S3 Ep. 176 Retail Rookie - Why Shopping Like a Client Costs You
Designed for the Creative Mind
Release Date: 05/05/2025
S3 Ep.180 The Contract Catastrophe
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey friend, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! I'm so glad you're here. If you’re new around here, this season is all about Rookie Mistakes & Real Talk—a behind-the-scenes look at the most common missteps interior designers make in business (and how to bounce back when you make one). In today’s episode, I’m sharing a hard lesson I learned the painful way—what happens when you don’t have a strong contract… or worse, when you do and you don’t enforce it. If you’ve ever had a client overstep, ask for something totally out of scope, or shop your selections...
info_outline
S3 Ep. 179 Burnout Bakeout: When Hustle Turns Hazardous
Designed for the Creative Mind
Today’s episode is one that’s coming straight from the heart (and maybe a little from the edge of a breakdown). We’re talking burnout—not the cute kind that gets fixed with a latte and a nap, but the crispy, crunchy, why-did-I-say-yes-to-this kind of burnout that so many interior designers are quietly dealing with. I'm calling it Burnout Bake Out—yes, it’s on brand with our new Bake House theme, but also because when you’re fried and flaking apart at the seams, it’s not just burnout, babe. That’s what happens when the oven’s been on too long and no one remembered to set a...
info_outline
S3 Ep. 178 Time Trap: Charging By the Hour
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey there, welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind! Today we’re diving into a topic that hits way too close to home for so many designers — the dreaded “time trap”. Yep, I’m talking about hourly billing and the never-ending stress of tracking every bathroom break like you're auditioning for TaskRabbit. If you've ever stayed up late trying to remember how long that third round of tile edits took… this episode is for you. What we’re talking about in this episode: Why charging by the hour feels “responsible” but wrecks your profits (and sanity) How hourly...
info_outline
S3 Ep. 177 Spolier: I Burned the Old Recipe
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey y’all, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind — the podcast where we dive into the business side of interior design with strategy, heart, and zero fluff. Today’s episode is a big one because I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at some major changes we’ve been cooking up. I’m thrilled to share that my coaching platform has officially rebranded! While the podcast will keep its name (Design for the Creative Mind), everything else now lives under a new and very on-theme umbrella: The Design Bakehouse. Why the Change? If you’ve been around for a while, you know that...
info_outline
S3 Ep. 176 Retail Rookie - Why Shopping Like a Client Costs You
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we’re talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that’s keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We’re hitting a big one: shopping retail. Yep. I’m talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar? I get it. I’ve been there myself—and I’ve coached hundreds of designers who’ve struggled with the same thing. Whether it’s the fear of...
info_outline
S3 Ep. 175 BONUS: Following What You Love, Finding Success with Bekah Hernandez
Designed for the Creative Mind
Sure! Here's a set of conversational, first-person podcast shownotes based on your transcript: Hey, hey! Welcome back to The Designed for the Creative Mind podcast. I'm Michelle Lynne, and y’all are in for a treat today. I sat down with the incredibly talented Bekah Hernandez, the founder and principal of Rebekah Nicole Interiors here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area—and this conversation is such a gem, especially if you're in the early years of growing your interior design business. Bekah launched her firm in the middle of the 2020 pandemic (yes, that 2020!) and has grown it into...
info_outline
S3 Ep.174 The People Pleaser's Predicament: Why Leading Beats Pleasing Every Time
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey y’all, welcome back to the Designed for the Creative Mind Podcast! I’m so glad you're here. We’re kicking off a brand new season: Rookie Mistakes and Real Talk — where I’m mixing up business blunders and behind-the-scenes truths from running an interior design firm. Today’s episode is for every designer who’s ever said “yes” when they really wanted to scream “oh hell no” — and then paid the price for it. We're diving into the sneaky ways people pleasing shows up in client relationships, why it’s so damaging to your business, and how to set boundaries like...
info_outline
S3 Ep.173 Social Media That Sells: Turning Your Design Content into Clients with Angelyn Howell
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey there, welcome back to the podcast designed for creative minds and interior designers like you. You’re already a pro at creating stunning spaces, but let’s talk about your Instagram. If your content isn’t attracting the right clients and turning them into paying customers, we’ve got a problem. That’s why I’m so excited to bring on Angelyn Harrell today. She’s the co-owner of Next Chapter Social, a marketing agency that helps business owners grow through organic social media strategies. With 30 years of marketing experience—both as an entrepreneur and in big...
info_outline
S3 Ep.172 Email Lists And Why They Matter
Designed for the Creative Mind
Hey, it’s Michelle Lynne, and welcome back to Designed for the Creative Mind! Today, I’m diving into one of my all-time favorite topics: email lists. I know, I know—email marketing might not sound as sexy as social media, but trust me, it’s a game-changer for your interior design business. If you’ve ever felt like you’re screaming into the social media void, this episode is for you. I’m sharing why your email list is your most powerful asset, how to build it, and why you need to stop putting all your eggs in the social media basket. I’ll also walk you through how to revive a...
info_outline
S3 Ep.171 Advantage of Identity Marketing with Veronica Romney
Designed for the Creative Mind
Welcome back to the podcast designed for the creative mind! Today, we’re diving into the world of marketing—but not in the way you might expect. If marketing has ever felt salesy, sleazy, or just overwhelming, this conversation is for you. I’m joined by Veronica Romney, a certified master marketer, keynote speaker, podcast host, and author with over 17 years of experience shaping marketing strategies for some of the biggest brands. Her book, Identity Marketing, completely shifts the way we think about attracting the right clients and customers. Instead of just selling, we’re talking...
info_outline
Hey, hey, hey – welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! This season, we’re talking all about rookie mistakes and real talk – the stuff that’s keeping so many talented designers stuck. And today? We’re hitting a big one: shopping retail.
Yep. I’m talking about that habit of ordering from Pottery Barn, HomeGoods, or West Elm, skipping your trade vendors, and sending clients links instead of curated presentations. Sound familiar?
I get it. I’ve been there myself—and I’ve coached hundreds of designers who’ve struggled with the same thing. Whether it’s the fear of clients balking at markups, the desire to be “helpful,” or the looming fear of liability… retail feels like the easy button.
But babe—it’s not. It’s costing you big time.
What I cover in this episode:-
Why retail shopping chips away at your profits, your positioning, and your authority
-
How sending links is training your clients to bypass you
-
Why markup is NOT a dirty word (and how to confidently talk about profit)
-
Real talk from a designer named Lindsay who learned this the hard way
-
The difference between being a personal shopper vs. a professional designer
-
How to shift your business model so sourcing becomes a strength—not a stressor
-
The mindset shift that leads to a more profitable, scalable, and luxury-level business
Here’s the truth: when you rely on retail, you lose control—of the quality, of the client experience, and of your income. Your design becomes replicable. Your service looks DIY. And your value? Flattened.
But when you embrace trade sourcing, you gain back authority, margin, and process. And yes, you can absolutely educate your clients about it without apologizing.
So ask yourself: where are you defaulting to retail out of fear or convenience? And what would shift—financially, creatively, emotionally—if you trusted yourself to lead like a CEO?
You’re not selling stuff. You’re selling an experience. A transformation. A feeling when someone walks into a room and says “Wow.” And that? That’s worth protecting.
Podcast Website and Resources:
Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery
Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.
SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.
Stay in touch with Michelle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/
Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad
Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide
Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact
A Podcast Launch Bestie production