6 Things Interior Designers Learnt From Early Career Mistakes
Professional advice from: Jodie Blampied of Style Merchants, Jodie Carter of Jodie Carter Design and Sophie Kost of My Beautiful Abode.
2. Take steps to build your reputationBuilding your reputation is a journey, as Sophie Kost of My Beautiful Abode learnt early on.“There are so many different steps you can take to build your reputation and it’s not a case of one size fits all,” she says. “I know it’s important to track results to know your return on investment, but there is also the fun of participating in different activities.“It can take a long time for you to establish your reputation,” says Kost. “Cherish the interaction you have along the way through networking, social media and word of mouth.”Carter says she learnt to play to her marketing strengths. “I don’t really go out of my comfort zone to attend networking events, and certain social media platforms attract the wrong clients. However, my reputation and success has been greatly assisted by Houzz and my reviews on the platform.”How to Be Featured in Houzz Editorial...
3. Be specific about budgetAn estimated quote might feel like enough, but it can be beneficial to provide more detail, says Kost. “I incorporate the budget talk in my initial meeting as it makes sure everyone is working to a common goal,” she says. “And simply put, it’s an essential part of the design brief.”Blampied agrees. “The best outcomes are always achieved then the budget is known,” she says. “We can’t do our job when we are guessing what the client is comfortable with spending.“When we have to work with a budget, we can balance it. For example, putting more money into the joinery and sourcing less-expensive fabric for window treatments. I usually talk about what I think various items will cost and the client’s reaction will inform their expectations.”Here’s What You Should be Saying in Your First Client Phone Call
4. Give yourself a realistic timelineUnderstanding the time frames for different trades will help you set a more realistic time line, Carter believes.“Experience from earlier projects is how you learn about this: judging how long things took from the last project,” she says. “Now I have a greater appreciation of the amount of trades needed to complete a job such as a kitchen or bathroom. “It’s always a fine line and if one is late or something goes wrong, it has a domino effect,” says Carter. “I leave a few weeks’ grace in my time lines for the unexpected.”
5. Read reviews of contractors“It’s taken a few years’ of experience and networking to gather my team of sub-contractors,” says Kost. “A lot of them are not online or don’t have social media profiles, so it’s very much a case of knowing the right people for me.”A far better way to connect with suppliers and contractors is to read reviews from people who have previously worked with them.This is how Blampied finds her sub-contractors. “By referral from other designers and builders, or sometimes even clients,” she says.Everything You Want to Know About the 2019 Best of Houzz Awards
6. Make your markIf you want your interior design business to stand out from the competition, it pays to create some of your own products. “When you can’t find the right product in the market, designing it yourself and using trusted trades to manufacture it often results in the right fit at the right price,” says Carter. “It will also give you a point of difference and the client will own an original piece.”How to Identify and Communicate Your Design Niche
1. Listen to your client“As a designer, it is vital for us to treat each client and project individually,” says Jodie Blampied of Style Merchants. “Everyone has different briefs, budgets and expectations, and the success of your design business will be measured by how well we interpret these.” Jodie Carter of Jodie Carter Design agrees. “You are designing a home for your client that they will need to live in for quite some time, so it’s important to work with them closely so the home feels ‘theirs’. This will reflect later when they are enjoying living in a home that was designed specifically for them.”Check out Ivy, our new business management platform for designers
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