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Today with Vita Vygovska and LuAnn Nigara Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Window Treatment Friday! In today’s episode, LuAnn and her friend and co-host of WTF, Vita (Vitalia) Vygovska, are doing something a little different. Today, LuAnn and Vita are answering listener questions. That's right, they are teaming up to bring you DOUBLE the expertise and answer window treatment questions they have been receiving from listeners! More about Vita Vygovska Vita is the award-winning window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia, Inc, is an all-encompassing fabrication, measurement, installation, and project management service exclusively for interior designers. In business for over a decade, Vita and her team are experts in their narrow field, providing designers with superb quality product and excellent communication. Most importantly, they take off the stress, save time, and give peace of mind in the job is well-done. Connect with Vita Vygovska Website  Instagram  Facebook   What's new with Lu

Today with Lisa Haude: Lisa Haude founded Paradigm Design Group in 2001. In 2020, Lisa rebranded her Houston six-person hospitality design firm to become PDG Studios and created a new luxury residential design division named Bella’s Studio. Put yourself in Lisa’s shoes. You are revving up for a big rebrand, and then the unthinkable happens. You find yourself in the midst of a global pandemic! Lisa’s story is like so many designers and business owners in the year 2020. It is a story of the dedication and resilience of a business owner in the face of unexpected, and unprecedented events. You’ll want to hear what prompted her rebrand, what she did about launching her new divisions once the pandemic hit, and what guided her through it all. More About Lisa Haude: Lisa A. Haude founded PDG Studios (formerly Paradigm Design Group) in 2001 and continues to prove that she is one of the top industry leaders in her field. A storyteller in her own right, Lisa creates truly one-of-a-kind spaces that speak authenticall

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Chris Wallace, co-founder, and President of InnerView, a marketing consulting firm that helps companies align their brand and product stories with their customer-facing teams. Chris truly believes in providing value to your clients by meeting their needs and making their lives better, and getting all of your industry partners on board with that idea, or finding partners that already are. Listen in to hear what Chris has to say about leveraging those industry partnerships to do that, so that the customer experience is a focus at every single level. Chris is the Co-Founder and President of InnerView, a marketing consulting firm that helps companies align their brand and product stories with their customer-facing teams. At InnerView, Chris draws from his nearly 20 years of sales, marketing, and corporate leadership to help companies engage their frontline teams in new ways, producing improved customer experiences and better financia

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Sara Brennan rejoins the show today and she’s going to be sharing how she is managing the recent influx of new clients as she scales her business, how very critical organization is to the process, and a breakdown of the services she offers. We’ll also be touching on her upcoming Process Leads to Profit course, so please join us for some great takeaway ideas to streamline your own business and to learn more about how you can really drill down into what Sara calls “the Four P’s of design: Processes, Partnerships, Packages, and Profits”, to take YOUR profits to the next level. Sara is a co-author in the upcoming second volume of A Well-Designed Business - The Power Talk Friday Experts. She is an entrepreneur, CEO, and Principal Interior Designer at Sara Lynn Brennan Interiors. Sara has become the first and only full-service interior design firm in Waxhaw, North Carolina, who specializes in Transitional Designs, where she and her design-build team take spaces from Bare Bones

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest is Phoebe Oldrey. Phoebe is the founder of Smartstyle Interiors based in the UK. Oftentimes, designers feel like they can’t niche down, thinking that will close the door on all the other possibilities out there. When Phoebe reached the point in her career where she felt the desperate drive to do something different with design, she came to realize that design wasn’t just about aesthetics or creating beautiful spaces, but that it opens opportunities to create holistic, life-altering spaces for clients. So, Phoebe did the next practical thing: she niched down, rebranded, and started focusing on the projects that truly made her happy. Let’s hear what Phoebe has to say about holistic design, niching, and following your passion in your business. Phoebe is the founder of Smartstyle Interiors, an innovative interior design studio which takes a holistic approach. In 2017, after 15 years in the industry and tired of being asked what the next tread was, Phoebe decid

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! There are so many of us who struggle with communicating who we are and what we do, especially on our websites. Betty Marton, founder of In Your Own Words, is back with us on the show to discuss how important it is in sharing your story to show your humanity, your journey, and your vulnerability. Betty is a lover of stories, conversation, and talking to people and hearing about their lives. She has her own separate business as a writer, copywriter, and storyteller whose passion is helping people understand their stories and bring them to life. Think about the way that you are portraying your business with your words, and be sure to listen in as Betty imparts her expertise about storytelling and the impact it can have, both on your business and your personal life. Writer and editor Betty Marton works with individuals, as well as large and small businesses, foundations, and nonprofit organizations to capture and share the stories they need to tell.

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”! LuAnn received a request from a window treatment professional to review the “autopsy” process that LuAnn’s team does at Window Works, so this episode is dedicated to covering the review of a project once it’s completed. Whether you are a photographer, web developer, architect, or blogger, it is essential for each and every business owner to review their projects for profitability, deficiencies, processes, and client satisfaction. LuAnn discusses this process mostly from the perspective of a window treatment specialist, so if you are a designer, you have more work to do! But no worries, she’s got you designers covered on that, too! Get comfy, you’ll want to take notes! Show Highlights: There are 3 main objectives of a post-project “autopsy”. To learn: what it is we do well what it is we need to improve on and what kinds of projects we make money on LuAnn details the items that need to be reviewed: g

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today’s guest, Carissa Miller of CC and Mike, shares how a “completely unexpected opportunity” turned into a leap of faith for her and her husband, Mike. Carissa’s journey is so much more than that happy accident, though, as you’re going to hear. Listen in to this inspiring conversation around how an Instagram post that went viral launched her into a rapidly growing business that she never saw coming, as well as how she and her husband navigated the unique challenges that come with running a business with your spouse. CC and Mike are a husband and wife team who make dream homes happen nation-wide, offering full-service design, build, and remodel services to their clients. Launched in May 2016, their social media and blog following have grown rapidly to include followers from all over the world who look to CC and Mike for design and building inspiration for their own homes. CC and Mike’s audience loves following their adventures as they design, flip, and renovate homes!

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s Power Talk Friday is sponsored by Interior Design Business Academy and specifically the Interior Design Business Academy 2020 Summit, which is happening Wednesday, November 4 thru Friday, November 6, 2020. This event will run from 10:00 am EST to 6:00 pm and it is entirely virtual. In today’s conversation, Terri Taylor not only shares all the details of the outstanding Summit she has planned for you, but she shares valuable tips for running your firm. After 30 years in the industry, Terri has tons of experience in running her own firm and teaching you how to do it through her Interior Design Business Academy. And to be clear, the summit is open to all interior design business owners, not just IDBA coaching members, so be sure to check it out at Interior Design Business Academy Summit 2020 Terri Taylor is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and showrooms throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics rela

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Social media guru, Darla Powell from Darla Powell Interiors, joins us in this conversation today on how to get more juice from your social media efforts. We change, our business changes, and sometimes, we need to refresh our minds about what we’re really doing and who we’re doing it for. The goal here today is to talk about honing the message you’re sending out to the world, and if you already did this five years ago, well maybe it’s time to do it again! Darla is a co-author of the 2nd volume of A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts that is coming out in November 2020. Darla really is the social media guru. She blew up social from the get-go and she hasn’t stopped since. Thankfully she is just fine with sharing her tools and ideas with us, so we can try to duplicate her success. Please welcome her back to the show! Darla has a fun, genuine, and down-to-earth approach to the designing of beautiful spaces. Since she launched her career in 2016, she has gr

Welcome to the 600th episode of A Well-Designed Business! In this milestone conversation, LuAnn is the guest today! Deb Mitchell and Betty Marton are two writers and #smartladies who are talking to LuAnn today about the 599 episodes she has under her belt. LuAnn shares how much her life has changed since she aired her first episode back in February of 2016, how appreciative she is for her guests and listeners who have played such a big part in making this podcast a success, and how grateful she is that you invite her into your lives and your businesses each week. Don’t miss this fascinating glimpse into the heart of the host of A Well-Designed Business! Deb, or DesignWriterDeb as she’s referred to on Instagram, specializes in copywriting for interior designers and creatives. Betty, of In Your Own Words, helps individuals and businesses tell their stories through narrative. Show Highlights: LuAnn shares memories from her childhood and how she first learned a good work ethic that carried her into marriage

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s time for another riveting episode of “What Would Lu Do?”, where you ask the difficult questions and LuAnn gives the expert answers you’ve been wanting. Today’s dilemma comes from an anonymous listener who has been a faithful listener of the podcast since she started her business in 2014. At that time, she took the least expensive options in setting up her business and hasn’t invested since. She received an inheritance right before COVID hit, so this designer is looking for words of wisdom on whether it’s better to hold on to the money for a household expenses safety net since her husband has been furloughed and is not likely to return to work soon, or if it’s better to invest it back into her business, along with a revised business plan. Listen in as LuAnn digs into the details, susses out the situation, and lays out her reasoning on the resolutions. If you are not working with a coach or perhaps you don’t have a business mentor or business bestie to provide guidan

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Judith Taylor of Judith Taylor Designs returns as a guest today to share her ideas on networking for introverts. As Judith says, it can be a struggle to be an introvert in an extrovert’s industry! She has many things to say that can help not just introverts, but anybody looking to strengthen their networking skills. Listen in to this fascinating conversation about how you can set yourself up for success, even if you’re an introvert, and how to overcome the challenges when it comes to networking. Judith is an international award-winning designer with a flair for making personal, meaningful spaces. She is the granddaughter of a once-prominent furniture manufacturer, and as such, is passionate about style and the tradition of quality fine furniture making. Liveably luxury is achieved through her timeless aesthetic. Classic details, and refined clean lines anchor a love of the mix of contemporary traditional, and global influences. Mixing patterns, unexpected combinations, d

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today’s guest is Mary Pat Wallace, the founder of Chicago Luxury Beds, and today’s focus is the luxury client! Mary Pat shares important perspectives about the surprising  opportunities you have today in the midst of the pandemic, and not just how we can deal with it and accommodate it, but how we can truly serve our clients in a bigger and better way. She also shares her insights on how she’s managed to maintain an excellent client experience and continue to be a strong leader for her team, even in a retail setting, throughout the challenges of Covid-19. Listen in for an inspiring conversation! Mary is a 30-year veteran of the design industry. Committed to sourcing the highest-quality, bespoke mattresses and sleep products from across the globe, Mary Pat and her team of experts have spent the last 15 years helping clients transform their lives through sleep. Once she spent her first night in a Hästens bed, Mary Pat knew that mattresses should be

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Today we are joined by Jamel Williams for another conversation in our Black Lives Matter series. As a young black designer and teacher, Jamel has a unique perspective on what can be done at the university-level to empower students of color. Please join us in this discussion on how mentorship in the university years could be a game-changer for all of our young designers, and especially our black designers, and Jamel’s suggestions on how schools can be that agent of change. Jamel Williams is a young and passionate Interior Designer, Educator, and Entrepreneur who specializes in Residential Interior Design in all of New York and surrounding areas. Shortly after graduating from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Class of 2017 with a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, Jamel founded To Be Designed, a full-service Interior Design Studio. Already having an undergraduate degree in Anthropology, his interests in people, cultures, and ways of life fuel his passion to approach des

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! We’re super excited to have Karin Bohn join us on the show today. Karin Bohn is the founder and creative director of the award-winning House of Bohn design studio. She established the interior design firm in 2009 and has made her mark in many industries including luxury residential, multi-family, restaurants, and retail. Karin stars on Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge in which she travels with a team of experts to provide design, marketing, and culinary consultation to establishments in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. With her continuously growing YouTube channel, Karin offers behind-the-scenes glimpses of her creative process, collaborative partnerships, and life as an entrepreneur. Listen in to hear how in 11 years, Karin went from struggling to start a design business all the way to having a Netflix show and managing a luxury interior design firm with a team of 10! Show Highlights: The first few years of Karin’s YouTube videos showcased her ch

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! Today, Reena Philpot joins us to share her love of sales - and you’ll never guess what she’s selling! Reena (pronounced “Re-Nay”) and her husband own Precision Duplicating Solutions, and for 18 years, Reena’s helped build a successful business selling...copiers. That’s right folks - she sells pricey copy machines - and she loves it! It doesn’t matter what you’re selling, because sales is sales, and Reena’s techniques can absolutely be applied to the design business. Listen in to learn what sales tactics Reena has used to build her business, and how you can apply them to your own business to bring in those dollar bills! Daily Reena manages the sales side of the business and part of the admin duties. She started her career as a telemarketer/appointment setter 26 years ago. She quickly transitioned to outside sales and vowed it was so awesome she would learn how to become successful. When her boys had grown into young men and needed her less, Reena

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn’s guest today is Debbie Mathews of Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC, and Debbie will be walking us through easily implementable, effective systems to take care of all those tiny details so that we have the time to focus on the big things in our business. Debbie revamped her growing business to ensure she and her team are less stressed while consistently providing their clients with an A+ experience. Be sure to listen and see if some of her ideas will help you be more productive and less stressed, too! Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Debbie Mathews Antiques and Designs, LLC is a full-service interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential projects. From new construction to simple refreshes, their goal is to realize each room’s greatest potential. With a keen focus to detail, their team works collaboratively with clients to navigate through the many decisions involved with high-quality, custom design work. Clients repeatedly tell them that their d

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business, it’s Power Talk Friday! LuAnn welcomes Kimberly Merlitti, the Virtual CFO, back to the show. Kimberly also happens to be one of the co-authors for our third book, A Well-Designed Business, Power Talk Experts Volume 2, which is coming out in November. On today’s show, Kimberly is sharing with us the importance of preparing an estimate for your job before you sign a contract. If there’s one thing Kimberly knows, it’s numbers! And she is going to walk you through not only WHY preparing an estimate at the very beginning is important, but also how to do this the right way, how to stay on track, and how to rely on data, so that you’re not playing a guessing game and risking losing money in your business. Because at the end of the day, you are not just a designer, you’re an entrepreneur, right? Kimberly Merlitti owns KMM Consulting based out of Washington, D.C. She has 20 years of experience working in accounting for companies such as Swinerton Builders, WRNS Studio, and Martin

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! LuAnn welcomes Nicole White, CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, back to the show. When they last visited, Nicole shared details about her client questionnaire, how she gets press, and the confidence she now has as a designer. On today’s Black Lives Matter episode, you’ll hear about Nicole’s business and personal life, viewed specifically through the filter of being black. As a trained journalist and Jamaican immigrant, Nicole has a unique perspective on what we can do to effect lasting change. We hope you join us! Nicole White is the CEO and Principal Designer of Nicole White Designs Interiors, a full-service boutique interior design firm, based in Sunrise, Florida. Nicole, known for her renovation prowess, has been featured in various local, national, and international publications including - HGTV, House Beautiful, Better Homes, and Gardens magazines; Ocean Drive, Huffington Post, and Domino online magazines and The Miami Herald and Jamaica