Episodes

If you’re looking to grow your firm’s revenue and profit, consider diversifying into other areas. That can take many different forms, depending on your interests, creativity and the opportunities that come your way. But be careful. A new enterprise can become a distraction and put a strain on your business. You want to choose those that support the main business and increase its value as well as its bottom line. In this episode, Gail talks with Julia Kirkendall, owner and principal designer, Ki...

Even in the best of times, running an interior design business presents many challenges. You can view them as obstacles, or you can view them as opportunities that drive you toward new possibilities. If you fret about the negative, you can cloud your mind with anxiety or worse. If you maintain a more positive, even optimistic, attitude, you can tap into your problem-solving skills to explore new, perhaps also better, options. In this episode, Gail talks with Cindy Aplanalp Ruzicka, principal de...

No matter how creative or talented you are, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. At the end of the day it’s what you deliver to the client that matters, not what’s on the design board. Turning inspiration into reality involves a lot of steps and orchestrated execution. Ensuring all that goes smoothly and according to plan is the role of the project manager. Whether that’s an individual or the function of some individual, they are critical to the success of your business. In this episode, ...

With 13 blocks of home furnishings, over 2,000 studios and showrooms, and a calendar full of events and educational sessions, High Point Market can feel overwhelming to first-time attendees. Don’t let the magnitude intimidate you. With a few pointers from an expert, you can customize your High Point experience to get the most from this one-of-a-kind industry showcase. In this episode, Gail talks with Tammy Covington Nagem, chief executive officer, High Point Market Authority in High Point, Nort...

Every entrepreneur and small business owner needs help now and then. Peer groups can be a great source of information and support. Books, blogs and podcasts can provide new approaches, strategies and valuable lessons learned. Sometimes, though, your best option is to seek out an expert who can work with you one-on-one to identify the source of the problem and create a plan to move forward. In this episode, Gail talks with Brian Kerlin, founder and chief executive officer of Optitude, a business...

Whether you’re a sole practitioner or running a large interior design firm, technology can help it operate more smoothly, efficiently and reliably. From managing projects to finances to human resources, technology can standardize policies and procedures, speed up access to information and documentation, and ensure proper compliance with laws and regulations. No matter if you are a tech newbie, a tech pro or a technophobe, you can find products and services to suit your abilities and the needs of...

Who are you designing for, yourself or your clients? Of course, you have a desire and an obligation to deliver the best design outcome for your clients. But they can choose from any number of designers. Rather than try to morph to accommodate the tastes of each individual client, be your authentic self and find the clients who want what you have to offer. In this episode, Gail talks with Kati Curtis, founder and principal designer, Kati Curtis Design in New York, New York. Regarded as one of NY...

Who cares if your business fails? Hopefully, you do. But are you paying attention to what’s going on in your business, especially on the financial and operations management side? That’s where many small businesses fail. Often it’s the unexpected calamity that can undo a business. You need to put safeguards in place and keep a close eye on your cash flow and reserves. Because nobody really cares if your business succeeds but you. In this episode, Gail talks with Philip Allen, chief operations of...

With two working spouses, finding a career-marriage balance can be difficult. When taking on a business partner, negotiating work styles and roles can be tough. So when spouses decide to go into business together, one might expect the challenges could be exponentially greater. Some couples, though, find a way to make it work. Some even find it rewarding. In this episode, Gail talks with Karen B. Wolf and Matt Brown of K+CO Living interior design, based in Short Hills, New Jersey. Karen is the o...

Business partnerships have something of a bad reputation. And not without good reason. An estimated 70 percent of all business partnerships eventually fail. On average, partnerships last no more than eight years. A majority last five years or less. However, with the right formula and constant care, partnerships can survive and thrive for many years. In this episode, Gail talks with Christi Barbour, founder and partner, Barbour Spangle Design in High Point, North Carolina, which specializes in b...

Drawings, plans and renderings have always been an integral component of the interior design process. Beginning in the early 2000s, advances in computer technology and software made it possible to create stunningly realistic detailed renderings of architecture and design projects. Soon followed 3D, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) renderings. These allow viewers to immerse themselves in a space before any construction has started. They can be a powerful tool for presenting your vi...

Decisions around compensation are some of the most difficult issues employers have to deal with. How do you determine what is the right level of compensation for a given position? How do you ensure compensation is equitable and fair across your entire team? To what extent should external factors such as inflation and market conditions bear on compensation levels? Aside from salary and basic benefits, what other forms of compensation should you be offering to attract and retain the best employees...

Four years ago the interior design industry came to a grinding halt as the pandemic swept the globe. And then, almost as quickly, the industry began to bounce back. Again, to most everyone’s surprise, it went from bounce to boom. Amongst all that turbulence came a lot of changes. Today’s interior design industry is not the same as it was four years ago. With the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, designers can expect more change ahead. In this episode, Gail talks with K...

The launch of ChatGPT to the general public in November 2022 ushered in a new era in the ever-expanding reach of technology into the workplace and our daily lives. Suddenly people with no technical skills or knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) could easily query an interactive assistant to perform various types of research, to synthesize large bodies of information, to generate content and images based on existing models, and more. Today, ChatGPT and other AI tools are used in many industr...

For small business owners, selling their business often is the biggest financial transaction they will ever undertake. It can be a highly emotional and stressful time. Sellers need to be prepared to undergo a multi-stage process that will demand a substantial amount of their time and attention. In this episode, Gail talks with William Lieberman, founder and managing partner of The CEO’s Right Hand, a boutique financial and human resources services firm based in New York. Among its other service...

Many interior design firm owners intend to never sell their business. Even in retirement, they plan to maintain some level of ownership and involvement. Yet, as we all know, stuff happens. Circumstances may arise that require selling the business. Or, as that once-distant retirement looms closer, disengaging from the business starts to look more attractive. Because you never know when you may need or want to sell your business, you should keep it sell-worthy at all times. In this episode, Gail ...

Attracting and engaging highly affluent clients requires a special set of skills. You need to understand their particular needs and expectations. While some can be overly demanding, if you earn their trust and respect, they can be some of the most loyal clients you can have. In this episode, Gail talks with Klaus Baer, chief operations officer of WRJ Interiors in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Founded in 2003, the firm has grown into a team of 25, with an enviable roster of highly affluent and influent...

If your future plans include selling your business, you’ll want to be prepared well in advance. You’ll have a lot of decisions to make, a lot of experts to consult, and a lot of paperwork to process. First and foremost, you’ll need to keep your practice thriving to make it attractive to potential buyers. In this episode, Gail invites interior designer Patti Julber back to the podcast. Patti, who serves as director of coaching for Pearl Collective, recently sold her interior design business, Co...

What’s driving your interior design business? Is it your vision? Or is it what clients—any clients—tell you they want? It takes courage and confidence to show the world who you are and let them decide if it’s what they want. Yet, the rewards can be great. You won’t know unless you try. In this episode, Gail talks with Nina Magon, founder and principal, Nina Magon Studio, based in Houston, Texas, with offices in San Francisco, California and (soon) Austin, Texas. Along with her design practice, ...

To stay physically healthy you need to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get periodic check-ups. The same is true for your financial health, whether for your personal finances or those of your business. In addition to monitoring your accounts and monthly P&L statement, you need to keep abreast of changes in tax and estate law at the state and federal levels. You also need a strategy for growing and protecting your wealth, so that you can enjoy the lifestyle you want when you retire or ...

Many factors contribute to success. Some we can control and some we can’t. But there’s one factor that separates the somewhat successful from the highly successful: setting goals and sticking to them. Whatever fortune or misfortune you may encounter, you have to stay laser-focused on achieving your goals if you want to realize your dreams. The place to start is by holding yourself accountable every day for accomplishing the tasks that will bring you closer to your goal. In this episode, Gail Dob...

Gail Doby speaks with Bob Rauf, a wealth management advisor. He discusses succession planning for design business owners. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s8e4-shownotes

Gail Doby talks with author Mike Michalowicz about his new book All In, and specifically about how to build a great team. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s8e3-shownotes

Gail Doby talks with Pamela Harvey, owner of Pamela Harvey Interiors and a coach for Pearl Collective about working with affluent clients. If you're listening on your favorite podcast platform, read the full shownotes here: https://thepearlcollective.com/s8e2-shownotes