Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast

AI is here and it’s here to stay. If you’ve been ignoring everything artificial intelligence can do, we think you really need to start paying attention. Today, we chat about ways AI is changing the design industry and how your work may be affected.

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun discuss: 

• A recent article from Business of Home
• Why E-designers and illustrators should be worried
• Exploring an image-based AI system called Midjourney
• People selling design prompts to use with AI 
• The impressive copyrighting and research capabilities of ChatGPT
• The integration of AI plugins with various apps
• Using Canva’s newest AI features to change photos in unique ways
• How designers can compete with AI advancements and keep their jobs

Mentioned:

7 ways AI will change the design industry for good

Midjourney

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Loyal Hottie” - Support us on Patreon 

Are you confusing clients by offering too many options and services? What do you do when the design is twice the original budget? How many projects can you realistically manage without employees? Today, we will be answering these questions along with some others. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• Shifting your mindset when it comes to positioning your services
• Making the proposal specific to the client - tell them what they need
• Interior Define - should you trust their products
• Having a great relationship with your general contractor
• The best ways to receive payments from your clients
• Dealing with the complications of cabinetry
• Outsourcing tasks to nonemployees when needed
• The things you have to be willing to sacrifice when starting your business
• Why you need a contract 

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

How do you stand out in a sea of other designers that do similar work? How do you get more comfortable having money conversations with clients? How do you get better at selling and pricing your projects? We chat about this and more, with professional trainer and coach, Shannyn Lee.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The things holding many designers back 
• How you can be meaningfully different from others in the industry
• Shifting your mindset and behavior when it come to sales
• Bringing vulnerability to the sales process
• The Jedi mantra Shannyn teaches to her clients
• Why selling is not gross - it is noble
• Owning and verbalizing fears in conversations with clients
• How to deal with pricing and discounting.

Mentioned:

Win Without Pitching

Win Without Pitching Books

Win Without Pitching Instagram

E82 A Conversation With Linda Hayslett

E81 How to talk to clients about money

How we use our Procurement Guide

Establishing A Decorating Budget

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Today we offer our thoughts on the emotional rollercoaster clients go through during renovations. As designers, we can’t control the rollercoaster, but we can definitely help keep the ride from going completely off track. 

In this episode, we talk about:

• How podcasting is like having a whole other business
• Advising clients on the approximate timeline of the entire project
• Why we want to invest in port-a-potties and parking lots
• The point at which its easy to start imagining the actual design
• Having “oh crap” moments
• Doing our best to avoid mistakes and remedy the mistakes that arise
• Understanding that clients feel emotionally displaced during a home restoration

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

Have you taken into consideration the commitment you are making when signing a lease for a shop? How would you react to losing a vital member of your design team? Have you thought about offering different types of services and products in order to attract a variety of clients? We chat about this and more, with Katie Monkhouse of Katie Monkhouse Interior Design.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Katie’s journey: From a career in fashion to then becoming an interior designer
• Underestimating the amount of work and commitment level required to have a shop
• Planning ahead of time versus just getting something done
• Losing a junior designer and a large project in the same day
• What Katie’s team looks like now, after re-assessing everything
• That happy dance feeling when someone makes a purchase on the website
• Diversifying revenue so you don't have to rely on client work all the time
• Not constantly giving away free advice
• Talking about how the current economy is affecting the design industry
• When to charge a flat fee versus when to charge hourly

Mentioned:

Katie’s Instagram

Katie’s website

Westpark Home Instagram

Westpark Home website

Millroad website

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

How do you manage hustling for design opportunities while also maintaining work-life balance? How do you overcome discriminatory work experiences at design firms who don’t value you? When do you know when it’s the right time to stop working as an employee and create your own business? We chat about this and more, with Abigail Marcelo Horace of Casa Marcelo.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Seeking a more inclusive and less redundant, interior design environment
• Growing up in an artistic family and deciding to pursue interior design
• Meeting others who resonate with the discriminatory work experiences she had
• Changes that need to be made in the industry
• The rude, weird, and interesting experiences at past jobs we had before starting our businesses
• Offering a supportive work environment to our employees
• The benefits to owning your own business compared to working for a firm

Mentioned:

Casa Marcelo Website

Abigail’s Instagram

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

In today’s episode, we share our experience at the recent 2023 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas. We talk about it all, the good, the bad, and the hangry! 

In this episode, we talk about:

• The crazy amount of people at the convention center
• Our ideas on how KBIS can improve their customer experience
• Day 1 versus Day 2 of the show
• The things we enjoyed about our time at the show
• Interesting workstation sinks we saw
• The big disconnect between what brands are making and what the market wants
• Discussing whether we would go back to KBIS next year

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

In this episode, we discuss how having a Client Welcome Guide will not only offer clarity to your new clients, but it will also elevate your professionalism. Our Client Welcome Guide will help you onboard new clients in a productive and positive way!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Avoiding messy communication with your new clients
• How having redundancies and over-communicating can help avoid confusion
• Offering a general roadmap of project phases and milestones 
• Giving the client a proper list of who to contact and how
• Why this is a great place for rules and reminders about finances
• Having a high touch experience with your new clients

Mentioned:

Client Welcome Guide

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

You’ve been told you can grow your business with Instagram and other social media platforms, but it feels like a drag. You spend time and energy on your posts, yet you don’t see results. We feel your pain! Today, we share other strategies you can use to get more eyes on your business!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Feeling frustrated by the lack of engagement on social media 
• Why it’s normal to have a slowdown at the beginning of the year
• Always talking to people about what you do 
• Being specific about the type of work you are looking for
• Getting out of the shell you are always in 
• Giving away time and energy but not expecting immediate results
• Why you need to give people multiple clear pathways to contact you
• Having a strong understanding of each of your services
• Our newsletter goals and strategies

Mentioned:

Flodesk

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon 

How do you handle problematic contractors? How long are you spending at the client's home during the initial meeting? How comfortable are you being firm and stern with contractors and clients? We chat about this and more, with Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Her past careers in marketing and sales
• Previous misconceptions about interior designers 
• Going to school for interior design and getting experience working with different designers
• Waiting to get the projects she really wants
• How she is able to keep her client meetings under 15 meetings
• Her process of deciding what jobs she will take
• Honing your instincts as a new designer
• Why people should hire a designer before hiring a contractor

Mentioned:

Linda’s IG

LH.Designs website

This Game Room Has a Hidden Bar and Doubles as a Library

This Outdoor Space Featuring Swinging Chairs and AstroTurf is an Entertainer’s Dream

Our links:

Subscribe and leave a review - Apple Podcasts

Like, Comment, & Follow - Hot Young Designers Club Instagram

Rebecca’s Instagram 

Shaun’s Instagram

For more information - Check out the website

Become a “Hottie” member - Support us on Patreon