47: Designers vs Influencers
Explicit content warning
05/07/21 • 61 min
This week episode is all about the never ending battle between design influencers and designers. Just kidding! But the Hotties are talking about how the two business models differ and their experiences on both sides. It take a lot to do them successfully and running two businesses isn't as glamorous as it sounds.
Follow Rebecca
Follow Shaun
Stuff they mentioned:
Is Rebecca going to do the ORC again?
She might be getting to use a bold wallpaper by Milton & King and designer Tiff Manuell
If you hadn't heard, there's a huge lumber shortage and it's increasing the cost of projects exponentially.
Shaun got to go to his first dinner party since February 2020 pre-covid.
He shares more about how LGBT people create safe spaces to be authentically themselves.
This episode was recorded when we were together during Las Vegas Market in April 2021.
The blurred line between design influencers and designers can make it challenging for someone outside of the design industry to understand why they're each different
Feedback from our 2021 Listener Feedback Survey suggested a number of designer influencers for potential interview
We talk about what we're looking for in a guest episode and interview
We focus on the value a designer can offer to all of our listeners when we consider them for an episode
The main difference in the business model of design influencers is selling product - either through wholesale designer-exclusive vendors or via retail goods.
It's possible to be a design tastemaker without monetizing it to become an influencer
Amber Interiors and Studio McGee have been examples for many designers.
Amber Lewis recently partnered with Portola Paints on work for her own home, and launched her own line with Anthropologie
Ginny MacDonald talked about her partnership with Lulu & Georgia when we interviewed her for Episode 6
We talk about developing a strategy to build a following and understanding the "why" a follower base can help you depending on your business growth goals
Not all designers want a boutique or a shop
Designer led e-commerce platforms like Kathy Kuo Home or Burke Decor sell a lot of products from wholesale designer sources
Your own home can be a great place to experiment with your design style and push your creative limits
Consider using blogging as a method to build trust with potential clients and build your audience
More content on Pinterest and increasing your SEO performance can increase traffic to help clients find you
There aren't as many influencers who are actively working interior designers
We can learn a lot from influencers about marketing strategies, how they build their audiences, and how they present themselves authentically
As designers we need to get out of our own heads and put ourselves out there on social media to develop relationships with our future clients
We are our own most powerful marketing tool
How to connect ideas and be a storyteller
Consider using the
This week episode is all about the never ending battle between design influencers and designers. Just kidding! But the Hotties are talking about how the two business models differ and their experiences on both sides. It take a lot to do them successfully and running two businesses isn't as glamorous as it sounds.
Follow Rebecca
Follow Shaun
Stuff they mentioned:
Is Rebecca going to do the ORC again?
She might be getting to use a bold wallpaper by Milton & King and designer Tiff Manuell
If you hadn't heard, there's a huge lumber shortage and it's increasing the cost of projects exponentially.
Shaun got to go to his first dinner party since February 2020 pre-covid.
He shares more about how LGBT people create safe spaces to be authentically themselves.
This episode was recorded when we were together during Las Vegas Market in April 2021.
The blurred line between design influencers and designers can make it challenging for someone outside of the design industry to understand why they're each different
Feedback from our 2021 Listener Feedback Survey suggested a number of designer influencers for potential interview
We talk about what we're looking for in a guest episode and interview
We focus on the value a designer can offer to all of our listeners when we consider them for an episode
The main difference in the business model of design influencers is selling product - either through wholesale designer-exclusive vendors or via retail goods.
It's possible to be a design tastemaker without monetizing it to become an influencer
Amber Interiors and Studio McGee have been examples for many designers.
Amber Lewis recently partnered with Portola Paints on work for her own home, and launched her own line with Anthropologie
Ginny MacDonald talked about her partnership with Lulu & Georgia when we interviewed her for Episode 6
We talk about developing a strategy to build a following and understanding the "why" a follower base can help you depending on your business growth goals
Not all designers want a boutique or a shop
Designer led e-commerce platforms like Kathy Kuo Home or Burke Decor sell a lot of products from wholesale designer sources
Your own home can be a great place to experiment with your design style and push your creative limits
Consider using blogging as a method to build trust with potential clients and build your audience
More content on Pinterest and increasing your SEO performance can increase traffic to help clients find you
There aren't as many influencers who are actively working interior designers
We can learn a lot from influencers about marketing strategies, how they build their audiences, and how they present themselves authentically
As designers we need to get out of our own heads and put ourselves out there on social media to develop relationships with our future clients
We are our own most powerful marketing tool
How to connect ideas and be a storyteller
Consider using the
Previous Episode
46: Market Trends - Reflecting on Spring 2021 Vegas Market
On this week's episode we're taking you on a journey to Las Vegas Market with our favorite showrooms, trends, and tips. We even got to catch up with a few guest Hotties to share their thoughts from Spring 2021's Market.
Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]
Follow Rebecca
Follow Shaun
Stuff they mentioned:
The food and coffee situation at Las Vegas Market was rough
Rebecca is stoked that her website got fixed, she uses the Elementor plug-in for Wordpress
They're both stoked that Handmaid's Tale is back for Season 4
Shaun's potential client is really disappointed at the design options her home builder is offering
We caught up with Alexis Garrett of Alexis Garrett Design.
Alexis liked seeing caning, rope, and rattan
She loved Kim Salmela's collection for Norwalk Furniture, linens from Pom Pom At Home, and unique offerings from Kiss That Frog
Shaun picked up on a Golden Girls aesthetic that he didn't necessarily love
We spent some quality time with Maegan Blau of Blue Copper Design
Maegan highlighted rope furniture, modern lighting, and relaxed upholstery
We all visited the Sunset West outdoor furniture showroom and want to up our game
Rebecca loved seeing new ideas for leather details
Shaun is calling it - boucle is done
They both noticed traditional finishes like alabaster and crystal in lighting
Rebecca is all here for 70s lighting trends
Finally we got a cameo appearance from Ashley Ausland from Ausland Interior to hear her thoughts
Ashley loved seeing curved upholstery, fluting details, and tambour.
Seeing rounded shapes may be a reaction to the harshness of the last few years.
It reminded Rebecca of Ingrid Lee's book, Joyful
We both drew inspiration from the details inside the Vegas hotels
And we both enjoyed our stay at The Hotel Nomad
There was a bit of a roaring 20's influence in materials and shapes
The Hudson Valley Lighting showroom never disappoints
Shaun talks about how he wants to level up his outdoor furnishing game
They both shared how they're making plans to bring more accessory purchasing into their business
Rebecca's market pick was
Next Episode
48: A Conversation with Michele Williams
On this week's episode we welcome business strategist and coach Michelle Williams. Michele helps business owners gain clarity, confidence, and control so they can reclaim their time and to be passionate about their work. Don't miss her thought provoking ideas on money management and business mindset.
Questions/comments? Email us at [email protected]
Follow Rebecca
Follow Shaun
Stuff they mentioned:
Fake birkencrocks
Rebecca and Shaun's minds were blown during Michele's interview
Shaun's obsessed with the Merge Dragons! app
Rebecca recommended the Bardot Brushes for Procreate so Shaun could sketch more without pen and paper
We need less screen time and more reading like Brian's Paquette and DISC Interiors' new books
What designers have spaces that live in your head rent free?
Are friends and family experiencing quarantine postpartum? Rebecca talks about how hard it's been to meet with friends spontaneously.
Rebecca is loving her Birkenstock knock-offs she's calling- birkencrocks
Our guest today is Michele Williams, you can check out her website here, follow her on Instagram, or check out her podcast Profit Is A Choice.
Michele talks about how she turned her negative profit business into a sustainable living early into her business ownership journey
She shared how she felt like everyone in the design industry were hiding something from her, but they were just as lost as she was.
It's not just enough to be getting paid and have clients who love your work - we've got to develop smart money management strategies.
Are you going to be in hobby or are you going to be in business?
Try introducing yourself as an owner of a design firm instead of a designer
Build barriers and protections between yourself and your business
Challenge yourself to write down your business mission, vision, values, and policies to identify what your company stands for
Take "I" and "me" out of the equation to make things less personal
Michele compared strategic plans to tactical plans for business - sometimes you can make plans in advance as part of your business strategy, but in the moment with your clients and projects you may have to do something different as a tactical strategy.
Remember that our role is not to be an adversary with our clients or to go against their goals.
Sometimes we need to ask ourselves what the clients ideal solution is to a problem and compare it to our own ideal solution and work towards both of them together.
We start talking about the book, Profit First, and how to build a business model around it
The first thing we need to do is develop a framework and mindset around money management
Michele offered great ways to manage our money by separating the cost of goods from our operating income
We also talk about applying the profit first philosophy to our time, because time is also a currency.
Profit is about providing sustainability for our businesses, it's not just about having money.
We discuss selling the right product or service to the right person at the right price and managing the heck out of it.
The emotional aspect of money can get in the way of making it wisely
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/hot-young-designers-club-interior-design-business-podcast-143158/47-designers-vs-influencers-13529221"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to 47: designers vs influencers on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy