Hot Young Designers Club | Interior Design Business Podcast

Shaun and Rebecca are back with another installment of the perennial favorite, the Just Stop series, where they call out things in the design world that seriously need to stop. They discussed Just Stops from the coaching industry (coaches who brag about their income without proving their value) to the frustrations with generic and ineffective outreach emails from vendors, the use of AI-generated renders without disclosing their authenticity, and much more!

In this episode, they discuss:

• Shaun and Rebecca’s Hot Spot tour at High Point Market on October 26
• Coaches focus on their earnings instead of the results they help clients achieve
• The importance of routine check-ups and preventive care
• Using AI-generated renders and photorealistic images on social media without clearly labeling them as such
• Stop doing everything yourself in your business, especially for photo shoots
• Generic, impersonal outreach emails from vendors and sales representatives
• Personalizing your emails and messages and providing real value upfront
• Vendors making websites that are overly exclusive and difficult to access
• Hotels and hospitality design that lacks creativity and design appeal

Mentioned:

High Point Furniture Market: https://www.highpointmarket.org/Fall/2024/RegistrationOpen 

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Stephanie Nelson and Jessica Nelson from Etch Design Group, a full-service design studio. Stephanie and Jessica share their journey from colleagues to co-founders and how their unique skills and deep trust have allowed them to build a successful business. They also talk about harnessing the power of AI to streamline their design process and push the boundaries of their creativity.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Stephanie & Jessica met and started Etch Design Group
• How they divide responsibilities in their business
• The importance of communication and mutual support in their partnership
• Building their team gradually, starting with interns and eventually hiring full-time employees as their business grew
• Managing a remote team, trusting their team, and giving them autonomy
• Their fears and misconceptions about AI and embracing and exploring its potential
• AI’s impact on creativity, ethics, and control
• How they use AI to improve their efficiency, creativity, and profitability
• Why they prefer hourly billing and the pros and cons of using a flat rate
• Using AI for design inspiration, visualization, and rendering
• The potential of AI to transform the design industry 
• Different AI tools designers can use to enhance their business operations
• Details of their live webinars to help people with various AI tools and techniques

Mentioned:

KBIS: https://kbis.com/

Follow Etch Design Group: https://www.instagram.com/etchdesigngroup/

Check out Etch Design Group online: https://etchinteriordesign.com/

Hear more from Jessica & Stephanie on their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/100-lunches/id1727481441

It’s time to discover AI for Interiors online: https://aiforinteriors.com/

Follow them on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiforinteriors/

Check out their podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ai-for-interiors/id1734103554

AI Tools Mentioned:

Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/

ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/

Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/home

Prome AI: https://www.promeai.pro/

Listen back to Crystal Bright in Episode 125 for how she uses AI in her business

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

What are your project management strategies? How do you set expectations with clients and manage your deadlines? Shaun and Rebecca discuss their project management strategies and methods for setting expectations with clients and managing deadlines in the world of interior design. They also dive deep into the challenges of managing project timelines, client expectations, predicting and planning capacity to avoid overbooking, and much more.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Shaun and Rebecca handle multiple projects and manage client expectations
• Determining if you have the capacity to take on a new project and avoid overbooking
• Organizing and visualizing project workload and pipeline
• Handling challenges like clients being unresponsive or changing their minds during a project
• Setting realistic project timelines and communicating them effectively to clients and adding buffer time for client feedback and approvals
• Some project management tools – Gantt charts, Basecamp, Monday, etc
• Dealing with clients who constantly change requirements or are slow to respond and how that impacts workflow
• Taking time off as a business owner, and challenges and considerations around taking a long break
• Story of a problem Rebecca had with a third-party Dubsado template
• The importance of having backup systems and emergency contacts in place for your business

Mentioned:

PMO Work Management Software | monday.com: https://monday.com/work-management/pmo 

Gantt: https://www.gantt.com/ 

Basecamp: https://basecamp.com/ 

ClickUp: https://clickup.com/ 

Dubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/ 

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Shaun and Rebecca sit down with Crystal Bright, a virtual interior designer. Crystal shares how she grew her business in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crystal has completed over 400 projects in the past five years and helps other designers transition to virtual work. Crystal explains how she uses AI and tools like 2020 Design Live to streamline her virtual design process and provide high-quality services to clients. 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Crystal’s story of starting a virtual interior design business and growing a lot during the 2020 pandemic
• Crystal was offering kitchen plans on Fiverr initially at a low cost of just $15 but later realized her value
• Overcoming impostor syndrome, and gaining confidence in her design work through education and experience, and taking NKBA courses
• Virtual design and rendering software that Crystal uses – 2020 Design Live, SketchUp, Lumion, etc
• Pros and cons of flat rate vs hourly fee structures for design services
• Challenges of in-person design work vs remote work and balancing business and creativity
• How Crystal automates her client communication and uses tools like Canvas, Monday CRM, Zapier, etc, to simplify workflows
• How Crystal streamlines her virtual projects with Design Live
• Finding a balance between charging rates that clients can afford and appropriate compensation for her skills and expertise
• Strategies for negotiating project proposals 
• Using AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline client onboarding, interpreting clients’ questionnaires and design preferences, etc

Mentioned:

Follow Crystal:

@crystaldbright

https://www.instagram.com/crystaldbright/ 

@livingbrightinteriors

https://www.instagram.com/livingbrightinteriors/ 

@3dbrightdesigns

https://www.instagram.com/3dbrightdesigns/ 

Living Bright Interiors Website: https://www.livingbrightinteriors.com/ 

NKBA courses for kitchen and bath: https://nkba.org/ 

Scanning floorpans with Canvas app: https://canvas.io/ 

Lumion for renderings: https://lumion.com/ 

Monday CRM app to communicate internally: https://monday.com/ 

Zapier for automation: https://zapier.com/ 

Loom for video replies and communication: https://www.loom.com/ 

Learn more about Cyncly and Design Live: https://www.2020spaces.com/2020products/2020designlive/ 

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

You know what they say – Niche Is Riche. Finding a niche for your interior design business can make you rich and successful. But how do you get there, hotties? Shaun and Rebecca discuss the importance of finding and defining your niche in your business. They also share different approaches to finding and defining your niche, from being true to your personal style and skills to identifying unmet demands in the market. They also explore how to define and market their niches through refined language and curated portfolios.

They encourage you to get out there and find your niche. With the right niche, you can build the business and life you want! 

In this episode, they discuss:

• Shaun and Rebecca’s plans for the 2024 High Point Market
• What is a niche, and how can interior designers find and define their niche
• Different approaches to finding and defining your niche:
• Being true to your personal style and skills
• Doing research and understanding the market gaps to find your niche and not just following trends
• How can interior designers niche down in terms of project type, price point, design style, home type, or target demographics
• How Shaun and Rebecca have been refining their business niche over the years
• Importance of finding a niche that aligns with your skills and expertise
• How niching helps with marketing, branding, and attracting ideal clients
• Editing your portfolio — hiding projects that don't align with your style, highlighting projects that showcase your style
• How to overcome common challenges in niching like differentiating from other designers
• Showcasing your niche through imagery, mood boards, Pinterest, blog posts, etc
• Working remotely or nationally to broaden your market size

Mentioned:

Episode 121: Evan Larkin, SEO for Interior Designers: https://hotyoungdesignersclub.com/episodes/121-evan-larkin-seo-for-interior-designers/ 

How to Find Your Business Niche on Business News Daily: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6748-business-niche-characteristics.html 

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Today's guest, Jennifer Ramsey, has not only mastered the art of creating stunning personalized spaces but also seamlessly incorporated furniture sales in her design process – a feat that has increased her furniture sales to a new height. In this episode, Jennifer talks about her strategic approach to design and furniture sales that has transformed the way her clients experience the design journey.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Jennifer's journey from working for a luxury designer to starting her own business
• Jennifer's remodeling projects with Tankersley construction 
• Incorporating furniture sales into her design services
• Her client inquiry process and how she communicates costs upfront
• The importance of discussing the budget during initial client calls
• Jennifer’s experience with Sandler Sales System and how it helped her improve her sales process
• Using investment guide to set client expectations
• Jennifer's approach to setting client expectations for minimum purchasing, especially for furniture
• The importance of identifying client pain points during the initial conversation to build trust and tailor her services to meet their specific needs
• Using permission statements like “If at any point I’m not a good fit for you, or you’re not a good fit for me, is it okay if we say that to each other?” to establish trust and an open dialogue
• Handling client's budget fatigue during a project
• Setting expectations with clients around furniture and window treatments 
• How using Buildertrend allows contractors to be more organized and also facilitates better coordination with designers
• The power of using phrases like, "I don't do unfinished work” to indicate that all phases of the design, including the purchasing part, are scheduled and integrated into the overall project plan
• Posting about her furnished spaces on social media and attracting new clients from it

Mentioned:

Jennifer Ramsey Interiors’ Website: https://jenniferramseyinteriors.com/ 

Follow Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferramseyinteriors 

Episode 105 A Conversation with Tankersley Construction: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/d137f52d-bc81-4f53-b0d2-6c19512c73f7/EP105-Hot-Young-Designers.mp3 

Client Purchasing Guide: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/client-purchasing-guide 

Investment Guide: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/interior-design-investment-guide 

Coach Matt Saia: [email protected] 

Sandler Sales System

https://www.salesleadership.sandler.com/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8Ot3xDKiu9dPb6yoZ_eLVnRDMSNkyq3E3DARAaMUNaKXLW_cao4YD5nlWPhm2v1LfGFoHzzPQvzj7P69kVQjSCLuC2oVaMUaFBmQpYfMtIsSdlRKY&_hsmi=310988710&utm_content=310988710&utm_source=hs_email 

Furnishing Budget Calculator: https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/furnishing-budget-calculator 

Buildertrend for construction management: https://buildertrend.com/ 

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 

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Shaun and Rebecca are back with another Ask Us Anything. They answer your questions about marketing, photography, vendors, building and organizing a sample library, managing projects, using tools to help keep your work organized, growing your business, and much more!

In this episode, they discuss:

• Shaun and Rebecca’s plans for the upcoming High Point Market
• The best marketing strategies for interior designers starting out — social media, SEO, networking, consistency, etc
• How did Shaun and Rebecca start and grow their interior design businesses without a coach or mentor
• Tips for transitioning from buying retail for projects to developing vendor relationships and shopping wholesale
• Favorite vendors with a variety of products at different price points for interior designers
• How much to invest in your first photo shoot for your website and portfolio, especially when working with a limited client budget
• Is working with someone on website strategy a good investment for services like configuring Google Analytics, conducting an audit, and providing reports
• Is joining a Chamber of Commerce beneficial for business expansion
• Tips and strategies for building a sample library and keeping it fresh and stocked
• Using tools like Harvest and Studio Designer to track time and invoice clients
• What to do or say when a client wants to be super involved or compromises the design
• Taking business loans to grow your business

Mentioned:

Ep 83 Acquiring Clients without Instagram

E121 Evan Larkin, SEO for Interior Designers

May Hottie Hangout

https://www.patreon.com/posts/may-hottie-104017706?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

RP Rue Feature

https://ruemag.com/home-tour-2/grandmas-house-gets-a-refresh-how-studio-plumb-updated-a-cherished-family-home-in-east-sacramento

E111 For The Newbies - Things we wish we knew when we started

E001 Meet the Hot Young Designers

Patreon Episode: You’re not making money unless you’re buying wholesale

https://www.patreon.com/posts/youre-not-making-97208553?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Client Purchasing Guide

https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/client-purchasing-guide

Join design community groups like:

NKBA

https://nkba.org/

NARI

https://www.nari.org/

IDS

https://interiordesignsociety.org/

Material Bank is great for samples

https://www.materialbank.com/

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

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Moe's Home Collection

Moe's just released their new Tailored & Timeless Collection.

Why do interior designers need SEO? Why is SEO the key to keeping your interior design business ranking on Google? SEO expert Evan Larkin explains why SEO is so important for your business’s online presence and gives a live SEO audit of Shaun’s website. Listen in to Evan’s observations on Shaun’s website, Wrensted Interiors, and learn what to fix on your own website.

In this episode, they discuss:

• SEO audit of Shaun’s website: https://wrenstedinteriors.com/ 
• Best platforms for website creation for designers
• The importance of website accessibility and ADA compliance for SEO
• Mistakes that hurt your SEO
• Important on-site SEO elements like meta titles, descriptions, and headers
• Importance of image optimization for SEO and the best practices that should be followed
• What should be the word count and keyword usage in the website content 
• How to utilize Pinterest to rank up your website
• Do designers need blogs and alternatives to blogs
• SEO techniques for small businesses — website optimization, link building, using search console, etc
• The importance of optimizing your profiles and reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc
• Ways to optimize a website and service pages for SEO and the user experience
• Using location-specific details in content to improve SEO and connect with local audiences
• The value of local traffic versus national traffic for small businesses
• How much SEO work can designers do themselves versus needing help from an agency
• The process for doing an SEO audit with North County Digital

Mentioned:

HYDC Pinterest Masterclass

https://shop.hotyoungdesignersclub.com/products/pinterest-for-interior-designers-masterclass

Listen back to our Pinterest episode with Leah Reinert

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hot-young-designers-club-interior-design-business-podcast/id1505427626?i=1000637166871

Google Search Console

https://search.google.com/search-console/about

Google Business Profile

https://www.google.com/business/

North County Digital Website: https://www.northcountydigital.com/

Follow North County Digital on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/northcountydigitalmarketing/

Follow Evan on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/evanslarkin/

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

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Moe's Home Collection

Moe's just released their new Tailored & Timeless Collection.

The design industry can be exciting to explore, but it's not always easy to break into. If you're looking to shift careers and work in interior design, Shaun and Rebecca have some valuable advice for you. They talk about the skills from your previous job that will add value to your design career, the challenges career-shifters face when switching into the design industry, and share tips that will help you break into the new field.

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun discuss:

• The challenges of switching careers in interior design
• Tips and strategies for someone transitioning from another career into interior design 
• Transferable skills someone can bring from another career that offers value in interior design
• Challenges entrepreneurs face when switching industries
• The need for entrepreneurs to set aside their ego to have a successful learning experience when switching industries
• Challenges designers face in taking on inexperienced interns or employees
• How can career changers demonstrate value beyond just design skills when pursuing opportunities in interior design
• The challenges of transitioning from DIY home projects to working professionally in the design industry
• What designers look for when it comes to hiring and training new employees
• What does it take to find the right fit when switching to a new industry like interior design

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

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Today’s guest, Ashley Ausland, shares her journey of growing her design business over the last few years while dealing with personal hardships—divorce, cancer, and becoming a single mother of four kids. She discusses the lessons she learned about business management, client relationships, and creating homes with soul and timeless appeal.

In this episode, Rebecca and Shaun speak with Ashley Ausland to discuss:

• Ashley’s journey of starting her business from her garage with no employees to now having a team of 4
• Ashley’s struggles and healing process of going through divorce and cancer and learning the importance of boundaries, self-care, and forgiveness
• Growing her design projects from small remodels to ground-up constructions
• Vetting clients carefully by looking for red flags like clients who want to change contracts
• How Ashley balances her business with caring for her four kids as a single mom
• Ashley’s struggles with delegating design work and maintaining creative control over projects
• Incorporating vintage elements and old designs into new homes
• Preserving historical details in home renovations
• Focusing on durability and value over trends
• Ashley’s billing model and the challenges she faces while time tracking
• The challenges designers face with sharing their work and receiving feedback

Mentioned:

Ausland Interiors Website: https://www.auslandinteriors.com/ 

Ashley Ausland on Ig: https://www.instagram.com/auslandinteriors/ 

Ausland Interiors on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/auslandinteriors/  

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

Design Resources - Check out our shop

Mentioned in this episode:

Moe's Home Collection

Moe's just released their new Tailored & Timeless Collection.