Interior Design Business Resources

Understanding the Client's Design Aesthetic

Here's a question I've been thinking about as I just signed a client and encountered this situation. How do you navigate the beginning of the concept & design process with a client who has almost zero reference points? Who can't identify a style they like, doesn't have inspiration images, doesn't provide many answers on questionnaire, and house is essentially a blank slate? Especially if this is an e-design client and you can't go through a laborious process of discovery? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

Sam

ClientsCapella KincheloeApril 17, 2019design process, onboarding, client acquisition, client onboardingComment

How to Follow-up with Interior Design Clients

This past month we had someone come by the house to quote a built-in bookshelf. He told me that he’d get a quote to me that evening. A few days later another message telling me that he’d been very busy and would get the quote later that day. Haven’t heard from him. Someone else is building the bookshelf.

Why do I tell you this story?

ClientsCapella KincheloeApril 10, 2019interior design expectations, follow-up Comment

Getting a Client to Sign Your Contract

I realized something yesterday, interior designers have a hard job made harder by having to do something that is not our strength to get to the work that we do excel at. Interior designers have to “sell” our creativity. We literally have to do something that, let’s face it, most of us hate doing before we can do what we love. Getting a client to sign your contract and all the stuff to get to that point can be a struggle.

ClientsCapella KincheloeApril 3, 2019client onboarding, qualifying clients, new client consultationComment

Designers, Get Paid First

I picked up some pretty good habits when I worked for my last company - things that helped immensely in running my own business. One of those things was to get paid first (by the client) before paying the vendor. The goal was to never pay out before being paid. We’re not in the business of loaning anybody money, interior designers are not a bank.

Clients, MoneyCapella KincheloeMarch 20, 2019deposit, retainer, interior design systems Comments

Giving Free Interior Design Advice

“My own business is still young and the thing I feel like I struggle with the most is the very first client consultation. My struggle is this: how to get the client without giving away too many ideas. Clients all want to hear your ideas of their space or your inspirations but sometimes I feel like they take your initial suggestions and run away with it without me. How do I inspire confidence and trust with out giving too much away and getting the client to sign that contract?”
Thanks! Kaitlyn

Client Gift Guide

With the holidays around the corner, I've rounded up the best gifts to give your interior design clients. This should be part of your marketing plan as well as a nice gesture and relationship building.

Your marketing plan should include a yearly holiday card (any holiday is good, not just the December ones!) or a card on their birthday or anniversary at minimum. This keeps you on their mind. It is also nice to send cards to vendors you work closely with or who had great customer service this year.

The secret to being a good gift giver is paying

Should You Give Clients Options?

Something came up last night during our local designer’s dinner that I wanted to share with you. One of the designers had created a package option in which she did all the shopping and none of the procurement, almost like a local e-design.

She shared that she doesn’t provide options for that package, just the single design plan, and was considering doing the same for her full-service clients as well.

We were all shocked

Uplifting the Interior Design Industry

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of interior design. I feel like so many companies are capitalizing on the industry (HGTV, Houzz, Laurel & Wolf, and the like) and the independent designers & vendors are suffering for it. These companies aren’t going away and designers aren’t doing a great job of differentiating themselves. We’re undervaluing ourselves, lowering rates, dealing with crappy clients, and giving away work to try to stay relevant.

Should You Charge for a Design Consultation?

How to handle that first meeting with a client is a source of contention with many designers. How long? When? Where? What information should you get? How much information should you give?

Like running any business, there is not a single best answer. Everyone does it a little different and you can too. In my experience, it is best to get to know the client's needs before meeting with them in person. I have a lengthy client questionnaire that potential clients are required to fill out before I have an in-person meeting with them. Reading their answers gives me a better idea of what they are looking for and what they need. At this point I can also let them know if I don't think I am the right designer for them - all without ever meeting them in person. If we decide to proceed with an in-person meeting/ consultation…

Project Minimums

I have seen this question come up a few times lately and you know what that means! Time to write about it!

This question kind of baffles me, because, yes, you should have project minimums. To me, this comes from an insecurity of putting limits on your work and a fear of turning work away. You all know you should have a minimum budget for working with clients. So right now I am giving you permission to implement project minimums.

What are Reimbursable Expenses?

Sometimes I see that people get thrown off by the idea of reimbursable expenses or "reimbursables" which is a little less of a mouthful.

So what is a reimbursable and how does it differ from anything else that you buy for your clients?

101 Reasons to Hire an Interior Designer

There are hundreds of reasons to hire an interior designer. Most of them come down to correct allocation of assets. They can keep their eye on the big picture, help maximize your investment and minimize headaches. They know who to call and how to avoid and resolve problems. They're there to make your space beautiful and functional.

There are designers out there for all types of projects and budgets. There are designers who could help you with every single thing on this list and some that specialize in certain ones. But hiring a designer is more than just finding pretty things and getting a discount on them.

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

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.

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?

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

Finding the Cheapest Price Isn't Your Job

As an interior designer or decorator, you may feel like you don't receive the respect that the profession deserves. There are certainly people that think that all we do is fluff pillows and spend other people's money.

But interior design is more complex than most people know. We must navigate the tricky waters of family, home, marriages, and multiple personalities. We have knowledge of a wide-range of skills and specialties. While a tile-layer or window-covering workroom has specialized knowledge in their specific business, interior designers have to know a good deal about those businesses as well as their own.