796: Allison Handler: From Fashion Designer to Interior Designer: Earning $1 Million Gross in Her First Year
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Release Date: 08/02/2022
975: Joyful Abundance: Thriving in Business with a Positive Mindset
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Jennifer Davis Today on A Well-Designed Business I’m with Jennifer Davis, the founder of Davis Interiors, a boutique design firm based in Minneapolis. Jennifer's story is proof that intention, manifestation, and a positive mindset can lead to the life and business of our dreams. In this episode, we discuss Jennifer’s strategies and beliefs that have helped her create a joyful client experience and a successful career. From setting intentions and aligning your actions with your goals to overcoming impostor syndrome and cultivating an abundance...
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974: Power Talk Friday: Katie McDonald: How to Prioritize Your Well-being in Your Interior Design Business
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Katie McDonald Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m excited to welcome back Katie McDonald, certified holistic health coach and instructor at b.nourished. As entrepreneurs, we do have a tendency to put ourselves on the backburner, focusing our time and attention on the needs of the business. But if we’re not creating something sustainable—if we’re heading toward burnout, are we really creating well-designed businesses? It can feel as if we need to justify rest, justify taking time for ourselves, Katie’s take is that we...
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973: Jamie Gasparovic: How Investing In Your Business Can Kick Imposter Syndrome to the Curb
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Jamie Gasparovic Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I am joined by Jamie Gasparovic, Founder and Principal Designer of Studio Gaspo, a boutique full-service interior design firm. Have you ever had imposter syndrome? Join the club. Jamie has a little secret to combating imposter syndrome, and that is to invest in your business. Jamie has spent thousands in investments for her business. Six figures in the last year, to be more specific. Before you drop your jaw, listen in to hear all of the value and advice Jamie has to give on investing...
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972: Power Talk Friday: Lesley Myrick: Profit Insiders: How Interior Designers Can Leverage Local Marketing
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Lesley Myrick: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. For today’s Sponsored Show, I am so happy to welcome back Lesley Myrick of Profit Insiders. Now, we all know that local business is the backbone of interior design. And yet, our focus often falls primarily or solely on online marketing. But local networking and marketing offer a lot of potential—if you know how to take advantage of opportunities (and measure your success). Lesley knows that local marketing is about more than joining BNI or your run-of-the-mill networking group. While those organizations can certainly be...
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971: Vicente Wolf: How to Bring True Artistry into Interior Design
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Vicente Wolf Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Today, I welcome design icon Vicente Wolf to the show. Vicente’s name speaks for itself, as does his reputation. With more than 50 years of experience and wide-known fame, Vicente is a true artist who undoubtedly inspires upcoming designers on a regular basis. He has a true talent for design—and it begins with understanding the artistry involved. Today, Vicente shares his insights about creativity, design, and knowing the value you bring to the table. Pick It Apart: [1:29] Vicente shares...
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970: Power Talk Friday: Ali Stein: Strategies to Acquire New Clients
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Ali Stein Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today is Ali Stein, owner of Grabler Brand. This is the first time you have heard from Ali on the show, but not the first time you have heard about her on the show. Back when I had Regan Baker on, if you remember, she raved about Ali. Over seven years Ali helped grow the Regan Baker Design team from 5 to 20 employees and she helped increase their revenue by 1200%. Ali was the Director of Operations and she oversaw HR, Performance Management, Finance, Business Development, Marketing, Project Management,...
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969: Pure Salt Interiors: Aly Morford & Leigh Lincoln: Licensing Partnerships
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Aly Morford & Leigh Lincoln Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I have a two-for-one as I am joined by best friends and business partners Aly Morford and Leigh Lincoln, co-owners of Pure Salt Interiors. If you have ever been interested in partnering with another brand, this episode is for you. I couldn’t wait to have Aly and Leigh on today to pick this apart because I know that a lot of designers are interested in forming partnerships, but have no idea how to find them, how to start them, who to start them with, all of the things. Today, Aly...
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968: Overheard: Charles Pavarini, Leyden Lewis, and Maria Viola: How to Harness Creativity in Interior Design
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Charles Pavarini, Leyden Lewis, and Maria Viola Hi, welcome to a Well-Designed Business. On today’s Overheard episode, I’m joined by Charles Pavarini III, Leyden Lewis, and Maria Viola. We rarely talk about design itself on the podcast—we’re much more focused on the business sode of things. But the conversation about creativity has popped up several times over the years in discussions I have had with many of you. I have often wondered, is creativity something you just have or you don’t? And if you do have it, how do you know, and how do you channel...
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967: Breegan Jane: The Gift of Transitioning, Turning Risks into Success
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Breegan Jane Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. My guest today is an accomplished interior designer, entrepreneur, brand influencer, children’s book author, real estate investor, philanthropist, and TV personality, and you may probably recognize her from HGTV Dream Home. Breegan Jane, who has transitioned many times, is back on the show for a second time. She refers to it as “the gift of transitioning” because it’s making space for something new, something that will uplevel your business or get you closer to your goals. Listen in as Breegan offers...
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966: Andrea Liebross: It's Not Big Clients — It's BIG THINKING That Creates Success
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
Today With Andrea Liebross Today on A Well-Designed Business, I am joined by certified business and life coach Andrea Liebross, who is on a mission to help women entrepreneurs discover their inner potential and redefine success. Andrea is also the author of the bestselling book, “She Thinks Big” and host of the podcast, “Time to Level Up.” Today she is teaching us how to get out of the messy middle and move into the extraordinary with BIG THINKING. Tune in to learn Andrea’s 5 keys to becoming a big thinker. It’s all about TRUST! Pick It Apart [1:21] Andrea...
info_outlineToday With Allison Handler:
Welcome to A Well-Design Business. Today I am joined by Allison Handler, owner of Allison Handler Design. Through listening to AWDB, taking courses at LuAnn University, facing hard challenges and creating important relationships, Allison earned $1 million in gross sales, in her first year of business.
Allison reached out to me and I was impressed with her work ethic and story. She wanted to share with you everything she learned in that first year, including what she learned about systems and processes, forming relationships, and the hard lessons along the way. Enjoy!
Pick It Apart
[13:18] Allison starts to share her story.
[27:19] Allison provides tips on how she navigates the conversation regarding budget.
[37:05] Allison shares struggles and aha moments along the way.
[39:20] What Allison would suggest for someone who doesn't feel like they have a good trade support team.
LuAnn Nigara and Allison Handler's Ah-Ha Moments
“I can’t be successful, if I don’t know the budget and it’s not realistic.” - Allison Handler
“There’s so much power to the relationships that we build, but the motor to that power is having the courage to put yourself out there.” - LuAnn Nigara
More About Allison Handler:
It all begins and ends with relationships. Allison Handler Design prides itself on building and maintaining incredible relationships with both clients and vendors, working hard every day to make sure that a client’s wants and needs are satisfied by keeping a close-knit but wide-reaching team of vendor partners on hand to seamlessly execute the vision. As lead designer and visionary, Allison oversees all projects, ensuring the AHD aesthetic is incorporated while keeping the client’s personal preferences foremost. We strongly believe in making the most out of every clients’ budget, and source from the best mid-to-high end suppliers including well-known brands and exclusive smaller artisans, to ensure long lasting and high quality products that will last and feel unique to each space.
On a personal note, Allison was born and raised right here in Bergen County, NJ. After moving to Florida at age 15 with her family, she returned to the northeast after college to pursue a career in the fashion industry. Twenty years later, after getting married and having a family of her own, she knew it was time for a change. Allison Handler Design was born, almost by accident, after several friends and family members asked for help with their own home projects. Building off her fashion roots, Allison discovered she had a major passion and natural talent for interiors and decided to pursue it as a new career path. Allison Handler Design is now a thriving business thanks to the support of current and past clients, and we look forward to continuing to grow and carve out our place in this little corner of the world.
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Other Shows Mentioned:
#779- Power Talk Friday: Madeleine MacRae: What Should the CEO of an Interior Design Firm Be Doing?
#786- Meredith Huck: From Corporate to Interior Design Business: 3 Insights to Succeed
A Big Thank You to Today's Sponsor:
Today's episode is sponsored by LuAnn University.
This is not just education. Not just the support of your colleagues. And not just a great experience. Each department and class is crafted to provide targeted, proven instruction in key areas for profit and growth—all specific to the interior design and window treatment industries.
We are opening again this fall 2022 so do yourself a favor and look into this and all others we have coming at luannuniversity.com. The current roster for all of our 5-week courses is up, but please keep checking back because we are launching, brand new 3-hour intensives this semester as well. So check it out but go back in a few weeks to see the updates too.