Design Biz Survival Guide

In this episode, we sit down with Marc Halaby, owner of Halaby Restoration and Painting, a renowned artisan-based restoration and painting company in Southern California. Marc shares his journey as a third-generation craftsman, the legacy of his family’s artistry, and how his team collaborates with top designers, architects, and builders to create stunning, high-end residential projects.

With a philosophy rooted in collaboration and quality, Marc provides insights into leadership, craftsmanship, and his commitment to excellence. His dedication to team development and client satisfaction has helped him build a respected company where artisans can thrive and clients experience unparalleled results. Marc discusses the importance of involving trades early in the design process and creating a cohesive team dynamic that enhances every project.

• Marc’s family legacy and the evolution of Halaby Restoration and Painting.

• Building a company culture focused on support, trust, and continuous improvement.

• Collaborating with design partners to bring creative visions to life and elevate client experience.

• Training artisans to master unique finishes and transforming spaces with precision.

• How to leverage trades’ expertise for innovative and cost-effective solutions.

• “We got to do this with love. Seriously, we are nice to work with...We don’t have attitudes. We’re all there to do the same job.”
• “These guys literally make my life possible, and I like to think the same that I do for them. We’re like a big family.”

• Halaby Restoration: halabyrestoration.com

• Marc’s Instagram: @halabypainting

Sponsor Links:

• James and James Trade Program

• Design Manager

This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to share brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners.

Today, we’re speaking with Kevin Lee, CEO of Design Manager, and Staci Davidson, owner of Everything but Design. In this episode, Kevin shares the history of the Design Manager brand and their vision for being the “go-to” project management and accounting platform for interior design professionals. Staci joins the conversation to provide a firsthand account of the ways that Design Manager is improving the efficiency and accuracy of design businesses across the country.

• How Design Manager helps interior designers in managing the business side of their work

• The history and vision behind the Design Manager

• The latest version of Design Manager offers an updated, web-based interface

• Design Manager supports easy platform updates without data conversions

• Design Manager’s ability to eliminate the need for multiple software platforms and spreadsheets

• The item-based approach of Design Manager and the advantages it provides

• How Design Manager makes it easy to track both billable and non-billable time and generate accurate invoices

• The support and service available for Design Manager users

Notable Quotes:

• “Design Manager is a singular solution to project management and accounting for their design business.” - Staci Davidson.
• “Design Manager really eliminates a lot of unnecessary additional software platforms, as well as outside tools like Excel spreadsheets and Google documents.” - Staci Davidson.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Design Manager: https://www.designmanager.com/ Staci Davidson: https://everythingbutdesign.com/

Today, we welcome Emily Yeates, CEO and Principal Designer of Urban Revival — a full-service interior design firm based in Paradise Valley. Arizona. In this episode, we discuss Emily’s exposure to design at a young age and her passion for problem-solving, which led to the launch of her own design business. 

Emily shares her lessons learned while growing her team and developing her processes… spoiler alert — it did not happen overnight. We also discuss the importance of a fine-tuned business structure and how it not only allows her to provide extraordinary service to her clients but also allows her to be present for herself, her health, and her family.

Tune in to learn how Emily built a successful design business by creating efficient systems while balancing her professional and personal life!

• Emily’s early exposure to design and the path to launching her own business

• Hiring the right people for your business and why more designer is not the solution when growing your business

• Developing a strong business structure with the help of her operations manager, Meredith

• How having clear and repeatable processes made her business run smoothly

• Tools and platforms that Emily’s team uses for efficiency and communication – Asana, Loom, DesignFiles, etc

• How the business was able to thrive during Emily’s cancer treatment

• Emily’s “Business Edit” program and how it helps other designers succeed

• The importance of furniture profit margins and wholesale ordering

Notable Quotes:

• “I refuse to live in an ugly place. I grew up around beautiful things. I wanted a beautiful place, and I was going to make it happen.” - Emily Yeates
• “The pinnacle of success is having a business that can run when I step away, and it keeps going.” - Emily Yeates
• “Profit margin is a really big deal to me. And furniture is the way that I’m able to do that.” - Emily Yeates
• “Implementing processes and structure allows you to put your business on autopilot in times when you need it.” - Rick

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Urban Revival Website - https://urbanrevivalphx.com/urban-revival

Emily Yeates on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/urbanrevivalphx/

Sponsor Links:

James and James: https://carpenterjames.com/pages/trade-program?ad=DBSG

Design Manager: https://www.designmanager.com/

This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to share brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners.

Today, we’re speaking with Jason Voorhees, founder and president of Cantara – a full-service home technology integration agency based in Costa Mesa, California. In this episode, Jason shares the history of the brand, his passion for home technology, and how his team of experts collaborates with designers, builders, and architects to enhance the beauty and function of extraordinary homes throughout Southern California and beyond.

• The meaning behind the name Cantara and the history of the brand

• Jason’s role as the founder and president of Cantara 

• Working with Cantara from a designer’s perspective and the importance of integrating technology early in the design process

• How the home technology industry has grown beyond just audio and video systems

• Different departments in Cantara – lighting design, window treatments, audio/video systems, home automation, etc

• How Cantara maintain long-term relationships with clients even after the project is complete

• Jason’s involvement in the Dream World documentary and its impact on the industry

• The potential of AI in home technology and how it can make homes smarter and more beautiful

Notable Quotes:

• “Our industry is unique in that we need to be great at designing and be world-class at building, installing, and finishing the job.” - Jason Voorhees
• “It’s important that we do a good job as an industry to start reframing and redefining what it is that we do so that people realize, ‘Oh yeah, there’s so much more driven by technology in these houses these days.’” - Jason Voorhees
• “We hope that our clients stop time, remove themselves from the moment, just for a second, and look around and think, ‘Wow, this is the perfect evening. My home is singing for me right now.’” - Jason Voorhees

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Cantara Website: https://www.cantaradesign.com/

Cantaradesign on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cantaradesign/ 

Guild Integrators Alliance: https://www.guildintegratorsalliance.org/

Dream World Documentary: https://www.dreamworldfilm.com/

Today, we welcome Kate O’Hara, CEO and Creative Director of O’Hara Interiors — a full-service interior design firm specializing in high-end commercial and residential projects. In this episode, Kate shares her journey from a career in education to taking the helm of the family design business. We discuss her role in the business and the delicate balance of leading, delegating, and empowering a growing team of creatives. Kate also shares the pros and cons of maintaining two offices, one in Minneapolis and one in Austin, and she shares her perspective on boundaries, community, and communication.

• Kate’s background and transition from teaching to running her family design business

• The unique dynamics of working in a family business

• The pros and cons of maintaining two office locations

• The importance of communication, delegation, and empowering your team

• Having clarity in processes and decision-making to enable team members to work efficiently and creatively

• The importance of intentionally setting boundaries and maintaining a work-life balance

Notable Quotes:

• “Be intentional about having balance, especially as we started working from home. Everything bleeds together.” - Kate O’Hara
• “If you’re going to run multiple offices successfully, there have to be clear lines of decision-making and communication.” - Kate O’Hara
• “I’d much rather be effective than be busy.” - Kate O’Hara
• “Knowing when and how to communicate decisions and intentions as you go really leads to a lot of the success of a company.” - Kate O’Hara

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

O'Hara Interiors Website - https://oharainteriors.com/

O'Hara Interiors on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ohara_interiors/?hl=en

Sponsor Links:

James and James: https://carpenterjames.com/pages/trade-program?ad=DBSG

Design Manager: https://www.designmanager.com/

Today, we welcome Errol Dejager, founder of Dejager Design - a full-service interior design firm specializing in luxury residential design. In this episode, Errol shares his journey from South Africa to Southern California in pursuit of his passion for design. We discuss his biggest influences and mentors that guided him on his path to launching his own design business and the development of his holistic design process. Errol also shares a pivotal moment in his life and career that redefined the evolution of his design business.

• Errol’s journey from South Africa to the United States and starting his own design business

• The influence of his mentors and how they shaped his approach to interior design

• The event that made him re-evaluate his approach to both life and business

• Saying “NO” and being more selective about the clients and projects

• Errol’s strategies for serving a high-end, luxury clientele

• Utilizing technology like 3D modeling and virtual reality to engage clients and move them from a place of fear to love during the design process

• Keeping his portfolio private to respect client confidentiality and how it impacted his business

Notable Quotes:

• “The first and most important thing is to listen... You’ve got to listen to your clients. They’ll tell you what they want.” - Errol Dejager.
• “No is a complete sentence.” - Errol Dejager.
• “Reframe your overhead. Instead of it being a liability, it’s an asset.” - Errol Dejager. 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Dejager Design Website - https://www.dejagerdesigninc.com/

Errol Dejager on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erroldejager/

Books Mentioned:

The Gap and the Gain - Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy: amazon.com/Gap-Gain-Achievers-Happiness-Confidence

Sponsor Links:

James and James: https://carpenterjames.com/pages/trade-program?ad=DBSG

Design Manager: https://www.designmanager.com/

Today, we welcome Deborah Flate, founder of Dialogue Consulting. Deborah is the voice of sales techniques and strategies that inspire the sales teams of some of our favorite design brands and showrooms in the industry. In this episode, Deborah shares some of her core sales principles with us because, at the end of the day, your design business is a sales organization, too. We dive deep into selling with confidence, what questions to ask, what information to listen for, and how to leverage showrooms and sales reps to support your sales process.

Tune in to learn how to master the art of selling in your design business!

• Deborah’s background and her transition from interior design to sales

• Deborah’s business model and training she provides to design brands, showrooms, and the design community

• The importance of sales techniques and mindset for designers, even though many may not see themselves as salespeople

• The questions designers should ask their clients to understand their needs and priorities

• The role of showrooms and sales reps in supporting the sales processes of designers and how to leverage their product knowledge and expertise

• The importance for designers to develop strong product knowledge and utilize the resources and information provided by sales teams

• Advice for designers on prioritizing their resources and product lines 

Notable Quotes:

• “You can be the most talented designer, the most talented person in the world, but if you don’t know how to sell and the techniques of how to sell, it’s going to be really hard for you to succeed.” - Deborah Flate.
• “We are all salespeople, whether we want to think so or not. Convincing a person to go to a movie is selling them. Convincing them the color you want to paint your home is selling them.” - Deborah Flate.
• “Design business owners need to embrace the fact that their business is also a sales organization. You need to incorporate that into it because it is a really big part of the picture.” - Rick.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Dialogue Consulting Website - https://dialogue-consulting.com/

Dialogue Consulting on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dialogueconsulting

Deborah Flate on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahflate/

Books Mentioned:

Leveling Up with GUSTO by Debora Flate: amazon.com/Leveling-GUSTO

 To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink: amazon.com/Sell-Human-Surprising-Moving-Others

Sponsor Links: 

Daniel House Club: https://danielhouse.club/

High Point Furniture Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/registerDBSG

Today, we welcome Kamala Nair, a professional copywriter and voice brand expert for interior design professionals. In this episode, Kamala shares how her time as a copywriter at Elle Decor introduced her to the world of interiors and the importance of storytelling in order to support and elevate the beauty of interior design. Get your notepad ready because Kamala shares her top three strategies for using effective copy to differentiate your brand. We also discuss her personal journey of entrepreneurship and how relocating from NY to London empowered her to think big and launch her own business.

• Kamala’s background as a copywriter and her transition to running her copywriting agency

• Strategies for how to use words to differentiate your design brand

• Creating an effective statement of differentiation for your brand

• Evoking emotions and creating a personal connection with clients

• Avoiding cliches and generic language when crafting brand messaging

• Identifying what makes your design business unique or different

• The importance of understanding and marketing to your ideal client persona

• Kamala’s journey of launching her own design copywriting business and the challenges she faced

Notable Quotes:

• “You have a maximum of 15 seconds to capture your reader’s attention. If you don’t capture their attention in that 15 seconds, they’re going to move on.” - Kamala Nair
• “Create a statement of differentiation. It’s a headline and a subheadline that succinctly captures what makes your brand different.” - Kamala Nair
• “You really need to be marketing towards who you want to be working with and not who you’re currently working with. You need to speak directly to your ideal clients, pain points, the problems that they’re trying to solve.” - Kamala Nair

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Kamala Nair Website - https://www.kamalanairinc.com/ 

Kamala Nair on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kamalanair/ 

Sponsor Links:

High Point Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/registerdbsg

Design Manager: https://designmanager.com

Today, we welcome Andrew Patterson, Founder and president of Patterson Custom Homes based in Newport Beach, CA. In this episode, Andrew shares his perspective on the client experience as it relates to custom home building. We dive deep into his commitment to quality and building a trust-based relationship with his clients, partners, and designers. 

We also discuss how years of experience and hundreds of builds have contributed to a tried and true process that extends beyond construction and into concierge maintenance services that protect his brand and maximizes his client’s investment. 

• Business model and approach of Patterson Custom Homes and how it focuses on client experience and quality

• The importance of transparency, upfront planning, and detailed cost data to manage client expectations

• Their custom care program to maintain the quality and longevity of the homes they build, and prepaid maintenance services

• The factors that have contributed to the growth and success of Patterson Custom Homes — focus on integrity, community involvement, delivering an exceptional client experience, etc.

• Benefits of collaborating with interior designers on home renovation projects and how it helps in cost management and product longevity

• The need for synergy between designers, architects, builders, and homeowners for successful project outcomes

• How Andrew’s custom care program extends the client experience beyond project completion by automating home maintenance tasks and keeping the home well-maintained

Notable Quotes:

• “The project will always be successful if the client is informed before the project starts, and not just informed on cost, but on the process, how long it takes, and what the actual outcome will be.” - Andrew Patterson
• “Every time we finish a project, we exponentially grow our process, and we refine it tighter and tighter and tighter.” - Andrew Patterson
• “It comes at a price to have a good reputation, and every day before nine o’clock, I’m presented with all these invoices of things that have gone wrong...and I just write checks. I’d rather just have everyone be happy and positive than be richer than everyone else.” - Andrew Patterson 

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

Patterson Custom Homes Website: https://pattersoncustomhomes.com/

Patterson Custom Homes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pattersoncustomhomes/

Sponsor Links:

High Point Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/registerdbsg

Design Manager: https://designmanager.com

This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This special format is designed to share brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This supplemental podcast format is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners.

Today, we’re speaking with Renee Bush — Founder and Chief Strategist of TANDEM. Renee and her team are behind the brand development and business strategies of some of the most well-known and loved design businesses in the industry. TANDEM is committed to helping design entrepreneurs define business goals and build effective, strategic steps to achieve them.

• Renee’s background and how she founded her agency TANDEM

• TANDEM’s customized approach to helping designers develop strategies to grow their businesses, custom branding, websites, and marketing support

• Understanding each designer’s unique goals, clientele, and creative work style when developing business strategies and solutions

• Examples of how TANDEM has helped designers refine their branding, messaging, and marketing to attract their ideal clients

• The value of designers clearly communicating their business model and services to referral partners like builders and architects

• Key considerations around branding and visibility that designers should keep in mind when trying to attract new clients

• Building trust and rapport with clients through different marketing strategies

Notable Quotes:

“Everyone is coming from a different place and headed to a different place. When you’re really clear on the type of business you want to build, how you want to do that, and who you want to work with, you’re going to get there more effectively.” – Renee Bush.

“Trust is not something that they give us. We’re not looking for trusting people. It’s something we build as a business. And your marketing is what builds that trust.” – Renee Bush.

“Follow the fun, what feels the most fun, because that’s how we’ll get really good results.” – Renee Bush.

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review,” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

TANDEM Website - https://with-tandem.com/

Renee Bush & Tandem Studio on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/with_tandem/