As much as we want to stop it, we are getting busier and busier. Our attention spans are getting shorter. Our need for instant gratification is growing by the minute (thanks Amazon Prime, Reels and Tiktok videos, smartphones, etc.). 

People’s expectations are changing and they value convenience and ease. COVID forced a lot of this on businesses, and many companies grew because of offering online services, curbside pickup, and alternate delivery methods. ← so much so that they are now changing their business models entirely. 

So what does this mean for your interior design business? 

You may have heard issues related to interior designer licensing or certification (read more about interior design certifications here), and it can all be a bit confusing. Additionally, licensing legislation for various occupations (including interior design) happens at the state level so the picture is slightly different in every state (plus the Canadian provinces). And, things are changing all the time with new interior design legislation being proposed (and sometimes repealed) every year. And, in some respects, this issue of interior design regulation is much different for those who work on commercial building projects than it is for those who work on residential projects. 

In this post, we offer an overview of the current state of interior design legislation. To verify the legislative picture where you live and work, it is always best to check the professional licensing and registration website for interior design in your state. To do that …

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

I presented the final design to my client along with the invoices for their rooms and they balked that there was no discount. I don't offer discounts or market anything about discounts. What do I do, and how do I prevent this from ever happening again?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

The client experience is so much more than cards and gifts. (LuAnn Nigara and I talked about this here when I was first on her podcast). Your client experience starts the second someone lands on your website. They are experiencing your company and what it's like to work with you, whether you are there with them or not. 

So how do you make sure they start off on the right foot?

Make sure your website isn't turning people off or sending people away.

Dear Dakota,

Outside of direct services, what is the best form of additional income for interior designers? What avenue is the most profitable and worth pursuing for a company with three employees? Furniture sales? Passive income downloads? Courses? Affiliate income?

Join The DTS Files to see the advice I gave this designer.

An oldie but goodie! Although it may have come from necessity, Zoom meetings are sticking around for good.

For us, being a remote team who works with clients completely virtually, Zoom has been a great tool for our kick-off meetings, tech calls, and team meetings.

For our designers, we see them incorporating virtual meetings into their process to create efficiency and streamline the decision making process. It’s also a huge part of the process for our designers that provide a virtual or e-design service. 

There’s just something so much more personal about meeting face to face, rather than just a phone call. 

So, if you want to look better during Zoom meetings, they have a filter for that. 

One of the most common questions I receive and one of the biggest mistakes I see people make in their client process is confusing an Investment Guide and a Welcome Guide. 

These are two completely different things with very different purposes. In today’s post, I’m sharing when to use each of these important documents and some common mistakes to avoid with each.

Dear Dakota,

In order, what steps do I need to take to be able to move forward and grow and build a team to help me realize my income goal and dream interior design business?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.