Only Girl On The Jobsite – Details, episodes & analysis

Today I'm sharing the story of how I built a design business that doesn't just rely on constant marketing, that next inquiry call, or that lucky referral. I don't go looking for new clients, and I haven't had to in years. My next project almost always comes from a client I've already worked with or from one of the contractors, architects, or realtors in my network. So today I'm breaking down exactly how that happens and, more importantly, how you can start building the same kind of stability and predictability in your own firm.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Find out all the details about The Designer's Edge here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers 

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/why-i-never-have-to-go-looking-for-new-clients 

So you've probably noticed this before: you've noticed that contractors never apologize for their prices. They walk into a meeting, they set their number and paperwork on the table, and then they wait. There are no disclaimers. There's no, I hope this seems reasonable, Mrs. Smith. It's just, this is what it costs. Meanwhile, we as designers are still over-explaining, discounting, or defending what we charge. But here's the question I want you to think about today: What if the difference between how contractors and designers price has absolutely nothing to do with money and everything to do with mindset? Because the truth is, they're not just better at math. They're better at leadership.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Sign up for The Pricing Fix workshop on November 6th, 12:30 PM EST:  https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/the-pricing-fix

• Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/contractor-pricing-vs-designer-pricing 

Today I'm sharing two recent wins that build on what we discussed in Ep241: What Do Interior Designers Really Do on Construction Projects? These real-life stories show how valuable designers are on job sites—and I hope they inspire you to create similar experiences in your own projects.

Listen to Ep241 here:  https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects/

Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-invaluable-on-job-sites 

In any given week, I speak with countless designs across the country and even the world. And recently, the topics seem to be coming back to marketing - which makes sense. It's a critical part of our business. But what I'm starting to realize is that the questions aren't revolving around marketing but an underlying anxiety and stress about the current state of their business. 

While I'll never claim to be an expert in anxiety, I was forced into a crash course on how to manage it. And so today, I want to share with you the three steps I use to confront anxiety, what to do when you're feeling like an imposter, how to handle the inferiority complex we experience while scrolling social media, and more!

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/confronting-anxiety 

It's early December, and the holiday season is looming and, frankly, has already been kicked into high gear! Now is the time to get a handle on how you are going to approach the rest of the month to position yourself for success after the new year.

In today's episode, I cover everything from preparing for your holiday vacation and your colleagues, to the importance of communication, tips on gift-giving, marketing, and a year-end review. Let's Master December and navigate the End-of-Year Rush with confidence!

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/mastering-december 

Ellie Redder is here with me today to help all designers explore the possibilities of how to present and communicate their designs using Virtual Reality.

When you think of St. Louis luxury design and construction, you think of Ellie Redders. Ellie is the seasoned and endearing design leader behind her full-service firm, Ellie Redders Interiors. For over a decade, Ellie has earned a widespread reputation for her cutting-edge professional process, integrity in her partnerships, and her innate ability to design elevated yet comfortable family spaces. As a local household name, her work has graced the pages of House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and St. Louis Homes Magazine.

Clients ranging from surgeons to attorneys, professional athletes and entrepreneurial families have relied on Ellie Redders Interiors to successfully navigate the ins and outs of the luxury new build and massive large scale home renovation process. As a seasoned entrepreneur and designer, Ellie has developed a highly organized process paired with the use of cutting edge technology to support clients in visualizing and help them with their exact specific selections and furnishings before making costly decisions and mistakes. 

Virtual Reality is an amazing tool that can help verbalize our visions that sometimes we struggle to put words to - or we do put words to, and the homeowner doesn't get it. I think this is something to really look into, and I hope you enjoy this conversation!

Find out more about Ellie and grab her VR Guide here: https://elliereddersinteriors.com/virtual-reality#/ 

Follow Ellie on Instagram  @ELLIEREDDERSINTERIORSSTL

Follow Ellie on Facebook @ELLIE REDDERS INTERIOR

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/ellie-redder-virtual-reality 

Let's talk work/life balance.

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with the holidays right around the corner and several projects finishing up all at the same time, and I noticed my work/life balance was even more out of wack than it normally is. 

And so I wanted to acknowledge that. And let others know that work/life balance, at least for me, has been very challenging, and I was flooded with designers responding to the newsletter I put out about this topic. 

I heard countless stories from other designers and what they are going through, and it pained me to read them because, frankly, I have gone through all of the phases that they were describing. 

I want you to know you are not alone and you are not doing anything wrong. So today, we are digging into this topic of the always challenging work/life balance and if it really is achievable.

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/work-life-balance 

I hear a lot of designers struggling with how to price their services for construction management as well as decorating for potential clients. What I want to talk about today is not the actual dollars and cents but how pricing with confidence starts with knowing the value you bring to each and every project.

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/knowing-your-value 

No two projects are alike. I know that can unnerve some of you, but I want you to think about it as a positive thing as it allows you to evaluate each project. Today, I want to talk about how to evaluate each project by the value it will bring to you and your business!

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/determine-projects-value 

Today, I have my friend Lesley Myrick joining me in today's episode. Lesley is a recognized design media personality and the CEO of Lesley Myrick Interior Design, a full-service boutique interior design firm based in Macon, GA.

Having lived and worked internationally, Lesley specializes in designing personality-driven, playful, and function-forward "forever homes" for professional families.

Media outlets including Architectural Digest, People, Forbes Home, Insider, and InStyle magazine have celebrated Lesley for her signature aesthetic of bold, colorful, and collected interiors that offer a fresh take on Southern design.

Today, Lesley and I are breaking down a topic I am often asked about, and that is the best practices of pricing a project and what it actually looks like to be profitable through margins, hourly, or flat fee rates. 

Lesley shares her experience of participating in a panel at HighPoint, where experts discussed the challenging aspects of pricing interior design and construction management projects. Lesley emphasizes the absence of a one-size-fits-all pricing formula and the importance of finding your perfect approach. She highlights the significance of not only establishing upfront pricing but also analyzing the numbers on the back end to ensure profitability.

Lesley shares essential insights on pricing strategies, including the benefits of educating clients about project duration, the transition from hourly rates to flat fees, and the art of confidently stating your price. She dispels the fear of profit and the reluctance to walk away from unfit clients, stressing the importance of leading the design process and choosing the right projects.

You'll definitely want to grab a pen and paper and get ready to take notes! Enjoy!

Find out more about Lesley, as well as resources mentioned in today's episode, here:

https://nancyganzekaufer.com/free-resources-for-interior-designers &

https://www.instagram.com/lesleymyrick

Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/lesley-myrick-pricing-a-project