Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Damn Good Interior Designer
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 4 Ep 83: 30 Years Later - What Tom Stringer Knows Now That Designers Aren't Being Told | 27 Oct 2026 | 01:30:23 | |
Thirty years in the design business will teach you a few things. Especially when you realize some of what you believed early on was dead wrong. Cheryl sits down with renowned interior designer Tom Stringer to talk about the lessons learned from building a successful firm over three decades. Why talent alone isn't enough, when to loosen your grip on the business, and why some of the most talented designers are the hardest to work with. They also dig into the industry's obsession with personal brands, why the client should always come first, and some conventional business advice that deserves to be called out. About Tom Stringer Tom Stringer is the founder and president of Tom Stringer Design Partners, the Chicago-based multidisciplinary design firm he established in 1996. Celebrating three decades of design, the firm conceives and delivers personalized design solutions for private residences, hospitality projects, and luxury yachts worldwide. Stringer’s design approach is shaped largely by his lifelong passion for travel, collecting, and discovery. Filtering his experiences through the prism of design allows him to bridge styles and cultures, translating the colors, textures, forms, and craftsmanship he encounters into sophisticated and unexpected interiors. Widely published and recognized throughout his career, Stringer was inducted into the Merchandise Mart Hall of Fame for Interior Design in 2015 and has received 25 American Society of Interior Designers Design Excellence Awards. He is the author of An Adventurous Life: Global Interiors by Tom Stringer, a visual chronicle of his travels, observations, and a selection of the firm’s distinctive residential projects. Stringer holds a bachelor’s degree in design from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design at Arizona State University. He began his career with renowned designer Charles Pfister, designing products for Baker Furniture, Brown Jordan, and Casella Lighting, before serving as Design Director for Branca, Inc. and later founding Tom Stringer Design Partners in 1996. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 82: Trade Secrets & Hard Truths - Cheryl & Jamie Young talk about the state of the industry | 13 Oct 2026 | 01:22:52 | |
Some designers have vendors who will bend over backward to help them. Others can't seem to get anyone to return their calls. And there may be a very good reason for that! Cheryl sits down with Jamie Young, founder of Jamie Young Company, to get the OTHER side of the designer-vendor relationship. In this episode they discuss damaged goods, shipping headaches, unrealistic expectations, and why Cheryl has a few things to say about designers who take their vendor complaints straight to social media. Jamie shares what happens behind the scenes when designers place orders, what vendors wish designers understood, and why the way you handle problems can determine how willing a vendor is to go the extra mile for you. Because the relationships you build with your vendors have a direct impact on your clients, your reputation, and your bottom line. Plus you don't want to miss Jamie's insights for their upcoming furniture launch and what she's learned about designing products with the trade in mind. About Jamie Young:Raised in Los Angeles by an artist and entrepreneur, Jamie was drawn to design aesthetics from a young age. A unique home and an out of the box perspective molded the person she is today. Growing up in the heart of the entertainment industry during the 70’s and 80’s Jamie was surrounded by a colorful cast of eccentric characters; professional writers, painters, athletes, actors, and creative business minded mentors—inspiration was around every corner. After high school, she continued her studies at Parsons School of Design in New York City. She and her now husband, David Jeter, also an artist, attended San Francisco College of Art focusing on painting and sculpture with a deep knowledge of art history, met in 1992. Jamie’s superpower was the ability to understand design and fashion in the home space and bring to market an elegant and bohemian perspective unique to her upbringing. David’s deep knowledge of art and world history coupled with brilliant and fresh designs completed the package. Together, with a love of connecting to communities near and far, they founded Jamie Young Company in 1997 to fill a void in the world of home furnishing For over 27 years, the husband-and-wife team of David Jeter and Jamie Young Jeter have worked together as the Jamie Young Co., using their love of art, architecture, and adventure to craft approachable, design- driven pieces. From coast to coast, and around the world, the duo is inspired by their global travels as well the comfortable and covetable designs from their home in Southern California. Jamie Young Co. brings casual elegance and quiet luxury to home design. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 81: The problem with being the one who knows everything | 29 Sep 2026 | 00:30:14 | |
Burnout in a design business can have very little to do with the number of hours you work. Cheryl digs into what happens when every decision, client issue, contractor problem and team question eventually finds its way back to the owner. You can delegate tasks, hire employees and reduce your project load and still be the person carrying all of the judgment and responsibility. In this episode, Cheryl looks at how designers make themselves indispensable without realizing it, why being needed can feel a lot like being successful, and what happens when you build a business that still requires you for everything. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 80: They waited too long to call the designer | 15 Sep 2026 | 00:18:13 | |
Your client already has a general contractor, so why do they need you? Cheryl digs into one of the biggest misconceptions about a designer’s role in a renovation and why waiting until it’s time to choose finishes is already too late. From layouts and electrical plans to the hundreds of decisions that affect everything that comes next, the real value of a designer starts long before the pretty stuff. If you’re still selling your value through selections, it may be time to rethink what you’re actually selling. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 79: ASKED & ANSWERED - Should my team members get a commision? | 01 Sep 2026 | 00:09:46 | |
Should your designers earn a commission, bonus, or a share of the profit? In this Asked & Answered episode, Cheryl breaks down how to build an incentive plan that rewards the behavior you actually want inside your firm. She explains why bonuses should be based on profit instead of total sales, how participation should affect the percentage, and why a simple system helps team members think more like owners. Because revenue may look impressive, but profit is what stays in the bank. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 78: Vibe What? | 18 Aug 2026 | 00:34:35 | |
Cheryl has spent 25 years building systems around the way her design firm actually works. So what happens when AI suddenly gives her the ability to build the software around those systems, too? In this episode, Cheryl shares what happened when one irritating business problem turned into building her own app through “vibe coding,” what she’s learned along the way, and why knowing your processes matters more than knowing how to code. AI can help you build almost anything, but it will also happily automate a bad process. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 77: DESIGNER DRAMA - They do not know what they do not know | 11 Aug 2026 | 00:12:47 | |
When clients ask questions or make requests that rub you the wrong way, it doesn’t always mean they’re trying to take advantage of you. Sometimes, they simply don’t understand what designers actually do. In this Designer Drama episode, Cheryl explains why designers need to get better at communicating their value instead of constantly protecting it and why your value can’t rest on gatekeeping sources. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| MOST POPULAR EPISODE - S3 Ep 54: Are you afraid to define your value? | 04 Aug 2026 | 00:49:09 | |
Little did we know our Pricing and Salary Survey results were going to give us great nuggets of information that we could share for many future podcasts to come! One of the biggest challenges we found designers face is defining their product. Too often, “full-service design” means something different to every designer—and that inconsistency makes it nearly impossible to set confident fees, manage scope, or show clients the real value of design work. The secret lies in creating clear deliverables with a written scope of work, and structured meeting agendas that are always advancing the project. If you are not keeping track of your time--as many do not--this reveals where designers tend to undervalue themselves. You must trust in the value of your own work--define it, control it, manage expectations, and most importantly, position yourself as the expert in the room. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| BEST EPISODE OF SEASON 3! If you confuse them, you lose them. Period. | 14 Jul 2026 | 00:55:02 | |
One of our top episodes of Season 3! The confusion you accidentally create long before the proposal ever hits your clients inbox is the real reason clients hesitate. Your price is not the problem. You can unintentionally create confusion through discovery calls, the way you talk about freight, receiving, vendors, timelines, your value, etc. This causes your clients to be constantly collecting clues about whether saying yes to you feels SAFE or SCARY. Learn how your language, tone, and timing shape the emotional architecture your clients make decisions in, and why being clear is your most powerful sales tool. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 4 Ep 76: ASKED & ANSWERED - Why “What Does It Cost?” Is the Wrong Conversation | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:19:56 | |
Price is one of the first questions designers hear, but it is often the wrong conversation to lead with. Cheryl explains why posting big budget numbers and focusing on square-foot pricing can create the wrong expectations, intimidate potential clients, and reduce design to a transaction. Instead, she shares a better way to communicate value. By helping clients understand the thinking, process, and decisions behind the investment, they can then make informed choices with confidence. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 75: Retail, Reality and how it helps your bottom line with Ryan Williams | 16 Jun 2026 | 01:05:14 | |
Retail is one of the most misunderstood business models in the design industry. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with designer Ryan Williams of Artisan Design Studio to talk about the realities of adding retail to a design firm. From inventory investments and vendor relationships to client trust and showroom strategy, they discuss what retail actually costs, what it can do for your business, and why a storefront should support your design firm not distract from it. They also share lessons learned, mistakes made, and what designers should consider before signing a lease. If you've ever thought about opening a shop, showroom, or design center, this episode will help you evaluate the decision through a practical business lens. About Ryan WilliamsRyan Williams, principal designer and owner of Artisan Design Studio, has been practicing interior design for more than 20 years and has owned her business for over 15 of those years. Her approach to design goes far beyond creating beautiful spaces — Ryan is deeply committed to understanding her clients and their families to design homes that support their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. She prides herself on being both the expert in the room and a friend at the table. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 74: DESIGNER DRAMA - Why some designers are marketing themselves into lower fees | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:17:07 | |
Visibility matters, but posting yourself in your bath robe is not the same thing as building authority and for designers this can backfire fast. Because design is not an impulse buy. Clients are not hiring you for constant access to your every thought, errand, emotion, and car-confessional. They want you to lead expensive decisions, protect their investment, and bring a level of taste, judgment, and discernment they do not have on their own. Cheryl makes the case for more thoughtful marketing that reinforces expertise instead of making designers look frantic, interchangeable, or too accessible to command premium fees. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 73: When big risks, make for bigger rewards | 26 May 2026 | 01:10:50 | |
Cabinetry may be one of the biggest money opportunities hiding in plain sight for interior designers, but it is not for the faint of heart. In this episode, Cheryl sits down with Brooke Eversoll of Bee Studios Design to talk about what really happens when a design firm decided to take the leap and look at cabinetry as a serious revenue stream, design responsibility, and business decision. Brooke brings over two decades of kitchen and bath experience, along with the kind of technical precision and creative point of view that proves cabinetry is not just boxes, doors, and pretty finishes. Cabinetry is in details, measurements, modifications, installers, problem-solving, and knowing what the heck you are doing before someone’s very expensive kitchen becomes your very expensive mistake. In this episode, you will learn why cabinetry can become a major turning point for a design firm, what separates specifying cabinets from actually owning the cabinet design process, why manufactured lines can still offer true customization, what designers need to know before adding cabinetry sales to their business, and why the profit potential only works when you understand the risk, responsibility, and details that come with it. There IS money to be made in cabinetry, but only if you are ready to own the work that comes with it. About Brooke Eversoll:Bee Studios, a hive for beautiful living. Bee Studios was founded in 2015 and born from Brooke’s lifelong instinct for design. Brooke is deeply embedded in the Florida lifestyle and spent years spent sailing the Gulf as a young girl. Her passion and admiration for living in the sunshine state, along with her love of well-designed interiors, has been the foundation for Bee Studios. As a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath designer with over 2 decades of experience, the studio stands at a rare intersection of interiors, kitchens, and architecture, all imagined in one creative studio. Her approach brings wildly creative ideas merged with highly technical precision. She is quietly uncompromising in the pursuit of design that works beautifully and lives easily. Interiors that balance timeless and modern- a gentle balance of bringing new ideas while paying homage to what’s already there. She loves exploring new materials to personalize interiors for her clients. Because your home deserves to be wholly yours. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 72: DESIGNER DRAMA - You cannot legislate good behavior | 12 May 2026 | 00:18:30 | |
Our Asked and Answered segments have done so well we also noticed a common theme scrolling through social media that needed its own segment - introducing 'Designer Drama: Is it the client or is it us?'! These episodes will take on topics that seem to be hot buttons for designers. Want to learn Cheryl's take? Listen in! In this episode Cheryl takes on the growing trend of designers putting every client behavior, boundary, and communication issue into their contracts. She breaks down why legal protection and client leadership are not the same thing, and why a contract cannot fix poor onboarding, weak expectations, or a bad-fit client. This episode is a sharp reminder that your contract should support your business, not become the way you manage every client relationship. Don't be afraid to look at what is really happening underneath the drama. Is the client actually the problem, or have you as the business owner failed to set the right expectations? Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 71: Judgement is the new currency | 28 Apr 2026 | 00:17:05 | |
AI can generate ideas in seconds. That’s not the threat. In this episode, Cheryl gets straight to it—designers are no longer being hired for ideas but for their judgment. This means knowing what works, what doesn’t, and what’s going to cost the client later. Because in the world of AI clients don’t need help imagining anymore. Someone needs to help make the right decisions. Designers need to lean in and not push back on AI or you will sound irrelevant. Ideas are everywhere. Judgment is not and you can own the decisions. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| TOP EPISODE OF SEASON 3! Why Selling Yourself Short in K&B Cost You Big | 21 Apr 2026 | 00:57:15 | |
Listen to our TOP episode of Season 3! Kitchen and bath design must be treated — and priced — as the high-level specialty it is. These are not "just another room" — instead, they are some of the most complex, high-stakes, and profitable part of your business if you treat it that way. Too many designers undervalue their skills, we discuss how flat fees protect both your expertise and your bottom line, and why being the expert in the room changes everything. From navigating subs and code changes to troubleshooting “transitions up the wazoo,” we are sharing our real stories from the trenches that prove kitchen and bath design demands higher fees and sharper processes. If you’ve ever charged the same for a bath as you do a living room, then this is your wake-up call. Remember--clients pay for confidence, precision, and advocacy. Our message is clear: stop selling yourself short and start treating kitchen and bath work as the profit powerhouse it can be. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this 2-3 hour workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 70: ASKED & ANSWERED - What Do I Do When Construction Bids Blow My Client’s Budget? | 07 Apr 2026 | 00:49:00 | |
When construction bids come back higher than expected, it can stop a project in its tracks and shake a client’s confidence fast. Cheryl and Liz discuss exactly how to handle that moment without losing the project's momentum and the client’s trust. They walk through how to review bids against the scope, where designers should step in (and where they should not), and how to guide clients through smart decisions instead of emotional reactions. You’ll learn how to reframe the conversation, prioritize what actually matters in the design, and use strategies like phasing and scope adjustments to keep the project moving forward. When the numbers don’t match expectations, this episode shows you how to guide the next steps without losing the project. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 69: ASKED & ANSWERED - Why your pricing sounds expensive (even when it's not) | 24 Mar 2026 | 00:32:38 | |
Designers think their pricing problem is the number, but the real issue is how that number is positioned. In this episode, Cheryl breaks down why client pushback isn’t about being too expensive but introducing pricing before the value is fully understood. When designers lead with fees, tie their work to time, or fail to clearly communicate the depth of decisions, coordination, and problem-solving involved, clients default to their own (and very often incorrect) assumptions. We want you to think about reframing pricing as a positioning issue and not a simple math problem. Cheryl walks through how to build context, shift the focus from hours to outcomes, and present design as a high-level service rooted in expertise, not effort. When the value is clear first, the same number lands completely differently and the pushback disappears. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 68: How Education is the New Advantage with Special Guest Veronika Miller | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:50:29 | |
Industry events are not vacations, designers can utilize these trips to create relationships with vendors. In this episode, Cheryl speaks LIVE from KBIS and sits down with special guest, Veronika Miller, to break down how designers can use events like KBIS and High Point as business accelerators instead of exhausting field trips. Taking time out of busy schedules to attend these events go beyond walking showrooms and collecting samples. It is about positioning, visibility, strategic networking, and understanding how proximity to manufacturers, media, and fellow designers directly impacts revenue. They discuss how to prepare before you go, how to show up with intention, and how to follow up in a way that turns conversations into opportunity. The designers who see real return are not simply attending but instead building relationships, strengthening partnerships, and placing themselves in rooms that can change the trajectory of their business. If you are going to invest the time and money to attend industry events, this episode will show you how to make it count. About Our Guest: Veronika MillerVeronika Miller is the CEO of M2 Connect and founder of Designhounds, a curated community that brings together designers and manufacturers to build meaningful, profitable partnerships. With more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction industries, Veronika is known for connecting brands and designers in ways that disrupt gently and drive real business growth. Through their standout programs like Designhounds, DesignTrail and the company's strategic consulting work, she helps professionals expand their influence, build stronger relationships, and leverage their visibility within the industry. Learn more about Veronika and her programs: Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website First workshop of 2026 starts January 14! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 67: Are You Asking? Negotiating with Vendors | 24 Feb 2026 | 00:22:44 | |
If you sell product, you should be asking. In this episode, Cheryl and Liz discuss how to build vendor relationships that actually improve your margin with better pricing, extra percentages, showroom discounts, and free samples by strategy. They share how to pre-sell projects, position your showroom as leverage, communicate upcoming sales, and negotiate from clarity instead of hope. Because reps are motivated by volume — and if you’re moving product, you have influence. This is about operating like a business owner. If you are ordering it anyway, ask. If you are promoting it, ask. If you are bringing them business, ask.
Margin often lives in the conversation you didn’t initiate. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website Join us for our next workshop on February 25! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 66: When Good People are in the Wrong Roles | 10 Feb 2026 | 00:53:30 | |
Hiring is one of the most expensive lessons a design firm will ever lear and it’s rarely because the person was “bad.” In this episode, Cheryl and Liz unpack the real reason team hires go sideways: confusing likability with fit, and potential with performance. This is real deal what is happening in our firm now and were owning up to our mistakes as we have been up to our eyeballs in the hiring process. Cheryl walks through the hard truth most firm owners avoid where sometimes the issue isn’t the person, it’s the role. And when you try to force someone into a position that doesn’t match how they think, work, or manage details, everyone loses. This episodes covers why resumes don’t tell you what actually matters, how hope clouds judgment during hiring, and why thinking in 90-day windows protects your business, your team, and your sanity. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website First workshop of 2026 starts January 14! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 65: ASKED & ANSWERED - What am I missing that keeps window treatments from feeling seamless? | 27 Jan 2026 | 00:13:41 | |
Window treatments are often treated as a finishing touch, but that mindset is what keeps them from being profitable. In this Asked & Answered episode, Liz is going solo this week and walks you through the key decisions that actually drive successful window treatment design--from measurement and fabrication to functionality and timing. This episode covers why planning earlier matters, how small details prevent big mistakes, and how window treatments can become a reliable part of a designer’s overall process, AND profit, instead of a recurring problem. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 64: Refining Your Design IQ with Your Furniture Design | 20 Jan 2026 | 00:26:37 | |
Refining your design IQ with furniture means understanding how details like orientation, cushion construction, and intended use impact the final outcome. Cheryl and Liz break down the real-world furniture mistakes designers make when they misunderstand the details. From left-arm and right-arm facing to glossing over cushion construction, seat depth, and intended use, they help hone in on the small decisions that can create big problems. This episode is a reminder that expertise lives in the details. Knowing vendor terminology, understanding how furniture functions in real life, and anticipating how a client will actually use a piece is what separates a "shopper" from a damn good designer. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 63: The space you create is the business you build | 13 Jan 2026 | 00:46:25 | |
Your workspace is not neutral. It either supports your growth or quietly works against it. In this episode, Cheryl and Liz talk about the emotional, creative, and business implications of where designers work, how staying where you are too long can limit momentum, and how creating intentional space changes how you show up for yourself, your clients, and your business. The episode covers how physical space impacts creativity and emotional bandwidth and why intentionally investing in your workspace supports long-term success and growth. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 62: You are already doing the work, why aren't you selling it? | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:30:58 | |
Clients don’t know what they need until you show them—and when you don’t engage that conversation, you leave both value and profit behind. Designers often miss additional profit opportunities inside projects where they are already doing the work. From door hardware and window treatments to art and beyond, designers are already making the decisions, solving the problems, and guiding the outcome, yet stop short of selling those services. Additional profit centers aren’t about trying to get more money out of a client. They are a natural extension of full-service design and a strategic way to stabilize revenue when the market shifts. These services create smoother projects, better collaboration with trades, and stronger outcomes for clients. Have a question--click here to ask us. RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Design Paradigm - The Interior Design Paradigm - Website
Join our FREE Facebook Groups For designers who need honest talk and a place to work on the business, marketing and promotion small business owners need.
***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 61: Why waiting for the contractor to lead can be a mistake | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:43:18 | |
Most project problems don’t start on the job site. They start much earlier, when assumptions are made, roles aren’t defined, and everyone thinks someone else is handling it. In this episode, Cheryl and Liz talk through why setting the stage before working with a contractor is one of the most important leadership moves a designer can make. You are not micromanaging or crossing lines, but instead establishing expectations and defining the individual responsibilities so the designer, the contractor, and the client are all working toward the same outcome. Clients don’t know how this process works unless you show them. Contractors don’t know your role unless you define it. And if you’re not in the conversation, you can’t protect the design. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 60: Your Team cannot read your mind. Do something about it. | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:51:38 | |
It is always a treat when you hire people you genuinely like until you realize you now have to train them while juggling active projects, client demands, and the never-ending to-do list already sitting on your desk. Cheryl and Liz give you a look at what is going on at In Detail right now and what onboarding really looks like inside a busy studio. Some days your processes may feel like it has to re-evolve by the hour, or hot-potato tasks reveal who’s thinking and who’s parroting, and then other days you have to determine the fine line between empowering new hires and accidentally setting them up to fail. It is all about building systems before you drown, to teaching employees how to anticipate needs, and to keeping ownership where it belongs (spoiler: not back on your desk) will help shape a team that can carry the weight with you. If you’ve ever hired too late, trained on the fly, or wondered why people don’t magically read your mind, consider this episode a must listen. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 59: If you confuse them, you lose them. Period. | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:55:02 | |
The confusion you accidentally create long before the proposal ever hits your clients inbox is the real reason clients hesitate. Your price is not the problem. You can unintentionally create confusion through discovery calls, the way you talk about freight, receiving, vendors, timelines, your value, etc. This causes your clients to be constantly collecting clues about whether saying yes to you feels SAFE or SCARY. Learn how your language, tone, and timing shape the emotional architecture your clients make decisions in, and why being clear is your most powerful sales tool. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 58: ASKED & ANSWERED - I'm scared to tell potential clients we aren't taking new projects right now. What do I do? | 04 Nov 2025 | 00:20:39 | |
Every designer has run into this situation before—the panic of too many projects, too little time, and clients who “need it done now.” Your timelines aren’t the enemy; but poor planning is. When you managed your schedule with purpose instead of panic it means you are understanding your own process. This means before you promise anyone else a date, you know how to communicate timing in a way that builds trust instead of tension. This episode will help you rethink what it means to be “busy,” and see how managing your capacity actually protects your profit and learn why the right clients will wait for the right process. We want you to learn that leading a project doesn't mean you should be saying yes to everything right then and there but instead knowing when to say not yet. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 57: Should we, just because we can? | 16 Oct 2025 | 00:49:29 | |
Just because you can take on another project doesn’t mean you should. In this episode, Cheryl and Liz unpack what it really takes to manage your firm’s capacity—not just your time, but your energy, your team, and your profitability. There must be a level of discipline to say no, even if they are a great lead because saying yes to every project is not always helping your business. Consider this episode your permission slip from Cheryl to stop trying to do it all—and to create a new paradigm in our industry. We believe you have to forge ahead by eliminating what does not work from the past, learn from the past, and then take control. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 54: Are You Afraid to Define Your Value? | 02 Sep 2025 | 00:49:09 | |
Little did we know our Pricing and Salary Survey results were going to give us great nuggets of information that we could share for many future podcasts to come! One of the biggest challenges we found designers face is defining their product. Too often, “full-service design” means something different to every designer—and that inconsistency makes it nearly impossible to set confident fees, manage scope, or show clients the real value of design work. The secret lies in creating clear deliverables with a written scope of work, and structured meeting agendas that are always advancing the project. If you are not keeping track of your time--as many do not--this reveals where designers tend to undervalue themselves. You must trust in the value of your own work--define it, control it, manage expectations, and most importantly, position yourself as the expert in the room. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 53: Why Selling Yourself Short in K&B Costs You Big | 19 Aug 2025 | 00:57:15 | |
Kitchen and bath design must be treated — and priced — as the high-level specialty it is. These are not "just another room" — instead, they are some of the most complex, high-stakes, and profitable part of your business if you treat it that way. Too many designers undervalue their skills, we discuss how flat fees protect both your expertise and your bottom line, and why being the expert in the room changes everything. From navigating subs and code changes to troubleshooting “transitions up the wazoo,” we are sharing our real stories from the trenches that prove kitchen and bath design demands higher fees and sharper processes. If you’ve ever charged the same for a bath as you do a living room, then this is your wake-up call. Remember--clients pay for confidence, precision, and advocacy. Our message is clear: stop selling yourself short and start treating kitchen and bath work as the profit powerhouse it can be. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 52: ASKED AND ANSWERED - I Like Hourly, Why Should I Charge Flat Fees? | 05 Aug 2025 | 00:07:22 | |
In this Ask and Answered episode, we break down the real reasons flat fees can transform your business—and why hourly billing might be keeping you small. The mindset shift designers need to make is to stop thinking like a technician and start pricing like a CEO. Flat fees protect your time, boost your authority, and create a better experience for your clients. This isn’t about guessing—it’s about building a smarter, scalable business model that reflects the transformation you deliver. If you're tired of trading hours for dollars, this episode is your call to change the game. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| REPLAY! How to Make Money Selling Project Management - Top Fave of 2025! | 22 Jul 2025 | 00:38:41 | |
How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all of that is so important. We discuss how important positioning to the client about it being win-win-win and how to sell this to the client and they actually need both components of this is because we do different things and we focused on different things. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 3 Ep 51: ASKED AND ANSWERED - I'm so busy, I don't have time to answer every lead. Do I really need to? | 08 Jul 2025 | 00:11:56 | |
We have another asked and answered topic this week! We are talking about reframing what many designers see as “wasted” discovery calls. Just because a lead isn’t a fit for full service doesn’t mean it’s a dead end. Consider this as a chance to position your firm as a resource, build brand equity, and generate revenue—especially when you offer varied tiers of service. Start looking for smart strategies to redirect leads, educate potential clients, and how to stay visible—even when they say no. This episode is a must-listen for designers who want to create income stability and long-term opportunity in any market. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 50: How to Get Press: The secret door to getting your interior design work published with Alex Abramian | 24 Jun 2025 | 00:44:24 | |
Public relations isn’t just about getting published—it’s about what you do after the feature goes live. We thrilled to welcome our special guest who we have been working with for over a year. Alex Abramian, founder of The PR Collaborative, talks with us about the evolving landscape of PR for interior designers. With years of experience as a writer and editor for major national publications, Alex shares real-world insights into what editors are looking for right now and how designers at any stage of business can get press without big budgets or agency retainers. A non-negotiable for us--high-quality photography. The reason being is you can create stories in these photos and it doesn't have to be on a million dollar budget. Editors are currently obsessed with small, personality-filled spaces (think under 1500 sq ft, bold color, cozy vibes, and yes—pets!), and how sharing your client’s story can make a bigger impact than simply showcasing pretty rooms. If you think you need a massive "luxury project" or a full marketing strategy to get noticed, think again. This episode is packed with practical advice on how to get published and how to leverage that publicity for SEO, credibility, and client trust. When you are being responsive, opinionated, and authentic, it makes you more appealing to editors—and how early to mid-career designers have more opportunity than ever before to break into editorial PR. Stop waiting for someone to come to you--it's time to show up and start getting noticed. If you want to learn more & join The Academy - check it out here - https://www.theprcollaborative.co/academy Alex has generously offered a way to save a bit on the registration too by using DAMNGOOD when you sign up! I told you she was cool! Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 48: Why your "welcome packet" isn't very welcoming | 27 May 2025 | 00:35:01 | |
We believe one of the most underrated parts of a client journey is the intake process. This isn’t about a boring list of preferences like if they prefer black over blue or which kitchen they like best. Instead, it's about asking the right questions to uncover how clients live, communicate, and make decisions. Our unique and customized client questionnaire goes FAR beyond aesthetics and dives deep into behavior, values, and lifestyle—ensuring a strong foundation for collaboration and killer design. This is how you can turn your 'welcome packet' into helping avoid client disconnects, set the tone for trust, and keep your projects on track. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 47: ASKED AND ANSWERED - There is no one right way--but there is a better way | 13 May 2025 | 00:10:58 | |
There’s no one right way to run a design business—but there is often a better way. This is not to say if something is working for you—great. Keep going. But if you're stuck or wondering why the same problems keep popping up? It might be time to challenge the models you’re using. How can you challenge the traditional business models, such as cost plus pricing and hourly billing? These are not the most sustainable or scalable options for growth. Instead we discuss considering alternative models that prioritize communicating value to clients. Determine what is NOT working for you--and find the better way. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 46: The Best Marketing Tool Hiding in Plain Sight | 29 Apr 2025 | 00:33:55 | |
Social proof from your clients is important for building trust and credibility in a business. Reviews and testimonials from happy clients, while also being mindful of how and when, can be used to showcase the success and unique offerings of your business. This not only helps attract the right clients, but also addresses common pain points and frequently asked questions. Reviews can also serve as a helpful tool for evaluating and honing in on your strengths, showcasing your value, and even areas for improvement. We share our tips--and even what Liz wrote a client just this week--about how to lead your witness with authenticity! Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 45: ASKED AND ANSWERED - Why cleaning the toilet might help your creativity more than you think | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:15:36 | |
You can't lead clients from survival mode---well you can, but not well and not for extended periods of time. how How you feel directly impacts how you lead, sell, and scale. The mindset shift I have to use is to keep my business steady is the "attitude of gratitude." This "Asked and Answered" topic this week is slightly more personal but a question I get asked often when I am balancing all the moving parts of running a business. By redirecting negative energy into gratitude and giving back to others in some way, rather than staying focused on your problems, can provide far more lasting effects than you may realize. So while we go a little woo-woo this week, it may be a good reset to think about when you may been thinking the world is falling apart. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 44: ASKED AND ANSWERED - The most damaging thing you can do in your business | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:15:27 | |
This week we are answering questions from our audience--first up is one of my FAVORITE hills to die on and what I consider one of the most damaging things you can do for your business. It is not a smart business practice to sell blocks of time as a designer because this is not an effective way to market and value creative brilliance. Selling based on the end product or creative vision is a better approach for setting yourself apart from competition. By selling transformational spaces and having confidence in your pricing will show your clients you know what you are doing and you are a professional. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 43: The Hidden Mindset Mistakes Killing Your Team’s Momentum | 18 Mar 2025 | 00:52:52 | |
Sometimes the simplest of truths is what is going to move the needle and this begins with understanding who you are and your own weaknesses. We all have them right?? If you have a team, or even if you are a solopreneur, you are still consistently working with others and there are always going to be challenges of working together. However, being able to understand their strengths and weaknesses is going to make you a better business owner. It is important for you and those that you work with to be honest and admit if they are not understanding something and try different approaches in their conversations. These tough conversations are necessary for growth and success in a company. We are sharing our simple mindset mistakes that may be holding your or your team back from having a successful working relationship and being able to work effectively together. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 42: How to Stop Wasting Time on Marketing that doesn't Work | 04 Mar 2025 | 00:38:38 | |
Your marketing dollars are important. There are many elements to successful marketing and it starts with becoming part of the DNA of your business. This week we met with Denise Grothouse, the founder and CEO of Perfect Six Marketing, a company specializing in marketing strategies for the kitchen and bath design industry. In this episode we discuss the importance of having a strong brand voice and understanding your target clientele when it comes to marketing while also optimizing your #1 marketing tool--your website. You cannot be putting all your eggs in one marketing basket--but instead diversifying and leveraging where your leads come from to ensure a stable and successful business. Read more about Denise Grothouse below: With over 20 years of experience, Denise has mastered the art of growing businesses through tailored marketing solutions. Her proprietary methods have helped clients achieve exceptional sales growth, leveraging her expertise in SEO, social media, website development, and public relations. Before founding Perfect 6 Marketing in 2015, Denise co-founded and served as Vice President of Grothouse Inc., where she grew a multimillion-dollar custom wood countertop company. Her journey began after a devastating fire destroyed her fledgling business in 2005. Armed with resilience and a $5,000 credit limit, she rebuilt from scratch, turning setbacks into success. This experience sparked her passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams. Denise’s approach blends old-school hard work with constant innovation. She’s deeply committed to promoting Made in America brands and believes in giving every business, regardless of size, the visibility it deserves. As a columnist for Kitchen and Bath Design News since 2017, Denise shares her insights with industry professionals nationwide. Beyond marketing, Denise serves on the leadership council of the National Small Business Association and actively supports ocean conservation through Perfect 6 Marketing’s partnership with the Oceanic Society. For every new client, the company adopts a whale, underscoring her commitment to meaningful, sustainable impact. With a reputation for perseverance, creativity, and a compassionate approach, Denise continues to inspire businesses to thrive in competitive markets. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| REPLAY of Season 1 Ep 10: What is the Cost of Doing Business? (Re-Release of top 5 episodes!) | 11 Feb 2025 | 00:45:14 | |
Optics matter. Client's trusting you know how to manage money--matters. Understanding there is no free lunch--matters. Here is the drum roll take away. It takes money to make money. Ta da! Professional designers understand that it costs money to travel to market to learn about the products they specify ( and usually sell for a profit) -- or how important it is to pay for a good attorney in your state to develop a contract to suit your needs--or to get a CPA help to know when to become an S corp. -- Yes Virgina! it costs money to do these things. Who sold people the fairy tale this is a cheap business to get into? It is not. There are money and time costs. If it were a cake walk, everyone would do it. And by the grace of all intelligent creatures--- anyone who balks at pay to play, orders 9.99 contracts off Etsy, crowd sources tax advice---- and then has the huevos to complain about clients shopping them or not wanting to pay their 200 buck an hour fees??? Are ya kidding me with this? Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| REPLAY! of Season 1 Ep 14 Passion Rules, Mediocrity Sucks ( ALL TIME FAVE RERELEASED!) | 21 Jan 2025 | 00:54:17 | |
I am PASSIONATE--and if you have gotten my weekly newsletter the past two weeks then you would know all those years ago in college my young professor's advice stuck. So we are re-releasing one of our most popular episodes and trying to reignite the flame in those that may feel it dwindling! Are you giving clients the yearning for more? Showing passion is one of the most important things you can do as a business to demonstrate to your clients what it is that you are bringing to the table. Passion for my work is why I get up in the morning and being excited about what the day holds---and have an eagerness to jump into it. It’s not always roses and mai tais but still--I am passionate about what we do so it keeps me going. Do not be afraid to be excited about what is happening in your business. Clients feel this energy and will gravitate to you if you embrace it authentically. We discuss the need to bring your A-game every day because you want to cultivate that enthusiasm and excitement for your clients as you begin their project. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 41: The Top 5 Marketing Musts for 2025 | 07 Jan 2025 | 00:18:37 | |
Happy New Year! What better way to start off the year than with my top 5 marketing strategies for small business owners grow their businesses. Marketing is a mindset and not just an activity, and it takes time and effort to see results. This is not simply a standalone entity, it is ingrained in the essence of any business. Every interaction, from the moment a potential lead first encounters your brand, contributes to your marketing efforts. To build a brand that resonates and connects, you need to define who you are and who you aim to reach intentionally and this mindset should permeate all aspects of your business. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 40: Stop Running Your Business like a Popsicle Stand | 24 Dec 2024 | 00:38:13 | |
The process of procurement in a busy design firm is NO joke. You are not running popsicle stand, you are running a firm with various moving parts and you have to be able to have a way to track what is coming and going through your business. This is where checks and balances come into play to avoid costly mistakes and keep the firm running smoothly. We know discussing purchase orders can be a little bit boring but by practicing a proper purchasing process and using purchase orders can make or break your interior design business. Why? Because a purchase order ensures accuracy in tracking and forecasting, as well as plays a key role in auditing and cross-checking bills and expenses. We want to be able to have clear communication with vendors and this ensures that all the necessary details of a transaction with a vendor are documented, thus making it easier to communicate and avoid misunderstandings. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 39: Don't Blame Your Client--it's your show. Own it. | 17 Dec 2024 | 00:33:49 | |
Cheryl is going solo this week while Liz takes a well-deserved little vacation. Cheryl is discussing managing client expectations and making sure you are not keeping them in the dark--you need them to trust the process! There is a level of professionalism that comes with the importance of managing clients' expectations during their project. Setting clear expectations with clients from the beginning, communicating clearly, defining project timelines, and always guiding the client through the process will manage the client's needs and manage the potential risks in the project. By creating a plan and forecasting future steps in advance this also helps to avoid surprises and disappointments and a key aspect of running a successful interior design firm. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 38: How to Make Money Selling Project Management | 03 Dec 2024 | 00:37:06 | |
How can you be team player without giving up your own rights? Working with contractors can be a tricky relationship when they want you to stay in your lane--BUT it doesn't have to be. Creating a team approach with positioning in your marketing, the copy that you use, the verbiage that you talk about, and how you talk about it with other people, all of that is so important. We discuss how important positioning to the client about it being win-win-win and how to sell this to the client and they actually need both components of this is because we do different things and we focused on different things. Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||
| Season 2 Ep 37: The Icing on the Cake | 26 Nov 2024 | 00:15:58 | |
Who doesn't love an install day!? Sure, it can be hectic and exhausting but this is where you get to see the fruit of your labor come together. Cheryl went solo this week talking about In Detail's top tips for a successful install day! Having a team in place for installation that understands the logistics and are able to convey it to your movers AND your client is one of the keys to success. A strong install day is the icing on the cake for clients, so it's important to plan ahead and communicate clearly with your team and the movers. Did we miss any top tips? Share one of your faves and we will feature it in our newsletter! Have a question--click here to ask us. Loved this episode? Click here to leave a 5⭐ review RESOURCE LINKS:Damn Good Workshops - Website View our upcoming workshops! These workshops are 2–3 hour deep dives (some more than one day) built for creative entrepreneurs who want to lead with confidence, price with authority, and grow with intention. We created this workshop series with tracks that cover the challenges we know designers face: pricing, sales, client relationships, project management, marketing, and leadership. Each workshop is designed to stand alone — so you can choose the topics that matter most right now — while still connecting to the bigger picture of building a profitable, sustainable design business. Damn Good Designer - Damn Good Designer - Website
The Paradigm Quick Start - 3 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Shift - 6 Month Custom Coaching Program The Paradigm Intensive - 12 Month One on One Immersive Custom Business Coaching Join our FREE Facebook Groups
ABOUT US: Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms. ***Any use of this page and its content to develop or train artificial intelligence or to do computer analysis is prohibited.*** | |||