Open Book: 3 Bathroom Designers on Life Balance & Lessons Learned
Three bathroom designers, six questions – discover the challenges, turning points and must-have tools for these pros
In this monthly story series, Houzz goes behind the scenes with three companies that have carved out a niche for themselves in their field. This month, we caught up with the brains behind three bathroom-design companies: Stewart and Megan Baulch, co-directors of Baulch Services; Phillip Occhiuto, director of Caracalla Design and Renovation; and Joseph Principato, director of Giuselle Bathrooms. Read on to discover their greatest business hurdles, breakthroughs and the best professional advice they’ve received.
Phillip Occhiuto, director of Caracalla Design and Renovation
- Phillip Occhiuto: The most challenging time in my business was dealing with rapid growth and maintaining the quality of service at the same time.
Joseph Principato, director of Giuselle Bathrooms
- Joseph Principato: Setting up a good quality team of professional tradespeople.
2. How did you trade out of it?
- Megan and Stewart Baulch: We took on less work and held a microscope over the development and refinement of our repeatable quality-business processes.
- Phillip Occhiuto: We ascertained exactly what it was about our services that created our success and what made us stand out from our competitors. Then I personally focused on those details while systemising and delegating all other tasks.
- Joseph Principato: We traded out of it by interviewing different tradespeople who had been recommended to us, looking at their previous work and, of course, trial and error played a part.
3. What brought about a major turning point in your company?
- Megan and Stewart Baulch: With a fully booked schedule and lots of happy customers, we thought we were onto something. Turning all this into a profitable business with the help of Business Benchmark Group [a mentoring and coaching service] has been our most recent major turning point. We have been working with them since September 2019 and have been going from strength to strength since doing so, with our business now set to double in turnover in the next twelve months.
- Phillip Occhiuto: When I found myself working so much I didn’t have time for my family, and all my staff were under too much pressure – we were all losing the passion for our work – which brought about a turning point.
- Joseph Principato: We got to a point where we wanted to take our business to the next level as we were missing out on larger contracts regularly due to our company presentation and design options. We sourced a professional quoting and invoicing system and collaborated with interior designers and stylists.
4. What’s the best tool your business uses?
- Megan and Stewart Baulch: We use an online project management tool called Buildertrend. It’s our one-stop shop for everything to do with managing our jobs from lead management, quoting, estimating, scheduling, job management, budget management and communications.
- Phillip Occhiuto: Social media and websites like Houzz. We have been good at what we do for over 30 years, but it’s only in the past six years or so through social media that we can really communicate this with everyone.
- Joseph Principato: Proposify is our quoting system, which we receive numerous compliments on.
5. What do you think are the challenges ahead for the industry?
- Megan and Stewart Baulch: Unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured tradespeople. They might be cheaper, but in our experience, they’re costly down the track.
- Phillip Occhiuto: Keeping up with new products and technology – it’s moving at such a fast pace. If you are up-to-date with what’s available, there is no limit to how creative you can be with your designs.
- Joseph Principato: Unfortunately, quality workmanship will be a major challenge for the industry in the coming years.
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6. What’s the best professional advice you’ve been given?
- Megan and Stewart Baulch: It’s okay to fail. In fact, failures are critical building blocks to shaping a beautiful business that is both personally and professionally rewarding. Celebrate them, learn from them and let the lessons blossom.
- Phillip Occhiuto: Always keep learning no matter how busy you are; take the time for research and development. It takes just as much time and effort to stay on top of your game as it took to get there.
- Joseph Principato: Quality is the key; be a perfectionist in your work.
Your turn
Which insights in these interviews resonate with your own professional experience? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, follow these design professionals on Houzz, and join the conversation.
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1. What was the most challenging time in your business?