Interior Designer Marketing Tips – Learning When to Say No

The oft-spoken phrase, “Variety is the spice of life” can mean many things, based on context and one’s openness to diversity. In a service business like yours, it may refer to the range of services you offer, but it may also describe the types and dissimilarities of clients you serve. In that case, variety may be problematic. When considering how diverse clients can be, helping you figure out when to say “Yes” and when to say “No”, may be one of our most important interior designer marketing tips.First, it’s true that there are times when the best thing you can do is refuse to work with a prospective client, regardless of the size or appeal of the job they have. Stated simply, some projects just aren’t worth the hassle.Taking the lead from an article at Houzz.com, the reasons for occasionally saying no to a client are pretty clear:“Not all clients who come your way are a good fit. Maybe they don’t have the budget to get the job done properly. Perhaps they don’t have a clear vision for what they want and keep changing their minds. Or maybe they’re looking for services you can’t provide.”While these are not the only reasons you may want to decline a design job, they are the most common. So, when you feel hesitant about accepting the work they need done, even if you're not 100% sure why, choosing to decline the project – politely – is the best way to avoid regrets in the future.For nearly anyone in a service business, the following experience is likely familiar: The more your client hears you say “Yes” to something, the more demanding they become. In the design business, this can quickly blow up a budget and make it impossible to finish the project on time.And yet, refusing a job can seem impossible because:

• You fear losing a current or potential client
• You fear getting a bad reputation
• You fear hurting their feelings

And yet, over-committing to difficult clients can just as easily cost you work, ruing your rep, and upset the person whose project you struggled to finish on time and on budget!How to Say “No” to a ClientWhen you decide that a design project is not right for you, letting the client know requires tact and a clear explanation if you want to protect your reputation. Explain your reasons calmly and rationally and let them know it’s not “personal”, even if it may be (for example, you think there may be a personality conflict).Whatever the reason may be, if you believe a particular design project (or client) isn’t a great match in the moment, it doesn’t mean they can’t be a valuable resource for your business. By letting them down easy, and if you avoid bruising their ego, they may be willing to work with you again in the future, or possibly offer referrals.Here are a few tactics you can use to gently say “No” to a client:

• Explain that your menu of services does not include exactly what they’re looking for.
• Introduce them to a designer or contractor who can accommodate their needs more easily than you can.
• Let them know that, because your schedule is already full, you simply do not have the time to handle such an important project the way you want to.

While it may seem counter-intuitive to refuse to work with someone who wants to pay you, as a smart business owner you must also protect your own interests. Even though you want your clients and prospects to like you, to have them give you referrals, and to have them believe you can “do it all”, there will be times when the best choice to make is to say, “No thank you”.NOTE: In common use, the common use of the introductory phrase is incomplete. It’s a paraphrasing of the line that comes from William Cowper's poem, “The Task” (1785), which actually reads, “Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.”Looking for more interior designer marketing tips, design trends, and product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Designer Marketing Tips – Brand Building for Your Design Business

When an entrepreneur or business owner searches the internet for help with online marketing, one of the first things the “experts” mention is building your brand. Of course, this presupposes that everyone understands what that means. It occurs to us that we too may have taken this for granted when we post interior design marketing tips so, let’s clear up a few things about brand building for your design business.MBASkool.com, is a “one-stop management knowledge portal and a B-School community for all MBA students, professionals and MBA institutes”.According to the Marketing Dictionary they offer, “Brand Building is generating awareness, establishing and promoting company using strategies and tactics. In other words brand building is enhancing brand equity using advertising campaigns and promotional strategies. Branding is crucial aspect of company because it is the visual voice of the company. Goal of brand building is creating a unique image about the company.”To put it more simply, brand building involves creating a unique identity for your design business; finding ways to separate yourself from your competition by displaying extraordinary talent, creativity, and knowledge as an interior designer.“Oooh Kaaay”, you may think. “But, just how do I do that?”5 Brand Building Tips for Interior DesignersBrand building can be initiated with a well thought brand identity which can help create a strong brand image which goes a long way in consolidating the brand.Here we offer 5 brand building tips to help:

• Target a local audience – The first thing to remember is that, to a very large extent, your design business is extremely localized. Relatively few designers are able to appeal to, and reach, a national audience. Your clients and prospects will live and work near you and, should you happen to gain a broader reputation, that is a huge plus. However, for now, keep your focus on building your brand as a local designer.
• Narrow market focus – It’s virtually impossible to be all things to all people. Needs and tastes vary greatly, from homeowner to homeowner and from business owner to business owner. Building brand awareness among your target audience requires that you fit yourself into a niche that others are not filling, or that you believe you are better at filling. Stick with what you’re best at doing, do what you enjoy doing, and the rest will follow.
• Use images – Whether you carry a portfolio or use a website to promote your design business, high quality pictures of the work you’ve done has real power as a brand building tool. While smart phone cameras have improved dramatically in recent years, you should carry a good digital camera at all times. Remember – you can never have enough images of your design work!
• Website copywriting – Clarity and consistency are the keys to creating a message that speaks to the hearts of your target audience. They are also critical to enabling you to overcome the challenge of creating an identity that connects with them on a personal level. Finding ways to overcome the detachment and skepticism of your audience, and prospective clients, may be the greatest challenge faced by designers who choose to market themselves online.

When you create your website copy, or perhaps have it done for you, focus on an approach that personalizes online interactions, allowing you to speak directly to the needs of your audience and prospects, in ways that clearly outline the benefits of working with you.

• Testimonials and reviews – Back in the day, relying on word of mouth recommendations from satisfied clients was a realistic way to find new business. Today though, as more and more business is done online, you will need to add a Testimonials Page to your website. The key to success here is to ask your clients for a review of your work… And update the page regularly with fresh testimonials.

Creating a unique identity for yourself and your design business can be difficult. The competition in most markets is fairly stiff but, if you can focus you marketing efforts in two areas, you should have success. These two areas are: 1) what matters you as a designer, and 2) what matters to your design clients.When those two things mesh, you have found brand building gold!Looking for more new interior design trends, designer marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends – Cool In-Home Bars

We’re not sure if folks, adults especially (and hopefully), are drinking more or simply looking for a cool new place to imbibe but, in-home bars seem to be one of the hottest interior design trends this year. From basements to kitchens and from bonus rooms or lounges to outdoor areas, a Google search for “design trends in home bars” will result in articles with anywhere from “8 Top Trends” to “221 Best Home Bar Images” on Pinterest. (Make sure you log out of Pinterest first, or the link won’t work.)While we certainly have no opposition to viewing more than 18 dozen images of in-home bar designs, that’s quite a bar-ier for a busy designer to overcome. (See what we did there? LOL)With that in mind, we offer half-a-dozen in-home bar images that we can only describe as… Awesomely kewl!In-Home Bar Images We LikePerfect for a small space, such as a basement, this wet bar, and its black and white palette are full of urban edge and crisp lines, as seen on “Restored by the Fords”, on HGTV.Once again, if space is an issue (which happens fairly often), a recessed bar may be the perfect answer, especially when the wood being used complements the hardwood floors of the room. (Zillow.com)For blending a bar into an existing space, the slim railing in this design visually separates this midcentury bar and lounge while maintaining an overall open look. An orange banquette is a fun pop of color in the space. (HGTV)“Just because bars are hidden away in the basement, does not mean that basement bars do not deserve a great look. Creating simple but classy bars in the basement is a trend that is quickly catching on. We are finding that more and more homeowners are spending more money on the right design. This involves a more streamlined design that focuses on the base cabinets only and the countertop space needed for seating.” (SebringDesignBuild.com)When space and functionality collide, you sometimes have to fit an in-home bar where you can. Here, creativity serves a purpose; to smoothly integrate your desire to meet the needs of the homeowner. (CrowellPhoto.com)When possible a full-service bar design can make a huge impression on homeowner and guests alike. The full service in this home includes a full-size refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, and even a pass-through window out to the patio. (HGTV)No value judgments here. After all, it’s not like we think homeowners are suddenly drinking too much. But, it has to be said, the trend toward in-home bars really is pretty cool.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Setting Goals for Your Design Business for 2019

It’s that time of year again; when setting goals for your design business rears its head, creates stress, and leads to sleepless nights. “What’s the point of goal setting?” you may ask. After all, you’ve been doing setting business goals for years and rarely achieve them so, maybe this year it makes more sense to simply “wing it”.If that is or has been, your default position about your business, it’s well past time for a refresher course in goal setting.Goal setting is not a talent we are born with but, instead, is a skill that must be developed. While goal setting for your business is not complex, it does require vision and focus: a vision for a large goal by the end of the year, with focus on incremental steps to get you there.Incremental Goal Setting: Small Steps Lead to Big ResultsAs an example, a realistic approach to goal setting might look something like this:

1. Set a Big Goal for the year: Increase Revenue by 40% this year
2. Set 4 Quarterly Goals for the year: Increase Revenue by 10% each quarter
3. Set 12 Monthly Goals for the year: Increase Revenue by 3.5% each month
4. Set 50 Weekly Goals for the year: Increase Revenue by 1% each week

Clearly, aiming for and reaching a Big Goal like increasing your business’ revenue by 40% for the year becomes far easier when you think of it as just one percent per week!That 1% per week quickly becomes more than 3.5% per month, which is more than 10% each quarter, which will easily surpass your 40% increase in revenue for this year’s Big Goal!Easy peasy!How to Get ThereOf course, all of this presupposes your design business is running smoothly and you have no serious issues holding you back. Since that is rarely the case, here are a few areas of your business you might want to look at in a bit more depth.

• Business website review – While your clients may love the services you provide, if they and new visitors find your business website difficult to navigate, you are losing both current and future business. It’s important to remember that your business website is often the first point of contact with potential clients; a virtual store where first impressions are critical to success.

It’s equally important to remember that you have literally seconds to make that first impression and, if you fail to hold your visitor’s attention and/or pique quickly their interest, your website is not serving its purpose. If your website design is more than 2-3 years old, it’s time for a review – and probably a revamp.

• Client satisfaction survey – Discover your strengths and weaknesses as an interior designer straight from the “horse’s mouth” (so to speak) – the thoughts and feelings of your clients. We’ve mentioned using a client survey before and it can’t be said enough: your clients are the best source of information about where you need to focus your time and energy to grow your interior design business.
• Online marketing review – Many entrepreneurs and small business owners spend countless hours trying to learn and implement a modern online marketing strategy. Yet, most of that time is wasted, with little return on investment – and even less return for the time and energy spent (wasted?).

If this sounds familiar, you should seriously consider outsourcing your online marketing efforts to an experienced virtual support team. At the very least, you should contract with one to perform a review of your efforts which will enable you to invest your valuable time more effectively. (BTW… here’s a post about how to create a content plan in 5 minutes!)

• Self-evaluation and assessment – Taking an honest and dispassionate look at yourself as a business owner (not to mention as a person) can be challenging. It’s very natural for individuals to over-value the things they’re good at and to undervalue areas that need improvement. (For some help, check out this post on self-awareness as a leadership tool.)

But, to grow your business (and to be a good boss if you have a team), it is imperative that you understand your own strengths and weaknesses – and begin working on the areas that need your attention. Otherwise, you will never reach your long-term goal of building the business you dreamed of when you began.Granted, there is more that can be said, and learned, about how to set reachable business goals but, these goal setting tips should at least get you started along the right path.If you're interested in learning more about goal setting for your design business, or the latest design trends and online marketing tips, feel free to get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends – New Fabric Collections from Lee Jofa & Kravet

It’s always exciting to explore new design trends and collections; especially from leading design manufacturers like Lee Jofa and Kravet. From upholstery to trimmings and from prints and weaves to beautifully embroidered fabrics, Lee Jofa is offering some truly lovely looks and feels for the new year.Westport Collection by Lee JofaLee Jofa’s newest collection, Westport, captures a casual but sophisticated lifestyle. Inspired by an eclectic mix of design references, ranging from 19th-century Persian tile work to 20th century Art Deco textiles, the collection will inspire schemes for a variety of well-dressed rooms. These exclusive prints, weaves, and trimmings were conceived to work beautifully together and all share in the same laid-back, but luxurious, point of view. The collection’s palette is comprised of fresh, pretty colors featuring watery blues, blossoming pinks, woodsy greens and sandy neutrals combined in new and interesting ways.Davenport Collection by Lee JofaDavenport, printed on a linen ground cloth, is a bold and graphic floral design based on a 1930’s archival textile and is offered in five signature colorways. Based on Persian motifs, Lido is a versatile design printed in England on a fine linen and cotton blend union cloth. Both Seacliffe and Laine are authentic hand blocked prints enhanced with artisanal embroidery detailing.New Embroideries by Lee JofaLovely needlework is incorporated to produce Bradford Embroidery, a large-scaled tree-of-life design based on English crewel work. A more modern sensibility is expressed by the Ora Embroidery and Monterey Embroidery designs which have been produced in the collection’s distinctive colorations on fine linen-blend ground cloths.Kolmar and Varona are exceptional upholstery weaves which play a supporting role to the many decorative patterns in the collection. Both are woven in Europe using a variety of yarns featuring linen blends and special finishes for a supple hand.New Trimmings by Lee JofaThe variety of trimmings offered in the Westport collection are an assortment of four tape designs derived from and complements to the decorative patterns in the collection. Offered in a mix of sizes and qualities, they provide the essential finishing touches for drapery and upholstery applications.View the entire Westport Collection from Lee Jofa here.Looking for more new interior design trends, marketing tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends for 2019 – Rooms Designs, Fabrics & Furnishings

While HGTV.com may not be the first go-to source for many designers, they definitely have their fingers on the pulse of interior design-inclined homeowners. With that in mind, it never hurts to take a look at interior design trends among consumers, since they are also your potential clients.2019 Design Trends from HGTVAlthough a maximalist design trend is in full swing coming into the new year, white wall paint will also be prevalent. Designers say they’re moving toward softer, warmer whites (such as dove gray) and away from the previously popular cold whites.Among the most intriguing trends for 2019 is the use of high definition printing, which allows manufacturers to create porcelain tile that looks almost exactly like stone. Install it on walls, floors or countertops – the options are limited only by your imagination. This trend is popping up in bathrooms across the country and designers expect to see even more of it in 2019. Exposed shower plumbing pairs well with subway tile or minimalist bathroom decor.Woods and elegant fabrics have been a stunning combination for centuries and will continue to be popular in the new year. Bare and finished woods, surrounded by plush furnishings, present an opportunity to combine simplicity with style; a rare feat in most designs that can lead to stunning results.2019 New Arrivals from KravetWhile the trend toward white wall paint is undeniable (see our post on Color of the Year: Benjamin Moore, for example), there is also a strong trend toward using wallcoverings. Needless to say, Kravet is leading the way with a variety of coverings that offer many shades of white. Fabrics will also feature prominently in 2019 and, as always, Kravet designers have put together an array of looks, feels, and patterns that offer the opportunity to match any theme you can conceive. Of course, no room design is complete without furnishings that match the theme. Once again, Kravet has come through with a stunning assortment of variations from which to choose. From elegant furnishings to lovely accent pieces, many of the new arrivals from Kravet will make interior design a pleasure in 2019. Looking for more interior design trends for 2019, online marketing tips, and design product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Designer Marketing Tips – Defining Your Ideal Client

A recent attention-getting article at Houzz.com offers three opinions on how to recognize when a client is a good fit. As part of their new “Pro Panel” series, a landscape designer, an interior designer, and an architect describe what they look for in a dream client. Now, while the guidance offered certainly has value, it merely scratches the surface of designer marketing tips for defining the ideal client.In a previous post, subtitled Do You Know Your Ideal Client Profile? we offered quite a few tips designed to help you sketch the types of people who would best respond to your marketing approach for interior design services. While each of the suggestions we offered then has real value, they were somewhat general and slightly impersonal in nature. In today’s post, we would like to offer a more nuanced, individualized profile of the potential clients with whom you would most like to work.Of course, it goes without saying that your ideal client must be local; should both need and want your services, and is willing to pay you for them. Beyond that, however, the “perfect client” will also be a joy to work with. They will be the type of client whose personality meshes well with your own and will be someone you love to work with more than any other.Because, after all, you don’t want to work with just anyone. You want to work with people you LOVE and who bring you joy.Ideal Client Personality ProfileIn a perfect world, every client (and potential client) would match your description of perfect. But, while the world we live in is certainly not perfect and you will be forced to work with design clients you would rather not if you set your sights on perfection you are far more likely to reach that goal more often.As your guide, you might want to remember this quote from famed football coach Vince Lombardi:“Perfection is not attainable but, if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.”While not a “wish-list” for a client who does not exist, your personality profile of an excellent client might then include:

• Open and receptive to new ideas – Even clients who possess a firm idea of what they would like their space to become can be open to a different approach to getting there. Always remember that the space you're working in belongs to them, not you and that the ultimate goal is to make them comfortable and happy. As long as this is top-of-mind for you at all times, being creative with your ideas for giving them what they want will be appreciated, rather than resented.
• Positive mindset and attitude – Negative energy affects all who feel it. Working with clients who are constantly pessimistic or gloomy will suck the energy right out of you. Instead, look for people who are eager to work with you and who possess a positive outlook on the potential outcome. People like this are far more likely to accept a creative approach to reaching their goals and will be much more accepting of your ideas. You will also be better able to maintain your own positive attitude when working with them face-to-face.
• Realistic aspirations, goals, and dreams – Finding clients who grasp the limitations of what is possible, for them and for you, may be one of the most important characteristics of your ideal client personality profile. These folks understand that working within certain parameters, such as budgetary limits, time constraints, and the size of the space to be remodeled, will determine the final product. The client who can accept all of these, and more, can definitely be placed in the “excellent” category.
• Open about worries and fears – without being overly negative. We’ve spoken about client fear before but, the client who is open enough to share their worries with you will also be more accepting of your explanations and attempts to calm them. Simply be as open with them as they’ve been with you and freely share your thoughts and experiences with overcoming these fears with other clients. This will create a win/win situation for both of you.
• Interested in the process – without being controlling or overbearing. Working with clients who are willing to learn from you can be energizing and encouraging. Since these folks enjoy the process as much as the result, just like you do, they have fewer fears to overcome. This will make the job enjoyable for both of you.
• Likable and outgoing – Working with people you like makes any job more enjoyable and fun. The more you like the person, the harder you will work for them and, the fewer problems they will create for you.

Remember, your ideal client personality profile is all about YOU. It is an outline of the types of people you would MOST like to work with and, while not every client or prospect will match every characteristic you develop for them, it’s OK to be selfish and hope for the best here. After all, if you can’t enjoy the design work you're doing, and the people for whom you're doing it, what’s the point?Looking for more new designer marketing tips, design trends, products, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Find Alternative Methods for Financing Remodeling Projects & Close More Design Deals

As outlined in a previous post, titled Interior Design Tips: Dealing with Client Fear, most design clients list the potential cost of a remodel as their number one fear. As we stated then, what they truly fear is taking a risk or making a blunder, often preventing them from moving forward. And, while this remains true, cost remains an impediment to closing the deal on a remodeling project. Knowing this, a sharp designer will find alternative methods for financing remodeling projects – and, by doing so, will close more deals.In the cost-related post, we offered this advice: Being realistic and honest with your clients is the key to overcoming the fear of cost. Whether the project stays within budget will depend on how thoroughly you’ve thought it through for them. If you have done your research on what things cost, requested quotes from contractors, and truly nailed the scope of the project, you can expect to be within a realistic range that your client can accept.We also offered this potential solution: Plan the project thoroughly, know your parameters and limitations and do your research so that you have a realistic budget to work within.Here, we would like to present you with another solution that may help you overcome the cost objection to your interior design projects:How to Pay for a Home Remodeling ProjectAccording to an article at Houzz.com, the majority of home remodeling projects are paid out-of-hand, with clients using cash or savings. Naturally, the fear of depleting their cash reserves can add to a potential client’s fear of the price you quote them to complete a project. For the savvy interior designer, however, presenting alternative methods for financing a remodeling project will help allay this fear – and may be the key to closing the deal with a client who is on the fence.It may surprise you to know that some 85% of 2017 home remodeling projects were paid for with cash (according to the Houzz survey). However, it may be just as surprising to learn that just 54% of those projects were paid for using only cash as the client’s sole method of payment. This information opens to door to you helping your clients find alternative methods for financing remodeling projects.Below is a graph which outlines the ways in which most design clients pay for home remodeling projects, along with alternatives for financing them.Alternative Methods for Financing Remodeling Projects

• Credit cards – The options here are store-specific cards and credit cards not tied to a specific store. The upside of this method is that your client could earn rewards points, but the downside is potentially paying interest. According to the survey, 33% of homeowners used credit cards to pay for home renovations in 2017, though most were combined with the use of cash.
• Secured loans – With secured financing, your client pledges collateral; an asset that would serve as a default payment in the event they fail to pay off the loan. There are several types that can be used to pay for a home remodel. Again, each of them would come with interest on the principal portion of the loan.
• Home equity lines of credit – Also known as HELOCs, these are revolving lines of credit that can be taken out against home equity. Essentially, the client borrows against the equity in their home, and the house is used as collateral for the debt. As the loan is repaid, the line of credit is replenished, meaning they can borrow against again, it in the future. Some 7% of homeowners surveyed who renovated in 2017 used HELOCs to pay for their projects.
• Cash-out refinancing – This is a home mortgage refinance in which the new mortgage is for a larger amount than the existing mortgage, with the difference converted to cash for the homeowner. Some 5% of homeowners surveyed, who renovated in 2017, used cash-out refinancing to pay for their renovations.
• Home equity loans – A home equity loan is a type of second mortgage that allows your client to borrow against the value of their home. It may be a general loan, a construction loan or a home improvement loan. About 4% percent of homeowners used home equity loans to pay for their renovations last year. (Additionally, since this is a home loan, any interest paid may be tax deductible.)
• Unsecured loans – These are loans that don’t require collateral. Qualifying for such a loan is based on your client’s credit score and income and, of course, there is interest that must be paid over the life of the loan. Just 2% of homeowners Houzz surveyed paid for 2017 home renovations with unsecured loans.

Since a home remodeling project will often require a significant investment by the homeowner, a clever interior designer will often present prospects with alternative methods for financing remodeling projects. Where possible, the designer may even build a relationship with a local bank or credit union to offer such financing. By researching and offering this information to your prospects and clients, you will surely close more remodeling deals.Looking for more interior designer marketing tips, new design trends, and design product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Design Trends for 2019 – What is the Hot New Color of the Year?

As an interior designer or furnishing supplier, you are surely curious about design trends for the new year. Like many, you are likely curious to know: What’s the hot new color of the year for 2019? As with so many things in the design and furnishings business, the answer to this question will depend on whom you ask.While the Pantone Color Institute has led the way in describing and promoting their “Color of the Year” for the past 20 years, they are certainly not the only company known for offering guidance in color trends. While they may be the best known for doing so, many others who specialize in the manufacturing of colored paint, fabrics, and plastics are also eager to share their insights into color trends.2019 Color of the YearPantone Color of the Year 2019 – Originally founded as the printing arm of an East Coast advertising firm, it is perhaps odd that Pantone has become a true trendsetter for color in the interior design and home furnishings business. Yet, thanks to their development of the Pantone Matching System (PMS), as well as the extensive research they devote to finding and following trending colors, their prominence among designers may not be surprising at all.For 2019, Pantone has determined that Living Coral, a color which represents “playful expression,” and our “innate need for optimism”, will be the hot the color for the next 12 months.BEHR Color Trends 2019 – Behr Paint Company manufactures interior house paints, exterior house paints, decorative finishes, primers, stains, and surface preparation products (retailed exclusively at The Home Depot). Founded in 1947 when Otho Behr, Jr. sold linseed oil wood stains to paint stores from the back of his station wagon, BEHR has become one of the most recognized paint brands in North America.For 2019, the company has presented a monochromatic theme, founded in shades of blue, for their hot color trend. The foundation of this theme is known as Blueprint, with a full range of blue, teal, and gray as the key direction for their 2019 Color Trends. This enables a creative designer to layer light and dark blues on walls, cabinets, furniture, and décor items for results that make an impact.Further, ColorSmart by BEHR® is an online app which allows you, and your clients, to preview colors in uploaded sample images or photos.

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2019 – Founded in 1883 by Benjamin Moore, and based in New Jersey, the company remains in the top 25 of North American coatings manufacturers. Dedicated to the vision of their founder, their stated goal is to produce the highest-quality paints and finishes in the industry, and to deliver them directly to their customers through a nationwide network of knowledgeable, customer-friendly, independent retail locations.Described as “calm, composed, and effortlessly sophisticated”, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year 2019 has been labeled Metropolitan, and “exudes glamour, beauty, and balance”. Their color of the year for 2019 is supported by Color Trends 2019, a coordinating palette of 15 harmonious hues.“Metropolitan AF-690 emanates nuance, harmony, and extravagant ease. Always adaptable, it softens to matte or shimmers with sheen. It's neutral. It's understated. It just is. This is color, off-duty." – Ellen O'Neill, Benjamin Moore & Co.Sherwin Williams 2019 Color of the Year – Established in 1866 by founders Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams, the company has firmly established itself as one of the top five coatings manufacturers in the US. Now a Fortune 500 company, they are best known for the development and marketing of the Valspar, Weatherbeater, and Dutch Boy brand paint lines.Not to be outdone by the competition, the 2019 color of the year from Sherwin Williams is known as Cavern Clay, “A warm terracotta color with ancient, elemental roots. Cavern Clay is a nod to midcentury modern style, but with the soul of the American Southwest, which together creates a desert modern aesthetic.”As described on their website: “This warm, earthy hue is both casual and refined. It can be the backdrop of a playful, welcoming dining room or kitchen when paired with bright tiles, warm stone, and sculptural greenery. Complementary materials include leather, simple woodgrains, and indigenous cacti in contemporary, sleek gardening planters.”Pittsburgh Paints (PPG) Color of the Year 2019 – Of course, no such list would be complete without the #1 paint company in the world, PPG Industries, the owner of Pittsburgh Paints. Originally founded as the Pittsburgh Glass Company in 1833, and with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, PPG operates in more than 70 countries around the globe and is the largest coatings company in the world.

For 2019, PPG invites you to “Experience the transformative power of paint with PPG’s 2019 Color Trends, and their 2019 Color of the Year – Night Watch – a rich, luxurious, and classic shade of green allowing spaces to emulate the feeling of lush greenery and the healing power of nature. Night Watch’s versatility allows the paint color to be used in a variety of rooms and design segments – from healthcare to commercial and residential design.”Kravet Color of the Year 2019 – We would be remiss if we did not share with you the color of the year from Kravet Inc, which owns Kravet, Lee Jofa, Groundworks, GP & J Baker, and Brunschwig & Fils – all of which are high-end fabric houses that specialize in style, luxury, and exceptional design.Taking their lead from Pantone, Kravet is fully on board with Living Coral as a featured color in the fabrics they offer for the coming year. From draperies to wallcoverings and from upholstery to trim, the Kravet designers have dedicated themselves to presenting designers and furnishing suppliers with a full palette of selections from which to choose – all of them using the Pantone color of the year.Looking for more interior design trends and marketing tips, and design product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Online Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers – Revisited

online marketing tips

We’ve spent a great deal of time and effort during the past year working to educate and illuminate the ways in which online marketing strategies can help you grow your interior design business. Looking back, we can’t help but wonder if you have taken any of this information and put it to use for your own business.

You see, here’s the thing, the strategic marketing information we’ve shared with you over the past 12 months was not mere opinion. We’ve done the research and consulted the experts in internet marketing, email marketing, and social media marketing, as well as an expert in designer marketing. Based on what we’ve learned from them, we believe we’ve put together a fairly comprehensive list of strategies and techniques that, if used correctly, will enable you to:

• Increase traffic to your design website

• Enhance your online reputation

• Grow your email subscriber list

• Boost engagement with your audience

• Enable you to build relationships with both clients and prospects

These are all important marketing goals for any business with a presence online these days. But, they are goals that require a focused effort and consistent implementation.

New Year’s Business Resolutions

As we head into a new year, it’s important to remember that some 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail within the first 30 days. This is true of business objectives as well as for personal goals.

The reason for such a stunning failure rate is simple: New goals are often too general and vague. Successful goal setting requires specific, realistic objectives, combined with a comprehensive plan to achieve them. To say you want to “increase sales this year” is simply too ambiguous to maintain focus.

Instead, you should target a number: a percentage or dollar increase in the number of sales you want to make over last year, for example.According to HostGator.com, if you want to improve your design business in 2019, you should resolve to:

• Review and update your business plan

• Consider your staffing needs for the New Year

• Check in with your customers

• Revisit your pricing

• Research new software solutions

• Create a customer review policy

• Do a website review

• Improve your marketing plan

Of course, that last one is where we have been focusing all year and, to help you accomplish this most important goal, we would like to remind you of some of the many posts we’ve published about online marketing strategies for interior designers.

Click on the links below to read them again (or for the first time):

• Designer Marketing Tips – Interior Designer Marketing Plan

• Online Marketing Tips – SEO Basics

• Designer Marketing Tips – The Role of Content in Online Marketing

• Designer Marketing Tips – Facebook Advertising - 3 Types of FB Ads

• Grow Your Interior Design Business – Analyzing Your Market

• Online Marketing Tips – Why Video Marketing Work Best for Online Sales

There were many more than these few, of course. So, if you're still curious, feel free to visit the TD Fall Blog and take a look around.Looking for more about online marketing strategies, interior designer marketing tips, new design trends, and design product ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.