Join Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan, the dynamic duo behind the visionary and integrator balancing all the moving parts of a full service interior design firm in their no-nonsense and thought-provoking podcast, the Damn Good Designer. Each episode is full of damn good truths and real talk as they share invaluable insights on how to run and build a successful business while challenging the norms, the industry, each other and YOU. Emphasizing a business-savvy approach, Cheryl and Liz take ...
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Never Stop Learning with Special Guest Diane Bianchini - Ep 38
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It is never too late to start over. This week we have a wonderful special guest from New York! I have known and coached Diane Bianchini of Dream Interiors NY for a number of year and she is here to talk with us this week about her path to becoming a designer with a background in Aeronautical engineering--talk about weathering the seasons of change …
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(TRAILER ONLY!) Are you keeping your client in the dark? Ep 37
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Cheryl is going solo this week while Liz takes a well-deserved little vacation. This week in our private podcast we discuss managing client expectations and making sure you are not keeping them in the dark--you need them to trust the process! There is a level of professionalism that comes with the importance of managing clients' expectations during…
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Finding your people: When is it time to hire? Ep 36
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Are you hiring too late? What I have found is that most designers do not hire soon enough! Hiring a team challenges and helps elevate your business to a level where sustainable growth and scalability are achievable. When we look to hire we are looking to cater to some bonus projects and also the way that our current team is developing in terms upwa…
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Are you facing new challenges or going through a season of change? We are--yes we are in the trenches with you, really! Weathering the seasons of change is unpredictable and it is in these moments where we find out how resilient and adaptable we are. If you are not not prepared, then one of these events such as maternity leave, death in the family …
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(TRAILER ONLY!) Where do your priorities lie? Ep 34
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Prioritizing, managing the alligators closest to the boat, and effective communication are critical to managing your business and your team (if you have one!). When you are redesigning a home for a remodel and NOT starting from scratch--we can't simply start over completely but must work within constraints, similar to how we must manage our time. U…
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How are you protecting yourself? with special guest Attorney, Wendy Estela - Ep 33
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The legal aspects of a business are super important to me as a business owner. We will always face project delays, especially in the last couple years, and we must be thinking about how we can protect ourselves. In my world, clients have to recognize the delays in executing are unrelated to our performance and we must get new bids/pricing or get th…
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(TRAILER ONLY!) Are you sabotaging yourself? Ep 32
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Have you ever stopped to think where your time is spent vs your energy output? The truth is we could be sabotaging ourselves and our capacity to work if we are not managing our energy. We all have relentless demands and unexpected challenges we deal with on the daily and we all tend to slip into negative emotions—the fight-or-flight mode—often mult…
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A Unique Business Structure with Special Guest Michele Doyle & Jay Volz Ep 31
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Cheryl is passionate about what she does and loves seeing other small business owners and creative entrepreneurs succeed. We often get to hear success stories and want to be able to share this with others while also focusing on the unique market, business and experience other designers have around the country. This week we are starting a "DESIGNER …
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(TRAILER ONLY!) How to run a design firm like you should - A business! - Ep 30
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We are hitting a hot button this week and it is definitely too juicy for public consumption. Charging hourly is dead - yes, we said it. We are seeing too many coaches out there appealing to the low hanging fruit, NOT BELIEVING IN YOU or thinking you can handle flat fee pricing. We are here to tell you, you can! We are here to help you shift your mi…
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We're trying something new this week and Cheryl is in the hot seat while Liz interviews her about her process for initial consultations, also known as "The Cheryl Show." Cheryl goal is simply to get to know the potential clients and see if her firm can help them. She doesn't worry about being overly prepared for these meetings because they are orga…
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In this episode, we discuss the significance of project pricing and minimum spend requirements for achieving profitability in your design firm. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how can you integrate them into your design business? Today, they will discuss the strategy of implementing this business model and explain why this can be a major …
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Are your clients dragging their feet, hemming and hawing after the presentation and maybe even ghosting you--what do you do? In this episode we discuss five considerations when a client is not making decisions and how to handle them. Designers need to ask themselves certain questions to help determine exactly where the problem lies and if the indec…
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(TRAILER ONLY!) Creating the Game Changer Ep 26
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What exactly is a visual scope of work? Cheryl and Liz discuss how theirs has become a game changer not only for In Detail but many other designers Cheryl has coached over the years. In this episode they dive into strategies for creating a successful scope of work and how it can be a powerful marketing tool for your business, how useful they are in…
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How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all…
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Our firm, In Detail Interiors, gets a lot of leads and I am grateful for every single one of them. However, that doesn't mean we take on every job of every size and every type--and neither can you. You must have guidelines (NOT A SCRIPT) on how you determine what will work for your set up of your firm, your bandwidth and your resource capacity. Lea…
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What is the best investment you can make for your business? --Special Guest Tammy Covington Nagem Ep 23
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Going to High Point Market and learning about what you sell is the BEST investment you can make for your business! After 29 markets Cheryl had the honor of talking with Tammy Nagem, CEO of High Point Market authority, to tell you why market is still one of the best business investments you can make. Learn how Tammy and her team help optimize the ex…
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(TRAILER ONLY!) To Charge or Not to Charge Ep 22
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In the way of the word today you need to be able to stay competitive and take into consideration allowing clients to use credit cards. Cheryl and Liz discuss the importance of this for anyone who sell products if you want to grow. Are you analyzing your costs effectively with the cost of doing business? You should be--here we deep dive into the cos…
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Successful businesses, do not operate on a basis of having to trick people--so why are businesses doing this? Fear. We have to consider where we are as an industry if we are so fearful of clients finding something out about the names of our vendors or comparison shopping. Interior design is about creativity, expertise, and creating unique spaces th…
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(TRAILER ONLY) Roadblocks to Closing the Sale Ep 20
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Cheryl and Liz are exploring five key roadblocks to bringing a new client on board and signing that contract. By showing your expertise to the client earlier than later, you remove many difficulties from the sale itself and you set yourself up for being able to deliver your best work. You cannot rely on the lead to peruse every detail of your websi…
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We are not holding back this week - the term "red flag" is banned! (at least in my book) Stop the mob mentality that a client is a "red flag" for asking questions about your contract or process. Your mindset must shift from "run, run, get out now!" to "they do not know, what they do not know". You must be educating your client and positioning your …
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(TRAILER ONLY) What does the client get when they buy your creative vision? Ep 18
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Some episodes are too bold for public consumption! Click here to listen to our EXCLUSIVE podcast on reinventing your client presentation! 3 ways to join us on this journey. No need to wait. There is a price point for everyone! How do you determine what your client is really entitled to when they are buying your creative skills? We are discussing th…
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It is a choice to be professional. One you make to uphold professional standards and practice in such a way that you are advancing your firm. No one is going to do it. In order to advance as a strong contender in the marketplace and someone that is respected and viewed as a serious business owner, then you must be aware of what is happening in the …
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(TRAILER ONLY!) 5 Ways to Disrupt Your Presentation Process Ep 16
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Some episodes are too bold for public consumption! Click here to listen to our EXCLUSIVE podcast on reinventing your client presentation! 3 ways to join us on this journey. No need to wait. There is a price point for everyone! Leaders are going to grow their business by continuously assessing what might need to be disrupted in their current busines…
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Disrupting the Status Quo to get back on track Ep 15
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Liz and I have decided that the holidays need to be further spread apart. How do we talk to Congress about making that happen? Just kidding! We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole--we are already busy enough. This is about being in control and how we are going to respond to certain situations that are going to come up in your business. What acti…
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Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing passion is one of the most important things you can do as a business to demonstrate to your clients what it is that you are bringing to the table. Passion for my work is why I get up in the morning and being excited about what the day holds---and have an eagerness to jump into it. It’s not alway…
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Why your clients should not hire you Ep 13
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Cheryl the “easy-chair” psychologist is back today and we are going to throw a little reverse psychology at you! Have you ever thought about throwing all the negatives on the table to reinforce positive thoughts in your client? Whoa--I know it seems a little crazy. BUT disarming people with an approach that is not expected can work beautifully, if …
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What got you here isn't going to keep you here in 2024 Ep 12
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Are you really considering where the interior design industry (and market) are going today? How you got started in this business is NOT what is going to keep you relevant. This is one of the fastest growing and ever-changing industries out there and we as business owners must be thinking about and asking your clients for feedback. Feedback should b…
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What is the Cost of Doing Business? Ep 11
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Today's episode is about the cost of doing business. Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they s…
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The Price is the Price - Selling products for the win. Ep 10
46:14
46:14
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Why are selling products a win? Cheryl and Liz delve into the balance between selling design services and products and unveil key strategies for successful navigation of the procurement process. Selling product is not for the faint of heart - you will face challenges in managing inventory, shipping and managing vendor relationships but is worth it …
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Charging What You Are Worth Is a Crock of Cheese Curds Ep 9
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Today, Cheryl and Liz focus on the difference between the calls to "charge what your worth" vs charging your value. Are you choosing to engage with a client simply because they are willing to pay your hourly rate, or is it because their project will bring real currency in terms of value to your firm? Have you set an hourly rate arbitrarily with no …
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How to get your clients to trust the process every single time Ep 8
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Summary Do your clients have a fear of creativity? In this episode, Cheryl and Liz dive into the art of building strong client relationships by addressing and alleviating the client's fears during the design process. The episode demonstrates the importance of understanding clients' psychology and the need to create unique, growth-inducing experienc…
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The word “transparency” has been hijacked. Cheryl and Liz discuss the cake story and how it relates to business by stressing the importance of clear communication, pricing, and setting expectations with clients. They emphasize building trust from the start and having a structured business plan to succeed in the design industry. Designers should be …
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Cheryl does not hold back today on how she feels about being “overwhelmed.” In their conversation, Cheryl and Liz discuss the influence of negativity within our language on one's mindset, self-assurance, teamwork, and client relationships. As you reflect on their discussion, remember two key points: Resilience is king & Confidence is the currency o…
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If your goal is to become a full-service design firm, it's important to embrace innovative design and challenge your clients to do the same. You must push yourself beyond your comfort zone to persuade clients to explore unfamiliar territory. You're not merely a personal shopper but a designer who brings ideas to life, overseeing a project from ince…
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The secret weapon you never knew you needed! Ep 4
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46:13
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"Are you ready for this?? I think you are! My contention is designers do not hire soon enough. They are driving the boat trying to navigating the rough currents alone. Don't let this be you--Look for an integrator to climb into the boat with you. ( And if you are an integrator and need the visionary to get you onto a bigger boat--well that can happ…
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If you are dissatisfied with your current client base or having issues with clients not trusting the process, consider reframing your marketing efforts. In this episode, Cheryl and Liz discuss the importance of how you market your firm in the ways that you probably do not often think about.. When you undervalue your creative skills by “discounting”…
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Owning the Initial Client Consultation Ep 1
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Welcome to the inaugural episode of the Damn Good Designer, where Cheryl and Liz of In Detail Interiors will share invaluable insights on building your successful design business with no topic off the table. Today they focus on a successful initial consultation. It might surprise you what Cheryl refuses to do or discuss when meeting the client for …
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Join Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan, the dynamic duo behind the visionary and integrator balancing all the moving parts of a full service interior design firm in their no-nonsense and thought-provoking podcast, the Damn Good Designer. Each episode is full of damn good truths and real talk as they share invaluable insights on how to run and bui…
…
continue reading