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A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

1013: Elan Design House: Elements of a Successful Business Partnership

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Design, Arts

4.8786 Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2024

⏱️ 73 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today With Elan Design House: Today, with Kilian Camp, Alison Green, and Kadie Chiera of Élan Design House, we explore the dynamics of running a successful interior design firm as a trio. These talented women share their journey from co-workers to co-founders, revealing how they've leveraged their complementary skills to create a thriving business. We discuss the importance of clear role definition, effective communication strategies, and maintaining work-life balance in a partnership. In this conversation we also discuss crucial business aspects, including legal considerations, financial management, and the value of outsourcing. Whether you're considering a partnership or looking to optimize your solo practice, this episode offers valuable insights on building a sustainable and enjoyable design business. More About Elan Design House To do something with élan \ā-’län\ is to do it with spirited confidence and style. It is with this intention that Élan Design House guides the discovery, coordination and actualization of each client’s uniquely personal vision for a space in which to most authentically live, to share experiences, to simply be. Founded by Kilian Camp, Alison Green and Kadie Chiera, the dynamic team behind Élan Design House are experts in their field, known for methodically pushing boundaries and creating intuitively composed spaces that exude a sense of freedom. Connect with Elan Design House Website Instagram  Facebook  TikTok LuAnn Nigara and Elan Design House’s Ah-Ha Moments “Because a business operates day-to-day well, doesn't mean it’s something to sell, right? It's the process and the documentation and ablity to show the profitability, and a client lis,t and all of that—that's the thing that you buy” - LuAnn Nigara “Even though we can't take every project…we do have a very nice, tight-knit design community. We have friends that are designers as well, maybe they have more opportunity, more time, to take those projects.” - Alison Green “It doesn't mean you're not in business. It doesn't mean you're not making money. But it does mean that you're not optimized, you're not making as much as you could, when you do not take the time to strategize and to also look and evaluate what actually happened.” - LuAnn Nigara What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour Watch the Docuseries! http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast Other Resources: This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here! AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design Hiring Toolkit Bundle Window Works Lunch & Learn with Charles Pavarini III Other Shows: AWDB #977: Katie Ryan Pluer: Strategies for Taking on a Business Partner WTFP 283: Bound by Business: Forever Friends: Mimi Harling and Susette Kubiak WTFP 282: Bound By Business: Like Mother, Like Son. Debbie Hall and Trent Hall WTFP 280: Bound By Business: Sisters in Business. Lindsay and Heather Madonia WTFP 277: Bound by Business: Fathers and Daughters WTFP 275: Bound by Business: Bloomin’ Blinds, Working with Your Brothers WTFP 272: Bound by Business: Working With a Parent or Child WTFP 269: Bound by Business: Working With the In-Laws

Transcript

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0:00.0

Have you heard about the exciting new exhibit by the Black Artist and Designers Guild, which was commissioned by the Cooper Hewitt's Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City?

0:11.0

Big news, right?

0:12.5

The Cooper Hewitt's exhibition is called Making Home, Smithsonian Design Triennial.

0:18.1

Now, the batch designers exhibit is titled the Underground Library,

0:23.7

inspired by the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad is the clandestine network

0:28.5

established in the early 19th century through which many enslaved African Americans

0:33.6

traveled in search of freedom. This library installation represents a 21st century sanctuary

0:40.5

surrounded by art, objects, artifacts, and books of black legacy. In reimagining and repurposing

0:49.6

the Andrew Carnegie Personal Library, Badge invites you to examine the power of home libraries

0:56.0

and the significance of literacy, remembering that African Americans were denied the right to read

1:02.2

under slavery. I'm honored to share that Window Works in Livingston was asked by badge to create

1:08.6

the flat panels for the windows. We used a custom design fabric

1:12.4

by badge members, and the fabric was fabricated by Stacey Garcia's team at Libatex. So please make

1:19.8

a point to visit this inspired space the next time you are in New York City. The exhibition

1:25.0

runs from November 24 all the way through August 10th,

1:30.0

2025. So you have plenty of time to get this on your calendar. We will put links in the show notes.

1:49.8

Welcome. Welcome to a well-designed business.

1:53.7

My name is Luann Nigara, and I'm so glad you found this podcast.

1:59.7

Together with my husband, Vince, and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Windowworks from the ground up, so I know and I understand the

2:02.1

challenges you face in running your interior design business.

2:05.6

I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.

2:10.6

So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business. But make no mistake about it,

...

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