Interior Design Business Resources

How to Get Photos When You're Just Starting Out

How do you get project photos without clients? How can you get clients without project photos?

Setting up a website is a bit of a chicken & the egg situation when you are just starting your business. You know a website is super important, but you may put it off because you don't have any portfolio images to display, but it is also harder to get clients without a proper website.

So should you put your website up without photos or should you try to get clients so you have projects to show on your website?

My advice is to…

5 Questions to Ask Potential Clients

First, do you know that you don't have to accept every potential client that comes your way? You can screen clients to make sure that your partnership will be a good fit. You can qualify them to make sure they are looking for what you are offering. You can interview them to make sure they have honorable intentions.

Interior design projects are personal. They are demanding and emotional and stressful. You want to make sure that when you enter into a relationship with this other person that you both get your needs met and respected.

Because when we accept projects and agree to work with somebody only

5 Ways Your Interior Design Business Looks Unprofessional

It's hard to be objective about our own businesses. I also know that many of you worry, especially when you're just starting, that your business doesn't look like a business. That somehow potential clients will see that it's just you working on your computer at your dining room table. A little bit of imposter syndrome creeping into your thoughts. It's perfectly okay to work from home in your jammies and still be a legit business. Here are some fairly easy things that you can do to make sure that your business looks professional.

Website Audit for Interior Designers

Your website is supremely important to your business success. In fact, in today's internet-driven culture, it can make or break your business. I suggest allowing your business to do a lot of the work of selling, educating, and qualifying clients for you. This way you don't have to spend time doing this with each prospect that contacts you.

You should be reviewing and updating your website regularly. Your website is never "done", it should be

How to Find Balance

Is there such thing as balance? Of course! But that doesn't mean that all things are equal. And it may not mean what you think it means. Balance is what you make it and how YOU define it.

Let's talk about what we've been taught balance should be. Traditionally, balance has been giving equal attention to your career and your family, with maybe enough time for yourself in there too. We seem to think there is an elusive sweet spot of balance that will allow everything in our lives plenty of nurturing, love, attention, and time. This is so unrealistic for most of us today, yet we still hold on to this view. "Balance" in the traditional sense is a fantasy for most modern, business-owning women.

CEO MindCapella KincheloeApril 18, 2018balance, time management, burnout Comments

Basics: Design Dictionary

When I first started working in an interior design office, there were words that were being used that I had no idea what they meant, but I also didn't want to ask in case I looked stupid. True story. There were a lot of words that I was embarrassed to not know. But no fear my friends, I have complied a list of all those interior design industry words that confused me and I'm defining them for you. You don't have to feel stupid in the not knowing.

There are many interior design acronyms, some which are taken from architecture/construction and some that we've created all on our own. This list is by no means exhaustive, but

Naming Your Interior Design Business

When people go through my course, The Golden Blueprint, they often realize that they need a little rebranding so that the look of their business matches the services they are providing. And in that process many designers get really hung up on naming their businesses.

After talking to hundreds of designers, there is something that I feel I need to share on this topic. Don't name your business something basic. We all know the words that are overused in interior design business names. Don't use those.

Why Projects Fail

Most of the time, the only reason we are unhappy or disappointed is the result of unmet expectations. Take a minute to think about that. Think back on the past few days on the things that caused these feeling to arise. Go ahead, I promise it has to do with running an interior design business.

Having expectations leads to disappointments.

When Clients Want to Buy Retail

When you buy retail, you buy at an inflated price. Yet, more and more clients want to buy retail. They want their furniture quick and easy. Not to mention cheap. But what they (and you) may not realize is that you're likely paying a much bigger "markup" on retail compared to the quality that you get than to-the-trade sources.

Usually when buying to-the-trade the cost to quality ratio is much better. Clients get more for their money. They'll be paying a smaller markup to the designer rather than a large markup to the retailer.

How Important is an Interior Design Degree?

A couple of years ago I wrote the article, Do You Need A Degree in Interior Design?. The advice in that article is the same I'd give today. But today I'd like to talk a little more about this topic because I still get asked all the time if someone should get a degree.

Lately, a lot of those who have been doing the asking are people looking to change careers or are starting back up again after their kids have gotten a little older. They want to know if they need to go back to school.

Finding Quality Vendors

I've been getting this question a lot lately, how to find good vendors - contractors and subs specifically. And it's not an easy answer. I'm going to give you some pointers here today, but know that when a contractor doesn't return your call or email, is late to a meeting, or doesn't show when he promises - you are not alone, this happens to everyone.

As a designer, organizer, and a planner I find dealing with contractors one of the most frustrating parts of project management. (Contractors are you listening?) I don't know why, but it seems to be the norm that contractors: take forever to send quote/invoice, don't show up on time, don't show up with the

FundamentalsCapella KincheloeFebruary 21, 2018vendors, contractors, hiring contractors, finding trades peopleComment

Fee Schedule for Interior Designers

A fee schedule is just a list of client fees that could occur in your business and charge to clients. It is not necessary to have one, but if your pricing structure is complicated and you want to be transparent in pricing this is the way to go. I'm 100% for clear, transparent, and simple pricing.

Organizing Digital Files

I love organization, but not everyone does or thinks in that methodized way. As part of my recent reader survey, one reader said her digital organization had become quite cluttered. So I thought I would share with you the digital folders that I have on my computer for my design business and design clients. My method is not perfect, there is definitely room for improvement, but it rarely takes me any time to find what I am looking for.

I try to delete as much stuff from my computer and cloud as possible, to keep it

5 Ways to Book More Clients

1. Have a Specialty

When you're known for something, people will come to you to get it. When the keywords and text on your website is what your potential clients Google, more clients will find you. When you try to appeal to everyone, it makes marketing much harder. But someone looking for New England meets Palm Beach will certainly find Meggie H Interiors. A client wanting to decorate their kids room in Massachusetts? They'll find Boo and Rook. You'll book more clients if you have exactly what they're looking for.

Your Greatest Asset To Selling

Worried you won't be able to explain to a client why they should choose a custom-made sofa over the look-alike catalog version?

How about if they should choose vinyl plank flooring or wood-look tile? What type of carpet is appropriate for their house?

10 Steps for Starting A Successful Interior Design Business

Don't Ever Treat Your Business Like a Hobby - This means that you set it up properly from the get-go with proper business licenses, insurance, and legal structure. It also means setting up a website, a branded email (no gmail.com or yahoo.com), and a separate phone line. Businesses have separate bank accounts and credit cards, hobbies don't.
Get Yourself a Contract - Always do work with a proper, legal interior design agreement. This is to protect both you and your clients. You're opening yourself to a world of trouble

New Year Planner

I like to focus on my year ahead for the entire month of January. It doesn't seem like there is ever enough time at the end of the year to plan for the next one. In my business, January is a planning month. I like to spend some time reviewing last year and creating goals for the new year by asking the right questions and taking time to answer them.

In the January 2018 issue of O Magazine, Oprah writes, "What's the best way to live a full, honest, examined life? Where do we find deeper meaning? How can we bridge the gap between ourselves and others? The answer, in every case: Ask the right questions."

Business Clarity Challenge

First post of a new year! Love a fresh start. I've reworked my Business Clarity Challenge for 2018 and think it is the perfect companion to the beginning of a new year (or anytime you're feeling overwhelmed and directionless).

This free challenge was designed to touch on all those things that you can miss in the rush to get your business off the ground, the client work and the day-to-day running of an interior design business. If you give yourself a few hours over the next week to do the daily lessons and exercises, you will emerge next week with SO MUCH MORE CLARITY.

How to Raise Your Rates

As we are about to enter a new year, this is the perfect time to raise your rates. If you feel like it is time to increase your fees or feel that maybe your rates are a little too low the new year is when you'll want to change that.

Holiday Gift Guide: Clients

With the holidays around the corner, I've rounded up the best gifts to give your interior design clients. Your marketing plan should include regular contact with clients - current and past. This could include a yearly holiday card or a card on their birthday or anniversary at minimum. It is also nice to send cards to vendors you work closely with or who had great customer service this year.

If you'd like to go beyond a card, here are some ideas:

ClientsCapella KincheloeDecember 13, 2017clients, interior design clients, gift ideas, holiday gift guideComment