Pros Reveal: 10 Strategies That Improved Designers' Businesses
Design professionals share 10 ways they work efficiently, delegate tasks and make the most of smart business software
Georgia Madden
16 November 2021
“Working smarter, not harder, on your business saves precious time so you can focus on what you love, such as design and working with clients rather than tedious and time-consuming tasks like admin,” says Melanie George, CSM and Support Sales Manager at Houzz. We asked three pros to reveal the strategies they use to make their businesses run smoothly and efficiently. Which ones would you be willing to try? Tell us in the Comments.
Put your energy where it counts
Working smarter, not harder, allows you to focus on the things that matter to your business, says Kathy McKinnon, principal interior designer at Kathy McKinnon Interiors. “Being an interior designer/stylist requires you to be visually creative, good at listening to a brief and at presenting detailed drawings and product specifications. In order to develop these skills, you need to be resourceful with your time and work smarter,” she says.
Interior designer Allie Duval, director at Coastal Hamptons Design Studio, concurs. “Working smarter in my business has allowed me to move forward with my goals and prioritise where my energy goes,” she says. “Running your own business means wearing so many hats, which can make it easy to lose sight of what matters. For me, working smarter means working ahead and seeing exactly where my energy needs to go.”
Working smarter, not harder, allows you to focus on the things that matter to your business, says Kathy McKinnon, principal interior designer at Kathy McKinnon Interiors. “Being an interior designer/stylist requires you to be visually creative, good at listening to a brief and at presenting detailed drawings and product specifications. In order to develop these skills, you need to be resourceful with your time and work smarter,” she says.
Interior designer Allie Duval, director at Coastal Hamptons Design Studio, concurs. “Working smarter in my business has allowed me to move forward with my goals and prioritise where my energy goes,” she says. “Running your own business means wearing so many hats, which can make it easy to lose sight of what matters. For me, working smarter means working ahead and seeing exactly where my energy needs to go.”
Jodie Carter, principal designer at Jodie Carter Design, stresses the importance of prioritising smart day-to-day working practices from the outset. “Unless you have put the hard yards in first and worked diligently on your business, systems and processes, then it can be very challenging to work smarter,” she says.
Find, follow and network with other pros on Houzz
Find, follow and network with other pros on Houzz
So how do you work smarter, not harder?
McKinnon says:
1. Surround yourself with a great team: I have a fabulous team of specialist freelance assistants who I call on when needed. Different projects require different resources; for example, when I’m doing a photo shoot, many hands make light work.
Documentation and visual presentation can be very time-consuming too. If I’m juggling multiple projects, I will often use specialist freelancers to help me deliver projects on time.
McKinnon says:
1. Surround yourself with a great team: I have a fabulous team of specialist freelance assistants who I call on when needed. Different projects require different resources; for example, when I’m doing a photo shoot, many hands make light work.
Documentation and visual presentation can be very time-consuming too. If I’m juggling multiple projects, I will often use specialist freelancers to help me deliver projects on time.
Carter says:
2. Put processes in place and delegate: Now that I have the right processes in place, I can pass on tasks to other staff members. I am also able to follow the processes myself so I know nothing is missed.
3. Use templates: Having certain documents templated, such as standard letters to clients to update them at certain parts of a project, can save time.
4. And phone scripts: We use phone scripts so when an inquiry comes through, anyone in the office can take the call and ask the right questions.
2. Put processes in place and delegate: Now that I have the right processes in place, I can pass on tasks to other staff members. I am also able to follow the processes myself so I know nothing is missed.
3. Use templates: Having certain documents templated, such as standard letters to clients to update them at certain parts of a project, can save time.
4. And phone scripts: We use phone scripts so when an inquiry comes through, anyone in the office can take the call and ask the right questions.
5. See what else you can outsource: I don’t answer my own work phone anymore – my staff will screen my calls. This saves me time and allows me to get on with my work. In the past I’d be answering and fielding calls all day.
6. Take advantage of calendars: Block out times in your diary for specific tasks that need to be completed. Also, set up reminders so everyone on your team knows what tasks are coming up and can plan for them.
7. Use a collaborative, list-making tool: This lets everyone on your team communicate, stay on schedule and tick off things as we go along. It also means we don’t miss any details and can delegate tasks on the list to others as necessary.
6. Take advantage of calendars: Block out times in your diary for specific tasks that need to be completed. Also, set up reminders so everyone on your team knows what tasks are coming up and can plan for them.
7. Use a collaborative, list-making tool: This lets everyone on your team communicate, stay on schedule and tick off things as we go along. It also means we don’t miss any details and can delegate tasks on the list to others as necessary.
Duval says:
8. Work on your relationships with suppliers: It’s much easier to pick up the phone and call an established contact than someone you don’t know, particularly when you’re busy and under pressure. And I find it usually means a better outcome for my client.
9. Know stock availability before you present: This is all about the client relationship. Knowing exactly what is available – and what isn’t – gives the client confidence that I can deliver the best outcome for their project.
Unfortunately Covid has meant supply shortages across the board, but if we can show our clients that we try to deliver good outcomes, they feel well looked after.
10. Have a Houzz Pro account: My Houzz Pro account helps me keep track of everything that’s going on with each project, which makes me feel in control.
8. Work on your relationships with suppliers: It’s much easier to pick up the phone and call an established contact than someone you don’t know, particularly when you’re busy and under pressure. And I find it usually means a better outcome for my client.
9. Know stock availability before you present: This is all about the client relationship. Knowing exactly what is available – and what isn’t – gives the client confidence that I can deliver the best outcome for their project.
Unfortunately Covid has meant supply shortages across the board, but if we can show our clients that we try to deliver good outcomes, they feel well looked after.
10. Have a Houzz Pro account: My Houzz Pro account helps me keep track of everything that’s going on with each project, which makes me feel in control.
How does Houzz Pro help?
“It helps me optimise my time by keeping track of leads, managing existing jobs and staying connected with clients. It’s an excellent marketing tool and so efficient in its software capabilities,” says Duval.
“It is a fabulous and high-profile marketing tool that reaches a wide audience, and this audience offers a great potential of lovely projects,” says McKinnon. “The client reviews work very well and give clients confidence in your business and an insight into how you work.”
“It helps me optimise my time by keeping track of leads, managing existing jobs and staying connected with clients. It’s an excellent marketing tool and so efficient in its software capabilities,” says Duval.
“It is a fabulous and high-profile marketing tool that reaches a wide audience, and this audience offers a great potential of lovely projects,” says McKinnon. “The client reviews work very well and give clients confidence in your business and an insight into how you work.”
“We have just started using it in the past couple of weeks and are already finding it to be a great time-saver,” says Carter. “It is going to be particularly helpful for our procurement, as making sure all the correct information is gathered can be pretty tedious.
“Because Houzz Pro is live, we can see instantly who has updated projects and with what,” she says.
“Why didn’t I start using it years ago!”
“Because Houzz Pro is live, we can see instantly who has updated projects and with what,” she says.
“Why didn’t I start using it years ago!”
“Houzz Pro is an end-to-end business solution that streamlines and centralises your processes,” says George. “It saves you time and money as you are working out of one admin solution, and as the software is smart, it eliminates any room for human error.
“You can create fast and professional-looking documents in minutes, which helps create a positive client experience. All correspondence is available from a one-stop link for the homeowner.
“There’s transparency and professionalism in all communications, which can reduce stress for the client. This ultimately means you can charge more for your services as clients will feel confident that you will deliver the best service and outcome,” she says.
“You can create fast and professional-looking documents in minutes, which helps create a positive client experience. All correspondence is available from a one-stop link for the homeowner.
“There’s transparency and professionalism in all communications, which can reduce stress for the client. This ultimately means you can charge more for your services as clients will feel confident that you will deliver the best service and outcome,” she says.
Your turn
How do you work smarter, not harder? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, share it with your team and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical professional advice? Read more stories for pros here
How do you work smarter, not harder? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, share it with your team and join the conversation.
More
Want more practical professional advice? Read more stories for pros here
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Kathy McKinnons design is so refreshingly individual to each home
Great to see in this time of same same and hard to tell the difference from the last house you looked at.
Love this article, thank you for sharing.