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Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design

Katie Decker-Erickson, Business Coach for Interior Designers

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As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming. That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while ...
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We discuss materials management, specification, interior design, architecture, and things in between -- to help you design better, build more efficiently, and grow your design and build firm. Fohlio is a product specification and data management software for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Get your trial at fohlio.com.
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Formerly known as Carolina Commercial Real Estate Connection, Timeless Business and Building Strategies pivots its focus to highlight Tony’s expertise in business strategies and construction. This podcast is designed for General Contractors, Specialty Contractors, Developers, and Entrepreneurs looking to start, grow, or scale their businesses to extraordinary success. Are you ready to become one of the most successful contractors or developers in your area? Tony shares the proven strategies, ...
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Want to boost your creativity, skyrocket your productivity, and reignite your passion for design? It might be time to step away. In this episode, I'm revealing why intentional, strategic rest isn't just nice—it's essential for interior designers aiming for sustainable success. Whether you're running a growing six-figure …
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Ever wonder why some interior design firms seem to glide through the ups and downs of business effortlessly, while others always seem stressed about finances? I've learned the key difference is simple but powerful—knowing your numbers. This week, I'm sharing exactly how I've structured my business around clear, reliable …
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Ever feel like your interior design business runs you, instead of you running it? You're not alone. But what if the secret to effortless growth, standout projects, and loyal clients isn’t found in the latest trends or marketing hacks, but within the core of your business itself? In this episode, I'm revealing the hidden …
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Every interior designer has a unique “genetic code”—their style, values, and creative philosophy. But are you consciously tapping into yours to truly stand out and attract your ideal clients? In this episode, we’re diving deep into how your Design DNA can fuel purposeful, profitable, and authentic growth for your practic…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! In an industry constantly evolving with trends, technology, and shifting client expectations, building an interior design business that's both creatively inspiring and strategically sound has never been more critical. But how exactly do you create a design empire that can withstand change, scale sustainably, and flourish…
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California’s escalating wildfire crisis is forcing a radical rethink in residential architecture. With fires growing in intensity, frequency, and unpredictability, architects, planners, and policymakers are coming together to define a new blueprint for resilient, sustainable living in the wildland-urban interface. In May, I journeyed to Design Hard…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Interior design is more than stunning blueprints, curated Pinterest boards, and beautifully staged reveals. True design excellence—and sustainable business success—begins when we move beyond surface-level planning and dive deeper into our purpose, passion, and personal values. In this episode, we explore how you can auth…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Ever wondered how to attract seven-figure interior design clients? In this episode, I sit down with the talented John McClain, known for mastering high-value, luxury projects. This conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss! John reveals how he evolved from accepting "anyone with a heartbeat and a checkb…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Have you ever felt unsure how to structure your design packages or nervous about raising your prices, even when you know you're worth it? You’re not alone. Katie is exploring exactly how to craft irresistible, premium design packages tailored specifically for high-end residential and commercial clients—those ready and wi…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Ever wonder why some interior designers effortlessly attract dream clients, while others scramble just to stay busy? The answer might surprise you—it’s all about knowing exactly who your ideal client is and what they truly want. In this week’s episode, Katie dives into how leveraging demographic and psychographic data ca…
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Send us a text Eric Benson shares the journey of Benson Systems, a family business that evolved from a garage startup in 1986 to a thriving 75-employee operation specializing in security, fire alarm, and sprinkler systems in Arizona. • Father started Benson Systems in 1986 from his garage as a security contractor • Expanded into fire alarm and supp…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Are you an interior designer wondering if coaching is right for you? Curious about taking your business from good to great—or perhaps from zero to thriving? Join Katie as she welcomes one of her coaching clients, Zoe Browne, to the podcast. Zoe’s journey is an inspiring example of how transformative the right support can…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Are tariffs making you anxious? You're not alone. In this must-listen podcast episode of The Table, Katie is joined by industry heavy-hitters Laurie Laizure, Rick Campos, and Dr. Jennifer Chukwujekwe to tackle the tariff turmoil head-on. From staggering markups and shifting vendor dynamics, to managing client expectation…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Think tariffs don’t affect you? Think again. On this episode of Success by Design, Mastering the Business of Interior Design, Katie breaks down exactly why interior designers must care about these seemingly distant policies—and how tariffs quietly ripple through every project, influencing your pricing, timelines, and cre…
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Send us a text What does it really take to build a successful construction business rooted in integrity? Adam Ferrara, founder of Ferrara Buist Contractors, reveals the surprising path that led him from residential construction to commercial contracting and development during one of the worst economic downturns in recent history. Starting his first…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Ready to level up your confidence game and finally feel like the expert you already are? In this episode, I'm tackling the surprising psychology behind imposter syndrome, ditching the myth that giant leaps are the only way to build confidence, and showing you how to stop letting perfectionism rule your life (and your rat…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, Katie Decker-Erickson is bringing you actionable insights directly inspired by last week's powerful conversation with Rebecca Hay. Get ready to transform uncertainty into opportunity with strategies specifically tailored for interior design businesses facing market slowdowns. Slowdowns are inevitable—but…
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I’m Josh Cooperman, host and publisher of Convo By Design as well as Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware and Flooring in Los Angeles. This is year 6 of Doctoring Up Design, a show that was created to help design specifiers address some of the pain points professionals in the architecture, interior design and landscape archi…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Feeling the squeeze of a market slowdown? You’re not alone. Interior designers everywhere are navigating shifting client expectations, tighter budgets, and the need to be more strategic than ever. We’re joined by celebrated designer Rebecca Hay to explore exactly how to stay profitable and resilient—even when times get t…
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Send us a text Tony Johnson welcomes Joe Marangolo from JSM Project Management to discuss the critical role owner's representatives play in successful construction projects. Joe explains how construction management connects the early planning phases with actual construction execution, providing value through team building, risk management, and clea…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, we break down essential project management strategies to help interior The #1 mistake designers make that leads to project chaos—and how to avoid it. Ready to streamline your projects, increase efficiency, and maximize profits? Don’t miss this power-packed episode—your future self (and clients) will than…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! You’ve likely seen this scenario play out—a homeowner has an idea for their remodel, the GC calls it stupid, and while he has a point, the homeowner’s feelings are hurt and no one’s offered a viable solution. That is precisely where we come in. As interior designers, we are uniquely able to translate our clients’ ideas t…
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Send us a text Ray Garfield shares how his firm has revolutionized public infrastructure development by creating faster, more efficient alternatives to traditional government building processes. Helping public clients bypass lengthy referendums and inefficient bidding systems, Garfield Public Private has delivered nearly $3 billion in essential fac…
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Send us a text Sam Rockaway shares his journey from body shop owner to Senior Vice President at Redcom Design and Construction, where they've doubled company size over 14 years to reach $70 million in annual revenue. His team provides vertically integrated design-build solutions with in-house engineering, architecture, and project management capabi…
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Send us a text Jeffrey Rosenberg shares the journey of Big V Properties from a family grocery business to a vertically integrated real estate company managing 10 million square feet across 14 states. He reveals how strategic systems implementation and operational efficiency enabled their impressive growth trajectory. • Started as a family grocery b…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! In this episode, we’re diving into the marketing strategies you need to attract your ideal clients and scale your business in 2025. If marketing feels overwhelming, don’t worry—this episode breaks it into actionable steps that feel authentic and effective. Grab a notebook and your favorite coffee—this episode is packed w…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! For most interior designers, marketing is throwing noodles at the wall and seeing what sticks. A little Instagram here, a little TikTok there, and maybe some paid ads for good measure. But deep down, you know that’s not a great way to run a business, increase visibility, or build brand awareness—let alone get paying clie…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! As interior designers, we love being creative and bringing a client’s vision to life. Financials, budgets, and marketing strategies? Not so much. But our firms simply don’t exist without these key elements of business. Between the neverending natural disasters, dramatic economic shakeup, and mounting questions of what to…
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’m Josh Cooperman, host and publisher of Convo By Design as well as Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware in Los Angeles. This is year 6 of Doctoring Up Design, a show that was created to help design specifiers address some of the pain points professionals in the architecture, interior design and landscape architecture space …
  continue reading
 
Send Katie a Text Message!! In this solo episode, we're honing in on what it takes to build a business legacy. That may sound like nailing jello to a wall, but there are specific, actionable steps you can take to make this happen! This isn’t just about scaling your firm or making a name for yourself. This is about creating something that lasts well…
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Send us a text Unlock the secrets to optimizing your commercial real estate investments with our latest episode! Join us for an enlightening conversation with Eric Oliver from Cost Segregation Authority, as we explore how mastering the art of cost segregation can transform your financial strategy. Learn how Eric's journey from a family-owned landsc…
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Send us a text Imagine turning childhood passions into a thriving career. That's exactly what Eric Farewell did. At just 13, he started selling airplanes online, and today, he's at the helm of five businesses, including the largest paramotor flight school. In our latest episode, Eric shares his mission-driven approach to entrepreneurship, where pur…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Unless you’re a drafter, most of us in the interior design world loathe technology. But it’s a necessary part of the job when it comes to running a business. So… how can tech support the design process and in scaling a business? My tech go-to, Danny Marsh, joins us for this episode! Danny shares technology challenges uni…
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In an industry that celebrates greatness from within the ranks of design creatives across the country, we don’t always do the best job cultivating new talent. Sometimes it starts by simply showcasing a new creative, even if they don’t happen to be new to business. Designer as second career is one of the most popular ways many arrive, but in many wa…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! The mental gymnastics it takes to start a business is just… different from the mindset shifts it takes to scale a business to 6-figures and beyond. (Mindset plays a huge role in both personal and professional growth!) I’m thrilled to have Laura Thornton back on the podcast for this conversation. We’re discussing the mind…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Whether or not you’ve heard of thought habits, you’re most certainly familiar with the impact your self-talk has on your habits. But you may be surprised to hear just how impactful those thoughts of yours are on your business growth—or—lack thereof. Habit Finder Coach, Amy Kemp, is here to discuss this topic! Amy shares …
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Send Katie a Text Message!! As an interior designer, there are a few business decisions that will critically impact your growth. Scaling your business to your lifestyle is an artform. It takes dedication, discipline, and determination. And Jeanne Collins knows this journey all too well! She joins us today to share how to know when it’s time to hire…
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When we think and speak about architecture, the majority of the conversation revolves around the work itself. But much of the finished project is the combined work product of a team behind the scenes. The teams that craft the work of world-class organizations like Landry Design Group are worthy of exploration. architecture can be single-creative en…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Welcome to one of our most anticipated conversations—the 2025 Color of the Year! Join color marketing experts from PPG, Sherwin-Williams, and Benjamin Moore as they reveal their picks, what inspired the selections, what they’re noticing with design trends in general, and what’s coming down the pike in the next couple of …
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Leaders in the interior design industry join me to discuss trends and predictions about the future—specifically 2025! You’ll hear from LuAnn Nigara, Rick Campos, and Dr. Jennifer Chukwujekwe. They’re sharing what 2024 was like for their businesses, what they’re evaluating as we wrap up the year, how they’re strategically…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! ‘Tis the season for the Fall High Point Market of 2024! We know you’re here for the tips, tricks, trends, and everything we learn at market every time we go. And this time is no different—except we’re switching things up a bit! Di normally goes to market and gives us a recap on what’s trending in lighting, furniture, and…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Creative burnout hits even the best of us. And Jennifer Bertrand (that’s right, of HGTV’s ‘Design Star’) is here to share her story with us from not-the-right-fit clients to sources of inspiration to how she’s been able to sustain her current level of creativity—Jennifer’s baring it all! Tune in, and don’t miss today’s C…
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Send us a text Ever wondered how an automotive engineer transitions into a successful real estate mogul? Join us as we chat with Dave Homjak, who traded his tools for property deeds and built a thriving real estate investment portfolio in the Smoky Mountains. Dave shares his meticulous approach, shaped by years at Rolls-Royce and General Motors, to…
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This is Doctoring Up Design, the official podcast of Design Hardware and Flooring. The showroom has been here on 3rd Street in Los Angeles since 1985 serving the design community and part of our commitment to this vibrant and talented group of creatives includes showcasing talent and allowing for peer to peer, long form conversations. These convers…
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Send us a text Discover the power of private money in real estate investing with our latest episode featuring the brilliant Jay Conner. Jay's been a game-changer in the real estate world since 2009, never missing out on a deal due to funding. He introduces his revolutionary seven-day Private Money Challenge, a transformative program that shows inve…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Finances, in general, are a scary thing. Finances in your business, well, they can be even scarier. So how do you get over that? And what are the key skills and habits that business owners need in order to break through and reach that magical 7-figure number? Whether you run a 6-figure interior design firm and are wantin…
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Send us a text What if you could transform a small duplex purchase into a sprawling portfolio of commercial properties? In this episode, we sit down with Carlos Rovira from Florida, who takes us through his remarkable 15-year journey in real estate investing. Starting in 2009 with a modest duplex, Carlos has become a specialist in triple net shoppi…
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Send us a text What if you had launched a financial company during the worst financial crisis of our generation and turned it into a thriving nationwide provider? Join us as Jake Clopton, founder of Clopton Capital, recounts his extraordinary journey from trading interbank hedging products to becoming a key player in the commercial real estate fina…
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Send Katie a Text Message!! Even if you are a company of 1, it’s critical to think about the company culture you want to build! Which includes way more than just values and beliefs you post to your About page. But maybe you have questions like… how do you design a company culture? And how do you actually put it into action? Welcome Josh Dykstra bac…
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