Elizabeth Bennett and Mallory Robins found their better business half in each other—one favoring function, and the other taking the lead on form. In this episode, they share why they no longer use a client questionnaire, how they maintain a single brand voice at every touchpoint, and why a willingness to go all-in is their new criteria for incoming projects. 

LINKS
Jess Ebert
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

San Antonio, Texas–based designer Alison Giese answers a question from a designer who is interested in tweaking her presentation approach to inspire trust and cultivate hands-off clients. Giese jumps in with advice on the value of providing clients with curated choices, how to hone powers of observation during the intake process and why whole-home presentations help convey continuity—and give designers a chance to build confidence and salesmanship skills.

Jess Ebert received a flood of new clients a few years back—and soon realized that the abundance of work was doing the business more harm than good. As she pared down the pipeline, she brought the firm closer to its ideal clientele—and started to clear the path for her own transition within her firm’s workflow. In this episode, she also shares how she communicates her entire team’s value to clients, the many ways hiring a PR firm is helping her navigate the changing social media landscape and why taking Wednesdays off represents a pivotal moment in her entrepreneurial journey.

Oakland, California–based designer Chloe Redmond Warner joins the show to answer a question from a designer who is wondering if stronger systems could lend her firm a greater sense of professionalism. Redmond Warner offers advice on why an unstructured design process might miss out on the value-engineering phase, how to find the sweet spot between client responsiveness and total control, and why issuing a project schedule from the outset can help establish a firm’s sense of authority.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.

LINKS
Chloe Redmond Warner

Melissa Oholendt has guided her firm through some major changes in recent years, including opening a second office halfway across the country and the introduction of a new business partner. She explains how every step she’s taken is a building block toward a bigger vision. In this episode, she shares the business partner who helped her firm set its sights higher, the strategy behind identifying an Instagram audience, and how she stays above the emotional fray when it comes to discussing finances with clients.

LINKS
Oho Interiors
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Chiacgo-based designer Alex Kaehler joins the show to answer a question from a designer who has stayed busy as a team of one, but wonders what growth might look like for her small firm. Kaehler offers advice on how to grow your firm without increasing your workload, using social media as a lower-lift lead generator and why size doesn’t always equate to success.

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Alex Kaehler

Dana Bergman Falcione and Erica Vassalotti had a surprising path to partnership. In this episode, they explain how they’ve come together—and how their workflow allows each of them to tackle their own domain within the design work while conveying a shared vision to clients. Elsewhere, they share what it takes to delegate decision-making, how they’ve divided their roles as co-leaders of the firm, and why they’ve avoided becoming the technicians of their business.

This episode is sponsored by Joon Loloi.

LINKS
Bergman Vass
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Dan Mazzarini, the founder of New York–based interiors firm Mazzarini & Co., joins the show to answer a question from a designer who wants to start sourcing antique and vintage pieces, but needs guidance navigating the purchasing process. Mazzarini offers advice on how to buy time with vendors while seeking client approval, what it takes to highlight an item’s top selling points, and why putting extra effort into visualization can help clients get on board with the broader vision. 

Bryan and Mike Yates discovered that at the height of their firm’s success, their team’s morale was at its lowest. In this episode, they explain how that realization prompted an internal overhaul, setting in motion a structure that amplifies each employee’s strengths. Elsewhere, they share the low-overhead approach that got their business off the ground, the business consultant that inspired them to transform their firm’s structure, and how they’ve strategically created curriculums that outline pathways to growth for the members of their team.

This episode is sponsored by Joon Loloi.

LINKS
Yates Desygn 
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

DuVäl Reynolds, the founder of East Coast interior design firm DuVäl Design, joins the show to answer a question from a designer whose steady stream of clients has slowed down dramatically in recent months. Reynolds offers advice on how to spot early indicators for a slowdown in new business, adjusting your messaging to attract ideal clients, and the value of diversifying your firm’s offerings during slow months.

LINKS
DuVäl Reynolds
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.