Interior Design in the NFT and Metaverse Industries

As someone who is very interested in interior design and the real estate investment industry, I recently stumbled across NFTs.

What are NFTs?

NFT stands for non-fungible tokens. An NFT is a non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain, a form of digital ledger, that can be sold and traded. NFTs can be associated with digital files such as photos, videos, and audio. NFTs are basically just a bunch of unique data and they are one of a kind which makes them valuable to the people that say they are valuable. Just as certain brand names become valuable just purely based on their name, NFTs are similar in that sense.

Why are NFTs a newer popular investment product?

Just as bitcoins and dogecoins became popular cryptocurrencies, NFTs are becoming popular as well with companies such as Bored Ape selling NFTs starting at $262,630. YES, you read that right! As of March 18, 2022, the lowest priced Bored Ape was a couple hundred thousand dollars! People who invest in NFTs are collectors and they love investing in the latest, greatest things out there. They are very vested in this type of currency, therefore, driving up the price as consumers learn through social media, celebrities, and financial coaches what this currency is doing and how it is making people money.

So how does Interior Design factor into NFTs?

Since NFTs are photos and videos they can come in the form of 3d renderings such as houses, buildings, and other real estate. They can also come in the form of digital furniture and home décor. Yes, you can buy a virtual home or building or piece of furniture or a vase of flowers. There are virtual real estate companies where you can purchase homes, stadiums, and skyscrapers for your virtual world. The augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality market reached 28 billion dollars in 2021 and is expected to rise to over 250 billion by 2028!

What type of Interior Design jobs are in the NFT industry?

If you are looking to get into a new niche NFTs might be the place for you. This industry has proven lucrative for some interior designers creating interactive 3d renders of entire homes, furniture designers creating digital furniture models, curators of digital artwork as well as those creating the digital artwork.

Downside

Of course, this industry isn’t without skeptics. Some are still uncertain of how the continued education of the industry will impact future growth. NFTs are deemed bad for the environment due to their large carbon footprint.

How can a digital product be bad for the environment you may wonder?

The amount of energy it takes to power transactions is what skeptics are looking at. Only one transaction can use the equivalent of 75 days’ worth of your household electricity use or 17,063 hours of watching YouTube. Needless to say, this niche isn’t probably for those in sustainable design ... yet.

Many companies are working hard to try to reduce their carbon footprint and some marketplaces assign carbon footprint indicators on their NFTs so the consumers know how much each NFT would use in energy if they were to purchase that NFT.

Interior Design in the Metaverse

You may be wondering what the Metaverse is? The Metaverse is a network of 3D virtual worlds focused on social connection. In simple terms, it’s virtual reality. People can purchase NFTs for metaverse or non-NFT products.

The Metaverse industry could be worth $8-13 TRILLION by 2030. Yes, I wrote trillion! Since the Metaverse is a virtual world, interior designers are needed to create digital designs and products for this world. People pay real money to purchase real estate, furniture, and décor in the Metaverse and it opens up a whole new world for interior designers looking to niche in the digital space.

There is even a company called Metaverse Interior Design and it’s the world’s first interior design community for the Metaverse. This firm connects interior designers to clients who want to create their dream home spaces in the metaverse.

This is a great niche for 3D render artists and furniture modelers to explore. You can make a living creating the interior design in virtual reality.

If you are interested in learning more about the NFT & Metaverse industries in regard to real estate and interior design feel free to reply to this email or if you are reading this on the blog – contact me through our Contact page.

It’s an exciting and new world out there and it may be worth exploring!

XX, Danae

Growing a Cut Flower Garden

This spring I have decided to grow a small cut flower garden. I have a small area in my front yard that is bathed in full sun all spring/summer long. This will be the perfect spot for me to try my hand at growing beautiful flowers for the sole purpose of cutting and filling vases and other containers to place around my home.

I decided on a 48” x 10’ plot to get started. You can make your gardens as long as you want but I wouldn’t go wider than 48” because you want to be able to reach the middle. And depending on how long you go you may want to break them up just so you don’t have to walk down too far especially if you have a larger plot, for example, if you have the room you can do four 48” x 10’ plots separated by 24” paths to get between them. And take into consideration if you need equipment to go between them you’ll want much larger paths.

Since I live in a lower zone with fewer warmer days I’ve decided to purchase the plants in lieu of planting seeds. I’ll have a combination of annuals and perennials but in my research, I have found that for a cut flower garden you’ll want to stick with 60% annuals and 40% perennial ratio. And take into account your zone. If you do not know what zone you live in do a quick Google search on the growing zone for your area.

I live in Minnesota so there are several flowers that are considered perennials in warmer climates but in my zone, they are considered annuals. The great news is I can still grow some of my favorite flowers, but they won’t winter over so I’ll have to replant them each season.

Once you’ve determined the size of your garden – you can determine what types of flowers you want to plant and how many flowers/or seeds you need. Whether you are seeding or planting my rule of thumb is to plant more than what your local garden store recommends. You can maximize a small space in a cut flower garden and have great results!

Once I have my garden plotted I’ll make sure the soil is good quality soil. My husband has already told me that the area I want to plant my garden is pretty sandy so we’ll have to add some good soil and compost. You want to ensure your plants have a healthy living environment.

When choosing flowers to plant make sure to plant them so you have a variety of flowers blooming all spring, summer, and autumn long. The flowers I’ll be looking to plant in my garden are daffodils, hyacinth, poppies, sweet peas, and ranunculuses which are all popular spring flowers. For my summer flowers, I’ll go with cosmos, dahlia, lilies, delphinium, and for autumn black-eyed susans and chrysanthemums. This will give me a great start in my first garden for the flowers and I’ll throw in some ornamental grasses and greens such as bells of Ireland and hellebores, too.

Harvesting the flowers is more involved than just cutting flowers and throwing them in a vase. You’ll want to cut the flowers during the coolest part of the day either morning or evening and then place the stems in cool, clean water. It’s best to let the stems rest in the water in a cool spot out of direct sunlight for a few hours before arranging.

You’ll also want to cut the flowers just before they’ve fully opened. Once you are ready to arrange, recut the stems at an angle and add a floral preservative to the vase water to keep them looking great. See our post on floral design to learn how to arrange flowers.

xx, Danae

P.S. We have several items on our online shop that are flower-inspired! If you are a flower lover like me, you won’t be able to pass these items up.

Finding Your Niche in Interior Design

WHAT IS A NICHE IN INTERIOR DESIGN?

A niche is an area of specialty and expertise in a particular industry. If you offer niche interior design services, it means you know how to deliver maximum value to your target clients by designing interiors that suit their particular lifestyles or needs. Instead of being a “jack of all trades and master of none”, you focus on a specific area and promote your expertise to that client segment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF TARGETING A NICHE?

Focusing on a niche has numerous advantages. First, it distinguishes you from the saturation of fierce competition and establishes you as an expert in the field. Specialization justifies higher rates for your service. Even if your market is smaller, your conversion rate will be much higher, so you'll end up with more clients. Also, marketing a niche is easier than marketing to a broader audience, as companies with a unique product or service tend to stand out and appeal to different media. Bottom line? It's more important to be in front of the right people than many people.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF INTERIOR DESIGN NICHES?

YACHTS

Being highly specialized in the design of interior spaces for luxury yachts means that your clientele belongs to the highest percentage of high-net-worth individuals. Meeting the extreme requests of clients can also be a challenge when designing the interior of a luxury yacht. In addition, you must have the technical knowledge and be able to collaborate with the right suppliers and even shipbuilders. In some cases, you may not be able to share your entire portfolio, as yacht owners sometimes request confidentiality agreements for their privacy.

CRUISE SHIPS

On an even larger scale, the cruise experience demands a luxurious atmosphere in a way that is often somewhat more relaxed and prepared for the greater wear and tear of a large number of guests coming and going. And although passengers may not feel it, the normal vibration of cruising is tantamount to an earthquake. So overhead lighting fixtures and all other structures must be built to withstand it. Adding spas, movie theaters and all types of entertainment devices require extensive knowledge and research. With regulations on where pools, restaurants, and dance floors should be located, you also have to think almost like a city planner.

CANNABIS

What has long been stigmatized contraband, cannabis in its various forms, has been repackaged and has burst onto the market, increasingly legalized and marketed to appeal to a diverse sector of consumers. Where once it was all about the product itself, competition has grown, and interior design is playing an important role in helping elevate cannabis dispensaries and CBD vendors. Already, airy, minimalist designs are emerging with natural materials that evoke wellness, or jewelry store-inspired designs and indica-patterned wallpaper with a luxurious feel. There are increasing opportunities to expand as chains or even merge with other wellness spaces, such as spas or yoga studios. However, working in this niche means staying sharp and up to date on the legal nuances of each state.

LUXURY SENIOR CARE

At a time when comfort is more essential than ever, wellness is at the forefront and the daily pace slows down, interior design can be a great ally. Designers specializing in luxury senior care understand how to create a better environment for residents with challenges such as memory loss or physical impairments. Whether updating a home or designing a group residence, a joyful daily experience is achieved with the help of plenty of natural light, varied spaces with comfortable furnishings, soothing yet vibrant color palettes, and greenery or access to landscaped outdoor areas. Technology comes into play with enhanced climate control systems and smart home features to keep residents connected.

…AND MORE

Your niche may be based on values or principles such as Feng Shui or eco-friendly design. There are interior designers who are dedicated to restoring historic homes. Others hone in on an aspect of interior design such as lighting or window treatments. Specializations could focus on particular rooms: kitchens, kids’ rooms, game rooms or home gyms. Your expertise may even take you to such unexpected places as a video game. On their Twitter account the Fab Five, members of the reality show Queer Eye, offered players advice to decorate their houses on Animal Crossing, a popular social simulation video game.

HOW CAN I FIND MY NICHE?

Your perfect niche may lie where your passion and your ideal client meet. Are you passionate about transforming family homes or setting the scene for a successful business? Have a good look at your background, and what kind of projects you've completed so far that have been outstanding or led to more referrals. What are you most proud of?

Next, you'll need to dive into market research to check out the competition and determine the sustainability of the idea. Remember, a niche is a need that hasn’t been fully catered to yet. So keep in mind that if you are targeting a niche with a novel proposal, you will probably have to "educate" it, while continuing to educate yourself. Sometimes your potential customers will be people who don't know they need you or don't fully understand the benefits of what you do. You will have to show them.

xx, Danae

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week in Style: Shop the Look for your Favorite Teacher... or Yourself!

The Art of Floral Design

Lately, I’ve been very interested in floral design and was rather surprised and how much goes into it. It’s not just about picking flowers and arranging them or buying flowers and arranging them. There is a real art to it and here are some things to consider if you are going to start creating your own arrangements.

Did you realize there are several principles to floral design? The primary principles are Proportion, Balance, Dominance, Rhythm, Contrast, and Unity. The secondary principles of Design are Scale, Focal Area/Focal Point, Repetition, Accent, Depth, Transition, Variation, Opposition, and Tension.

Here are some simple steps to begin your journey in designing your own arrangements.

Style

What type of style do you like in your floral arrangements? Do your arrangements need to be perfect and bunched tightly or loose and whimsical? Do you like a variety of sizes and lengths? Once you decide what type of arrangements you like best you can choose your colors and materials.

Colors

What are your favorite colors? Are you going to go with a monochromatic arrangement full of various shades of one color of one flower such as roses in pink or dahlias in reds? Or shades of one color in a variety of flowers? Or how about a variety of colors of one flower or a variety of colors of a variety of flowers? Whatever you chose, it can look amazing. It’s all based on what you like.

Materials

Depending on the style and colors you’ll want to choose your materials. Most arrangements, unless you are doing something very simple with one kind of flower, include large blooms, medium blooms, delicate blooms, and greenery.

Vases

What do you want your flower arrangement in? Do you have traditional vases or perhaps you have a watering can, mason jar, or pitcher. Whatever you chose make sure it’s the appropriate size for your arrangement.

Depending on your arrangement you can use floral tape or a floral frog to keep your flowers in place in the and now you can start to create!

How to Arrange Flowers: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Gather your materials.

• Scissors — You’ll need scissors to trim the stems. Gardening shears also work well.

• Vase — Choose your favorite vase in which to display the flowers.

• Plant food — Pre-made bouquets usually come with packets of plant food. Your local gardening shop will also carry varieties of plant food.

• Water — Water will keep the flowers alive!

• Flowers of choice — You’ll need greenery, primary flowers, and secondary flowers for the arrangement.

Step 2: Remove any extra leaves to create clean stems.

• It’s okay to leave some foliage, but remember that you’ll also have greenery to fill in any extra space.

Step 3: Measure the flowers against your vase of choice and cut them to size.

• Be sure to cut the stems at a diagonal. This will let the flowers soak up more water and help them stay alive longer.

Step 4: Fill your vase half full with water.

• You’ll want to change the water every three days. If you use less water in the vase, you should change the water more often.

Step 5: Pour the plant food into the vase.

• It should naturally mix in, but if it sinks to the bottom, stir it until it’s dissolved.

Step 6: Start by crisscrossing your foliage to create a base.

• Forming this lattice pattern will create a sturdy base for your other flowers.

Step 7: Add in your focal flowers, making sure they are spread out.

• The focal flowers are the ones you want to highlight. They may be the most colorful, the biggest, or just your favorites.

Step 8: Add in any of your secondary flowers.

• Secondary flowers tend to be smaller and will round out the flower arrangement.

Step 9: Rearrange or fill in as needed.

• Remove any petals that are wilted and adjust the foliage so that it fills in any empty spaces.

Thank you to FTD by Design - https://www.ftd.com/blog/design/how-to-arrange-flowers

Stay tuned for a future blog post on cut flower gardens!

We also have some really cute items in our shop that are flower-inspired, check them out!!

XX, Danae

Finding Great Artwork as an Interior Designer: Introducing Angela Cameron

It can be hard to find original artwork that not only works with your design but is unique, fits the room or space, and can move your client. That’s why we want to share a great artwork resource we encountered; her name is Angela Cameron.

For over 15 years, Angela Cameron has worked with commercial and residential interior designers who want unique art not offered anywhere else. Her work is showcased in hotels brands, boutique hotels, corporate collections, and luxury homes worldwide.

The Angela Cameron Art Brand is synonymous with distinction and exclusivity. Artwork is created and curated for its poetic, meaningful aesthetic that makes a statement.

“I started this company seeing a need for Interior Designers to have unique, upscale art options for their projects. My work quickly gained the attention of hotel designers, and thus the story begins. I create beautiful art that I know makes a statement; that resonates with you. My mission is for everyone to have distinctive, authentic art in their space.”

THE BENEFITS

• An exclusive art portfolio only offered by Angela Cameron

• Each piece is offered in many sizes, including large scale sizes

• Handcrafted, framed art and superb quality prints

• Curated selections - Ocean Art, Forests, Abstracts

• Made to order in 5-7 business days + ship time

• Ships FREE from Portland, Oregon / Florida

• New artwork is added every few weeks

HOW TO ORDER

• Visit www.angelacameron.com to view art collections

• Easy online ordering - Select framed art or print only

• Artwork made to order in 5-7 business days

• Professionally packaged to arrive in perfect condition

• Use our trade discount DESIGNER25 at checkout to receive a 25% discount when you order

• Contact angela@angelacameron.com

What is StyleRow? An Overview for Designers

StyleRow is a trade-only sourcing and project management platform founded by award-winning designer Erinn Valencich, which she runs with her Beverly Hills-based team. With over 16 years of industry experience, including her own design firm, Erinn conceived StyleRow as a solution to save designers valuable time. With all the functions of numerous apps and programs on a single user-friendly platform, processes and communication are streamlined and much more time is left to actually design.

FROM INSPIRATION TO PRESENTATION

Unlike many other project management tools, StyleRow assists you from the earliest stages of gathering inspiration for your project. It hosts a lively marketplace that connects designers with high-end brands and showrooms and allows you to make direct inquiries to reps, such as customization or quotes. It has all the browsing ease of Pinterest, but you can source back all of the items and save them in your digital library. If you want to include items found elsewhere on the web, you can import those products with the clipping tool and add them all to your client presentation.

ON THE SAME PAGE

This is a solution that enables you to convert product collections into sleek presentations into budgets and reports, all with just a few clicks. No need to copy and paste or create separate presentations from scratch. It’s a centralized platform for all of your communication, both with your team and with your clients. You can comment on items with your team or use the drop-down menus to update their schedule and status. Keep track of your clients’ comments and item approvals in the same place. StyleRow also features an efficient filtering system so you can instantly sort by multiple criteria or create your own custom tags.

PROJECT BUDGETING AND ACCOUNTING

StyleRow syncs to QuickBooks in order to simplify accounting. The budgeting tool lets you set a target range with alerts if you add products that take you over budget. You can also generate beautifully branded proposals. Select the details you’d like to share with your clients, such as your purchasing fee or margin, and automatically produce a custom presentation, which can be exported as a PDF with your logo.

If you’re looking for a solution to lighten the administrative workload in your design firm, you can try StyleRow with a free 14-day trial, as well as schedule a one-on-one demo with a StyleRow Concierge to get a closer look. Premium membership is good for unlimited users and unlimited projects and costs $133 per month or $1599 per year.

www.stylerow.com

Get Your Travel On With These Top 5 Ideas Fro Your Next Vacation

We are so proud here at Elite Design Assistants to continue partnering with Travelgistix to bring you fun and exciting travel ideas and destinations!

Whether you'd like to escape to a family paradise with a touch of Disney magic in Hawaii or embark on a breathtaking train journey through Switzerland, the world is full of wildly different paths for you to explore. With help from Travelgistix, you'll discover fascinating hidden gems and unique experiences in any way you choose to travel. So, don’t hesitate to contact Staci at Travelgistix today to start planning - she’s here to help with whatever's next on your bucket list.

Logistics professional Staci Spittler started Travelgistix as a way to share her passion for travel. She believes there is some place for everyone and it’s her mission to help clients realize their travel dreams.

Travelgistix specializes in Active & Adventure Travel, All-Inclusive Resorts, Beach/Sun, Family, Food & Wine, Group Travel, Villas, and Yacht Charters.

Staci put together these great ideas and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you.

1. Spring Into Magic: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Don't miss out! Plan a spectacular springtime escape with this special offer at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai`i. Save up to 20% on select rooms for a 5+ night stay or 15% on a 4-night stay from 4/16/22 to 6/5/22. Check out the full details of this destination here.

2. Go Beyond the Flight: Delta Vacations

Step off your flight to expert-vetted resorts and experiences with up to $350 off per booking — a deal exclusively for SkyMiles Members. Learn more about this great offer here.

3. Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas: Journese

Surrounded by the bluest ocean and five miles of private white-sand beaches, Atlantis Paradise Island, The Bahamas, invites you to experience a world of unforgettable adventures. Stay 4 nights or more and enjoy a $200 resort credit. Check out the full details of this destination here.

4. Caribbean Escapes: Travel Impressions

Escape to a time and place a world away, with colonial architecture on romantic estates or resorts that provide modern luxury at its finest. Enjoy exclusive perks, up to $600 in Resort Credit, plus kids and teens stay FREE! Check out our website here to learn more.

5. Switzerland by Train: Railbookers

There's no other country that does stunning scenery quite like Switzerland, and it's all accessible by train. Save $250 per couple on Switzerland vacations inclusive of 7 nights or more. Check out our website here to learn more.

If one of these ideas or destinations sparks something in you, reach out to Staci and let her know that Danae from Elite Design Assistants sent you.

Happy Traveling!

https://www.travelgistix.com/

staci@travelgistix.com

303-910-4468

Best Project Management Software for Interior Designers

I work with a lot of interior designers and they use a variety of project management software including Studio Designer, Ivy/Houzz Pro, Design Manager, Mydoma, self-hosted and more. Which one is best for you? Hopefully, the information below will help you to decide.

Studio Designer

Studio Designer claims to be the leading application for interior design professionals. It provides project management and accounting systems for its users, and it includes a client portal to facilitate collaboration and item approval.

It is a very robust and extensive program for every operation a design firm could face. This is a one-stop shop for all your interior designer application needs. Because of this, Studio Designer can feel overwhelming for a novice designer. It is an accounting program and project management program wrapped up in one. You can manage your entire business from this program. Accounting, Expediting, Ordering, Timelines, Reminders, Logistics, Inventory and so much more.

This program is very technical, and you may need an accountant who specializes in the program.

Pricing:

• Basic $48/month

• Professional $64/month

Try it: Studio Designer does not offer a free trial, but you can sign up for a live online demo of the platform. www.studiodesigner.com/

Design Manager

Design Manager is an all-in-one software for project management, purchase order tracking, accounting, reports, inventory. Since Design Manager isn’t super user-friendly, it is often used by established design firms. Their website claims 70% of interior designers prefer Design Manager over QuickBooks.

Design Manager is the leading project management and accounting software for interior designers. Created in 1984 to respond to the requests of local interior design firms, it expanded into a nationwide software company and became one of the first providers of cloud-based design software.

“Because design firms have specific needs that cannot be answered by conventional software, it is our mission to provide a product that is dedicated to serving the design community. We deliver software that saves time, money, and frustration while eliminating countless hours of paperwork.”

Pricing:

• DM Cloud $65/month

• Save 10% by paying annually

Try it: They offer a free 30-day trial at www.designmanager.com

Gather

Gather is a cloud-based platform trusted by some of the industry’s top professionals. From the get go, this platform has designers in mind, as it is one of the most visually appealing options. Its organization, data entry and catalog system are intuitive and makes it all easily accessible. With it, you can produce reports and design deliverables while staying on top of important dates. Gather also facilitates communication by incorporating a real-time chat and allowing comments on products, as well as item approval from clients. Quickbooks integrates with Gather.

Unlike many other platforms, the pricing structure starts from a small team package, rather than individual rates, while the larger packages offer some additional features.

Pricing:

• Studio (up to 5 users) $199/month or $1980 annually

• Firm (up to 10 users) $349/month or $3480 annually

• Enterprise (more than 10 users) contact for custom pricing

Try it: Gather offers a free 14-day trial. www.gatherit.co

Mydoma

Mydoma is a great organizational tool for your interior design projects. Many designers love the systems and processes and creating automation so that your business runs more smoothly, and Mydoma helps with this. The Mydoma platform helps with the onboarding process, a place to keep project info (e.g. space info, before images, measurements, inspiration images), and a place to collaborate with your clients. By using Mydoma, you are creating an online design studio/project binder to collaborate with your clients. You can have new clients sign contracts, fill out an onboarding questionnaire, and send initial payment all within the program. It’s a great option if you do e-design or offer smaller design packages.

This software is limited if you run a full-service interior design firm. For accounting, you can integrate Mydoma with QuickBooks, among other tools, but that means a double entry for products and adding QuickBooks monthly fees to your total cost.

Pricing:

• Solo $59/month or $599 annually

• Team $79/month or $799 annually

• Agency $129/month $1299 annually

Try it: Free 15-day trial. www.mydomastudio.com

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Ivy/Houzz Pro

Acquired by Houzz in 2018, Ivy was absorbed by the Houzz Pro management tool. This acquisition has been met with certain hesitation and questions about the changes in its features and the possible implications that their privacy policy could have on designers’ work.

Nonetheless, Houzz Pro is a user-friendly option, designed to expedite the process of proposal creation, sourcing, invoicing, purchasing, and tracking. It also lets you build plans in 2D and tour clients in 3D. Houzz Pro makes it easy to create your own catalog of products and design mood boards within the same platform. You can choose between different plans depending on the features you need.

Pricing:

• Starter $65/month

• Essential $99/month

• Ultimate $399/month

Try it: You can try the Starter or Essential plans for free for 30 days. www.houzz.com/pro

DesignDocs

DesignDocs is a total project management and online accounting solution for the interior design industry. Founded by a husband and wife team (a Chartered Accountant and a Designer), DesignDocs provides a full suite of business management tools for interior designers. Additionally, the system gives access to valuable financial reports so designers can gain a strong understanding of their profit margins and identify areas in their business where they can increase revenue.

The software is ideal for full-service design firms who are looking to increase profits, improve their operational processes, and/or scale their businesses.

Pricing:

• Solo $69/month or $708 annually

• Professional $98/p month or $1056 annually (minimum of 2 users)

Try it: Free 14-day trial. www.designdocs.com

Binary Management

BM consolidates 4 fundamental components: planning, costing, tracking, and reporting. Its design templates make it easy to get started, while its planning tool allows you to break your project down into stages or deliverables. The costing tool produces a full project program and payment schedule with all invoice payments highlighted. Each design team member can monitor their delivery and deadlines through their personal calendar and instantly notify their team leaders when a specific task has been completed. BM’s tracking and reporting features offer clear pictures of each stage of the design process and highlight areas that can be optimized for greater profitability.

Pricing:

• $10/month or $93.60 annually

• $20/month or $187.20 annually

• Custom pricing options available for large enterprises

Try it: Free 14-day trial. www.binarymanagement.com

Indema

Indema states that they are the only tool your interior design firm needs. This cloud-based platform offers task management, time trackers, and project reports to stay on top of your business performance. On the other hand, Indema covers your needs for contact management and contracts. Use the project or task templates and create vision boards with their clipper tool, keeping products organized and easily shareable with clients and vendors. Not only can you automate emails and billing for greater efficiency, but also social media posts, which is a feature that many other platforms do not include. However, similar to some others, Indema is designed to sync with QuickBooks for your accounting needs.

Pricing:

• Single $35/month or $385 annually

• Group $55/month or $550 annually

• Hub $75/month or $674 annually

Try it: Free 15-day trial. www.indema.co

Self-hosted

I know more and more interior designers who are going to a self-hosted type of program. They use landing pages on their websites, Pinterest, spreadsheets, and processes to stay organized and on top of their businesses. This isn’t for everyone, but if you are looking for a cost-effective way, you may be interested in checking out a self-hosted system.

If you are between a few options, take advantage of the free trials to see what works best for you and your team. Don’t be afraid of transitioning to a new platform, because the right solution will revolutionize the success of your business. As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions!

xx, Danae

Marketing Tips and Tricks for Designers

The idea of marketing and advertising goes centuries back, but it’s more crucial than ever to succeed in the increasingly competitive interior design industry. More than ever, you have to demonstrate what sets you apart from other designers to create a name for yourself. Larger design firms often have an in-house marketing team dedicated solely to developing and enhancing their corporate or brand identity and attracting ideal clients. Here are some key strategies you can apply to up your marketing game.

Show who you are

First and foremost, you should have a clear concept of the image you wish to project. You can more easily carve out a niche for yourself in the market if you offer unique services and have a signature design style. Perhaps your studio prioritizes sustainable materials or specializes in unconventional shapes and designs. Whatever your distinction may be, you should fully express it across every platform you use. Let potential clients get to know you by sharing behind-the-scenes content, and your company will feel real and approachable.

Connect with your target client

Once you know what your message is, consider who your target customer is most likely to be. Do you lean toward a traditional or classic style? You can find your audience by setting up ads on Facebook. Do you specialize in newer styles, such as industrial or bohemian? Instagram is the most popular platform among younger consumers. Looking for opportunities to design or collaborate with other businesses? Spruce up your profile and stay active on LinkedIn. By expanding your online presence, potential clients will begin to recognize and trust your company.

Inform, Inspire, Interact

The content you share should inform your audience about who you are and what it is that you offer. Highlight positive reviews that endorse the experience of working with you. Make them dream of the home or spaces they themselves could enjoy by posting stunning photos of your projects. Interact with your audience and encourage interaction through actions such as creating polls or responding to comments whenever possible. Not only will this boost your content’s position on social media, but it will strengthen your connection with these leads.

Give before you receive

Gain more engaged followers who are more likely to turn into clients by offering them something of value even before they reach out. Some designers host weekly or sporadic live sessions online in which they answer viewers’ burning design questions. Others create free newsletters or mini webinars, which is valuable content that builds their confidence in your expertise. And if they decide to hire a professional designer, you will be their first choice.

Marketing is truly a world unto itself, and you may want to delegate certain tasks, such as website building, social media, and ad campaign management, to an expert in the field. However, wherever you are in the process of growing your company, there are always steps like those above that you can take to launch your design studio in the right direction.

xx, Danae