461: Design Biz Live: 5 Fatal Errors in Your Interior Design Business

Welcome to another episode of our Design Biz Live series with Corey Klassen and Judith Neary! Today, Corey and Judith will be discussing five fatal errors that people tend to make in their businesses. Judith and Corey run their own design firms and they have both had years of experience in the design industry, so they know what it takes to create a successful business, and they understand what you need to do to avoid the pitfalls. Listen in today, to get their expert advice.

Corey is the owner of Corey Klassen Interior design, based in Vancouver. He provides professional interior design services for residential and commercial interior design projects while specializing in high-end kitchen and bath projects. Judith owns Roadside Attraction Design Studio, based in Vashon Island, Washington. She provides professional design services for kitchens, baths, and other fun living spaces. Tune in now, to find out how to avoid making these five fatal errors in your interior design business.

Show Highlights:

• Judith talks about making the first fatal error- basing business models on demographics.
• Your profit margin comes from how you do your business.
• It's all about product, people, and place.
• The peril of making a value call, or a judgment about someone, without first engaging with them.
• Lead from selling in alignment with your business goals.
• Being clear with your clients about what you will do and what you will not do.
• Finding the right clients based on a psychographic rather than on a demographic.
• Sometimes it's okay to do things for the greater good even though you're not being paid for it.
• Being clear in your communication will be your biggest asset.
• The difference between a customer and a client.
• It's not about what you like. It's about what your client likes.
• A true design professional will recommend rather than offer their advice or opinion.
• You need to know your capacity and your capability.
• Internalizing your external values with a code of ethics for yourself, for your contractors, and your clients.

Links:

Goodies Link: Luann Nigara

Corey's Website: Corey Klassen

Judith's Website: Road Side Attraction Studio