Interior Design in Practice: Case Studies of Successful Business Models

Part I: Starting an Interior Design Business.

Chapter 1: The Beginning.

Why Do You Want to Have Your Own Business?

Will You Make the Cut?

Do You Have What It Takes?

The ABCs of Planning.

Business Planning vs. Strategic Planning: Johnson Consulting Services.

Thinking Ahead: Peterson-Arce Design Group.

Thinking Strategically: Carson Guest Interior Design Services Inc.

Financial Planning.

Sound Structure: Daroff Design Inc. + DDI Architects PC.

Establishing Fees: Deciding What You Are Worth.

Protecting Your Business: Insurance and Contracts.

Preparing for Risk: Buying Insurance.

Complete Contracts = Profitable Projects.

Setting Up Shop.

Location, Location, Location.

Looking Back for Those Moving Forward.

Advice in Hindsight: If I Were Starting a Firm Today.

Chapter 2: Structure and Support.

Building the Team.

Finding Their Motivation: Rabaut Design Associates.

Help Wanted: Finding Team Members.

Getting Started: Studio 2030.

Making the Cut.

Tips for Avoiding Costly Hiring Mistakes.

Going It Alone: Sole Practitioners.

Flying Solo: Patterson House Design Group.

In Process: Design Team Structure and Project Management.

Process Makes Perfect: Soucie Horner Ltd.

Step-by-Step: Chute Gerdeman Retail.

Come Together: Working with Collaborators and Consultants.

LEEDing the Way: Ecoworks Studio.

Supply and Demand: Vendors and Suppliers.

Love the One You're With: Bullock Associates Design Consultants Inc.

Love the One You’re With, Part Two: Renwall Interiors Limited.

A Two-Way Street: Coopertech Signs & Graphics.

Clients and Customers.

Know Your Client.

Constant Communication: Duffy Design Group.

Keeping It Personal: Adesso Design Inc.

Decoding the Design Process: Steven Miller Design Studio.

Building Long-Term Relationships: SJvD Design.

Chapter 3: Communications and Technology for a Modern Practice.

Who Are You? Creating the Brand.

What Is a Brand?

A Decade of Design: JJ Falk Design LLC.

Repositioning, Rebranding, Reinventing: Palladeo.

To Market, To Market: Marketing and Public Relations.

Being a Professional: Networking and Professional Organizations.

Integrating Technology.

The Wired Practice.

The Communications Business: Domus Design Group.

Log On.

Going Global, Going Mobile: Retail Clarity Consulting.

Using the Web to Market Your Firm: Resolve Digital.

Marketing through the Web: Merlino Design Partnership Inc.

Plugged In: Slifer Designs.

Being a Professional: Ethics.

Ethics in Business: The Designers Furniture Gallery.

Being a Professional: Licensing and Certification.

Part II: Sustaining and Growing Your Business.

Chapter 4: Taking Your Business to the Next Level.

Deciding When to Grow.

Deciding How to Grow.

On Her Own, but Not Alone: Mosaic Design Studio.

Jumping Right In: Catlin Design Inc.

A Deeper Look at More Complicated Means of Growth.

Deciding to Franchise.

Picking a Franchise.

Evaluating a Franchise Package: Questions to Ask.

A Franchise in Practice: Designs of the Interior.

Let’s Make a Dealership.

Finding the Right Mix: Elements IV Interiors.

Ownership Transition: Contract Office Group.

Residential Roots: Barbara Goodman Designs.

A + B = C: Mergers and Acquisitions.

Buying In: Larry Wilson Design Associates.

Preparing for an Acquisition.

A Successful Future: Sustaining Growth.

Suite Success: Cole Martinez Curtis and Associates.

Riding the Tide: Mancini Duffy.

Open to the Possibilities: Wilson Associates.

Parting Shot: A Sixty-Second Guide to Managing Growth over the Long Haul.

Chapter 5: Transitioning from Small to Midsize and Large Firms.

Sprint to the Start: Diane Boyer Interiors.

Getting It Down on Paper.

Team in Training.

Hire and Seek: Creative Business Interiors.

Personnel Management Issues: Looking Outside for Internal Help.

Creating Policies and Guidelines.

Bringing in Benefits.

Monitoring Growth and Progress.

Success in Seattle: EHS Design.

Added Responsibility: Sechrist Design Associates Inc.

Part III: The End Game.

Chapter 6: Planning for the Future.

Learning from Experience: KSA Interiors.

Thinking Ahead.

The Value of Planning.

Next in Line: Succession Planning.

An Action Plan for Succession.

Setting Goals: Facilities Connection.

Successful Succession: TRIO Design Group and David-Michael Design Inc.

Conclusion.

Appendix A: ASID Sample Interior Design Services Agreements.

Appendix B: ASID Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.