterest is so valuable to interior designers 11:54 Erin talks about the nitty-gritty of how to prepare for a paid ad campaign 28:18 Erin dives into how to make

Today with Peggy Morgans Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Window treatment pro, Peggy Morgans shares the experts she hired and the work she did to prepare her business for a sale. Previously doing 90% of the work herself, Peggy set a goal of taking herself out of the business and broke the action items into a checklist of just three simple to-dos to achieve her goal. Pick it apart: [13:07] Peg shares how she felt about the process documentation when work is so custom [22:54] Peggy details how she hired out some of her marketing  [26:31] Peggy and LuAnn talk about lunch and learns [33:33] Peggy and LuAnn discuss the hiring learning curve [44:36] Peggy tells

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s WTF—Window Treatment Friday—is part 1 of a new three-part series on pricing window treatments. We’re breaking down margin vs. markup, how to do each, and why you need to know.  You’re going to get the math and the formulas you need, but we’re also diving into what the numbers mean, so you can price window treatments with confidence and knowledge. Pick It Apart:  [5:59] Vita and LuAnn reflect on why you as a designer need to understand the numbers behind the formulas. [11:30] Vita breaks down what markup is and how to calculate yo

Today on A Well-Designed Business: A Well-Designed Business® is 6 years old today!  Can you believe it? I can't tell you what it means to me to have you on this journey with me. So really, while I am celebrating this milestone for the podcast, I'm also celebrating YOU.  I've been reflecting on all that's happened between February 15th, 2016 and today, and I'm blown away by the education I've received from all the incredible guests and sponsors I have had the privilege to work with throughout the years.  Today I will be sharing some of the big lessons I've learned from my three featured sponsors: @kravetinc , @mydoma , and @windowworks Give the episode a listen, and tell me: What are the biggest #ahamoments you've experienced? Thank you for coming along for the ride and choosing to spend your time with me each week.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Exciting Wind

Today with Daniela Furtado: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Daniela Furtado, the Toronto-based managing director of Findable Digital Marketing specializes in SEO for the design industry. She covers what to look for when hiring an SEO specialist and how to DIY it without wasting your time. Daniela’s case study recommendation comes with a Goodie Doc checklist found by signing up at https://luannnigara.com/goodies/.   Pick it apart:   [11:26] Daniela shares how to optimize your portfolio [17:31] Daniela explains the structure of her case studies [21:11] Daniela gives an example of a design

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! "Let's meet for drinks", says an innocent email from a potential client. Or is it less than innocent? Today's episode was a great question, a very important question, from an anonymous listener, who found themselves in an uncomfortable situation with a client. How do you respond when a potential client extends an invitation for a meeting outside business hours? Join me for today's What Would Lu Do episode as I pick this situation apart, and we discuss the importance of listening to your intuition. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Exciting Windows! Build a Better Business Registration luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob <a href="https://luannnigara.com/inside-voice

Today with Meredith Kallaher: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Once a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Meredith Kallaher took her love of numbers and fondness for small businesses and became a certified paid ad specialist. Learn the strategy Meredith uses for her clients to grow their social following and advertise on social despite increasingly restricted targeting options.   Pick it apart: [8:35] Meredith recaps the iOS 14 update of April 2021   [13:25] Meredith explains a sample ad campaign creation   [16:58] Meredith advises how to set up your social profile section   [18:38] Meredith explains how to set up a social ad campaign   <span style="f

Today with Chanae Richards  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. The journey to building a well-designed business isn’t always linear. Sometimes designers come from the most unlikely of careers. That’s something we have heard many times on the show. But today Chanae Richards shares the story of how she founded her firm Oloro Interiors. Not only did she come into the space as a second career, but she even built her interior design business in an unusual and unexpected way. She has made some very unique decisions along the way that have led to her success. Pick it apart: [22:24] Chanae shares her unconventional story, which started in finance and then included Peer Space rentals before design.  [29:37] Chanae and LuAnn dive

Today with Renee Gurganus: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking to Renee Gurganus, Executive Director of the Window Coverings Association of America (WCAA). I’m so happy to finally have Renee on our show. The WCAA is an association that I have been a board member of for two and a half years and I am so proud of everything they have done for the window coverings industry to provide education, networking opportunities, collaboration and so much more! Please check out this episode to learn the value that the WCAA could bring to your life, even if you aren’t in the window industry.   Pick it apart: [12:00] Renee tells us about WCAA’s WISP program and how it highlights the members and links them to other members. [13:00] R

Today with Leia Ward Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. New York-based luxury stager, Leia Ward, took her dad’s suggestion to start a staging business and ran with it. She learned the business, wore every hat, and pushed out of her comfort zone to build an amazing business. Learn how she handles her finances, where she got her business knowledge, and what she tells herself every day. Pick it apart: [13:46] Leia tells about her first real staging gig a luxury property [19:16] Leia shares how she got images for her website [23:16] LuAnn recaps Leia’s smart business choices [26:17] Leia tells how she creates a strategic plan  [30:06] Leia tells how she visualizes future memoring

On Today’s Flashback Friday Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s Flashback episode, we’re revisiting with Laurence Carr, a Manhattan-based designer who had two careers before settling on design. Learn why she formed an advisory council to coach her new business and why sticking to her core business strategy has led to her rapid success. Pick it apart: [6:52] Laurence speaks about how her advisory board works.   [18:32] Laurence speaks about the sustainability mission for her business   [21:37] Laurence tells about how her eBook magazine supports her email list   [22:57] Laurence explains how her previous job influenced her own business   [29:07] Laurence explains how she works with f

Today with Marianna Zimmerman Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Marianna Zimmerman, owner of The BEST is yet to come DESIGNS, LLC.  "Your current situation doesn't have to be your final destination." This quote from Marianna gives you a little clue of what we’re discussing today. For years Marianna was working in administration at a hospital. She questioned if she was able to do what she REALLY wanted to do, own her own design business. With the support of her husband and her decision to believe in herself, she has successfully owned her firm for 12 years. If you have any doubt or fear or questions about your abilities, know that this episode will give you the kick in the pants you need. Pick it apart:   [7:00] After 20-30 years, Marianna tells us how she

Today with Beth Bender: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Beth Bender, principal and co-founder of The Dove Agency where Beth has developed a team that expertly provides back-office operations for interior design professionals, from strategic planning and consulting to targeted marketing solutions. With 20 years of design experience, Beth decided she wanted to start something that would help those in the design industry with the back end of their businesses. Supporting both the financial and marketing aspects of the design business, Beth and I discuss The Dove Agency, how it works, benefits of working with the agency, and the fact that if you don’t run your operations smoothly, no matter how talented you are as a designer, it could mean the end of your business.   Pick it apart:

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today is a follow-up to last week’s show where I suggested a framework for setting meaningful goals for your business. If you missed it, go ahead and listen to Episode 735 for all the background details of the DTBE goal-setting framework. In today's episode, I am going to share a story and a lesson based on the first step of the DTBE goal-setting framework— The D for Design. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com<

Today with Frank Eybsen:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today we speak with Frank Eybsen, founder of Buildlane. Buildlane’s mantra is to make custom easy for designers. We all know how daunting the custom process can be. Whether you are near or far, seasoned or new, Buildlane provides an experienced team and talented builders to carry out your specific custom furniture needs. Tune in to learn how to join the Buildlane platform and all of its wonderful benefits. Hint: Your Buildlane experience will leave you with an unexpected custom education.   Pick it apart: easy for interior designers.    [14:45] Frank explains all of the different opportunities to specify custom furniture through Buildlane.    [29:28] Frank tells us th

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today is the first show of the new year, so let's work together and make sure 2022 is a productive and profitable year! In this episode, I will be talking about goal setting and strategies that can help us all tackle the year ahead.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com 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 He

Today with Ippolita Rostagno Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Ippolita Rostagno, founder of her eponymous 20 year-old jewelry brand, and co-founder of the luxury e-tailer, Artemest.com. While taking a leave of absence from her jewelry company, Ippolita learned to trust her professional intuition through all of her challenges, from people saying “no,” to certain technological challenges.   Ippolita and I discussed the, “Come to Jesus” moments she faced with her jewelry business and while building Artemest.com. We discuss the importance of recognizing “failure,” to fail quickly, and to listen to your intuition. Listening to her intuition led Ippolita to tempor

Today with Erica Courdae:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! Erica Courdae, diversity and inclusion coach, is packed with simple, actionable advice ensuring our conversations and workplaces reflect a sense of kindness and inclusion. She also shares what to do when we get it all wrong as we continue to learn and grow alongside our fellow humans. Pick it apart: [10:10] Erica explains simultaneous realities [13:38] Erica explains what true conversation is [15:31] LuAnn covers a critical sales mistake [24:44] Erica shares how she works with businesses [39:10] Erica advises about how to communicate DEI efforts with a new, diverse hire <span st

Today with Chloe Mackintosh Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m chatting with Chloe Mackintosh, the principal designer and creator of Boxwood Avenue.  Chloe and I discuss her journey from owning an Etsy shop in college, to developing a thriving blog, e-commerce / brick & mortar shop, and design firm. Moving to a town of 99 people, Chloe explains how she built a team of 12 people to help her conduct her business and formulate a proper “system and process.” Pick it a

Today with Corinne Bentzen:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today is a sponsored show with The Company Store, a premier source of luxury down bedding and home products. Corinne Bentzen, CEO of The Company Store, shares the company history, their commitment to quality, focus on responsible manufacturing, and understanding that the customer comes first. Pick it apart: [9:54] Corinne share the mission of The Company Store [13:22] Corinne tells about her suppliers and responsibly created products [17:48] Corinne tells about how the pandemic has affected the company [22:22] Corinne advises designers on helping clients understand the quality of The Company Store products<

Today with Erica Reiner Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Erica Reiner of Eco Method Interiors niched down and rebranded after a few years in business. Learn what prompted her big change, what she does when the scarcity mindset strikes, and how her business has changed since she stopped trying to be everything to everyone. Pick it apart: [4:04] Erica shares what prompted her rebrand [10:15] Erica shares her struggle with her scarcity mindset [24:50] Erica advises about sourcing green products [34:28] Erica tells about variable standards for green products [42:50] Erica shares her thoughts about the link between environmental and social justice <span style="font

Today with Danielle Hayden:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! Danielle Hayden of Kickstart Accounting takes us through what she’s learned from years of helping female entrepreneurs understand their money, heal from damaging money mindsets and make smart business decisions. Learn what financial considerations to pay special attention to at each stage of your growing business. Pick it apart: [9:38] Danielle explains her mission of helping business owners understand their numbers [14:31] Danielle shares what CFO tasks are [18:37] Danielle explains how deeply her team understands her clients [23:44] Danielle reviews common setbacks for businesses with 100k in revenue <span style="font-w

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! We are continuing the year-end review mini-series! During this series, I will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year-end. To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on.  In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today I am going to encourage you to review your technology, subscriptions and memberships, and insurances.  You know what the Vin Man says, sometimes it’s not what you make, it’s what you don’t spend. So, let’s see if we can save

Today with Tanya Dalton:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! Tanya Dalton, best-selling author, speaker, productivity expert, and growth strategist for female leaders is here to share a helpful goal framework that leaves space for life’s ups and downs, celebrates progress, and prevents you from getting discouraged and quitting. Pick it apart: [4:16] Tanya shares the mindfulness exercise she uses during her commute [9:27] Tanya summarizes her new book [11:58] Tanya walks through her IMPACT goal framework [25:05] Tanya shares her email-checking system [31:05] Tanya details her customer service system that includes auto-FAQs and using templated responses/m

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! We are continuing the year-end review mini-series! Over the next few weeks, I will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year-end. To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on.  In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are talking about our marketing plan for 2022. I am going to kick this off with a line from one of my partners at Exciting Windows!, Steve Wishnow. "Always be marketing." No matter what kind of firm you have, no matter how large or how small or how busy or slow

Today with Jude Charles:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday and Jude Charles is back on the show! Today, Jude shares the final part of his video storytelling framework - Dramatic Leverage. Jude shares some of his 70 ideas for distributing your brand videos so you can help people understand who you are, how you can help them, and why they want to choose you for their next project. Pick it apart: [5:36] Jude shares the story of lipstick brand found Keyshia Ka’oir   [14:15] Jude recaps why story is so important to building your brand   [26:40] Jude share the re-engagement tactic he uses to get more projects   [29:52] Jude relays the story of a business coach he worked with on her

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! We are continuing the year-end review mini series! Over the next few weeks I will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year-end. To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on.  In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are going to do a revenue generator review.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com <a href= "http://www.luannnigara.com

Today with Duke Renders:  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today’s sponsored show with Fernando Duque of Duke Renders is valuable on multiple levels.  Not only will you get a unique insight into what the world of high-quality 3D rendering offers you and how Duke Renders can help you take advantage of it, but you’ll also hear from an expert business owner who knows what it takes to grow a business to full fruition within just a year. Pick it apart: [8:12] Fernando shares the story of how helping his wife led to the creation of Duke Renders.  [13:45] LuAnn and Fernando discuss the importance of core values and how sticking to them makes business decisions easier.  <li st

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today starts a series that over the next few weeks will pick apart areas in your business that I want to encourage you to address as we approach year end. To run a profitable business that supports you financially, professionally, and personally, you have to first know where you are, to then understand where you are going. I always say you have to run the autopsy of every project, and your business is no different than any other project you work on.  In this series, we will run the autopsy of our entire year and today we are going to start with a session on the questions you need to ask yourself and your team when starting the autopsy process. What’s new with LuAnn Ni

On Today’s Flashback Friday Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s Flashback episode, we revisit episode 41 with Cheryl Janis. After an accident left her searching for help in the world of natural medicine, Cheryl realized that there was a powerful niche waiting for her—designing for boutique visionaries in the holistic health world. Niching opened up a world of possibility for her, and brought more joy to her business than she had experienced in her 19 years of design.  Pick it apart: [5:45] Cheryl shares her story of how a frightening accident and a difficult recovery led to her niche. [13:08] Cheryl highlights the positives her niche brought to her business.  <li sty

Today with Peter Lang, Kim Merlitti, and Michele Williams Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Our financial Power Talk Friday experts, Michele Williams, Peter Lang, and Kim Merlitti are talking about year-end cleanup and planning for the new year. They cover what your balance sheet should look like, what tax strategies you can consider, what to look for in a financial professional, and why mindset matters. Pick it apart: [21:26] Kim shares about what’s included in the balance sheet cleanup [28:16] Peter elaborated on the balance sheet cleanup [31:41] Michele shares more about what issues she sees in clients’ balance sheets [35:37] Peter talks about how to account for pending installations <span style="font-w

Today with Jude Charles:  We’re welcoming Jude Charles back to the show! Jude Charles, the video brand strategist, is back and this time, he’s walking us through how to take that special, differentiating moment and express it through a three-part documentary-style video series he calls “dramatic demonstration”. Pick it apart: [8:09] Jude recaps the why behind his storytelling framework   [14:20] Jude gives an example of how he did a storytelling video for an interior design client   [18:09] Jude reviews the three-part documentary video series for LuAnn’s podcast   [22:10] Jude shares the five demonstrations necessary for a good video documentary series LuAnn and Jude Charle

Today with Susan Wintersteen Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Susan Wintersteen, one of my first-year podcast guests, is back on A Well-Designed Business, to share tips on business growth and the importance of a mastermind community to get to the next step. As a business owner rock star, Susan has mastered the art of hiring people who create a positive workplace and support the functions of the business as a whole. Listen in to learn how you can use elements of Susan’s hiring processes to level up your own business - using the predictive index, strong interviews, and detailed skill sets to get good, competent people in the right roles. Susan has applied these same hiring standards to her Savvy Giving by Design nonprofit, which is looking to raise $50,000 this year to support room makeovers for children in medical crises. Pick it apart: <spa

Today with Fay + Belle: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today’s show is sponsored by Fay + Belle, a full-service luxury rug collection that offers authentic vintage and fully customizable rugs for design firms in the United States and Canada.  The company was founded by sister-in-law duo, Kate O’Hara and Kaley O’Hara. Kate is the principal of Martha O’Hara Interiors, and has appeared on the show before. But when she noticed that acquiring custom rugs was a difficult process, she decided to find a way to streamline it for herself. Today, Kate and Kaley share their story and explain how Fay + Belle can help you. Pick it apart: [4:00] Kate and Kaley share the background on how Fay + Belle came to be.  <li style="font-weight: 40

Today with Kathleen Jennison Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Some of us come into this business because we’re naturally-born creatives that never imagined doing anything else. Others spend time in the corporate world but embrace an inner passion. But my guest today is unique—for Kathleen Jennison, a brain injury changed the way her mind functioned and opened the door for a new path as an interior designer. Today, she’s sharing her journey and the lessons she learned along the way.  Pick it apart: [6:34] Kathleen shares her journey through trauma and how she grew her design talents from it.  [15:32] Kathleen discusses her decision to start her own business and how systems and organization helped her.  [22:39] Kathleen describes the way her business grew and the bi

Today with Braden Drake: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Braden Drake of Unf*uck Your Biz podcast is a California tax attorney specializing in helping creatives made sense of business finances and tax law. He’s sharing all about business entities, business insurance, and CPA service structures. He’s sharing his lighthearted and easy-to-follow education style that empowers creatives to understanding the foundational principles of money and business tax law. Pick it apart: [12:15] Braden shares the non-negotiable insurance a business should have [18:02] LuAnn asks Braden about how to handle business registration and nexus for businesses that work and do business in multiples states [23:34] Braden breaks down LLCs, Corporations, and S Corps<

Today with Geoff Siebold Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re diving into the world of luxury carpets. While most of us don’t understand the intricate inner workings of carpets, my guest today, Geoff Siebold of Stanton Carpet, thinks that we should, and I agree with him. In this episode, Geoff explains to me what we need to understand about the practicality of different carpet types so that we can steer our clients in the right direction and offer them more value through our own knowledge and expertise. Pick it apart: [4:15] Geoff discusses how the environment and lifestyle of your clients affect carpet choice, and what “practical luxury” means.  [10:49] Geoff highlights how synthetic carpets have improved ove

Today with Molly Schoneveld: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Some of you aspire to be a designer that helps people in your community live better, feel better, and appreciate their spaces more. Others want to design for the high-end client, creating luxury spaces. But others want something a little bit different—to become celebrity designers featured on television and in major publications. Today, publicist Molly Schoneveld is going to share with us how you structure your career to strategically build up your persona and work toward that celebrity status.  Pick it apart: [1:21] Molly shares what your number one job is when you desire to be a celebrity designer.  [15:21] Molly and LuAnn discuss the importance of having

Today with Christine Platt Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Christine Platt, the author of The Afrominimalists Guide to Living with Less offers a fresh take on minimalism, why it’s not just a one-day throw-out marathon, and what it takes to get to the core of how we got overwhelmed with clutter in the first place. Pick it apart: [7:58] Christine shares where to start your journey of discovery   [14:35] Christine describes her one day, one year challenge   [18:16] Christine shares what minimalism means for her   [23:40] Christine shares about buy-nothing groups as a way to release your items   [45:35] Christine summarizes her the

Today With Terri Taylor: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy and specifically the Interior Design Business Academy 2021 Summit, which is happening Wednesday, November 3rd through to Friday, November 5, 2021.   Overhaul Your Interior Design Business in 3 Days to Finally Get Paid What You are Worth Event dates:Nov 3-5 2021 This event will run from 10:00 am EST to 6:00 pm and it is entirely virtual. This is an intimate group to maximize the attention given to each and every attendee. Day

Today with Jenny and Ben Slingerland Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors share the growing pains of their luxury design firm, how they run their team, and how they fill the gaps in expertise. Jenny also details what her Design for Build course involves and how it helps her students expand their business and get the respect of builders. Pick it apart: [25:22] Ben explains what their new hire, a client experience coordinator, manages [27:24] Jenny explains how she provides initial design guidance on a project to her design staff and has designers handle client communication [38:49] Jenny shares the coaches she and Ben have hired to enhance and grow their business <

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Ever wonder how Vita Vygovska of Vitalia Inc. Window Treatments & Awnings has been able to scale her business and maintain a family life at the same time? Her passion for spreadsheets has helped her design and build a digitized Project Management system that streamlined her business process and serves as her center of truth. Listen now as she outlines the 10 must-have elements that every Project Management System needs. Pick It Apart:  [18:35] Vita explains show a PMS gives you the options and checklists to make sure nothing is forgotten or falls through the cracks.    [36:33] Vita shows how to use the reports from your digital project management system to evaluate your business   [39:11] Vita

Today with Rachel Moriarty Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re talking about visibility and authenticity. So many of us are bought into the idea that niching is the right way to go. But when we go to sit down and think about what we do that’s special, we can’t figure it out. For my guest today, Rachel Moriarty, the answer came from tapping into her own existing strengths and experiences. Now, she’s sharing those insights with us! Pick it apart: [8:45] Rachel shares her biggest challenge with visibility and how she managed to overcome it.  [14:40] Rachel and LuAnn discuss how your background and strengths can play into your success as a designer—even if they aren’t related on the surface.  <li style

Today with Bethany Wrede Peterson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Bethany Wrede Peterson, an interior designer, host of Arrived podcast, and business coach who specializes in helping designers find their unique voice.  Bethany and I are talking today about a topic that isn’t new to the podcast—unlocking your unique voice, your niche, the thing that you do that nobody else does that makes you the obvious, only choice. But Bethany manages to frame it in a way that opened my eyes, despite the fact that I have been having these conversations for the last five years.  Pick it apart: [3:55] Bethany shares the common trait she has seen in interior designers that holds them back from niching.  [9:10] Bethany discusses tips for finding your voice

Today with Jessica Mann-Amato Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Jessica Mann-Amato of Mancini Duffy, a New York architectural firm specializing in commercial and hospitality projects shares the innovative design software her firm uses to help clients visualize their project, iterate in real-time, and confidently add their stamp of approval. Pick it apart: [6:18] Jessica walks through her paperless process  [18:45] Jessica shares how they introduce 360 process to a legacy client [22:49] Jessica explains how Covid forced them to develop the firm’s 360 system further [24:49] Jessica explains her company’s R&D department [40:1

Today with George Oliphant: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! George Oliphant from NBC’s George to the Rescue shares how the show (now in the 12th season) came about, how he chooses designers to help him, and why relationships matter. New Jersey designer, Campbell Minister, was chosen as the featured designer (who then chose Window Works to supply the window treatments!). Pick it apart: [14:43] George shares how he got the George to the Rescue opportunity   [38:42] LuAnn asks George how a designer can put themselves up to be a designer on the show   [45:33] LuAnn explains the connection between relationships and opportunities LuAnn and George Oliphant’s Ah-Ha moments: <span style="font-weigh

Today with Leyden Lewis Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We talk a lot about the business side of design—from niching to raising your rates to processes and systems. But today, we’re talking about the root of design—creativity. Bringing creativity and innovation to your design not only establishes you as a designer, it also levels up the value you bring to your clients. My guest today, Leyden Lewis, is certainly an innovator and a visionary. He’s sharing his insights into designing from the heart, creating irreplicable work, and drawing inspiration from the world.   Pick it apart: [3:47] LuAnn and Leyden reminisce on their friendship and working relationship.  [18:00] Leyden highlights what he has learned in hindsight

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Vita Vygovska of Vitalia Inc. is back for Window Treatment Friday and this time we’re talking digitizing your systems. Why go digital? Go paperless to take back your time and alleviate that frustrating back and forth with your vendors and installers. Dread the client making a change to the estimate? With Vita’s digital system, you’ll fret no more! Pick It Apart:  [10:37] Vita shares what she’s hearing is the biggest struggle of window treatment pros   [12:25] Vita describes a digital time-saving solution for repetitive processes   [17:26] Vita shares the second step to automating your backend systems   <span style="font-we

Today with Kristen Rivoli Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many designers are interested in expanding their business, whether that involves bringing a product to the market, tapping into a new niche, or building up passive income. My guest today, Kristen Rivoli, brings interesting insight into this idea. She recently rebranded and added a passive income stream to her business, built on selling curated designs to those who love the idea of design but don’t have the budget for it. She’s sharing her insights with us in today’s episode! Pick it apart: [2:14] LuAnn and Kristen discuss the changes to the design world post-pandemic and how the industry has shifted over time.  [14:41] Kristen discusses the importance of data, o

Today with Mickie Kennedy: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. For Power Talk Friday, small business PR pro Mickie Kennedy joins us to share a unique angle we can use to help get the attention of publications. Learn how to reverse engineer an effective press release that starts with ditching everything we know about design, allows us to gather feedback from consumers, and positions us as a thought leader in the industry. Pick it apart: [2:38] Mickie talks about why focusing on PR strategy matters [8:03] LuAnn summarizes how HARO and proactive PR differs [16:50] LuAnn and Mickie talk about a PR strategy schedule  [22:52] Mickie shares how to do “newsjacking” properly

Today with Lane McNab: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today I’m joined by Lane McNab. Lane runs a successful interior design business, Lane McNab Interiors, but, like so many of you, she found herself wanting to diversify. That desire eventually led to the birth of Guild by LMI, Lane’s furniture line.  Starting a furniture line, or adding any facet of the business, takes a lot of work. Today, Lane is sharing a spotlight on the challenges she faced and how she overcame them along the way. Pick it apart: [1:41] Lane shares what drove her to start her line and how her core values guided her in her endeavor.  [20:08] Lane discusses how she navigated production for her line, a

Today with Desi Creswell: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business.  Desi Creswell, interior design coach and mindset guru shares the common signs of overwhelm and what can be done to combat the overwork that quietly sneaks into our lives when we take our eyes off our work/life vision and start telling ourselves all sorts of stories about why we must stack our day so high it starts to spill over. Pick it apart: [9:51] Desi covers the first few signs of overwhelm: buffering, daydreaming about quitting, and not being excited about your wins.   [16:26] Desi walks through the final signs of overwhelm: not feeling creative and not having fun anymore.   [27:05] Desi addresses how we can prevent overwhelm.   [43:0

Today with Barry Lantz: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. In his twenties, Barry Lantz worked retail before starting his own full-service interior design business. Then, instead of retiring, he switched gears to begin a successful encore career in art. Learn what advice this seasoned pro has for young designers and the words his mother told him that he’ll never forget. Pick it apart: [7:09] Barry talks about his first job before starting his own business.   [11:15] Barry shares his story about pitching to Kravet.   [17:41] Barry talks about his unique approach to client presentations.   [26:35] Barry shares advice for designers.   [30:36] Barry ta

Today with Lisa Princic: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. We talk a lot about niching on the show. But today we’re talking about a different aspect of getting clear on what you do—your value proposition. Don’t let the marketing jargon fool you: your value proposition is something you already have, whether you’ve defined it or not. Today, business strategist Lisa Princic is sharing her insights on what a value proposition is, why it matters, and how to gain clarity around yours.  Pick it apart: [0:53] Lisa highlights what a value proposition is and how it helps you think about your business like a business.  [5:15] Lisa shares her story of entrepreneurship and how she realized that she needed to define her value proposi

Today with Kate Rasmussen: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, we’re talking about how to take on new projects—specifically projects that you don’t have experience or expertise in. It can seem almost impossible to break into new avenues in your business. But with the right strategy in place, you can find and land new projects, even without the specific expertise in that area. I’m joined by Kate Rasmussen of Wade Weissmann Architecture, who has quite a bit of experience doing just that! Pick it apart: [1:16] Kate talks about putting together pricing and proposals when jumping into brand new types of projects. [9:50] LuAnn and Kate discuss how to successfully manage new projects without havin

On Today’s Flashback Friday Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Flashback Friday is back and we dug up another favorite from the podcast archives.  Christine Lin of San Francisco’s Form and Field walks through how she went from working for a designer part-time to starting her own thriving business. A podcast listener, Christine implemented much of what she heard, but she also experienced some bumps along the way. Listen in to learn what tripped her up and what she’s doing so it doesn’t happen again. Pick it apart: [6:33] Christine talks about how she got her business systems set up [15:50] Christine tells how she works with friends who are also clients  [23:03] Christine talk about mistakes she made with hiring <

Today with Amy Lynn Allard: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Looking for advice on systems to turbo-charge your business? Amy Lynn Allard of Boston’s Amy Lynn Interiors learned to thrive using well-crafted, meticulous systems. She is big on time blocking, but that’s not all. Amy walks through two of her most powerful systems, the team agenda and an invaluable spreadsheet she uses to create a multiple-project timeline. Pick it apart: [17:53] Amy explains her approach to adding specs to elevations. [25:47] Amy walks through how she creates her agenda. [42:14] Amy explains her Monday morning overview meeting. [45:22] Amy shares how she creates a schedule for new client work.</

Today with Fiona Mostyn: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Many designers know that a blog can be a valuable marketing tool. But are you using your blog to its fullest potential? Or are you making the mistake that many designers make of not beginning with your goal in mind?  Today, I’m joined by Fiona Mostyn of My Deco Marketing, a blog service for interior designers. Fiona is sharing her insight into how you can leverage your blog to grow your business and help it thrive. Pick it apart: [2:30] Fiona shares why beginning your blog with your goal in mind is vital to its success. [10:18] LuAnn and Fiona discuss how to prioritize your purpose within your blog posts. </li

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today’s listener question comes to us from a designer whose vendor left them high and dry. Join me today and I break down this listener's dilemma from start to finish.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Inside Voice, Outside Voice Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com 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: <a href= "https://luannnigara.com/mak

Today with Emily King: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. What money story are you’re playing in your head? Does it open you up to opportunities and building a successful business or does it hold you back from making your dreams a reality? Emily King, of The Rich Woman, walks through how to discover our money personality and detox ourselves from negative money talk so we can start living a life of abundance and opportunity. Pick it apart: [16:10] Emily explains what money mindset is.   [25:20] Emily shares how her money mindset was shaped by her childhood.   [34:11] Emily explains the money personality archetypes.   [47:14] Emily shares some things you can do on your own to recognize and overcome you

Today with Melinda Marquardt: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m joined by Melinda Marquardt of the Vale London, a line of exquisite textiles and wallpapers for the luxury interiors market. Melinda struck out on her own after years in the corporate world, determined to lean on her creativity and passion to fuel her business. She buckled down, learned the business side, and figured out how to thrive. Today, she’s sharing what she believes entrepreneurs need to remember to succeed! Pick it apart: [2:17] Melinda shares her story and discusses why believing in yourself is a staple in running your own business. [16:28] Melinda talks about the difficulties in learning the business side of things and figuring out how

Today with Patricia Lohan: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! Feng Shui expert, Patricia Lohan shares how you can clear your home and office of subconscious obstructions so you can provide space for opportunities and prosperity to flow. Learn how to intentionally filter your environment, analyze your art and position your desk for success. Pick it apart: [28:32] Patricia shares her perception of Feng Shui in comparison to an iceberg    [32:02] Patricia explains the importance of the art you choose for your spaces   [41:12] LuAnn and Patricia talk about what to do with objects in your space that you don’t love   [46:20] Patricia explains how she assesses the energy of a house</s

Today with Demetrius Robinson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Demetrius Robinson, full-service luxury interior designer and lifestyle brand pro behind At Home With Savvy, shares his secret sauce for Instagram success. Demetrius chats about why he recently rebranded, how he approaches his online community, and how he hacks the occasional lack of motivation. Pick it apart: [9:58] Demetrius gives an overview of how he selects brands he represents   [22:30] Demetrius explains how he meshes his DIY community and his luxury clients   [30:10] LuAnn and Demetrius discuss the importance of tone and language choice on social and with clients   [36:12] Demetrius talks about why and how he rebranded</

On Today’s Flashback Friday Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On this week’s Flashback Friday, we’re taking a look back at episode 314 with Kristen Thomas of Studio Thomas.  Like many designers, Kristen started her business taking on any work that came her way. But four years in, she wanted to gain clarity on the experience she wanted to create, the clients she wanted to work with, and the philosophy she wanted to connect with as she approached projects. She made the decision to niche down and gain clarity. The results spoke for themselves. Pick it apart: [6:16] Kristen shares how she transitioned out of taking every job that came her way by focusing on her work and her reputation.  <span style= "

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode! Today’s listener question comes to us from a designer struggling with where to find the funds to invest in their business. I say it all the time, we all have our superpowers. Today, I lean into this idea in the sense that running a business takes a village. You are not going to be the best at everything. To run our business, it takes a dream team. Start to assemble yours. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Windowworksnj.com Shop38east.com Comfortex.com Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies

  Today with Ethan Beute: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Ethan Beute, Chief Evangelist at BombBomb shares how a simple video tool can be used to differentiate yourself and showcase the best sales asset you have - yourself! Learn the framework for creating a video response to web inquiries and walk with Ethan as he shares how you can use video in the place of email and text. Pick it apart: [18:49] Ethan reviews when one would send video vs. email/text.   [26

Today with Jessica Matteson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Jessica Matteson started her business with lots of experience but little time and money to invest in getting Jessica Matteson Landscape Architecture off the ground. Jessica shares her journey from starting with just $35 in advertising postcards to running a successful luxury landscape architecture business. Pick it apart: 14:28 Jessica shares her onboarding process in detail 18:12 Jessica gives a tip on how to handle a client introducing new wants in the middle of a project 22:78 Jessica shares how she broadens the scope of projects to include additional products 26:20 Jessica shares how she used to do her discovery process and the benefits of conducting it with her new method

On Today’s Flashback Friday Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today we’re taking you back in time for another Flashback Friday, where we revisit some of our can’t-miss episodes from our archives.  Today’s flashback episode is Episode 441: Laura & Cliff Muller: Four Point Design Build Firm.  Laura and Cliff have extensive experience in the design build industry. They know what it takes to create exquisite design build projects, the intricate details, legalities, and liabilities you have to face when you work in design build, and how best to launch your design build career.  Let’s revisit the episode and find out what it really takes to make it in design build. Pick it apart: [6:50] Laura a

Today with Paul Dashevsky: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Joining me today is Paul Dashevsky. Paul along with Jon Grishpul, are the co-founders of GreatBuildz. Between the two, they have decades of experience in the real estate and construction industries. They’ve seen enough renovation nightmares that they decided it was enough, and they knew there had to be a better way. Today, Great Buildz is revolutionizing the industry and making life so much easier for designers, homeowners, and contractors all over Southern California where they are based. Paul is here to give us his best practices that you can use as you vet and interview contractors for your projects.  Get those notebooks out, smart ladies and gents! This is a pen and paper show! More About GreatBuildz: GreatBuildz is a completely free service that simplifies the home renovation and r

Today on A Well-Designed Business Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. It's Power Talk Friday! Business for 90% of us is absolutely bonkers right now, isn’t it? Why is it when we are busy, we so easily throw aside the time to work on our business? Today, I want to talk about the importance of working on your business always, not just when it’s convenient. On today's show, I am letting the LuAnn University instructors tell you about their amazing courses, and why now, more than ever, it is critical that we focus on our businesses.  LuAnn University Summer 2021: 5 Departments offering 8 courses for targetted instruction for profit and growth: Process Leads to Profit Department How to Build Systems Into Your Services, taught by Sara Lynn Brennan Design-Build 201, taught by Kathleen Anderson Profit is in the Numbers Departme

Today with John Robert Wiltgen:   Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today is John Wiltgen. John has, for the most part, retired, from his 40+ year career as the principal of John Robert Wiltgen Design Inc., based in the Chicago area. <span style= "font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantar

  Today with Katie McFarlan: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. The client experience is something we all think about. How do we elevate the experience for our clients so that they feel like we truly care about them without making ourselves crazy by bending over backwards for each client? The answer just might lie in your processes. Today, I’m joined by Katie McFarlan of Dakota Design Company. Katie works with designers to build a strong client experience through streamlined processes, smooth operations, and clear expectations. She’s sharing with us how defined processes lead to a luxury client experience that helps

Today with Megan Molten: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Megan Molten is back on the show today! Megan is the principal Megan Molten and interior design firm located and Charleston NC. Megan and I discuss how she achieved huge successes so quickly. For outsiders looking into her business, Megan made it look easy! But, in today's episode, we take a peek behind the curtain at the dedication, sacrifice, hard decisions, and sleepless nights that paved the way for her success.  More About Megan Molten: Megan's love for all things interiors has been around for as long as she can remember and soon became a reality after she purchased her first home in Charleston, South Carolina and started the d

Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to Window Treatment Friday!  As business owners, the pandemic was scary, to say the least! Every single day was unpredictable and a new scenario we have never faced before. Now, over a year later, we are starting to see the world open up and see a light at the end of the tunnel. Today, LuAnn and Vita discuss how to navigate the future and the post covid world. More About Vita Vygovska Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services exclusively for interior designers.  In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are experts in their narrow field, providing designers with superb quality product and excellent communication.  Most importantly, they take off the stres

Today with Mark Lavender: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. In his 25 years working in institutional medical design, Mark Lavender learned a few things about sticking to processes, creating estimates, and getting over the fear of asking for payment. In business for himself for the past six years, Mark is an open book - he shares the details of his markup, when to think twice about signing a client, and how he keeps his clients coming back. Pick it apart: [14:11] Mark shares advice on always utilizing a contract  [19:29] Mark tells about warning signs with clients redlining his contract [20:31] LuAnn offers advice to designers who encounter clients who don’t agree with their contract or value them as professionals  [24:43] Mark shares how he explains his policy of final payment before

Today on A Well-Designed Business® Welcome to a Well-Designed Business®. Today, I am telling you all about LuAnn University. We are getting ready to launch our Summer Session of courses on July 6th, 2021, and I can't wait for you to learn more about our extraordinary instructors and our growing list of value-packed courses!  LuAnn University Summer 2021: 5 Departments offering 8 courses for targetted instruction for profit and growth: Process Leads to Profit Department How to Build Systems Into Your Services, taught by Sara Lynn Brennan Design-Build 201, taught by Kathleen Anderson Profit is in the Numbers Department Project Profitability 101, taught by Kimberly Merlitti Online Bookkeeping 101, taught by Kathleen Anderson Online Bookkeeping 201, taught by Peter Lang </

Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today is a What Would Lu Do episode where I answer listener questions, and….you guessed it, tell you what I would do! Today’s listener question comes to us from a designer struggling with marketing for client acquisition. So where do you start? I will tell you during today's episode! What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com 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 Book 2: <a href= "

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I am introducing a new kind of episode to the show! Welcome to Flash Back Friday, where I revisit old episodes of the podcast. After so many successful years of interviews, there was a need, for both new listeners and long-time listeners alike, to revisit the archives. For new listeners, it is an opportunity to be introduced to older shows they missed, and for long-time listeners, it's a chance to refresh the ah-ha moments of the past!    So here we go! Today, we are revisiting "Episode 423: Tiffannie White, ​The Nappy Bohemian: Your “Only” and Lessons From a New Interior Design Business". From the archives... On today’s show! We’re talking to Tiffannie White today, the creator of The Nappy Bohemian, located in Oakland, California. Tiffannie is a blogger, an interior stylist, and an e-designer and she also has a full-time position as a design consultant at  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fireclaytile/" targe

Today with Kate Bendewald: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Sometimes, we start our own business because we always knew that’s what we were meant for. We want to be our own bosses, have flexibility in our work, and take charge of our lives. Other times, we’re pushed into it due to changes in our circumstances. For my guest today, Kate Bendewald, the second category is true. After she had her first daughter, she left a prestigious job in a commercial design firm and struck out on her own. Her design experience didn’t prepare her for the business side of things—that, she had to learn on her own. Today, she’s sharing with us the lessons she learned and how she has stayed the course through it all.  Pick it apart: [7:16] Kate shares her journey from commercial designer to running her own firm. <

Today with Susan Inglis: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. When you hear the phrase “sustainable furnishings,” what comes to mind? Is it something you already know about, something you are bringing forth to your clients on a regular basis? Is it something you vaguely know about but aren’t sure of all the ins and outs? Or is it something that isn’t quite on your radar yet? No matter which category you fall into, today’s conversation is relevant for you. Susan Inglis, Executive Director of the Sustainable Furnishings Council, is sharing with us why sustainable furnishings matter, the power that designers hold when it comes to the future, and how you can embrace these ideals in your business. Pick it apart: [8:10] Susan and LuAnn discuss the power that interior designers hold when it comes to su

Today with Kelly Collier: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m joined by a guest who knows all about balance in her business—Kelly Collier of Plot Twist Design in Philadelphia. Like many designers, Kelly started her business on the side, while working a full-time corporate career. Two years later, her business has grown and thrived to a full-service design business. But she’s also maintaining her full-time job. To top it all off, she is also a realtor and a podcaster.  Balancing it all isn’t easy. It takes deliberation, commitment, planning, and dedication. Today, Kelly’s sharing her tips for balancing it all and building the business, along with maintaining her career responsibilities.  Pick it apart: [6:40] Kelly shares how she manages to identify her multiple facets in her social media pr

Today with Marlo Thomas: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Marlo Thomas of the hit show, That Girl, shares the story of how her father’s diligence shaped her path to success and how her mother’s graciousness inspired her own product line with Williams Sonoma. She also shares her moment of self-doubt on her way to wild success in show business and how to lead with conviction so you can make a difference. Pick it apart: [11:15] Marlo shares her advice to young people   [14:50] Marlo talks about how her father was her example of what it took to be successful    [21:00] Marlo shares how she came to call the shots for the storyline of That Girl   [

Today with Mark Weaver: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Mark Weaver, an industry veteran launched his full-service LA-based design firm, Mark Weaver & Associates over thirty years ago. He’s a design expert, travel lover, and also a lecturer in the business of design at UCLA. Learn what his design students are so eager to learn and how he’s used travel to elevate his palette and create connections with his clients. Pick it apart: [21:24] Mark shares his advice to young designers entering the job market   [31:30] Mark shares who his own mentors in design, business, and personal life   [35:14] LuAnn and Mark discuss how travel informs design   [42:35] LuAnn and Mark talk about travel experience as a means of making your client co

  Today on A Well-Designed Business®: Today is a What Would Lu Do Show where I bring you listener questions, and....you guessed it, tell you what I would do! Today's listener question comes to us from a designer who is in a difficult spot with a client. It just goes to show, no matter how long you have been in business, there are always those projects that teach us a thing or two about ourselves, our business, and where we can do better the next time.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com 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 wo

Today with Cathy Maready: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Cathy Maready shares a special piece of relationship-building wisdom she’s gained from running her North Carolina interior design business called Elephant Ears, since 1990. She also has a clever way to take the ick-factor out of your budget conversation with clients. She’s stacked several key skills to produce a successful business and thrilled clients. Pick it apart: [19:22] LuAnn recaps the importance of integrating a client’s passion and story into their design [35:52] Cathy shares how she has the budget conversation with clients [42:07] LuAnn and Cathy review the angle they use when talking about budget [48:03] Cathy share about how she handles potential c

Today with Michael Schneider Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Michael Schneider founded BDNY and now he’s in the business of connecting interior designers and suppliers in a whole new way with Next Virtual Meetings. Using the speed dating concept, Michael offers designers an easy way to source new products and build vendor relationships right from your living room. Pick it apart: [8:03] Michael review what happens at the Next Virtual Meetings 30-minute session   [15:34] Michael shares the process an interior designer uses to sign up for his service   [19:40] LuAnn asks Michael why he pays designers to attend meetings   [24:13] Michael share about his “land cruise” speed dating type event for designers and suppliers   [31:57] Michael reviews how suppliers can participate in his event   [35:00] LuAnn reviews Michael’s opportunities for designers LuAnn and Michael Schneider’s Ah-H

Today with Andrea Hysmith: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Goal-setting isn’t always easy. Sometimes, we write a list of goals and never take any steps to get there. Other times, we become so obsessed with the goals that we develop tunnel vision and fail to see when we need to adapt. All too often, unexpected situations derail our goals entirely.  My guest today, Andrea Hysmith, has found the balance between flexibility and structure that allows her to pivot when the unexpected happens, maintaining a commitment to strong client experiences and to her business values. Today, she’s sharing her insights on how to do that, no matter what comes your way. Pick it apart: [5:50] Andrea shares her part-organic, part-structured process to goal-setting. <li style="font-wei

Today with Terri Taylor: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Terri Taylor of Interior Design Business Academy is back on the show to share her design business expertise and help you step into your space, confidently manage your projects, and pick up all the opportunities for profit. She’s also reviewing her truly golden Letter of Agreement that will change the way you approach your remodeling projects. To learn more about Terri's new class and get your ticket, go to https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/ Pick it apart: [22:37] Terri shares the problem with a quickly-created letter of agreement.   [24:41] Terri explains how designers can determine an accurate design fee.   [26:37] LuAnn and Terri e

  Today with Lucy Harris: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. This week, I’m joined by New York City designer Lucy Harris. Lucy shares her top five “musts” for new interior design firms. This nine-year high-end design firm veteran has learned a thing or two about the non-negotiables when starting out on your own. Learn what Lucy did to get to where she is today! Pick it apart: [13:25] Lucy explains the need for community, the first of five musts when starting an interior design firm [17:57] Lucy shares her take on the importance of photography and photo styling [27:41] Lucy talks about how she approached outsourcing <span style

  Today's Show Sponsored by the "Interior Design Standard."  Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today's sponsored show, Sandra Funk is here to share all the details of her upcoming course, the "Interior Design Standard". I’m so excited to share Sandra Funk’s business program, the "Interior Design Standard", with you because I know it will be the best investment for your business. Enroll here: https://interiordesignstandard.com/luann Here’s what you need to know: The Interior Design Standard is composed of modules that outline Sandra’s entire business. Within each module are resources that you can start using right away.  She walks you through how to implement all of these templates via videos along the way. Program highlights include:</p

    Today with Michelle Butt Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. By now, we all know that sales isn’t about convincing someone to buy what they don’t need or want. You care about your clients and their happiness. You want to make a sale that gives you the profits you want and provides your clients with something that will bring them happiness. Today, I’m talking with Michelle Butt, Master Coach and creator of Facial Intelligence, to talk about how using visual cues and facial features can help you relate to your clients in a stronger way, making the sales process even more of a win/win. Pick it apart:</

Today with Genevieve Trousdale: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. This week, I’m joined by Genevieve Trousdale. After coming from working in two large firms, Genevieve launched her own firm. She grew her business to serve luxury clients and tackle high-income projects. But unlike most other designers on her level, Genevieve chooses to keep some things simple, running her business on her own and taking on just a few projects per year. Today, we’re talking about how she manages it, why she chooses it, and the importance of staying true to your values in your business. Pick it apart: [7:18] Genevieve talks about the experience of working under great influences and what she learned along the way. [11:58] Genevieve shares why she chooses not to expand her firm and bring on other designers.  <span style="fon

Today with Dolores Hirschmann Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. When someone asks you what you do, how clear are you? Are you able to communicate what you do, the value you bring to the table, who you help, and what sets you apart? Or do you struggle to define what message you’re trying to put out with your business? The truth is that so many of us have trouble getting clear on our message, our differentiators, and our business. But until you gain that clarity, you’re going to hit roadblock after roadblock. Today, I chat with Dolores Hirschmann, a strategist and coach who helps her clients get that clarity in their message so they can start impacting the world. Pick it apart: [2:16] Dolores and LuAnn share why it’s so important to get clear about our message and how we communicate it.  <li style="font-

  Today with April Jensen Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. April Jensen of St. Louis-based ADJ Interiors was in business for 25 years before she created an onboarding doc for her high-end interior design business. April and LuAnn walk step-by-step through her onboarding doc as April lets us in on how it has helped her handle client expectations and sticky situations. Pick it apart: [16:13] April shares her response to a client who is unsure of their budget   [22:44] Why mutual respect with clients is necessary for a successful project    [27:40] April advises how to respond to a client who is worried about a single product   [36:33] April and LuAnn

Today with Theresa Gresham Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Single mom to a toddler and suddenly laid off when Covid started, Theresa Gresham moved into a 200ft studio to save on rent. Theresa shares her journey of building a Virtual Design Assistant business from scratch and learning the importance of self-care and hiring help. Pick it apart: [14:30] Theresa shares her story about starting her business after getting laid off due to Covid. [19:32] Theresa tells LuAnn how a parenting coach helped her flip her mindset about self-care. [23:20] Theresa shares how things changed when she limited her office hours [27:41] Theresa shares about motherhood during Covid and the importance of asking for help</p

Today with Jenny Madden Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. As business owners, we face many difficult situations, including how to balance personal life with business ownership. Maternity leave is one of those situations that can change the course of your business. But my guest today, Jenny Madden, has navigated the difficult territory of maternity leave five separate times, both in her own leave and in the leaves of her employees. She believes that planning can make the situation more smooth on all sides. Today, we’re discussing the tricky waters of maternity leave, and how you can make decisions now that will impact it in the future. Pick it apart: [1:40] Jenny and LuAnn discuss the emotional aspect of maternity leave from both an individual side and a business owner perspective.

    Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s WTF— Window Treatment Friday, Vita and I are talking about rising from the ashes of the fire that destroyed her workroom. It's every business owners nightmare. Fortunately for Vita's diligent dedication to the processes and systems within her business, Vita was able to literally rise from the ashes over night, and continue to keep her business running.  More About Vita Vygovska Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, a

Today with Stacy Garcia Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. We spend a lot of time talking about starting your business, growing your business, and implementing the basics that lead you to success. Today, we’re talking about what happens when that success is threatened. Recessions, disasters, and unforeseeable circumstances can threaten your business. But the way you respond to those situations shows your grit, determination, and ultimately determines your success as a business owner.  That’s what Stacy Garcia is talking to us about today. When the pandemic hit, the hospitality industry was hit hard. But Stacy figured out how to pivot, make changes, and grow a new portion of her business to meet the people’s needs and keep her business strong. Pick it apart: <span

Today with Rachael Bozsik: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Rachael is an international keynote speaker and thought leadership coach helping female entrepreneurs in the lifestyle space build personal brands. She joins LuAnn to share a practical plan for positioning your brand, honing your activities, and attracting your ideal client. Pick it apart: [17:05] Rachael tell about how she started her first business from her dorm room   [26:55] Rachael shares exactly how her client process works   [28:26] Rachael explains why press is so important to building trust   [37:42] LuAnn and Rachael chat about the strategy Rachael would use for a sample client   [50:48] Rachael shares about how she typically works with seasoned designers   [52:14] Rachael talks about what it takes for a client to execute her strategy   [55:47] Rachael sh

Today with Sara Barney Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Design is a second career for Sara Malek Barney. Sara was an executive in the entertainment and sports industries before she became the Founder and Principal Designer of Bandd Interiors in Austin, Texas. With plenty of business savvy under her belt, when she launched her design firm, Sara knew to concentrate on two tactics to create and grow her digital footprint. She’s also sharing her advice on how to expand your own business knowledge and deal with those unhappy clients. Pick it apart: [12:05] Sara details how she got started with her SEO vendor [24:47] Sara provides commentary on what’s lacking in the coursework for interior design degree programs [31:33] Sara describes the scope of her design projects <

Today with Brad Leavitt: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I welcome Brad Leavitt back for his fifth time on the show! Brad is here once again to share share his expert insight to help you better understand and navigate the design-build process. In today’s show Brad tells us what the process is like through the eyes of the builder. When you understand the builder's perspective, you will see how important it is for you as the designer to bring you’re A Game. So, let’s see what this looks like from the builder side, shall we? More About Brad Leavitt: Brad Leavitt is President of A Finer Touch Construction, LLC, a luxury residential and commercial builder located in Scottsdale, AZ. His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building sc

Today with Marie Flanigan: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, I’m thrilled to have Marie Flanigan back on the show. Marie has more than a decade of experience as a thriving designer, one whose list of accolades goes on for days. In today’s episode, Marie is answering questions from listeners about how to make big decisions in your business— how to attract the clients and projects you truly desire, how to strategically market, how to handle client expectations, and more! Pick it apart: [2:25] Marie talks about how to leverage relationships and grow to the point of attracting the clients you really want. [11:10] Marie shares the data you need to be collecting that will help you fill your roster with dream clients.<

  Today on A Well-Designed Business: Today's show is a different kind of episode. This week, I had several meaningful conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, that made me take a few steps back, put the regularly scheduled programming on hold, and have a good old fashion sit down.    In life, and business, it is important to utilize our strengths and identify our weaknesses. Everyone has their unique superpower. It is what makes us the powerhouses that we are in our particular area of expertise. But we cannot be experts in everything. We cannot be all things to all people. Today, I am here to remind you how you can take those feelings of overwhelm, and turn them into an action plan. Give yourself some grace on this journey. One step at a time, one goal at a time, keep showing up for yourself. That is how we decide to be excellent! What’s new with LuAnn Nigara</h

  Today with Aymee Kuhlman and Molly Kidd: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Aymee and Molly of Light and Dwell, an Oregon based full service and virtual design firm were friends before they were business partners. They’re sharing what they’ve learned about themselves, about each other, and about how to mesh opposites together to grow a business from nothing to something amazing in just five short years. Pick it apart: [24:55] LuAnn recaps the tactics Aymee and Molly used to get their first clients [30:09] Aymee and Molly share how they figured out how to work together when each have very different personalities [37:17] LuAnn recaps business partnership tips and explains how the Window Works

  Today with Vita Vygovska Welcome to a Well-Designed Business®. On today’s WTF— Window Treatment Friday, Vita and I are talking about scaling to your first million-dollar year. As most of you probably know, scaling is not an easy task. It takes hard work and lots of blood, sweat, and tears. But when you can learn from someone who has already done it, it cuts the time and effort down and makes scaling attainable far before you thought it was possible. Today, Vita shares with us her five core pillars for scaling your business and how her course in LuAnn University, Scale Your Window Treatment Business to Your 1st Million Dollar Year, can help you get there faster. Pick It Apart [14:25] Vita gives us

Today with Kathleen Anderson: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Kat Anderson of Material Design, an interior design business specializing in design-build projects, shares her experience as a recently-graduated interior design student struggling to find her way in the design world. You’ll hear Kat tell how she succeeded by growing her skillset in more than just design. Kat also walks through the classes she teaches at LuAnn University. Pick it apart: [12:45] Kat shares why having a good understanding of your bookkeeping also helps with job costing [17:40] Kat explains why her class benefits both beginner and mature business owners [31:43] LuAnn explains the difference between the LuAnn University class Design Build 101 and 201 <

  Today with Nathan Brookshire and Paul Davidge: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Nathan Brookshire and Paul Davidge of Design: Agency & Management share how they help creatives develop a financially sound path to achieve their goals and run their business in such a way that they have the freedom to focus on their zone of genius. Pick it apart: [12:51] LuAnn and guests discuss the criteria to work with Design: Agency and Management [32:45] Nathan reveals the challenge all his design clients share [37:27] Nathan shares how he helped a designer negotiate their fee with her client [39:51] LuAnn recaps DAM’s monthly management/representation service

Today with Thom Sweeney: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Thom Sweeney’s unconventional path to interior design started after a 30-year career in advertising. Thom shares what brought him to design and how he lost his design business before rising again to build something even greater. He also has great advice on salesmanship and how to build meaningful relationships with clients. Pick it apart: [22:45] Thom and LuAnn discuss the importance of design that matches the client’s expectations [34:18] Thom and LuAnn both shares their respective experiences navigating a failing business [43:20] LuAnn suggest how to debrief after a failure [46:49] Thom shares how critical sales skills are to a design business

Today with LuAnn: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, we are celebrating the show's 5th Birthday! It is hard to believe that there have been five years of outstanding guests, infinite ah-ha moments, and countless businesses changed. Thank you for coming along for the ride. As a way to show my gratitude, this episode is all about reflecting on the bigger picture, and ways we can give back, center ourselves, and enrich our minds. Thank you all for choosing to spend your time with me every week.  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara 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: <a href= "https://luannnigara.com/making-business

Today with Ashley Connell:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today we’re going to talk about one of those key things you have to do in your business if you want to grow—outsourcing. We all know we need to do it, but finding the right fit is a major challenge. Ashley Connell of Prowess runs a business that matches you with your perfect fit business manager or employee. She’s sharing with us how she makes those perfect fits and the impact it can have on your business.  Pick it apart: [3:40] Ashley gives an overview of what Prowess is and how it connects business owners with employees [9:15] Ashley and LuAnn talk about the importance of finding someone that fits your personality type, work method, and communi

Today with Mina Duque: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Can you imagine starting your firm in a foreign city—one where you have no connections, no network, and where you haven’t even visited? That’s exactly what Mina Duque ended up doing. Today, she’s sharing her story of how she started her business in Tulum, the unique challenges presented by working in a major melting pot, and how she grew her business even without a community and network.    Pick it apart: [18:00] Mina shares the challenges and triumphs of working with different cultures and communication styles. [36:24] LuAnn and Mina discuss the value of mentorship and how to set parameters wi

Today with LuAnn: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting. Today, LuAnn gives her expert advise on what to do when a client won't pay. Is there something more you can do to protect yourself?  What’s new with LuAnn Nigara 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 Book 2: <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/gp/produ

Today with Carley Page Summers:  Carley Page Summers shares her journey to interior design that began only after she first built a robust photography business catering to the design trade. 184k Instagram followers strong, Carley chronicles how just nine years ago, she pulled herself out of a dark place, found hope, and is now on a mission to inspire hope in others. Pick it apart: [2:49] Carley shares her journey from photographer to designer [7:34] Carley shares her philosophy about the attraction to natural settings [11:50] Carley shares how she started her virtual design business [18:53] Carley shares her Instagram strategy  [42:56] Charley shares her mission statement<

Today with Vita Vygovska For Window Treatment Friday, LuAnn and Vita conduct a live coaching session around a big issue that so many businesses encounter when they scale—clients wanting you on their project, not your staff. Listen to see how LuAnn advises Vita and prepares her to eliminate her problem with confidence and some carefully chosen words.  LuAnn and Vita's Aha-Moments “Having the combination of a virtual hug and a little bit of a whip is very unique.” - Vita Vygovska “If you only get comfort, then you don’t learn how to avoid that the next time.” - LuAnn Nigara “If I don’t press you and urge you to find the place where only you could have changed the outcome, you’re destined to repeat it.” - LuAnn Nigara “We can

Today with Beth Diana Smith Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, we welcome Beth Diana Smith back to the show! Beth was last on the show over a year ago, and since then she’s made some major changes to her processes and her business. She’s going to take us through those changes, the way she revamped her processes, and what she’s looking to do in the future. We’re also diving into diversity and inclusivity in the industry, and what all of us can do to contribute and be better allies. Pick it apart [5:12] Beth walks us through the actual steps she took to improve the processes in her business.  [12:10] Beth shares the way

Today with Jessica Harling: Stop the turnover in your business! Listen in as Jessica Harling, founder of Behind the Design, and a leading expert in employee and process development for design organizations guides us through a simple (not easy) and actionable process of hiring, training, and retaining top staff. Pick it apart: [16:52] Jessica reviews week 1: Process [25:31] LuAnn reviews how she would use Shadowing at Window Works [29:35] Jessics reviews week 2: Product/Services [33:05] Jessica reviews week 3: Paperwork and Pricing  [37:58] Jessica reviews week 4: People [47:35] LuAnn and Jessica review how to set goals for non-sales role such as Office Administra

Today with Joyce Downing Pickens:  LA interior designer, Joyce Downing Pickens of JDP Interiors used to intern for Nathan Turner and now she’s running her own design business. Joyce shares how she got amazing press as a #babydesigner, what helped her not fear an empty pipeline, and what she’s rethinking as she graduates to her sixth year in business.   Pick it apart: [21:31] Joyce shares about the press needing content [22:03] Joyce shares advice from Nathan Turner about submitting projects to press [36:50] Joyce shares about how her rates have changed since she started her business [45:57] Joyce shares about her mindset surrounding her pipeline and plans for a shift in the next year <span style="font-w

Today with John Dupra:  John Dupra, Co-Founder and Director of Marketing for Revel Woods returns to the show to walk us through how designers can offer a valuable service to their clients and increase their project profit by becoming a flooring expert. Revel Woods is known for catering to the design trade by offering substantial training, concierge level service and customizable flooring options that allow interior designers to confidently include flooring in their new-build and renovation projects.    Pick it apart: [41:26] John and LuAnn discuss how to work around the builder so you can spec the flooring [55:28] John reviews how the flooring selector on his website works [1:06:07] John explains how Revel Woods has disrupted the flooring industry’s retail model

Today with Ariella Horowitz Ariella Horowitz of AH Design Group in New Jersey walks through what it took to go from 10 to 90 design/build projects a year. This #smartlady knows the value not only of hard work, but being bold enough to go for opportunities, and smart enough to iterate when something isn’t working. Ariella shares about how she got her start and what she did to differentiate herself and build success in the design/build world. Pick It Apart [13:44] Ariella shares about how builders tried to keep her from working with other builders [16

Today with Jessica Delaney Jessica Delaney is an interior and architectural photographer shooting beauty in the Boston area. She’s also co-founder of a digital interior design showcase, Bijou Magazine. Her magazine is a hub of design beauty and story and an opportunity to see and be seen. Jessica shares how she got started in her business by reaching out to bloggers, designers, and press professionals she met during networking events and everywhere else possible. Pick It Apart [19:06] Jessica talks about networking as a photographer [25:36] Jessica remind us of the value of local press [32:45] LuAnn and Jessica discuss the purpose of Jessica’s digital platform [43:44] Jessica

Today with Sarah Von Dreele Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, LuAnn is diving into the world of textiles with designer Sarah Von Dreele. Sarah began painting as a creative outlet which soon transformed into a successful business producing wallcoverings, fabrics, and textiles. She relied on her branding background, her relationships, and her own talents as she launched her line. She’s sharing the lessons she learned along the way and how her business is shifting for the future.  Pick it apart [16:05] Sarah shares how staying “in the moment” opened the door for her to build toward something big. [19:09] LuAnn and Sarah discuss the importance of out

Today with Ginna Christensen Welcome to a Well-Designed Business®! On today’s episode, I talk with business coach Ginna Christensen. Ginna specializes in helping designers and creatives identify their differentiating points in the marketplace. But that work starts with discovering their values. Today, Ginna shares with me why discovering and staying true to your values is integral to your business, and what you can do to identify those values and incorporate them into what you do.    Pick it apart [16:00] Ginna shares the process she uses to help clients uncover their values [21:39] Ginna discusses why holding onto values that aren’t our own holds us

Today with Julia Miller:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Switching careers into design and building your business from the ground up takes a great deal of planning and consideration. As your business grows and evolves, you face even more questions. On today’s episode, I chat with Julia Miller of j. millers interiors, as she shares how she tackled those questions and made the decisions that let her business evolve and thrive. Pick it apart: [12:30] Julia discusses her exit plan that laid the groundwork for her to leave her previous career and launch her design firm. [20:44] LuAnn and Julia discuss the tricky question of determining your rates when you don’t have any experience. <span style= "font-weight: 4

Today with Jude Charles:  We’re welcoming Jude Charles back to the show! Jude is a video storyteller and he’s showing us how he works his magic for brands by using LuAnn as his guinea pig! Don’t miss this journey through LuAnn’s heart and mind as we discover what makes LuAnn LuAnn and how the simple moments of her life inform her why. Pick it apart: [14:31] LuAnn gives advice on being patient and working hard while you’re finding your way   [29:21] LuAnn talks about when she realized her first career was more than selling blinds   [32:43] Jude and LuAnn talk about clients wanting to know who you really are    [43:14] LuAnn tells the story about when she exhibited integrity in her Window Works business</

Today with Steve and Alyssa Terpstra of Coco & Jack:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today on the show, Luann is joined by Steve and Alyssa Terpstra of Coco & Jack. Steve and Alyssa run their firm together without any other employees, with Steve running the business and sales side, and Alyssa creating the designs. They also have a large family with four young children. Today, they’re sharing their strategies for running a growing business together while staying flexible and balanced with their family.    Pick it apart: [14:48] Steve dives into Coco & Jack’s pricing process [19:08] LuAnn and Steve dissect how to determine the budget, even if the client is unsure or less-than-forthcoming <span style=

Today on A Well-Designed Business®:  Have you been wondering if LuAnn Live 2021 is worth it? Well, on today’s episode I am going to address your concerns and tell you exactly why it’s worth it!   What's new with LuAnn Nigara Luannlive.com 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 Book

Today with Charlotte Safavi & Robert Radifera:  Photography experts Charlotte Safavi and Robert Radifera join us to talk about how they create publication-ready photography that tells the story of your space. Listen in as the dynamic duo guide us through the process of preparing the space and doing whatever has to be done to get the perfect shot. More About Charlotte Safavi & Robert Radifera: Stylish Productions (photo-stylist Charlotte Safavi and photographer Robert Radifera) is a holistic, boutique business dedicated to creating editorial-quality interior and architectural pho

Today with Dwayne Bergmann:  Dwayne Bergmann switched from a corporate career to launch a design firm because he loves to design. With a growing team and 40 active projects, how does he ensure he’s still doing the design work he loves? Dwayne guides us through the detailed structure, activities and deliverables he uses to allow him to manage a 13-person team while still staying close to the creative. Pick it apart: [21:57] Dwayne compares developing and executing business processes to the process of creating and editing a design project [33:01] Dwayne explains how he directs his designers and oversees the design process [49:07] Dwayne talks about how he controls the firm’s priorities [1:02:30] Dwayne walks through the activ

Today with Sal Campitello of East End Interiors :  Today on the show I sit down with Sal Campitello of East End Interiors, a trade furniture showroom for designers. With 30 years in business, everyone at East End is dedicated not only to providing quality furnishings that designers can offer their clients, but an immersive partnership full of education, assistance, trust, and value. Tune in to hear an insider look at the design trade furniture industry and how you can get more out of it.  More About Sal Campitello: For over a decade, Salvatore Campitiello of East End Interiors has been a local industry leader in the interior design field.  After serving as President of the Long Island Chapter of the Interior Design Society, Sal realized the importance of investing his time in talking about effective business strategies with b

Today with Melissa Leclair:  In five years, self-taught interior designer Melissa Leclair and husband Sacha have created Leclair Decor, an Ottawa-based full-service design firm with a 10,000sf showroom and an expansive e-commerce store. Melissa shares how they built their business and their team of 45 in a heavily digital environment and how important going with your gut and having a commitment to communication and constant improvement really is in the design industry. Pick it apart: [11:40] Melissa reviews her design team makeup [19:27] Melissa shares how her business started as a side hustle [32:09] Melissa and LuAnn review the business roles of Melissa and husband, Sacha [38:00] Melissa reveals her design project onboard

Today with Dr. Colleen Mullen:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®! On today’s episode, Dr. Colleen Mullen is here to discuss ways to relate to our employees in times of chaos. Dr. Colleen is a therapist, podcaster, author, and media, guest expert. She is the founder of the Coaching Through Chaos private practice and podcast and the author of the empowering book for women, “The 60-Day Plan for Embracing Your Inner Leader.” She’s known for her unique application of chaos theory to understanding the process of change. Tune in to hear what she has to say about inspiring and leading when your employees might be struggling.  More About Dr. Colleen Mullen: Dr. Colleen Mullen, Psy.D, LMFT is a therapist, podcaster, author, media guest expert, as well as a popular guest blogger.   She i

Today with Jenna Gaidusek:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®. Today, I’m diving into the world of e-design with Jenna Gaidusek. She built her online firm to generate passive income and take control of her time back. But as we all know, passive income takes planning and work. Jenna’s giving us an inside look at her system and tips for how all designers can make it work for them! Pick it apart: [7:13] Jenna talks about the approach it takes to attract clients online [12:52] Jenna shares a detailed breakdown of the process she recommends for designers that want to create online income [15:20] LuAnn and Jenna talk about writer’s block and a simple hack to help overcome it when wr

Today with Alex and Michelle Gage: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®! Today, I’m joined by Alex and Michelle Gage of Michelle Gage Interiors. When Alex saw Michelle struggling to get a clear picture of her financials, this engineer built a nice piece of software for her! Today, you’ll find out what this talented and numbers-driven interior designer was missing from her extensive Excel sheets and how it came in handy when Covid hit. More About Alex and Michelle Gage: Business Measurements grew alongside Michelle Gage Interiors as I watched Michelle evolve in the business to more complicated and detailed finances.  I saw her spend hours in Excel keeping tabs on the figures and knew there was a better way.  Computers are smarter than this.  I

Today with Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business!® Today, I’m joined by two amazing ladies, Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole. When I hear Joann and Kelly talk, and I listen to the way they describe their business, the phrase “a well-oiled machine” comes to mind. But it hardly seems big enough to describe how fine-tuned every step of their process is. Today, they’re sharing some of the secrets behind their success, focusing on the onboarding process and how they carry new clients from initial interest to writing that check!  Pick it apart: [10:20] Joann and Kelly reveal their “secret weapon” for intake conversations, and share why having trusted staff members makes all the difference [19:05] Kelly explains how their qualifying pr

Today with Brad Leavitt: Welcome to Power Talk Friday! Luann welcomes Brad Leavitt of AFT Construction back on the show today. This time, Brad is here to talk about the resistance designers might face from clients and builders in the design-build process. He’s going to teach you how to convey the value you bring to the table to overcome those objections, as well as how to price a build project.    Pick it apart: 23:35 Brad talks about the importance of showing the ROI to clients in hiring a designer 29:57 Luann and Brad discuss why designers need to be able to “ball park” the cost of a building project from the beginning 37:19 Brad gives tips on how to use so

Today with Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business!® Today, I sat down with Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas. Dennese has worked in both the residential and commercial sides of the industry, but has recently drawn a line in the sand—she’s only working with general contractors who value and respect her as a designer. But how do you get to that point? How do you build those relationships with general contractors? How do you bring your expertise to the table? How do you prove your value? That’s what we’re talking about today!  Pick it apart: [7:24] Dennese shares her story of transitioning her business during a recession, determined not to close her doors <span style= "font-wei

Today with Angela Kristen Taylor:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®! On today’s episode, I talk to productivity expert Angela Kristen Taylor. Angela is an integrative productivity expert who helps ambitious entrepreneurs and sales professionals overcome their own internal chaos so they can create the life and business they want. She’s also the creator of The Limitless Collaborative, a one-of-a-kind virtual reality community for entrepreneurs, business professionals, and creators, to work together, learn together, and grow together. Tune in to hear what Angela has to say about unlocking productivity by starting with your emotions and experiences.    More About Angela Kristen Taylor: Angela Kristen Taylor is an integrative productivity expert who helps ambitious entrepreneurs and sales professionals overcome their own internal chaos so they can creat

Today with Jennifer Stoner:  Welcome to A Well-Designed Business®! Today, I sat down with interior designer Jennifer Stoner. Litigator turned interior designer? How’s that for a career change? Jennifer shows us how she uses skills she honed as a lawyer to guide her clients through their design project. She uses simple if/then logic as a powerful tool to get her clients to see how all the components of the project fit into the big picture! More About Jennifer Stoner: Jennifer Stoner is an award-winning interior designer specializing in creating beautiful "Conception to Completion" design projects for discerning clients.   Based in Richmond, Virginia, Jennifer’s services have now expanded to projects across the country. Whether in the process of building a new home, tackling a renovation or transforming your interiors, Jennifer and her team provide high-level s

Today with Seasonal Living:  Welcome to A Well Designed Business! Today, I meet with two design industry powerhouses, Gary Pettitt of Seasonal Living and Leslie Carothers of Savour Partnership.  Seasonal Living is an award-winning Texas-based manufacturer of modern indoor/outdoor furniture, lighting, planters, and decorative accessories. Gary is also the publisher of Seasonal Living, a consumer-facing digital lifestyle magazine.  Gary recently teamed up with Leslie, a marketing professional, to help him create the world’s first luxury virtual showhouse featuring both augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities. You may know Leslie! She has been on the show twice before, and when she told me about t

Today with Vita Vygovska and LuAnn Nigara Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, are doing something a little different. Today, LuAnn and Vita are answering listener questions. That's right, they are teaming up to bring you DOUBLE the expertise and answer window treatment questions they have been receiving from listeners! More about Vita Vygovska Vita is the award-winning window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management service exclusively for interior designers. In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are expert

Today with Lisa Haude: Lisa Haude founded Paradigm Design Group in 2001. In 2020, Lisa rebranded her Houston six-person hospitality design firm to become PDG Studios and created a new luxury residential design division named Bella’s Studio. Put yourself in Lisa’s shoes. You are revving up for a big rebrand, and then the unthinkable happens. You find yourself in the midst of a global pandemic! Lisa’s story is like so many designers and business owners in the year 2020. It is a story of the dedication and resilience of a business owner in the face of unexpected, and unprecedented events. You’ll want to hear what prompted her rebrand, what she did about launching her new divisions once the pandemic hit, and what guided her through it all. More About Lisa Haude: <span sty

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Chris Wallace, co-founder, and President of InnerView, a marketing consulting firm that helps companies align their brand and product stories with their customer-facing teams. Chris truly believes in providing value to your clients by meeting their needs and making their lives better, and getting all of your industry partners on board with that idea, or finding partners that already are. Listen in to hear what Chris has to say about leveraging those industry partnerships to do that, so that the customer experience is a focus at every single level. Chris is the Co-Founder and President of InnerView, a marketing consulting firm that helps companies align their brand and product stories with their customer-facing teams. At InnerView, Chris draws from his nearly 20 years of sales, marketing, and corporate leadership to help companies engage their frontline teams in new ways, producing impr

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Sara Brennan rejoins the show today and she’s going to be sharing how she is managing the recent influx of new clients as she scales her business, how very critical organization is to the process, and a breakdown of the services she offers. We’ll also be touching on her upcoming Process Leads to Profit course, so please join us for some great takeaway ideas to streamline your own business and to learn more about how you can really drill down into what Sara calls “the Four P’s of design: Processes, Partnerships, Packages, and Profits”, to take YOUR profits to the next level. Sara is a co-author in the upcoming second volume of A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts. She is an entrepreneur, CEO, and Principal Interior Designer at Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors. Sara has become the first and only full-service interior design firm in Waxhaw, North Carolina, who specializes in Transitional Designs, where she and h

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest is Phoebe Oldrey. Phoebe is the founder of Smartstyle Interiors based in the UK. Oftentimes, designers feel like they can’t niche down, thinking that will close the door on all the other possibilities out there. When Phoebe reached the point in her career where she felt the desperate drive to do something different with design, she came to realize that design wasn’t just about aesthetics or creating beautiful spaces, but that it opens opportunities to create holistic, life-altering spaces for clients. So, Phoebe did the next practical thing: she niched down, rebranded, and started focusing on the projects that truly made her happy. Let’s hear what Phoebe has to say about holistic design, niching, and following your passion in your business. Phoebe is the founder of Smartstyle Interiors, an innovative interior design studio which takes a holistic approach. In 2017, after 15 years in the industry

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! There are so many of us who struggle with communicating who we are and what we do, especially on our websites. Betty Marton, founder of In Your Own Words, is back with us on the show to discuss how important it is in sharing your story to show your humanity, your journey, and your vulnerability. Betty is a lover of stories, conversation, and talking to people and hearing about their lives. She has her own separate business as a writer, copywriter, and storyteller whose passion is helping people understand their stories and bring them to life. Think about the way that you are portraying your business with your words, and be sure to listen in as Betty imparts her expertise about storytelling and the impact it can have, both on your business and your personal life. Writer and editor Betty Marton works with individuals, as well as large and small businesses, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to capt

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”! LuAnn received a request from a window treatment professional to review the “autopsy” process that LuAnn’s team does at Window Works, so this episode is dedicated to covering the review of a project once it’s completed. Whether you are a photographer, web developer, architect, or blogger, it is essential for each and every business owner to review their projects for profitability, deficiencies, processes, and client satisfaction. LuAnn discusses this process mostly from the perspective of a window treatment specialist, so if you are a designer, you have more work to do! But no worries, she’s got you designers covered on that, too! Get comfy, you’ll want to take notes! Show Highlights: There are 3 main objectives of a post-project “autopsy”. To learn: what it is we do well what it is we need to improve on and <li

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest, Carissa Miller of CC and Mike, shares how a “completely unexpected opportunity” turned into a leap of faith for her and her husband, Mike. Carissa’s journey is so much more than that happy accident, though, as you’re going to hear. Listen in to this inspiring conversation around how an Instagram post that went viral launched her into a rapidly growing business that she never saw coming, as well as how she and her husband navigated the unique challenges that come with running a business with your spouse. CC and Mike are a husband and wife team who make dream homes happen nation-wide, offering full-service design, build, and remodel services to their clients. Launched in May 2016, their social media and blog following have grown rapidly to include followers from all over the world who look to CC and Mike for design and building inspiration for their own homes. CC and Mike’s audience loves following their adventures as they des

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy and specifically the Interior Design Business Academy 2020 Summit, which is happening Wednesday, November 4 thru Friday, November 6, 2020. This event will run from 10:00 am EST to 6:00 pm and it is entirely virtual. In today’s conversation, Terri Taylor not only shares all the details of the outstanding Summit she has planned for you, but she shares valuable tips for running your firm. After 30 years in the industry, Terri has tons of experience in running her own firm and teaching you how to do it through her Interior Design Business Academy. And to be clear, the summit is open to all interior design business owners, not just IDBA coaching members, so be sure to check it out at Interior Design Business Academy Summit 2020 <p

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Social media guru, Darla Powell from Darla Powell Interiors, joins us in this conversation today on how to get more juice from your social media efforts. We change, our business changes, and sometimes, we need to refresh our minds about what we’re really doing and who we’re doing it for. The goal here today is to talk about honing the message you’re sending out to the world, and if you already did this five years ago, well maybe it’s time to do it again! Darla is a co-author of the 2nd volume of A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts that is coming out in November 2020. Darla really is the social media guru. She blew up social from the get-go and she hasn’t stopped since. Thankfully she is just fine with sharing her tools and ideas with us, so we can try to duplicate her success. Please welcome her back to the show! Darla has a fun, genuine, and down-to-earth approach to the designing of beautiful spaces. S

Welcome to the 600th episode of A Well-Designed Business! In this milestone conversation, LuAnn is the guest today! Deb Mitchell and Betty Marton are two writers and #smartladies who are talking to LuAnn today about the 599 episodes she has under her belt. LuAnn shares how much her life has changed since she aired her first episode back in February of 2016, how appreciative she is for her guests and listeners who have played such a big part in making this podcast a success, and how grateful she is that you invite her into your lives and your businesses each week. Don’t miss this fascinating glimpse into the heart of the host of A Well-Designed Business! Deb, or DesignWriterDeb as she’s referred to on Instagram, specializes in copywriting for interior designers and creatives. Betty, of In Your Own Words, helps

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting. Today’s dilemma comes from an anonymous listener who has been a faithful listener of the podcast since she started her business in 2014. At that time, she took the least expensive options in setting up her business and hasn’t invested since. She received an inheritance right before COVID hit, so this designer is looking for words of wisdom on whether it’s better to hold on to the money for a household expenses safety net since her husband has been furloughed and is not likely to return to work soon, or if it’s better to invest it back into her business, along with a revised business plan. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a busines

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Judith Taylor of Judith Taylor Designs returns as a guest today to share her ideas on networking for introverts. As Judith says, it can be a struggle to be an introvert in an extrovert’s industry! She has many things to say that can help not just introverts, but anybody looking to strengthen their networking skills. Listen in to this fascinating conversation about how you can set yourself up for success, even if you’re an introvert, and how to overcome the challenges when it comes to networking. Judith is an international award-winning designer with a flair for making personal, meaningful spaces. She is the granddaughter of a once-prominent furniture manufacturer, and as such, is passionate about style and the tradition of quality fine furniture making. Liveably luxury is achieved through her timeless aesthetic. Classic details, and refined clean lines anchor a love of the mix of contemporary traditional, and global influences. Mixi

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Mary Pat Wallace, the founder of Chicago Luxury Beds, and today’s focus is the luxury client! Mary Pat shares important perspectives about the surprising  opportunities you have today in the midst of the pandemic, and not just how we can deal with it and accommodate it, but how we can truly serve our clients in a bigger and better way. She also shares her insights on how she’s managed to maintain an excellent client experience and continue to be a strong leader for her team, even in a retail setting, throughout the challenges of Covid-19. Listen in for an inspiring conversation! Mary is a 30-year veteran of the design industry. Committed to sourcing the highest-quality, bespoke mattresses and sleep products from across the globe, Mary Pat and her team of experts have spent the last 15 years helping clients transform their lives through sleep. Once she spent her first night in a Hästens bed, M

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we are joined by Jamel Williams for another conversation in our Black Lives Matter series. As a young black designer and teacher, Jamel has a unique perspective on what can be done at the university-level to empower students of color. Please join us in this discussion on how mentorship in the university years could be a game-changer for all of our young designers, and especially our black designers, and Jamel’s suggestions on how schools can be that agent of change. Jamel Williams is a young and passionate Interior Designer, Educator, and Entrepreneur who specializes in Residential Interior Design in all of New York and surrounding areas. Shortly after graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Class of 2017 with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Jamel founded To Be Designed, a full-service Interior Design Studio. Already having an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, his interests in people, cultures, and way

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! We’re super excited to have Karin Bohn join us on the show today. Karin Bohn is the founder and creative director of the award-winning House of Bohn design studio. She established the interior design firm in 2009 and has made her mark in many industries including luxury residential, multi-family, restaurants, and retail. Karin stars on Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge in which she travels with a team of experts to provide design, marketing, and culinary consultation to establishments in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. With her continuously growing YouTube channel, Karin offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, collaborative partnerships, and life as an entrepreneur. Listen in to hear how in 11 yea

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today, Reena Philpot joins us to share her love of sales - and you’ll never guess what she’s selling! Reena (pronounced “Re-Nay”) and her husband own Precision Duplicating Solutions, and for 18 years, Reena’s helped build a successful business selling...copiers. That’s right folks - she sells pricey copy machines - and she loves it! It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, because sales is sales, and Reena’s techniques can absolutely be applied to the design business. Listen in to learn what sales tactics Reena has used to build her business, and how you can apply them to your own business to bring in those dollar bills! Daily Reena manages the sales side of the business and part of the admin duties. She started her career as a telemarketer/appointment setter 26 years ago. She quickly transitioned to outside sales and vowed it was so awesome she would learn how to become successful. When her boys

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC, and Debbie will be walking us through easily implementable, effective systems to take care of all those tiny details so that we have the time to focus on the big things in our business. Debbie revamped her growing business to ensure she and her team are less stressed while consistently providing their clients with an A+ experience. Be sure to listen and see if some of her ideas will help you be more productive and less stressed, too! Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC is a full-service interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. From new construction to simple refreshes, their goal is to realize each room’s greatest potential. With a keen focus to detail, their team works collaboratively with clients to navigate through the many decisions involved with high-quality, custom design work. Clients

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn welcomes Kimberly Merlitti, the Virtual CFO, back to the show. Kimberly also happens to be one of the co-authors for our third book, A Well-Designed Business, Power Talk Experts Volume 2, which is coming out in November. On today’s show, Kimberly is sharing with us the importance of preparing an estimate for your job before you sign a contract. If there’s one thing Kimberly knows, it’s numbers! And she is going to walk you through not only WHY preparing an estimate at the very beginning is important, but also how to do this the right way, how to stay on track, and how to rely on data, so that you’re not playing a guessing game and risking losing money in your business. Because at the end of the day, you are not just a designer, you’re an entrepreneur, right? Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. She has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies suc

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Nicole White, CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, back to the show. When they last visited, Nicole shared details about her client questionnaire, how she gets press, and the confidence she now has as a designer. On today’s Black Lives Matter episode, you’ll hear about Nicole’s business and personal life, viewed specifically through the filter of being black. As a trained journalist and Jamaican immigrant, Nicole has a unique perspective on what we can do to effect lasting change. We hope you join us! Nicole White is the CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, a full-service boutique interior design firm, based in Sunrise, Florida. Nicole, known for her renovation prowess, has been featured in various local, national, and international publications including - HGTV, House Beautiful, Better Homes, and Gardens magazines; Ocean Drive, Huffington Post, and Domin

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! What do you do when you realize that the business you have nurtured over the years is no longer bringing you joy? Tawna Allred joins LuAnn in this conversation that is not so much about how Tawna built her design business, but how, after 10 years in business, she took a pause, looked inside, and shifted gears to bring back the spark and create the life that she really wanted. Listen in to this inspiring conversation for lessons on learning to trust your gut instinct and following through with simple changes. Tawna Allred opened her interior design business (a single person LLC) in 2009, and she is still a one-woman business today. Tawna labels herself as a multi-passionate creative. Her interior design focus is design-build (new construction and remodeling), and she offers full-service design from plan conceptualization to installing furniture and styling. Tawna's husband is a contractor and although they have separate businesses, he's a h

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it's Power Talk Friday! Today, Luann and her guest, Eileen Hahn, dig into how to scale your design business from 2 million to 5 million. Going from 2 to 5 million is not easy, and it does not happen by accident. Intentional is the name of the game when scaling at this level. Who better to take us through that than Eileen? She’s the HR whisperer from LuAnn's first Power Talk Friday Experts book. Eileen was with us all at LuAnn Live and she also has a chapter in LuAnn's upcoming second Power Talk Friday Experts book, as well. Oh, and did you know that LuAnn and Eileen are COUSINS? Tune in to their conversation for expert advice on hiring, retaining, and scaling, and be amazed as Eileen takes this overwhelming task of scaling and breaks it down into a simple (not easy, simple) to-do list! Eileen Hahn is a leadership consultant who works with firms like Anheuser-Busch, Ericson Worldwide, General Motors, Legola

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting. Today’s episode is sponsored by Mydoma Studio. Today’s dilemma comes from Virginia, a self-described #babydesigner. Virginia had a good working relationship with a contractor on commercial projects, and he brought her into one of his residential deals. Everything went great. She returned the favor by inviting him into one of her residential projects. The contractor ended up sending the client a proposal behind Virginia’s back, before she even had the design work presentation ready. This confused the client and made her look bad. Virginia is looking for the best way to handle this situation. Today’s episode will capture your attention because Lu explains how having too much business isn’t always good. Really? Tune in to hear LuAnn explain. Show Highlights:

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Are you really, truly, creating your own designs and ideas? Today’s guest wants you to learn to start with the story you want to tell and to express that in your design. LuAnn gets the pleasure of talking with so many great designers on the show, but she rarely gets the opportunity to chat with a commercial designer. That dynamic flips once again today, because she is joined by Darrell Long of Wilson Associates. Darrell believes it is important to develop your critical thinking in order to be an exceptional designer. He is here to share with us that the magic of creativity is in the story and it is the art behind the design. This is something that he is very passionate about and he considers it his mission to share with other designers, especially younger ones. Please join us in this very special episode! Darrell Long possesses more than 25 years of brand-strengthening design experience that evokes a distinct sense of location, while engag

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, discuss how to get yourself in the right mindset for selling window treatments. Window treatments add some dollar bills to that bottom line of a project and are a nice money profit center for an interior designer. Listen in today to hear what LuAnn and Vita have to share with you. Vita is the award-winning window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management service exclusively for interior designers. In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are experts in their narrow field, providing designers with superb quality product and excellent communication. Most importantly, they take off the stress, save time, and give peace of mind in the job is well-done.   Show Highlights: Vita shares her

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today takes efficiency to a whole new level, and she is also one of the co-authors in LuAnn’s upcoming book A Well Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts, coming out in November 2020. Please welcome Sandra Funk back to the show. After 20 years in the business, Sandra has gained a ton of information, a ton of expertise, and a ton of knowledge, and now, she is offering that expertise, that well-oiled machine to designers everywhere. The Interior Design Standard is a program that Sandra has put together, actual templates for designers to utilize her systems and processes. LuAnn is thrilled to announce that today’s show is sponsored by Interior Design Standard. You’re going to love what you hear! Sandra Funk is the CEO and Principal Designer of House of Funk, a greater New York area design firm working wherever great clients need us. This is interior design with a soul and a sense of place; reflecting yo

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! No matter where your business is, it’s going to take trial and error, iterating, learning, changing, and growing to take it to the next level. And if anybody knows how to build a business from the ground up in new locations multiple times, relying on solid networking and content marketing strategies to help her forge new connections and succeed in new places, it’s today’s guest. LuAnn welcomes Lesley Myrick back to the show. Listen in to learn what Lesley has to say about building a successful business, even when you’re starting in a brand new place.  Lesley Myrick is an adventurous, organized, and enthusiastic interior designer in the Atlanta, Georgia area (and she works with clients all over the US and Canada, too). Lesley is originally from Canada and has lived and worked in Toronto, Ontario; Los Angeles, California; Waco, Texas; and now Macon, Georgia. She earned an honors diploma in interior design from Sheridan College in 2005 and la

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn’s guest today is Mitch Hahn, the CEO of Nordens, a large, established accounting firm in Central London. Mitch is not new to the struggles and successes that accompany accounting for home designers. Simply put, Mitch doesn’t just look at home design from an accountant’s perspective; he sees accounting from a home designer’s perspective, too, so he truly speaks creatives’ language. Listen in for what Mitch has to say about what to look for in an accountant and how accountants can better serve designer clients.  The CEO of an established accounting firm - like, over-3000-clients-established - at only 31, Mitch Hahn is versed in starting a company from scratch at a young age. And he’s not too bad at helping a variety of other businesses do the same, either.  Plus, with a variety of home design businesses included within that scope, Mitch is not new to the struggles and successes that accompany accounting f

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s dilemma comes from Virginia, a self-described #babydesigner. Virginia had a good working relationship with a contractor on commercial projects, and he brought her into one of his residential deals. Everything went great. She returned the favor by inviting him into one of her residential projects. The contractor ended up sending the client a proposal behind Virginia’s back, before she even had the design work presentation ready. This confused the client and made her look bad. Virginia is looking for the best way to handle this situation. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity t

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest is the Paloma Contreras - the Elle A-list, Forbes recognized, shop-owning, fabulously talented design influencer. You know, the Paloma Contreras that has163,000 Instagram followers? This lady is one amazing powerhouse! Keep listening, though, because it wasn’t always that way. She is a lady who cried on Sundays because she dreaded her work week so much, then went on to find her niche, love her job, and become that Elle Decor A-Lister. Don’t miss LuAnn’s and Paloma’s inspiring conversation about trusting your gut, taking action even when you’re afraid or unsure, and going for the big dream in your head and making it reality. Based in Houston, Texas, Paloma has honed her eye for style over more than a decade in the design industry. She has developed a reputation for designing beautiful interiors in a broad range of styles which are executed in a manner that is polished, refined, and effortless.  Paloma ha

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Brad Leavitt of A.F.T. Construction back on the show today. Brad is here to talk with us about the “B” word - budgets! And the other “B” word - builders! Taking charge of the money for our projects is vital. In fact, it’s absolutely necessary if you want to build amazing client relationships and get the respect you deserve from your builders - and really anyone you interact with in your business. Brad is going to get into that with us today. Plus, LuAnn has been saving a question from one of her designers for him, so listen in to hear that question and see how Brad responds. Brad Leavitt is President of A Finer Touch Construction, LLC, a luxury residential and commercial builder located in Scottsdale, AZ. His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, organization, building science, and

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, and welcome to another conversation in our Black Lives Matter series! Albie Buabeng, a specialist in e-design, joins LuAnn to share the internal struggle she had when she first began her design firm, and her desire to be part of the change in our world so that her daughter’s generation reaps the benefits. This is one #smartlady who walks the talk. Albie also shares some valuable resources, so don’t miss this! As both interior designer and content creator, Albie's passion for decoding spaces is the culmination of nearly a decade of retail visual merchandising and freelance marketing, sprinkled with a lifetime of experiences. Using her background of space design and storytelling, Albie took her real-life lessons and launched an online interior design service. Her love of design has since evolved into a destination for inspiration centered around her blog, video content, social media, podcast, and self-published book, in addition to her curre

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Lori Morris, one of the most passionate and driven people LuAnn has ever come across, joins the show today to share what it takes to grow your business to the level of attracting luxury clients and delivering the level of service and design that they expect.  Even as Lori’s business has grown so large, she maintains creative control and has a hand in every project they tackle. If you want to attract those luxury clients, if you want to work on these magnificent homes, if you want to offer that truly above and beyond level of service, then stay tuned to LuAnn and Lori’s conversation for takeaways that you can apply to your business to help reach your goals.  Not one to merely dip her toe in the water, Lori Morris is an ‘all or nothing’ designer whose artistry is rooted in tradition, unconventional ideas and fearless execution of perfection. Reinventing the standard of design since 1987, her work can be found in some of the most high-

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn has a very special episode for you today. Amber De La Garza is back with her on the show. Amber De La Garza is The Productivity Specialist. She is also one of the co-authors of LuAnn’s third book coming out this fall, which is A Well Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2.  This episode is a little bit different than most, because today LuAnn and Amber are going to be talking about the work that they have accomplished, the internal stories and beliefs that Amber has helped LuAnn overcome, and the ways that they adapted strategies and worked through obstacles together, allowing LuAnn to reclaim some of her own time. They’re going to pull back the curtain on their process and the lessons that were learned along the way.  Amber is a coach, trainer, speaker, and writer, and she hosts her own podcast, Productivity Straight Talk. She helps business owners improve their time

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from Carol Ann Hirvat. Carol worked with a client a few years ago on a $45,000 job that ultimately never went anywhere. Then out of the blue, the client reaches out with an apology and requested for a second chance. Guess what happens after Carol invests another 15 hours into the deal? Yep! So Carol would like to know her next best steps. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to <a href="http://luannnigara.com/wwld" target="_blank" rel="noopener"

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is someone who made quite an impression on the audience during a LuAnn Live event by sharing her “eat, pray, love” story. Lisa Gilmore told the audience how she was in such a hard space, mismanaging money, and doing all the things incredibly wrong. Who didn’t feel a connection with this lady for her honesty and bravery? Listen in to find out how Lisa turned her business (and life!) around by owning her errors and being consistent, and just see if there’s not something in here that you can use for your own. Lisa Gilmore, one of the Southeast’s leading luxury residential designers, is known for the customized one-of-a-kind interiors she creates for large scale homes and condos in Tampa Bay and throughout North America. She has over a decade of experience providing luxury environments for CEO’s, attorneys, business owners, entrepreneurs, tech company executives, and other prominent clients. Her work and her unique “

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn shares a conversation with Deb Mitchell on today’s show. You may know Deb on Instagram as DesignWriterDeb. She’s a writer specializing in serving interior designers. Did you know that your own writing style can differentiate yourself from other designers in the way it reflects your personality and your style? And that the most impactful way of writing speaks to the client? Listen in for tips on how you can make this happen, or how you can work with Deb if you’re needing a little extra help in communicating effectively with your ideal client. Deb Mitchell’s career as a professional writer began when she responded to an ad in a local Charlotte, NC magazine seeking volunteers for a readers’ panel. On a tour of the magazine’s offices with the other selected panelists, the idea for an article came to her and when she mentioned it to the editors, they hired her on the spot as a writer. Nearly ten years and hundreds

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s friend and previous guest, Cheryl Luckett, joins the show today for the next episode in the Black Lives Matter Series. Cheryl shares her experience in growing up in the deep south, her recollection of her first experience with racism, and the thoughts that went through her mind in that horrifying moment. You’ll also hear her explain how lack of inclusion and lack of resources in our own industry are racism hurdles. LuAnn and Cheryl cover many ways that you can do your part in creating inclusion and progress in our industry. Every action by each one of us matters! With a 15-year career in Corporate America as a Registered Dietitian and Human Resources professional, Cheryl launched Dwell by Cheryl Interiors in 2012 seeking a creative outlet and an opportunity to explore her passion for design. The venture began with her blog chronicling her own home improvement projects and quickly morphed into a “side-hustle” decorating homes. After

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Cynthia Collins joins LuAnn in today’s episode for a discussion on mentorship. Cynthia is going to walk us through how she finds the best young talent available and how she helps them grow and learn, often producing long-lasting employees that fit in at her firm for many years to come. Cynthia is a true servant at heart, with a mission to help and guide others whenever and wherever possible, leaving a positive impact on the world. Listen in for ideas to make your company culture rewarding and uplifting, and how you can recruit young people that will grow with you into the future! In 1992, Cynthia Collins began Collins Interiors, a Dallas-based firm specializing in full-scale residential interior design. Throughout the years, Cynthia has been privileged to work with some of the most talented architects in the field and has been a part of projects across the United States, including Texas, North Carolina, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Georgia & C

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Amanda Berlin joins LuAnn on today’s episode to chat about a holistic visibility strategy. If you’ve been considering defining or refining your vision and fresh ways to reach your goals, you’ll want to listen in for Amanda’s tips! Amanda is one of the co-authors in the next volume of The Power Talk Friday Experts. Amanda Berlin is a Communications Consultant for Entrepreneurs. After more than a decade in the New York City public relations world, Amanda Berlin now uses her pitch powers for good. She helps entrepreneurs step into their presence, create a story that inspires others, and spread their message in the media. Amanda has created a library of template guides and trainings and works one on one with clients to guide them to strategic story-telling and media relations based on her 12 years of experience guiding strategy for major brands in the corporate world. Amanda and her clients have been featured i

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes her friend, Natasa Jones to the show to share her super-smart, super-efficient strategy for note taking. Natasa’s method will work whether you are attending a webinar, a panel discussion, a course, or a conference. If you need to brush up on your note-taking skills, you don’t want to miss out on this valuable information! You’ll also hear about some of the epiphanies that Natasa experienced at LuAnn Live last year, and there are some that are sure to be meaningful to you, as well. Natasa Jones is the owner and principal interior designer of Natasa Jones Interiors, located in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Natasa studied interior design in Chicago and her goal was always to run her own firm. Being born and raised in Montenegro, Natasa loves incorporating European contemporary elements into her interior design projects to create her signature livable modern look. Show Highlights: LuAnn shares Natasa’

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn is joined today by Mike Peterson, an experienced marketing and brand consultant who wants to emphasize an opportunity that our community of interior designers seems to be completely missing out on, and that’s the power they hold to improve the health of their clients through health and wellness design. Yes, you heard that right! Mike is here to explain why this is no longer anecdotal. Mike Peterson is founder of the innovative marketing and brand firm, Visionary Design Marketing.  Visionary Design Marketing's goal is to help companies create tailored, strategic, and effective communications that are founded in a clear understanding of their brand. Brand development is rooted in a customers understanding of a designer's brand and includes new website, social media communications tools, and the new targeted digital tools such as geofencing, microproximity targeting, and display contextual search. Visionar

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest is LuAnn’s friend, Arianne Bellizaire. In this #blacklivesmatter episode, Arianne shares her experiences with us as a black woman and designer. Don’t be surprised when you have some self-discovery moments as Arianne takes LuAnn on a dive into the policies and systems that have been built in this country that allow us to see things differently. In addition, Arianne catches us up on what she’s been working on since she was last a guest on the show, and you don’t want to miss the details of her new video course! Please join this conversation, for you are sure to learn something new.   Award-winning, Baton Rouge-based interior designer and content creator Arianne Bellizaire is a certified True Colour Expert who inspires her design clients and readers with her warmth, positivity, and creative problem-solving talents. Among Arianne's many awards and achievements in her design career, she has been named a High Point Market Au

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is her friend, Karen Wolf, and they’re going to be covering how Karen jumped into immediate action at the outset of the Covid-19 crisis. Karen’s background in marketing taught her to “double down or drown”, and she wasn’t about to drown. Listen in to hear how Karen’s decisive leadership combined with a willingness to think outside the box put her in the category of an exceptional business owner. See if you don’t have some great “A’ha” moments during this conversation! Karen is the Principal and Owner of nationally-recognized Karen B. Wolf Interiors. She is known for her signature style—"modern elegance,” which speaks to livable luxury, balanced color usage, clean lines, and layered spaces. Prioritizing her clients’ input and preferred aesthetics, Karen leads her team of talented women to create upscale residential spaces that speak authentically to her clients’ one-of-a-kind lifestyles and interests. Karen’s enthusiasm

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Ashley Uhl joins LuAnn on today’s show to talk about how to talk to your clients like a leader, not like a boss. Ashley Uhl is the only client experience consultant exclusively focused on working with interior designers and decorators.   Ashley’s knowledge and expertise in client experience comes from her degree in Psychology, years of working with high net worth individuals at wealth management firm Morgan Stanley, formal training and work in human relations, sales, and presentations at top professional development company, Dale Carnegie, and from years of gleaning knowledge from five star establishments she visited during her international travel. Her knowledge of interior design, and the processes around it, came from her short stint as a designer, which then became a pivot to teaching designers about the client experience.  Ashley now shows designers how to confidently lead clients through the desi

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from Griffin Dorner, who is pregnant and due in October. Furthermore, she is the only one in her business so she’s looking for tips on how to prepare for maternity leave. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara WWLD! Show Highlights: LuAnn provides the details around Griffin’s situation. LuAnn speaks from her heart r

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Vicky Serany from Southern Studio, and you’re going to hear how Vicky’s mission, vision, and goals for her company changed over the years. Sometimes you just have to make your business fit the life you have. You’ll be inspired to learn that you can revise, recalibrate, and reinvent your business at any time ever, over your entire life - and you’re going to receive lots of insights on leadership, too, so listen in! Vicky Serany uses fresh combinations of texture, pattern, and color to create luxury interiors that meet the needs of each client. By paying attention to every detail of a project, she is able to meticulously transform the design vision into reality. Her inspiration comes from the beauty in everyday life and travel to fascinating places. Vicky’s extensive work in residential design and new home construction has earned her awards both locally and nationally. Vicky is an Allied Member of the American Society

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Photographer Mike Van Tassell joins LuAnn in conversation today, and if you know anything about last year’s LuAnn Live, then you already know Mike. If you don’t, you will by the end of this show! As you listen, there will be no mistaking Mike’s commitment and passion to his profession and how he works with designers and architects. You’re in for a treat! Born and raised in New York City, Mike always found himself surrounded by cutting edge art and stunning architecture. His passion for art was one that developed early in life and always stuck with him. While studying Graphic Arts & Architecture at the City University of New York, he discovered photography through his coursework and began diving into the medium as a hobby. That hobby soon flourished into a professional career as he discovered a way to combine his excitement for photography and architecture. Mike spent the first 15 years of his profess

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Rasheeda Gray joins LuAnn in today’s #blacklivesmatter episode. Rasheeda shares her personal experiences in that we all may learn, benefit, and grow.  Rasheeda Gray is the owner and principal designer of Gray Space Interiors, a full-service design firm in the Philadelphia area. Launched in 2016, Gray Space is devoted to curating a client-focused, transformative, and seamless design experience.  With over 75 residential and commercial projects completed, the Gray Space approach to design can be found at the intersection of creativity, functionality, and process.  Rasheeda's path into design begins at the tail end of a fifteen year career in Marketing and Communications with the nation's top insurance companies. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Marketing and International Business as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) with a concentration in Marketing.  Additionally, she holds a professional certificate in In

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today, LuAnn’s guest, Sara Hillery, shares her top tips for client retention and sound advice that you’ll be able to apply to your own business. Take notes or listen to it a second time, too, because you’re sure to hear some tidbits you missed the first time! Sara’s approach involves incorporating the fine and rare with the utilitarian and available, creating beautiful and functional spaces. With a focus on honoring each client’s personal history, the firm excels at updating and transforming client’s interior spaces both architecturally and decoratively making previously acquired and antique pieces more relevant and practical. While Sara draws inspiration from her travels to Europe, India, and Japan, her style invariably reflects her Southern heritage and familial roots in Virginia, Texas, and New Orleans. Upon graduating from the University of Virginia in 2004, Sara turned her focus to architecture and interiors and received her MF

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn welcomes Brad Leavitt back to the show, and they are going to be discussing what your builder wants you to know. Don’t miss this motivating conversation, it will be like being a fly on the wall to an exclusive builder’s club! AFT Construction is an award-winning construction firm and has been nationally published in magazines such as: Fine Home Building, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Professional Builder. Brad Leavitt is an energetic public speaker and ambassador for many national brands including Kohler, Pella, Cambria, Elkay, and Post-it Notes. Brad completed a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from BYU in 2005 and worked on notable projects around Phoenix, including the Omni Montelucia in Paradise Valley. His Podcast, “The AFT Construction Podcast”, is focused on bringing value to its listeners, no matter their industry. The topics are focused on marketing, social media, entrepreneurshi

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from Angela in Pennsylvania. Angela has 20 years of experience in design but considers herself somewhat of a baby designer since she only opened her own business two years ago. The Covid-19 event has had a huge impact on her virtual close rate, and she’s needing some guidance. Listen in to hear more about the dilemma that Angela faces, as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! On today’s show, LuAnn chats with Rebecca Robinson from Monarch Lane Interiors. Rebecca is one of the leading home renovation experts in Tennessee, and she’ll be sharing how she explains her value to contractors and builders and how this results in a full pipeline for her and her firm. You’ll also hear how Mydoma Studio makes this process even easier for her to pitch to contractors and easier for her to effectively manage the projects once she lands them. Don’t miss this conversation! Monarch Lane Interiors is a Full Service Interior Design firm by Rebecca Robinson. With 20 years of experience remodeling the homes, offices, and commercial Studios of successful professionals around Nashville and surrounding counties. Rebecca is involved in every aspect of remodeling from drawing floor plans to color and selections to managing contractors and overseeing the design and construction details. A customer relationship specialist, Rebecca h

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Desi Creswell joins LuAnn in a conversation today about breaking old habits and how to think about the same things in new ways. You’ll hear about how important it is to get real about your life by setting goals and expectations that serve you in totality so that you can run both your life and your business in sustainable ways. Get ready for some fantastic a-ha moments! Desi Creswell is a Certified Life and Business Coach who helps interior designers stop feeling overwhelmed so they can intentionally achieve next-level success with more freedom and fulfillment. An awarding-winning interior designer who has worked for world-renowned design and architecture firms prior to establishing her own design practice, Desi is uniquely equipped to empower her clients with an essential blend of industry specific expertise and mindset coaching. Her passion is to help designers build thriving businesses that enrich and support thei

Kae is a Digital Marketing Strategist that specializes in helping service providers create automated marketing systems that close the gap in leads lost, enhance their sales processes, and keep customers returning bringing their friends. Kae’s philosophy is it takes the right strategy coupled with the proper tools to execute a well thought out plan.  She takes a tailored approach to helping her clients satisfy their online revenue goals, by paying attention to the unique needs, audience and capacity of each business, and creating strategies that are beneficial for not only the customers but the companies as well. She would love the opportunity to speak with you about your digital marketing goals and how she can help.  Kae offers complimentary calls to talk through your needs and see how she can best help you meet your goals. Connect with Kae! Kae’s Website Kae’s

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest on today’s show is her good friend, Sara Daniele, the founder and CEO of Mydoma Studio. Mydoma Studio also happens to be the second-longest standing sponsor of this podcast! Don’t miss their conversation because you’ll want to hear all of the exciting details about Mydoma Studio’s 19H The Blueprint workshop that is coming up in July. This course will help design professionals, like you, build resilience into your business, no matter what crisis comes your way. Sarah Daniele is the CEO and co-founder of Mydoma Studio. Mydoma Studio is the complete interior designer toolkit; workflow software to organize design projects from beginning to end and a thriving design community. The first version of Mydoma Studio was built to fulfill a personal need. It was the encouragement of her peers that Sarah Daniele turned tech CEO and built Mydoma Studio for the interior design industry. Sarah is passionate about building tools and te

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! It’s Power Talk Friday and LuAnn is pleased to have her good friend, Traci Connell, joining her to talk about their newest venture, the Buy Wholesale for Profit program. Listen in as they give you a sneak-peek of The 6 Steps to Making Maximum Profit through Buying Wholesale! Traci Connell is an inviting, engaging, and approachable mentor who has overcome personal setbacks to build the business of her dreams - a multi-million dollar interior design business that she grew and scaled while navigating single-motherhood in the wake of immense tragedy. Traci is an expert in delivering unique design with ease of mind. She says: “What good is a luxurious home if you can’t actually live in it?” That philosophy drives her to provide high-end interior design that really lasts for every one of her clients. From initial to final details, each project is outlined through a state-of-the-art project management system, streamlining the process and e

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from Leslie, a designer that LuAnn happened to meet last winter in Chicago at the Power House Luxury Conference. Leslie is struggling to educate customers who walk into her hybrid full-service design firm / large retail showroom and expect free design services. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara! Show Highlights: LuAnn s

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Shirry Dolgin. Hold on to your seat as Shirry humorously recounts her long-ago experience with a sales tax audit that was the furthest thing from funny at the time. You just might identify with the gamut of emotions that she experienced during this period and hopefully learn from her ordeal! Shirry Dolgin is a rising star in the southern California interior design community. Having established her firm, ASD Interiors INC. in 2004, Shirry has an impressive portfolio of projects, and has been featured in a variety of media outlets including multiple TV appearances. Specializing in large scale residential and commercial projects and an industry expert in construction, she has built a reputation as one of the most knowledgeable renovations interior designers in the industry. A native of Los Angeles and the daughter of the owner of a construction company, Shirry was exposed to the world of design at an early age. S

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! It’s WTF, Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, explore how custom awnings can be the answer that your clients are looking for and the solution you need for your business and its profitability Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short!), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services exclusively for interior designers. Show Highlights: Vita discusses how she arrived at her revelation that awnings could add revenue to her bottom line. Awnings are a creative up-sell that also serves a need for your client. Awnings are particularly desirable to high value design projects right now due to COVID-

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from another one of LuAnn’s coaching clients, who was experiencing a late invoicing issue due to some extremely hectic circumstances in her life. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to luannnigara.com/wwld!   Show Highlights: LuAnn shares the details surrounding her coaching client’s dilemma. The client was hesitant to se

Nationally acclaimed interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins mixes vibrant colors with layered patterns to create architecturally inspired spaces that are, at once, elegant, inventive and timeless. Taking cues from runway fashion, his residences feature luxurious and refined materials including intricate wallcoverings, sculptural lighting and stately furnishings. Jenkins’ goal “is to ensure that my clients’ homes are always classic, chic and without an expiration date,” states the designer. Most recently Jenkins was honored with Traditional Home’s “New Trad” Rising Star of Design Award, as well as an extensive cover feature highlighting a recent commission. His work has also garnered attention from numerous publications including Architectural Digest, The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, Veranda, Domino, and HGTV. Connect with Corey! Corey’s Website Corey’s <a href="h

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Terri Taylor joins LuAnn on today’s show and she’s going to be walking you through how she calculates budgets on the fly. You’re going to learn what a powerful tool it can be for your design business! One of Terri’s passions is helping interior designers get their firms organized and profitable. Make sure you take notes because Terri’s going to detail how she does this in an understandable, doable way! Hopefully, it will inspire you and give you the courage and language to have that tricky conversation about budget with your next client. Terri Taylor is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and showrooms throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics related to the business of interior design, including: business practices, sales, marketing, motivation, leadership, success, and personal growth. Ms. Taylor is nationally known as an interior design business expert and coach who teaches and mentor

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! It’s Power Talk Friday, and LuAnn’s friend, Jamie Lieberman, joins the show today. Jamie also happens to be her lawyer and co-author of their upcoming book, A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts, Vol 2, coming Fall 2020. Jamie will be covering five steps to engaging effectively in any negotiation. This is a great topic because you can dramatically improve your profitability when you sharpen these skills. Negotiating is a learned skill, just like learning how to do floor plans, and just like learning to do floor plans, negotiating is a critical skill to ensure your success, so listen in and take some notes! Jamie Lieberman is an attorney, podcaster and entrepreneur dedicated to making legal accessible and to sharing the message that legal does not have to be scary. As the owner and founder of Hashtag Legal, Jamie draws on her experience working with influencer marketing professionals, creatives and business

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from LuAnn’s coaching client, Jill, who gave LuAnn her blessing to share this sticky situation on the podcast. Jill has a new client who is the daughter of a very good client (and friend) of hers. The new client had a general contractor present at an in-home consultation for window treatments and the GC was very opinionated, contradicting Jill's advice at every turn. To make matters worse, the new client gave deference to every word he said.  Listen in to hear multiple dilemmas that Jill faces, as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportun

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Last year at LuAnn Live, LuAnn gifted each of the VIP Attendees with the headset which she requires when you do an interview with her, then challenged her attendees to take action in their business and come onto the show and share about it. Today’s guest is Laurel Smith, the principal of Farrington Avenue and she is doing just that! Laurel will be sharing the ups and downs and the stops and starts of her entrepreneurial journey that will seem so familiar to many of us. She discusses some of the assumptions she made about owning a business, some of the mistakes she made in starting up, and how she finally came to exactly what she knows she was meant to do with her professional life. Listen in as Laurel describes the key to how her growth really began, the things that catapulted once she got real, and see if some of her story sparks something that just might be inside of you, too! <img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/sho

Welcome to, A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn’s guest today is Natalie Norcross, who has a specific road map for how she teaches you how to do your own PR. Public relations is so valuable, and more now than ever, due to the current coronavirus event. If you’re looking to not only survive but thrive during this economic crisis, you’ll want to keep marketing your firm and learn how to do your own PR.  Natalie offers so many good tips, you’re not going to want to miss this! Natalie is the CEO and Founder of A Design Partnership. Natalie Norcross has over 19 years experience working for Interior Designers, Architects, Builders, Developers, Hotel, and Home Brands and her firm has a demonstrated track record of driving exposure and placements through the PR they produce. Natalie has appeared on the show in episodes #162 and #506. In episode #506, LuAnn and Natalie talked about the four areas to pay a

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Krystle Pickens joins LuAnn in today’s conversation about not just growing a business, but growing a business fast, smart, and intentionally.  Listen in for real strategies that can help you set up your own business for success and profit!  Krystle Pickens is passionate about working with clients to create spaces that are beautiful and evoke that special feeling of home, while also meeting the individual client’s needs. We apply our four core values: Sustainability, Feeling, Functionality, and Community to every project, big or small. Krystle has a degree in Interior Design and has worked in the design industry since 2012, getting her start in Kitchen and Bath Design.  She is based in Jersey City and really feels rooted there, however being raised in Seattle, Krystle feels a responsibility

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Are you in for a treat today! Jenny Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors contacted LuAnn to let her know about her experiences working with Brad Leavitt, President and Founder of AFT Construction in Arizona. Brad has the AFT Construction Podcast, and he and LuAnn have been guests on each other’s podcasts before, so it’s easy to see why Jenny gives him such high praise for being a great builder to work with. You’re sure to be impressed by Brad’s message and outlook on business, as well his obvious love and respect for interior designers. Listen in as he explains from the builder perspective all the reasons he knows that you make his projects more beautiful, more efficient, and more profitable. AFT Construction is an award-winning construction firm and has been nationally published in magazines such as: Fine Home Building, Luxe Interiors and Design, and Professional Builder. Brad Leavitt is an energetic public speaker and ambassador for

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from listener Amanda, who has lost a couple of jobs due to the costs of freight and taxes outside of a client’s budget. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to luannnigara.com/wwld! Show Highlights: LuAnn shares listener Amanda’s detailed email. Nearly the exact same thing happened to Sara Brennan last year. You must remember that you are the profess

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest is Robin Baron, who first joined LuAnn in episode #32. Robin is a #smartlady with an incredible body of work which includes being a celebrity interior designer, lifestyle expert, and a luxury home-furnishings designer. Based in NYC, Robin always brings a striking sense of fashion and style to everything she does as a successful interior designer. Robin knows that flexibility is important, so customization is available in almost every piece in her collections. Celebrating 30 years in business Robin could have spoken on several topics but chose her strategy for designing and bringing a product to market. If you have ever dreamt about designing your own product, please, get a pen and paper for this show. Robin truly shares every aspect that you must consider before you set out on this path. Her advice is well earned and it is easy to hear the depth and breadth of her experience as a thoughtful business woman! Robin thrive

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, joins her today to chat about some of the things that interior designers can be thinking about in relation to window treatments during this time of quarantine. Whether you’re settling nicely into virtual consultations or you can’t wait for the brick-and-mortars to open back up, you’ll want to listen in to this conversation to learn how important window treatments are to your business! Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services exclusively for interior designers.  Show Highlights: Vita gives shout-outs to the #maskAmerica initiative and to local designer, Michele Plachter, who ga

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s questions come from listener Christina, who struggles with expanding her prospects beyond client referrals. Christina is asking for tips on finding a space where she won’t be competing with architecture firms with in-house designers, and would like LuAnn’s opinion on the best social media platform. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara WWLD! Show Highlights:</

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Just wait until you meet today’s guest, Nicole McGuire. Every word of her bio is expressed in every word of her conversation, and in LuAnn’s eyes, that makes Nicole one #smartlady. If you don’t epitomize your written bio, this conversation will make you rethink yours! Listen in, as Nicole has some great tips and lessons for us all. You’ll notice right away that she is clearly a business woman running a design firm. Passion and drive define Nicole.  These traits have been foundational to her success in the highly intense and competitive building market.  She is a visionary leader and disrupter of the status quo. Nicole is a gifted conceptual thinker with strengths in strategic planning, team leadership, mentoring, and community outreach.  She has actively worked to create space for women to be empowered and given leadership opportunities within the design and construction industry. Nicole was raised in a home building family,

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guests today are Robert Koller and Alexandra Skobel with Monogram, a new sponsor of the podcast. Monogram was also a valued sponsor of the recent 19hours virtual event sponsored by Mydoma Studio. You’re going to love the energy that comes out of Monogram and its team members, so listen in meet Rob and Alex and learn more about what Monogram has to offer you! Rob is the Senior Brand Manager for Monogram and Alex is the Senior Manager of the Monogram Design Center. <img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/77848/Monogram_Pic_1.jpg" alt="" width="178" he

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s questions come from listener Samantha, who would like some suggestions on how to find income when your projects have been put on hold during this COVID-19 event, the top ten recommended processes and systems to be putting in place, and the best practices for social media presence when you have no active projects. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidance, this is the perfect opportunity to email LuAnn the burning issues that you need insight on and she’ll answer them on air. Please send your questions to LuAnn Nigara: WWLD! Sh

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Are you in for a treat today! LuAnn welcomes Stephanie Castillo, the principal of Rumble Interiors, back to the show. Stephanie was a guest on Episode #391, as well, and is joined by Renee Fyall of D. Marie Interiors and Sam Mikel of Nest Design Studio. These ladies are all interior designers, doing business in the city of Ellensburg, Washington. Ellensburg is a rather small city of just 20,000 people and sort of between Portland and Seattle. Wait until you learn what these 3 #smartladies have created! Listen in to hear how these three interior designers chose to be open-minded, innovative entrepreneurs rather than wary competitors. Together, they form what’s known as Collective Interiors. You’re going to find their story fascinating! Stephanie Castillo: Rumble Interiors Communicator, observer, entrepreneur and creative...... Stephanie has been in a creative field her whole working career. Stephanie st

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! It’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn’s guest today is Katie Krimitsos, Creator of the Women’s Meditation Network. The last time that Katie was featured on A Well-Designed Business on episode 253, she was the fearless leader of the Biz Women Rock community. Listen in to catch up with all that’s been going on with Katie since her newest endeavor. She truly has a passion to help you become your best you, and if this current Corona Virus event has left you a bit more fearful than usual, you’ll want to hear about guided meditations that can help you feel more centered in this anxiety-ridden environment. Katie Krimitsos is Creator of the Women’s Meditation Network. She is also a mom, wife, adventurer, podcaster, seeker, and change maker.  She's committed to brightening the light of women around the world through the Women’s Meditation Network, which provides guided meditations and related resources specifically created with the special journey o

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Did you miss the amazing “19 Hours” free virtual business summit that ran the week of April 6th through April 9th, 2020? If so, LuAnn will be filling you in on the industry’s answer to the COVID-19 crisis that contains all of the incredible presentations and panel discussions that was originally planned for High Point Market Spring 2020. Today’s show is a replay of the solo presentation that LuAnn did on Thursday, April 9th, on “How to Lead Your Business Through the COVID-19 Crisis”. She has some perspective here that is sure to interest you, whether you run a virtual team or a brick-and-mortar one because LuAnn has weathered several significant economic downturns during her career and came out stronger on the other side of it. 19 Hours was hosted by Mydoma Studio and sponsored by <a href= "http://kravet.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! On today’s show, LuAnn is joined by industry-icon, Kendall Wilkinson. They’ll be chatting about Kendall’s perspective on her experience in growing an esteemed and successful firm. They discuss budgets to clients to discovery-call practices to Kendall’s experience in the 2008 recession where she had to use guerilla-style marketing strategies to build a pipeline. Whether you are already a Kendall Wilkinson fan or this is the first time learning about her, you are going to love this conversation. Kendall is a #smartlady who runs a major enterprise which includes her famous San Francisco design firm, her textile collections for Fabricut, as well as being a sought-after speaker for industry events all over the nation. Kendall’s work has been on the pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, and Wall Street Journal, to name a few. Along with participating in numerous showcases over the years including th

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Nancy Lane, CEO of Nancy Lane Interiors in Houston, Texas, joins LuAnn today and you’ll be learning all about the Process Leads to Profits course that Nancy took last winter and the tangible benefits she has received from it. You’ll also hear how Nancy utilized Mydoma Studio to define her services for her prospective clients and how she now invoices and receives payments for her services through Mydoma Studio. Join LuAnn and Nancy in this engaging and informational conversation, and to learn more about signing up for the next Process Leads to Profits with Sara Lynn Brennan’s LIVE course, which starts NEXT WEEK! Nancy Lane’s idea of home has been informed by all the places she's lived, and perhaps most of all by the one she lost. As a child, her home burned to the ground, displacing her family in the process. Nancy and her family found themselves building their new home together and establishing the tru

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for an episode of “What Would Lu Do?” where you ask the questions and LuAnn helps out with the answers. Today’s question comes from listener Jane, who would like to know how to handle a client who is refusing to pay a bill. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolution. If you have a burning issue that you need some insight on, please send your question to LuAnn Nigara! Show Highlights: LuAnn shares Jane’s detailed email. The red-flag phrase in the listener’s email that got LuAnn’s attention: “Even when I could see the project going south.” Why LuAnn thinks that the client somehow feels wronged. LuAnn’s take-action steps: The listener should think back to when she first felt things going south. She

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn gets to chat with Krista Watterworth Alterman, CEO of Krista Home in Palm Beach, Florida, about company mission and vision, how important it is to lift others up, and very timely advice on how to face fear. Krista leads her company with purpose and clarity. She is the kind of CEO that has taken the time to figure these things out for herself and as you listen, you will hear how it guides every decision she makes, from client interaction to creating, training and leading her team. You don’t want to miss this engaging conversation! Krista is the CEO of Krista Home located in Palm Beach Florida. Originally from Connecticut and trained in NY at Parsons School of Interior Design with a masters of Fine Arts from the New School, NYC, Krista is known for her highly acclaimed HGTV shows Save My Bath and Splurge & Save. She's also been featured on The Food Network’s Restaurant Impossible and 

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! And today LuAnn will be doing a ‘Where Are They Now’ episode with Wendy Woloshchuk, who last made her appearance on A Well-Designed Business about two years ago.    What a difference those two years have made! Wendy is here to share the invaluable information she has learned from LuAnn Live and The Power Talk Friday Tour, the implementations to her business that resulted from that, and the profound impact it has had on her life.   You don’t want to miss this conversation! Get ready for some takeaways from this!   Wendy Woloshchuk believes that great interior design can change your everyday life. It’s about more than just beauty and function. It’s about creating a home that feels like a warm hug when you walk in after a long day. The details of your home create that feeling of comfort. She believes that interior design should be approachab

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! LuAnn is so excited to finally be able to introduce this new sponsor to the show by chatting with none other than the CEO of Jaipur Living, Asha Chaudhary! In this episode, you’ll be learning about Jaipur’s beauty, value, and social responsibility, as well as their customer-centric trade partner program and their easier-than-ever to browse website with stunning images. Listen in to the conversation and please welcome Jaipur Living to the family! As president and CEO of Jaipur Living, Inc., Asha Chaudhary brings a personal perspective to the rug industry: “I grew up around rugs all my life; it’s a part of me.” From a childhood spent observing weavers and designers, Chaudhary has grown into a powerful design force within the industry. As the rare female CEO, Chaudhary has built a thriving business across rug constructions and textile accessories. Chaudhary’s father NK founded Jaipur Rugs, India’s largest manufacturer of

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Today is a special episode because it features a #smartlady that LuAnn has come to know over the last several months and has been impressed by how thoughtfully and purposefully she runs her interior design firm. Traci Connell joins LuAnn and weaves in info not only about how she designs, but how she delivers the design process to her clients. You’re going to learn how Traci reflected, analyzed, and documented what she did, how she did it, and what worked and what didn’t, all in the face of tremendous anguish and hardship. Traci is the combination of a sweet, southern lady with the grit and fortitude it takes to not only survive but to thrive and to provide for herself, her family and her staff. Traci Connell is an award-winning creative entrepreneur whose business sense and design skills are combined with a passion for delivering interiors that are at the heart of livable style. Her well-edited spaces feature functionality fo

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Sara Lynn Brennan joins  LuAnn to chat about faith or fear. Earlier this year, Sara wrote a blogpost titled, “Are You Operating Your Design Business Out of Faith or Fear?” and in the midst of the current pandemic, it seems like a great time to re-visit her reflections. Although her original intent had nothing to do with the Corona Virus, there are lessons in the article that are certainly timely and applicable to our current situation. Sara is an entrepreneur, CEO, and Principal Interior Designer at Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors. Sara has become the first and only full-service interior design firm in Waxhaw, North Carolina, who specializes in Transitional Designs, where she and her design-build team take spaces from Bare Bones to Beautiful by utilizing her exclusive, approachable, and stress-free design process, transforming and renovating homes from start to finish. Sara’s design work has been nationally publi

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn brings you a very special conversation today, one that may hit very close to home for many of us; mental illness. Bearing that in mind, I must also say that this show was recorded months ago before the word COVID 19 was even legitimately on our radar. Even though the topic of mental illness can be sensitive, it’s important to talk about it.  Whether mental illness affects us personally or affects one of our loved ones, you’re not going to want to miss this intimate talk. LuAnn’s guest is Leah M. Meyer Perez, and Leah will be sharing how she overcame her own internal struggles while trying to run a business. She wants to share her story and bring it out in the open so that we as a community don’t have to feel embarrassed about asking for help. She encourages an environment of support and care for each other. Leah M. Meyer Perez is the CEO/Principal Designer of Leah May Interior Design. Like so many of you, from an early age Lea

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Peter Lang joins LuAnn on today’s show to discuss accounting that is specific to design firms. Peter is a CPA that works exclusively with interior designers, and he will be covering the nuances of the industry. He is also a co-author of LuAnn’s latest book, A Well-Designed Business: The Power Talk Friday Experts. If you’re a business owner and concerned about how this current COVID-19 pandemic will impact your taxes, you will not want to miss this episode! Peter Lang is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  He is the founder of The Designer CPA, a CPA firm that works exclusively with business owners in the design industry.  He has worked in public accounting since graduating from Providence College in 2002.  After working for several larger size firms in Boston and Rhode Island, Peter realized his true passion was to start a firm that specifically focused on desig

Welcome to this episode of A Well-Designed Business! Gabriela Gargano joins LuAnn in this episode to caution us as entrepreneurs about being careful not to apply reasons and rationale to decisions that we are facing because we are reluctant to take the risk. Gaby also shares some very specific strategies that she is employing as the CEO of her design firm in light of the Corona Virus, which you will likely find very smart and useful! You are going to love these ideas! After graduating from college with degrees in Art History, Hispanic Studies, and Business Economics, Gaby spent more than a decade at Goldman Sachs, as a sales trader and relationship manager. She simultaneously grew her passion for interior design through real estate investing, renovation, and staging of her properties in Manhattan. In 2016, she decided to leave finance and establish Grisoro Designs, a full-service interior design firm located in New York City. Gaby’s style blends clean lines with

Welcome to this episode of A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn chats with Sandra Funk about Sandra’s amazing new program for the interior design community. Her program is called “The Interior Design Standard”. Just wait until you hear about it, you’re going to LOVE this! Sandra Funk is the CEO and Principal Designer of House of Funk, a greater New York area design firm working wherever great clients need us. This is interior design with a soul and a sense of place; reflecting your desires, personality, and style. House of Funk creates thoughtful homes with an emphasis on clean lines and soulful touches, all rooted in tradition. Sandra is an Accredited Professional for the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Sandra’s award-winning design work has been featured in publications such as Elle Decor, House Beautiful, The Huffington Post, Apartment Therapy, Aspire Design & Home, and 

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn has been considering adding a Wednesday show answering straight-up questions that you ask her via email and SM, and with everything happening in the world right now, she thought this was the perfect time to debut “What Would Lu Do?” On today’s episode, she will be discussing doing business through a crisis. In the 40 years, she’s been in business, she has had to weather all kinds of crises, such as recessions, acts of terrorism, and viral pandemic scares. Listen in to learn how you can be smart, strategic, and patient to help you get your business to the other side of this! Be sure to join her next Wednesday as she shares some additional tips to help you through this difficult time. Show Highlights: This is critical: 1) Don’t overreact. 2) Don’t NOT act. Cash flow is KING. Everything in your business will depend on your cash flow. The first-level action plan: <

Welcome to A Well Designed Business! It’s WTF, Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, cover effective communication between the interior designer and the workroom to ensure a successful project. One of the private Facebook groups that Vita belongs to is the “Soft Furnishings & Upholstery” group. Prior to this show, she posted a query asking for their stories on the topic of communication, both good and bad, that members’ workrooms have had with their designers. She received some really good feedback on what worked and what didn’t work, and she and LuAnn will be sharing their collective wisdom with you today. Listen in to take advantage of what others have learned from their experiences, and remember the most important thing of all: communication is key with everything! Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short!), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom,

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Melissa Lindsay, Co-Owner of Pimlico Interiors, located in Westport, CT. She will be sharing some of the methods and tactics that she and her partner, Jill Kakaletris, use when dealing with difficult conversations and difficult clients. As #seasoned designers, Melissa and Jill have had their share of difficult conversations with clients and together they have developed a personal philosophy for handling these as well as some actual tips to help you navigate them, too. Whether you are crafting an email or having a hard person-to-person discussion, there are some strategies here that you can most certainly find useful! Melissa brings 20 years of luxury residential design experience and award-winning interiors to the firm. Named at home Magazine’s A-list award winner multiple years over, she has been lauded by industry professionals from Celerie Kemble to Bunny Williams. Show Highlights:</st

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. It’s Power Talk Friday! On today’s show, Jude Charles joins LuAnn for a chat about videos, and how important they are to our websites. He is here to explain that compelling video is achieved through storytelling, and how we can’t have video just for video’s sake. It must be compelling and it must do the heavy lifting of attracting our ideal client to us. Jude is talented and clearly passionate about helping business owners tap into their unique value by creating the videos that help your clients feel like they already know you.Don’t miss this insightful and inspiring episode!  Jude Charles is a story-driven filmmaker, brand strategist & speaker. For over 13 years, he has been producing documentaries & videos for purpose-driven entrepreneurs. He lives and breathes YOUR brand. He digs deep to find the compelling stories that no one else knows & then leverages those stories to scale yo

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! In this episode, LuAnn chats with Jaclyn Lankiewicz, the woman behind the Instagram handle, Jaclynmari_. She is the principle of Jaclyn Marie Interiors based in Long Island, NY. Her journey into interior design, like many, has not been a direct line. Basically, Jaclyn created an Instagram page that was getting so much attention that it prompted person after person to ask her if she would design their space. As you will hear today, her response was, “I finally said to myself, ok, let me do this”. Jaclyn created an Instagram that has created a design business, and since you already have a design business and want to create more clients through Instagram, perhaps you’ll find her tips to be very helpful. Listen in to see what we can learn about how to attract clients through Instagram! Show Highlights: Keep your feed neutral, bright, and uncluttered. Edit your pictures properly

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! In this episode, LuAnn recounts the way that Sara Lynn Brennan, from Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors, went from being a stranger to her, to someone she treasures as a friend, all in less than two years. As an entrepreneur, Sara stands out as one of the most unusual LuAnn has met during her entire business career and her podcast journey. You may have noticed lots of collaboration with Sara over the last few months, and wondered why. There’s a lesson to be learned here, and LuAnn is eager to share it with you! It has to do with investing in your success. One of the ways that LuAnn noticed Sara investing in her success was that she steps outside the box by working on things that may have been intimidating or scary. Another way is that Sara has put in the blood, sweat, and tears. A third way that Sara has brought her business to a place of success so quickly is that she invested her dollar bills. When she made money, she evalu

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! On this episode, LuAnn sits down for a chat with Denise Wenacur, the principle of DW Design & Décor in Croton on the Hudson, which is a beautiful community just outside of NYC. Design-build is the hot topic of the day, and you’ll learn the importance of having an interior designer as the point person for the client between the architect, the builder and themselves. She discusses the ways having an interior designer on their team from the outset truly benefits the process and the result of the project. If that wasn’t enough, Denise will share tips for connecting with people who can introduce you to the type of projects you are looking for. Tune in to this engaging and informative conversation! Show Highlights: Denise recounts why and how she changed her business model to include the construction part. She is always the first point of contact as the interior designer. She rounds out

Welcome to A Well Designed Business! It’s WTF, Window Treatment Friday! It’s been a while since LuAnn has had a window treatment episode, so she’s super-excited to have her co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska back on the show. Hardware is the subject of today’s show, and if talking about ripple folds, pinch pleats, stationary rods, rod pockets, and rods with c-rings make your heart beat a little faster, then you’ve found your people! Drapery rods can be a super-complicated thing, but LuAnn and Vita have a way of making this a fun conversation. Join them in this educational and insightful journey into the world of window treatment hardware. Vitalia Vygovska (Vita for short), CWFP, MBA, is an award-winning window treatment specialist, author, speaker, mom, wife, and a ballroom dance enthusiast.  Her company, Vitalia, Inc, provides all-encompassing concierge-level, tech-driven fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management services exclus

Welcome to this episode of Power Talk Friday! Join LuAnn and her guest, Victoria Sanchez, in this thought-provoking conversation about changing things up in the way we educate interior designers. Her concern is if we don’t start to make changes in the design curriculum, then we, as an industry, are at risk. At one time, Victoria served as in interior design professor at Marymount University and this is where the conversation begins today. As LuAnn will tell you, this is a totally new idea to her and many of us, and sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know! Just wait until you hear what Victoria proposes! Victoria Sanchez, one of America’s premier design professionals, has been creating one-of-a-kind interiors for hundreds of prominent clients over the past three decades. Dubbed a home décor “style maker” by Luxe magazine, Victoria is an award-winning designer who offers services ranging from project management and space planning to kitchen and bath design an

Welcome to this episode of Power Talk Friday! Today, LuAnn shares her findings on coaching a diverse group of entrepreneurs. As it turns out, they have several tangible things in common that she was so impressed by that she decided to dedicate a podcast to complimenting these special people and laying out for you what she has discovered in their time together. As she relates, this has been an ‘A-ha!’ moment for her, and she hopes it will be for her listeners, as well. If you don’t already see yourself in these descriptions, perhaps it’s time that you do something to work toward them. Additionally, LuAnn brings you exciting news of her upcoming LIVE events that she will be attending spring and summer, and invites you to join her because she LOVES meeting you in person! Show Highlights: The 3 Traits of Smart Business Owners: They come to every session with a truly open mind. They listen, ask great questions, and ta

Welcome to this episode of Power Talk Friday! Nicole Cole joins LuAnn today for a chat about a-ha moments and the ensuing mindset shifts. Nicole will be sharing five takeaways she’s learned from both Power Talk Friday and her time with business coach, Nancy Ganzekaufer. You’ll want to listen in to hear her tips on how she accomplished her mindset shift to being a CEO so that you can implement these ideas for your business, too! Nicole Cole is the CEO and Principal Designer at vestige HOME, a Philadelphia based residential interior designer firm focused on creating spaces that are interesting, engaging, and that encourage people to live well. As a young adult, Nicole served in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer before leaving to pursue work in the corporate world. With her new-found freedom outside the military, she realized that she missed the curiosity and creativity she enjoyed as a child, and decided it was time to build a creative business. Thus, vestige