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ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES
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ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY
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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.
Guest Interview Series: Learn the Ins & Outs of What It's Really Like To Have a Furniture Showroom
Are you thinking about opening a retail furniture showroom to expand your interior design business?
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Heather Draper of The Heather Co. to talk about her experience adding a retail showroom to her interior design business.
In case you missed our conversation, you can grab the replay here.
We covered a lot, but here’s an overview:
Dear Dakota | A Deep Dive into Commercial and Hospitality Design Projects vs. Residential Projects
Dear Dakota,
Can you tell me whether the processes are the same for commercial and hospitality projects as for residential ones? What do I need to do if I want to expand into these project types?
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
Best Software for Interior Design Presentations
It’s all about creating a design process that’s efficient, sensible, and enjoyable - and the most climactic moment of all is when your client sees their design presentation for the first time. You want to provide the highest quality design presentation possible so your client can clearly see and understand the vision you have for their space, and you also want to minimize the number of hours you or your team sit at a computer creating it! So, the choice of software for interior design presentations is key in streamlining this part of each project and ensuring a whole-hearted “WE LOVE IT! APPROVED!” from your clients. With so many software programs available to interior designers, it’s important to choose the right one based on the types of presentation drawings you typically produce and your comfort level with each platform.
In this blog post, we’ll highlight the best software for interior design presentations and share the project type each is most ideal for.
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
Time Tracking Tips for Interior Designers
Whether you price your interior design services hourly or based on a flat fee, I am a strong proponent of tracking your time. And if you don't track your hours or find yourself saying “you aren’t good” at tracking your hours, then you cannot, under any circumstances, bill hourly for your interior design services.
You may have heard the saying, “In God we trust, all others bring data,” and I’m here to tell you: the data is in the numbers, and the numbers don’t lie.
As a business owner, it is your job to know your numbers, and part of that is knowing how long things take.
Tracking your time and reviewing the numbers will empower you to make critical decisions for the long-term success of your company.
Here are a few benefits of tracking your hours for interior designers…
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
Dear Dakota | My Vendor Went Out Of Business, But I’ve Already Paid For My Client’s Furnishings! HELP!
Dear Dakota,
My vendor just went out of business, and I’ve already paid them for my client’s furnishings. I cannot get ahold of anyone and am freaking out. What should I do?
Join The DTS Files for my step-by-step advice.
Best Advice For Someone Starting an Interior Design Business
A friend of mine is in the process of starting a business and asked if I could share a few pieces of advice with her. I don’t often talk about my own business, but I thought my response to her could be helpful for those in the beginning stages of starting a company or for those who might feel stagnant in their growth.
Here are the tips I shared with her:
Dear Dakota | How Interior Designers Can Calculate A Flat Rate for Freight, Receiving and White Glove Delivery Fees
Dear Dakota,
Our clients feel nickel and dimed paying for freight, receiving, storage, and white glove delivery. I want to consolidate these costs and collect them when invoicing for the product. How do I calculate what this number should be?
Join The DTS Files to unlock my advice and insights.
Dear Dakota: Should I Offer Holiday Decorating Services?
Dear Dakota,
With the holiday season approaching, should I consider offering holiday decorating as a seasonal service?
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
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