ABC’s of Fine Design

Something you want to remember to do if your starting a design business is to thank your customers for their orders, or jobs. You want to make them feel like they are the only customer you have and that you actually care about them, personaly. You can do this by sending personalized Thank you cards. I know it seems like a duh type thing but many people are not doing this anymore and if your a home based design busness that is just starting out then you want the good reputation a simple thank you card can give you.

I personaly like this card from cardsdirect.com. It has a great simple design and would work well for an interior design firm or small business. Of course there are others to choose from, this one is just my favorate and one I would use. What I like most about cardsdirect is that you can personalize them so you cover that part where you make the customer feel special. If your client referred a customer to you you can get a thank you for the referral card and send them a discount on their next job or order. Remember you want to keep a thank you card simple, but personal enough that the person reading it belives you really took the time to think about the card you sent out.

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Some people think that once your an interior designer that is all you will do, but in most cases interior designers do so much more. One designer I had a chance to talk to not only does interior design work but she own her own salon and spa. So really you can do anything once you get that design degree. You could design luggage, rugs or bedding. You also could run a restaurant or other business.

A big reason for this is that interior designers also need to know a good part about general business practices. They need to have an idea of laws and codes and are really the perfect person to run any type of business. They know how to design the space to work for the business and what goes into it. So if your thinking of getting a design degree check it out, you can do so much more then just put paint on walls and make a place look good.

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If your considering starting a design business you should really decide if your going to have employees. You want to have a good training program in place that will help you to succeed in your business and help it grow into something that you are proud of and enjoy doing.

There are many ways to train employees one is to use vedios or computer programs, Six Sigma Training a program that will provide great training for a good price and can be used by many business.

If you are working on your own you still will need to look into training for yourself. Go to a seminar or take some collage classes if you haven’t already. Be prepared and your business will succeed.

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I was reading an article today about how many designers were at one point designing and selling vacation homes. People would get great vacation deals to a location from these designers, then after checking out the home they were offered a chance to buy it.

I think this is a great way for someone who is handy or has design knowledge to make some extra money, or even have a business. Vacation homes are a big thing and if you can try one out before you buy that is even better. This is something I may have to try out sometime.

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Rubber is not just for tires and Nora Rubber is proof of that. Nora systems produces some of the most interesting designs in flooring and it is all made from rubber. Right now this is mostly for commercial use, though I do see it becoming popular in homes eventually.

I am big on anything Eco friendly and this product is just that. Rubber can be recycled into many things so if the flooring is removed it could be used for something else. In fact Nora flooring does recycle it product into another product they produce once it has been removed. This company does some great things and if you have a business or our looking to start one, check them out for some great flooring.

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Right now many people are concerned with gas prices so they are going to smaller cars and trying to get the best gas mileage they can they also look for other ways to save money like comparing online auto insurance to get the best deal. I’m all for that, but at the same time you have to look at what is best for your business.

Most of the time a designer wants a good size car or even a truck. You want something you can put all of the pots, plans and accessories you need to do your job in. Normally these are gas hogs, but now many dealers have come out with hybrid trucks and SUV’s so if your a soon to be designer or even just want to start a decorating business I would look into one of these cars if you can afford it. Not only is it good for the environment some of your clients or potential clients may like it too.

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You always want to be on the lookout for a new product. Usually it is something that most people don’t have and want. When your boss or your potential boss walks into your home you want them to remember you. Sometimes you can do this by having something they want, but don’t have yet.

How do you get these new product. Find out where the interior designers go to get their products, remember many places don’t serve the public so be prepared for a no, you can’t have that answer. Some designers may even find just one item for you, you of course would have to pay a mark up and I would recommend letting your friends know who you got it from that way you drive business to the designer and that may make them help you more later when you want the next new hot thing.

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