|
ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES
I
ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY
|
EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
| ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES I ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY | EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Welcome to The DTS Files for Interior Designers
Business analysis, advice, CLIENT INSIGHTS and field notes for interior designers
The DTS Files is a library of expert insights for interior designers who want to work in a more streamlined, efficient way. Articles are based on real-world consulting experience, strategies I've personally implemented in design businesses across the US and Canada, and a perspective most business educators can't offer: I've been on both sides of the table, as a business consultant and as a luxury design client. Read more below.
Dear Dakota | How to Define Your Interior Design Process
Dear Dakota,
Can you help me design/define my process and place it against timelines?
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
Interior Design Business Trends for 2023 from My Point of View
Working with interior designers day in and day out offers me glimpses into the inner workings of interior design businesses across the world. I often see patterns and trends in the challenges my designers are experiencing.
Being able to share my insights to help designers all over, even ones I’m not currently working with, is one of the best parts of my job. In this post I’m sharing three trends I’m seeing for interior designers and their businesses in 2023, and giving my top three tips for taking your interior design company to the next level this year.
Here’s what I’ll cover in detail in this post:
Dear Dakota | How Do You Handle Storage Fees if There are Long Wait Times?
Dear Dakota,
How Do You Handle Storage and Receiving Fees when there are Long Wait Times?
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
Do This One Thing Before You Automate Your Interior Design Business
If your goal for the year is to automate as much as possible in your interior design business, you have to know this one thing before you invest in technology, consultants, strategists, or done-for-you services.
When You Should Expire Your Interior Design Proposals
If you've ever sent out an interior design proposal to a potential client (you might call it a contract, LOA, scope and service agreement, etc.) and then waited on pins and needles for their response…this tip is for you.
Expire your proposals.
Most of our designers expire proposals within two weeks MAX. Some expire them within seven days.
Why Interior Designers Should NOT Order Building Supplies
Unless you’re a general contractor or a cabinet supplier, your interior design firm SHOULD NOT be ordering building supplies.
This is one area where I occasionally see interior designers taking on responsibilities that cause extra headaches and coordination. Not to mention that ordering building supplies doesn’t yield sufficient profit from markup to offset the hassle.
Designers should refrain from placing orders for materials that would be considered building supplies.
Marketing Tactics That Don’t Work for Interior Designers
It’s no secret that interior design is a competitive market. Interior designers need to stay front-of-mind with potential clients by consistently marketing their services. Unfortunately, we see a lot of marketing tactics that don't actually yield any measurable results for interior designers. In this post, I’m sharing the most common ineffective marketing tactics we see so you can STOP doing them and allocate that time toward something that actually generates revenue (or joy!) for your business.
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR READERS:
Looking for help with pricing?
PRICING PLAYBOOK for INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Start with The Complete Guide to Pricing Your Design Services
Learn the most common pricing models used by interior designers, where each works best, and how to spot the signs that your current pricing structure needs to change.
NEED BUSINESS SUPPORT ASAP?
SHOP TEMPLATES
Need the documents behind a streamlined process?
The Design Library includes the client-facing investment guides, proposal templates, welcome guides, SOPs, questionnaires, contracts, and business tools we use and recommend for interior design firms.
SHOP WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS
After consulting with and doing hands-on implementation for over 100 interior design business owners, I’ve seen what works (and doesn’t) across every business model imaginable. The Workroom houses our focused trainings for interior designers on pricing, construction, service structure, business operations, and other areas we teach inside design firms
JOIN 19,000+ DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY
