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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.  [43:55] Anne talks about what factors of an autopsy of a project that she reviews in order to achieve her goals. LuAnn Nigara and Anne Gillyard's Ah-Ha Moments “What Rachael helped me do was identify the messaging that resonates with my clients.” - Anne Gillyard “When I identify

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, 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 mentors interior designers to help them create successful design businesses. Terri has over 32 years in the interior design and construction business. She holds both residential and commercial general remodeling Arizona Contractors Licenses, and

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 the success of her firm.  [33:02] Claire discusses what’s next on the horizon. LuAnn Nigara and Claire Ownby's Ah-Ha Moments “Making sure that your team’s culture embodies appreciation of everybody else’s work is important, and that’s not something that just happens. It has to be talked about in ev

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. [21:40] Bart explains how a digital roadmap can help when we get flustered on what and how many platforms we should be doing. [29:40] How being clear on what you offer leads to confidence.  [39:33] Bart talks about his podcast The More Life. LuAnn Nigara and Bart Anes

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 [39:53] Tanya shares her “best practices” for working with other designers LuAnn Nigara and Tanya Smith-Shiflett's Ah-Ha Moments “The biggest thing about your pace is that you have to do you, just like in everything else. There’s a big movement in self-care, and I’m all for it. But at 60 years o

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.  [20:22] Cheryl shares how defining your product opens the doors for your business.  [36:22] Cheryl breaks down the details of the Design Paradigm and how it can help your business. LuAnn Nigara and Cheryl Clendenon's Ah-Ha Moments “I think that sometimes in th

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 well-rounded knowledge of the industry. [12:51] Kaitlyn admits that things could have backfired but remained confident in herself. [25:20] Kaitlyn shares how diversity within the team adds to each

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 phrase." - Fernando Duque. "We are on a mission, we have a very clear mission of making this industr

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] Layton goes into best practices of when he worked for another firm.   [22:40] How Layton approached going out onto his own. [27:00] Layton talks about his How to Guide For Starting a Design Business From the Ground Up. [34:07] How 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. 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 Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources Mentioned: Mydoma Studio Jaipur Living

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.   [29:58] The instances that Alex moves forward with a client if they don’t know or don’t share their budget. LuAnn Nigara and Alex Alonso's Ah-Ha Moments “The more honest you can be with yourself about what yo

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 important is blogging for your business? [34:15] How to attract tradesmen through your website. LuAnn Nigara and Ebony Looney's Ah-Ha Moments “The more I understand about your process before I have conversation with you, the better I can decide and believe if this will work for me.” - Lu

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 Management Tool. [22:05] Tanna explains Mydoma’s Signature Discovery Call [29:32] The fifth strategy of Marketing Team Outsourcing [40:48] Tanna’s Education strategy and how Lu University was a huge contributor. [47:50] How Tanna’s seven

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 [26:49] LuAnn and Kate talk about the importance of creating a book of standards [35:51] Kate highlights her new brand, The Designer’s Collab LuAnn Nigara and Kate Saunders' Ah-Ha Moments “It’s really important to set up procedures and standards in t

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 education about diversity issues.  [51:38] Elsie and LuAnn talk about why diversity is so important in the design industry specifically. [58:30] Elsie shares what designer can do to promote equity in the industry. LuAnn Nigara and Elsie St. Leger's Ah-Ha Moments “Diversity has become,

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  Facebook  Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn What’s new with LuAnn Nigara Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point 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. 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 Inspi

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 [6:40] The conversation starts about what constitutes billable hours. [20:20] If Michelle HAD to pick three tasks that may not be considered billable. [21:30] The controversial subject of charging less hourly when using your junior designer.  [38:00] LuAnn emphasizes the internal work that needs to be done

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, leadership, success and personal growth. Ms. Taylor is nationally known as an interior design business expert and coach who teaches and mentors interior designers to help them create successful design businesses. Terri has over 32 years in the interior design and construction business. She holds both residential and commercial general remodeling Arizona Contractors Licenses, and qualified for her NCIDQ certification in 1991. Terri is a pr

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 [22:57] Paul and Susan talk about how to get started with video—without needing to create scripts or ideas.  [28:45] Paul, Susan, and LuAnn discuss how video help build relationships with clients. [36:55] Paul and Susan talk about building video into your contracts. [50

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. [40:00] How compassion plays a role in your advocacy. LuAnn Nigara and Heather Hansen's Ah-Ha Moments “No one can better advocate for yourself than you can because no one has your experience, passion, and talent.” - Heather Hansen “If you’re lacking in belief, then it’s really hard to help other people