Care to share what you are doing different in your design biz this year due to all the…. well, stuff going on?
I know that I am – 1. Making sure that everyone that I have ever worked with before (and plenty that I have never worked with) know that I am here to help them turn their homes into their favorite place on earth – especially since so many of us will be staying in our homes forgoing big trips or even the sale of the home.
2. Now more than ever being flexible with projects - offering projects “manage-your-money” stages. 3. REALLY emphasizing the beauty of redesign - getting a designer look with YOUR things – your only investment is in my talent – YOUR things do the rest – GREAT value for the money!
So what about you – what are you doing differently? I’d love to know!
Care to Share Your Thoughts?
Posted in Decorating Business, Home Staging Business, Home Staging Training, Interior Design Business, Interior Redesign Training, Marketing For Interior Designers.
15 Responses
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Hi Mary,
I’ve made several changes to my business over the past 2 years to offer clients and potential clients more options.
1) In addition to complete interior design & decorating services, including project management, I added a new division called The House Therapist which focuses on home staging, home organizing, 1-3 day makeovers, “fast track decorating,” color consultations, and shopping services. I also added a category for “downsizing and/or merging households” within the past few months. These services are available either on a contracted basis, on a per diem basis, or by the hour. Clients can pick and choose from a menu of options.
2) I run monthly special offers on my website and offer free gifts to new subscribers and/ot new clients.
3) I am designing a new website just for The House Therapist to give it a somewhat separate identity from my interior design business.
4)I’m doing some “partnerships” with other area businesses.
5)I’ve started to advertise again in some local area publications to get my name out there again.
6)I joined a women business owner’s network and now attend monthly meetings to network and meet women outside of my “normal sphere of influence.”
7)I’m involved in fundraising for several area non-profits and often give very generous gift certificates for my services and/or discounts on products whenever there is a special event, auction, etc. I’ve also been involved in 3 on-line auctions in the past year to raise money for charitable causes.
8)I’m now doing a regular newsletter which is sent out every month to subscribers, former clients, business associates, etc. which offers tips, information, news, ideas, etc. as well as links to various web pages that highlight special offers, services, products, etc.
9)I use affiliate links on my website.
10)I promote other area businesses on my website and they, in turn, have a link to mine on theirs.
I could keep going — I’ve been doing a lot of different things over the past 2 years to generate more sales, get more clients, get my name out there, etc. It takes time, a positive attitude and mindset, the willingness to learn new things, to change my business model as times change, etc.
But I am dedicated to having my own business, and can’t imagine doing anything else for the next few years. I’m using “The House Therapist” as a jumping off point into some new ventures.
PS – I also joined Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as well as a few other forums geared to the design industry, such as AVA Living and your Grow Your Design Business. I also have 2 blogs
All links can be found on my website
Ceil! What a generous list you shared! I will be sure to refer to it in my newsletter next week as a COMPLETE MARKETING PLAN for people who don’t have a plan in place! Awesome! Keep us posted as to how you fare – I know you will do great and come out of these times shining!
Thanks, Mary.
There are lots of other “little things” I do on a regular basis to get my name out there, keep in touch with clients, and promote my business without being “too pushy” about it. Would love to discuss it further with you at some point.
Ceil Petrucelli
http://www.ceilpetrucelliinteriors.com
Ceil is great! I hope to meet you someday! I need your smart brain to pick as I start up my business…Thank you for these ideas! I too have moved towards a “house therapist” model…it’s kind of where my philosophy always was on design to start. I want to help people “feel” better as a result of changes in their environment.
One other thing that most of you probably already do or have done…is to join up with a few local businesses and ask to leave small box with a chance to win a free day of redesign from you…add an insert and a little paper pad for people to fill out their contact info. It’s a good way to get contacts.
Another idea might be to take Mary up on the Wine & Design idea.. .but to find a friend that will allow you to go their workplace and maybe talk at lunch hour to their colleagues… and gain some names etc that way too.
Thanks again!
Go Ceil!
I love everything that you said and am doing a number of those kinds of things myself – but – the House Therapist concept!!! Brilliant!!!
Thank you, thank you for sharing all of this valuable information. I am new to the business and greatly appreciate any valuable information that I can obtain. This is Great!
Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback on my marketing ideas! Mary, thanks for the great PR! I’ve learned that this is a process, to take things one step at a time, to remain open to new ideas and new opportunities, and not be afraid to make changes! Also, try to be flexible — sometimes, just one small thing will make a huge difference.
Here’s another idea for the “partnership” route with other businesses. I picked up the idea from a real estate/home staging newsletter and decided to modify it a bit for my own business. There are several businesses that I deal with or work with on a regular basis through my interior design business. To foster some good PR, I have given them $50.00 gift certificates toward my services (free of charge) to give to their customers as a promotional gift.. So far, I’m doing it with 2 kitchen design showrooms, a glass & shower door business, and I’m trying to find a couple of real estate agents to offer this to as well – for new homebuyers who may need decorating help or for home sellers who may need staging or organizing help. It doesn’t cost them anything and it gets my name out there – and a great sales tool to get additional business.
Ceil, What great ideas!! I love the “House Therapist” name. It is what most people are looking for right now. And your marketing ideas are terrific and I plan to start incorpoating most of them in my marketing plan. I have used e-newsletters, presentations for real estate offices and neighborhood women’s club meetings. You also have a great web site!
These are ALL such great ideas!!! I don’t know which one I like best.
How about giving away a pack of “Forget me not” seeds with a note to your best contacts?
Thank you for sharing your ideas. They were great I’m almost completed my first newsletter that I’m introducing. I was wondering if anyone can share how to get decorating tips to put in my newsletter.
Debra – great idea on the packet of “Forget-Me-Not” seeds! Also had a chance to visit your website and saw that you’re also a garden designer! What a great combination!
Warmly,
Ceil Petrucelli
http://www.ceilpetrucelliinteiors.com
A great way to get newsletter ideas is by adapting ideas from other sites. I subscibe to Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens Newsletters. They all have wonderful ideas. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the wonderful ideas from all of you!
This information is invaluable! I love that women are so generous with their experiences. I’ve done a consultation session with Mary and have followed much of her advice listed in her book. One thing I’m working on with my blog is to “interview” local businesses who are geared toward design and feature them in exchange for placing my business cards and/or speaking about design to a group. The interview process lets you know them and more importantly they get to know you and what you do and can then reccommend you!
My business since 1996 has been offering a variety of sewing and design services – pretty much anything and everything I could do. In January I announced that I would be specializing in slipcovers and pillows – products that I love to create! Focusing on this niche seemed like a huge risk to me in today’s economy but here is what has happened. For those services that I am no longer providing, I have referred clients to talented designers and those clients have really appreciated the new resources. At first, it was really hard to say no to any work, but now I am getting slipcover referrals from those designers. Finding my focus allowed me time to offer services I had not before, such as embroidery and hand-painted monograms (which I outsource, adding to my referral network). Also, narrowing my scope reduces the expense side of the business. Most of all, I am happier and more confident doing what I love. We all need to keep doing what we love. And remember to say thank you… to our clients… to those referring us… to our vendors… to our friends and colleagues. Thanks for all you do to inspire us Mary!!!