Create an Online Dropshipping Store

Dropshipping has become a very popular way for people to run online stores. It enables you to create a site and sell products without having inventory or even paying for the products until they are sold. Interior designers are creating their own online stores using dropshipping.

How to start a dropshipping business:

1.       Find a supplier. You will need to find dropshipping suppliers to work with. Oberlo is a marketplace that allows you to find products that you can sell online with dropshipping and according to them the home décor industry will be a $664 billion dollar industry by 2020.

Other dropshippers to consider for home décor: Eastwind Wholesale Gift Distribution, Koehler Home Décor, Park Designs, Wholesale Interiors, Sage Brook Home, Aspire Home Accents, Classic Touch Décor, Designs Direct, LLC, Home Spice.

2.       Build your store. You can use Shopify, Squarespace, Weebly, GoDaddy or BigCommece. If you decide to use Oberlo (mentioned above) they work hand in hand with Shopify.

3.       Market your website. Create a marketing plan and post your website on social media, your blog, email subscriber list and anywhere else you can to gain exposure.

When looking at marketing your dropshipping business some trends for 2020 to consider are:

*Mobile sales are significantly increasing which means people are using their phones more than ever to purchase products. Make sure your site is mobile friendly!

*Business owners are optimizing their website’s home pages and turning them into product pages. Sell the products front and center instead of having a Shop tab.

*Video descriptions of products are going to start showing up more and more on websites.

*Another random note that may or may not help with creative brainstorming when trying to figure out what to sell on your site – subscription boxes and personalized products are on the rise. Consumers love personalizing items and millennials love subscription boxes. Stay tuned in December for a post about creating subscription boxes for the interior design industry.

A dropshipping store can be as lucrative as you like if you do the marketing, social media and get the word out there. It’s a huge undertaking and if you don’t have the time … well you know where to go. :)

Earn Passive Income with an Online Store

Many interior designers make just as much money, if not more, on the commission off the products they are selling to their clients than they are on their design fees. There are only so many hours in a week to be able to create designs so a great way to grow your business is by selling products.

You can earn a great passive income by creating an online shop where your clients and target market can shop goods that are curated by you.

Curious how to get started?

1.       Set up trade accounts. I’m guessing most of you have several trade accounts set up already so research which vendors allow ecommerce sales. These are the vendors you can work with in your online shop.

2.       Create an inventory plan. Every vendor will be different in what they require for order minimums and re-order minimums. Start small and grow from there meaning start with small inventory number but a larger range of products.

3.       Create your site. There are a lot of ecommerce site templates you can purchase to make this part easy. Popular ecommerce site builders for small business are Squarespace, Shopify, Weebly and GoDaddy. You will need to calculate shipping costs so have your weights and dimensions on hand. Once your inventory and shipping are loaded connect your site to your preferred payment processor and you are ready to roll.

4.       Add content. Consider SEO when typing in descriptions for your items and use professional looking photography.

5.       Market your site. Showcase your site on social media, your blog, in a video, to your email subscriber list and anywhere else you get exposure.

There are a lot of great articles and videos online that will help you create a gorgeous ecommerce site. However, if you need help you may want to consider hiring a professional with experience creating ecommerce sites for small businesses.

If the above sounds too complicated another option might be to consider using a dropship service where you don’t have to worry about inventory for your online store. I’ll share more information on dropshipping next week!

4 Trending Revenue Streams for Interior Designers

There are several ways to create income as an interior designer other than just offer your typical services and trade products.  Depending on your situation some of them may be more inline with your current business. A few of the most popular ways I see interior designers growing their businesses today are below.

1.       Affiliate income – You can become an affiliate for several vendors selling furniture, home décor, art, fabric, window treatments and everything else your clients are already purchasing. Add your links to social media and start making sales from people who don’t hire you for your services. I know interior designers who have created mood boards with shopping lists and posted them on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, their blog and subscriber email to make more sales.

2.       Courses – Online education is huge and there are people all over the world making millions of dollars selling their online courses. It is a lot of hard work to create a course, market it and manage it but you can create one course and sell it over and over again, even while you sleep.

3.       Online stores – You could create your own store and sell a variety of things such as a book you’ve written, fabrics or artwork you’ve created, refurbished furniture pieces and a variety of other things.

4.       Coaching – Online business coaching is another growing industry and there are many people who benefit from working with a successful interior designer in the industry. Your target market will pay for your mentoring, expertise and knowledge to help them gain success in a quicker fashion than if they were to have to reinvent the wheel themselves.

I’ve personally seen interior designers successfully implement the options above into their businesses. At the end of the day you’ll yield the best results with the options your most passionate about. With any of the above you won’t make money overnight but with some time and dedication you have the potential to make more money than you ever thought possible.

With the new year quickly approaching, what are your goals for your business for 2020? Are you ready to add another revenue stream?

Grow Your Business with a Copywriter

Copy sells and a huge part of marketing is the copy. Your target market is reading about you on your website, social media platforms, subscriber emails and any other vehicle you use to get your message out to the world. Unfortunately, very talented and skilled professionals can be missing out on business solely based on the copy they are using.

Often business owners are amazed at how much a copywriter assists in driving sales. Every piece of your marketing requires copy. Below are just a few things that you need copy for and with great copy they all have the potential to generate sales.

1.       Blog posts

2.       Emails

3.       Website content

4.       Search engine traffic

5.       Marketing pieces/advertisements

6.       Social media posts

7.       Client stories

8.       Video scripts

I understand not everyone is interested or feels they have the budget for a copywriter but consider this; Are you comfortable writing copy? Is writing copy the best use of your time? If you aren’t comfortable writing copy are you willing to put in the time to learn? In the long run, hiring a copywriter can actually save you time, money and increase your sales. It’s all part of the investment back into your business that is necessary to grow.

Your copy is what sets you apart from the rest – let’s say you are an amazing interior designer specializing in residential coastal design in California. And potential clients are looking at your website and social media along with another really good coastal designer in California. The work is similar, maybe your processes are similar, so they are going to go for the better copy. Which copy spoke to them more and which copy drew them in and made them excited about doing business with an interior designer.

Your copy can also be what got you noticed in the first place. You had great copy, so they looked at your work and stayed on website or navigated to your website. Even with individuals who have images to show for their work, the copy is still what people read. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work to just throw a bunch of images out there with zero copy and hope to get sales, people want to read about you and your story.

Please always feel free to email me with questions about working with a copywriter. Or if you want to start small you can always purchase emails from the Shop on my website for only $15 per email. We have several emails but a few of them are:

1.       Is Hiring an Interior Designer Worth It?

2.       5 Easy Steps to Update Your Living Room

3.       How High to Hang Artwork

4.       How to Choose The Right Sized Rug

5.       Thank you for subscribing (this is an email you’d send after someone subscribes to your email)

6.       Email Client Review (this email asks your clients to leave a review and where to leave it)

Remember, copy sells!

The Importance of Interior Design

Sometimes it’s fun to explore a new angle of interior design. Interior Design isn’t about wanting things to be perfect or providing a beautiful outward appearance to peers or even about having the best of everything. Interior design is about providing a beautiful space to further enhance where a person and/or family spends their time, makes their memories and strives to be their happiest.

As an interior designer I don’t have to tell you about the science behind interior design or the psychology behind color but do your clients know the value you bring to them not only as an interior designer but as an expert in creating a happy space?

I know every interior designer treats their business a little bit different, every interior designer has their own ‘why’ and their own branding.

A post I think you should consider sharing with your target market either as an email or a blog post would be The Value of Using an Interior Designer. This is great for residential and commercial. Commercial spaces need happy people, too.

In addition to writing about the time and money savings involved in using an interior designer include a bit about the science behind design and the benefits interior design can have on mental health. More than ever people are striving to be happy and that starts by waking up in a happy space, eating in a happy space, winding down in a happy space, spending time in a happy space, working in a happy space and making memories in a happy space.

There are several ways to look at the benefits of interior design and at the end of the day which of those benefits most resonates with your target market? Figure it out and promote that benefit or benefits the most and if you are looking for a new angle to promote - promote a beautiful and happy space!

Need a Few New Sources?

Sources for interior designers

I know a lot of interior designers talk about sourcing and where to find great products. I’m sure you have your favorite go-to sources but it’s always great to find a new one now and again. Below are a few great new sources that other interiors designers have been raving about recently, so I had to share!

OKA – www.oka.com

Originating in England, OKA offers exquisite, original collections of furniture and décor that are designed to inspire practical living and effortless entertaining. Synonymous with good taste and excellent style, we have furnished homes all over the world for the past 20 years.

This company does offer an affiliate program with a 6% commission.

Maiden Home – www.maidenhome.com

They offer heritage quality, direct from craftsmen, minus the retail markup. These are timeless pieces that are built to last. Located out of North Carolina they do offer at trade program.

Society 6 – www.society6.com

This source is very popular among designers for artwork, but they offer a variety of items from tapestries, pillows, shower curtains, comforters, window curtains and more.

McGee & Co – www.mcgeeandco.com

Their products are refreshingly modern and endlessly classic. They offer everything from furniture, rugs, décor, bed & bath, wall décor, lighting, kitchen items and even holiday décor. They offer a trade program for interior designers and are actively looking to build their brand.

Is sourcing not your thing? Please let me know if you need help. We have some great virtual design assistants who love helping our clients with sourcing.

How To Hire An Assistant

Business is booming and you need help! I match virtual assistants to help interior designers manage and grow their business but not all interior designers want to work with someone virtually and that’s okay. You need to do what’s best for you and your business. Are you at a point where you could use some help? Are you getting so busy you are overwhelmed? Are there certain aspects of your business that you dread and continue putting on the back burner? Have you recently considered hiring help? If you answered yes, to any of those questions then this post is for you!

You’ve realized you need help, now what? Take a few moments and make a list of the things you need help with – what tasks do you feel would be the easiest for you to let go of, what tasks do you dread doing and what tasks would really make you feel less overwhelmed if you could outsource them.

Now review that list of tasks – is it possible to outsource them to a virtual assistant or should you consider hiring an in-office assistant? Are these tasks going to take someone 40 hours per week or 20 hours per week or are they really on an as-needed basis? If you need a lot of help with renders, floor plans, administration, sourcing, social media and marketing among other things those can all be outsourced to a virtual assistant. However, if you need help with organizing fabric libraries, running errands, site visits and overseeing projects than an in-office assistant is what you’re going to need to hire.

Whichever route you take it’s best to put together a job listing including the required education, experience and details of the job. The clearer you can be on the job description, qualifications and your expectations the better. You are going to need to advertise for the position online, in a local job board, on LinkedIn, in a Facebook group or in the local newspaper to start generating some resume. Review the resumes and set up interviews.

There are pros and cons to hiring both a virtual assistant and in-office assistant.

Virtual assistants are typically 1099 contractors, they work on an as-needed basis and you can either hire one direct or through a virtual assistant agency. You don’t have to worry about providing them a work space, equipment, benefits or keeping them busy for a certain number of hours. The great ones are super reliable, professional and easy to work with.

The con to hiring virtual is that they are virtual – they are not able to run errands, do site visits or organize things in your office. If you don’t need these types of services, then there really isn’t a con to hiring a virtual assistant.

When you hire an in-office assistant, they are typically an employee that is going to need a work space, equipment, set hours and benefits. They are there in person to help with tasks that require them to be in the office or at a job site. Some business owners like knowing they can see their assistant face-to-face on a regular basis.

Along with the tasks you need completed, your personality also plays a big part in whether you hire virtually or not. I’ve worked in the virtual world for thirteen years and am very used to working with people over the phone, email and Skype or Zoom. Some people aren’t comfortable working in that way and that is okay!

Just as becoming an interior designer isn’t for everyone, working with a virtual assistant isn’t for everyone. And sometimes working with an assistant period isn’t for everyone. But if you are struggling and you need help please let me know.

I’m always happy to answer questions about hiring an assistant whether it’s a virtual one or one that’s in your office.

What You Should Consider Including in Your Interior Design Contract

Interior Design contract

When it comes to contracts you should consult an attorney but before you do, what are other interior designers saying you should consider when drawing up your contracts?

Knowing exactly what to include in your interior design contract can be overwhelming. Especially when something comes up that’s not covered. I am NOT a lawyer and I am NOT giving legal advice here but when several interior designers were asked what they would include in their interior design contract, these were some of the answer that they came up with. Of course, all of these may not pertain to you, this list is just to give you some things to think about. When dealing with contracting I suggest you consult with your attorney or purchase legal contracts from a reputable provider. There are a few below that other interior designers have recommended.

What other interior designers say you should consider including in your contract.

1.       If you do not want to hire contractors and be the general on a project add verbiage where the client hires all contractors and is responsible for paying those contractors.

2.       Add a disclaimer that you are not responsible for the quality of items purchased.

3.       Include fees for late payments.

4.       Be sure to include a termination clause where all payment for work already completed and any items ordered will be due in full at time of termination.

5.       If you want to use the photographs of finished work in your marketing, make sure you have a ‘reserve the right to take photos and use those images in your marketing’ clause.

6.       Make sure your fee/payment schedule is clear. Do you require up front payment of any sort, do you bill monthly, do you bill for estimated shipping charges and then reconcile charges at time of delivery? Include everything possible.

7.       Trade sources – This maybe isn’t included in your contract, again consult an attorney, but be careful of sharing your trade resources. There have been instances of clients going directly to the vendors in search of a better deal.

Besides the obvious standard lingo on specifications of work, drawings, etc., what the internet says you should consider when creating a contract.

1.       Consultants and contractors – (similar to above) Some interior designers will oversee the work of contractors and hire their own – others will have the client hire and pay contractors. Be clear about how you run your business in your contract.

2.       Prices guarantees – Be sure to include a clause that does not guarantee the price of goods or other services if you are hiring contractors. Pricing changes can be out of your control and if you quote a client a price today and they decide two weeks from now to purchase that item, the price may have changed. Protect yourself!

3.       Purchasing and Procurement – If you want paid up front for the purchase of goods then put that in the contract and be sure to collect payment at time of order.

4.       Refunds – Be sure to include a clause that states your goods and services are non-refundable. If you are dealing with custom pieces, they are non-refundable.

5.       Cancellations – Like above be sure to have a cancellation clause that states how the payment works upon cancelation/termination.

6.       Reimbursable costs – Be sure to outline what reimbursable charges are such as shipping charges, rendering services, travel, storage, etc.

7.       Payment terms – when is payment due and how often?

8.       Insurance – Be sure to have business insurance to cover your business, liability, commercial auto and possibly even worker’s comp. But also consider in the contracting what the client should have insurance on in regard to their home and goods. Seems silly but who is responsible for all furnishings and materials during delivery, moving and installation?

9.       Photography of completed works – like mentioned above, make sure you make it clear you want photos of the finished product, include that you will not mention the clients name or address in your marketing.

Other things to consider:

·         Revision limitations – you certainly don’t want unlimited revisions, or you may never get a job completed.

·         Fees for interior design work delays – if your client is holding up the project for some reason what are the fees for their delays.

·         Damages

·         Expiration of agreement

·         Access to project

·         Safety on site

·         Ownership of designs – if you own the design make that clear in your contracting so others aren’t able to profit from your designs.

·         Indemnity

·         Site visit and limitations –set a limit of site visits or you may be called to the site frequently by the client for little to no reason at all.

It seems like a lot but the more you have in your contract, the better off you are! There are several great resources for interior design contracts out there. A few that I’ve seen other interior designers recommend are Nancy Ganzekaufer at www.nancyganzekaufer.com or Capella Kincheloe at https://www.capellakincheloe.com.

I am not an affiliate for either one and do not profit from you purchasing anything from them.

At the end of the day you need to be sure that your contract protects yourself from a variety of situations that can come up as an interior designer dealing with clients. The more you outline in the contract the better off you’ll be.

Get your thoughts in order and consult an attorney, it will save you time and headaches in the future!

Let’s Do A Freebie!

Freebie for an email subscriber list

Let’s talk freebies. If you want to start an email subscriber list or grow one a great way to capture email addresses is by offering some sort of freebie to your potential clients. When choosing a freebie to offer consider your target market and what will most likely speak to them.

I’ve looked over many interior designers’ websites and found some of the most popular freebies to offer people for signing up for your email subscriber list.

1.       A Style Quiz – create a quiz that allows your email subscribers to answer a series of questions that will determine their style.

2.       A Guide to Where an Interior Designer Shops – create a guide filled with your affiliate links to where you shop. This is a freebie to your email subscribers but could generate some great passive income for you when they click on your links to shop.

3.       A Guide that solves a problem – think of the most popular questions your clients and potential clients have asked you and create a guide educating them on that subject. Examples would be how to hang curtains, how to create a gallery wall or how to style a dining table.

4.       Color Palettes – some interior designers will give the top 3 most popular color palette or something along those lines to people for signing up for their email.

5.       A Kitchen Remodel checklist – If you are a kitchen designer, create a checklist of things to consider when remodeling a kitchen. Be sure to add a blurb about the benefits of working with an interior designer when remodeling to generate further interest in your services.

6.       Tips for Simplifying & Decluttering Your Home – Everyone wants a beautiful, clean, happy home so how do they achieve that? One of the best ways is to simplify and declutter, but where to start? Create a download on how to simplify and declutter your home.

Now that I gave you ideas on the types of freebies you can offer your potential clients, what kind of freebie would you like to see from me? A free email template for your subscriber list? A guide on how to write the perfect blog post? Let me know and I’ll put it on my website.

Of course, if you are already subscribed to my email, I’ll simply email you the freebie when it’s ready.

Thank you for your continued feedback! It brings me great joy to help you with your business adventures in interior design.

Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Your Target Market Through Video

Connect with target marketing through video

I imagine you’ve been a witness to the increased use of video in business today. As our world continues to gravitate to more of a virtual world video has become a great tool to connect with current and prospective clients. The form of marketing has worked wonders for many businesses including interior designers but as an interior designer how do you best utilize video to engage with your prospective clients?

Here are some great ideas for creating videos your clients will love.

1.       Video a paint consult. Showing your target market your process is a great way to gain trust and start a relationship with them. People may not even realize they need you until they see you in action.

2.       Showcase a finished space you recently designed. People love seeing newly designed spaces. This will showcase your talents as an interior designer.

3.       Bring your target market behind the scenes. Everyone thinks they can be a designer but once they see the multiple moving pieces involved in the day in the life of a designer, they may decide to hire you instead.

4.       Create videos on styling. People love to redesign their spaces so show them great ways to style a bookshelf, coffee table, dining table, fireplace mantel etc.

5.       Video something unexpected and fun such as designing the perfect floral arrangement, creating a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork or adding unique updates to your switch plate and outlet covers.

Video can be fun, but it can also be a little scary for some. Just be yourself and remember, people love bloopers! Video is just like everything else in life … practice makes it easier and more fun.

Please let me know if you need more video ideas. We will have our own videos coming soon!