The DesignDash Podcast

Episode 65: Why Most Design Businesses Fail by Year 5 (And How to Avoid It) with LuAnn Nigara

In this episode, my guest is LuAnn Nigara, host of A Well-Designed Business and a true leader in the interior design industry. If you’ve ever wondered how to run a creative business that actually makes money, this conversation is your wake-up call.
LuAnn shares what she’s learned from building her own business since the early '80s and coaching thousands of designers along the way. We talk about the first few years of business—why they’re so chaotic, how to shorten the learning curve, and what systems actually matter.
You’ll hear:
Why your first hire probably shouldn’t be a design assistant
The financial habits that set successful designers apart (and why skipping them is so common)
How to talk to your team about revenue goals without sounding like a spreadsheet
And the one mindset shift LuAnn says separates real CEOs from hobbyists
It’s a real conversation about the messy middle of growing a business, what to expect as you scale, and how to make better decisions from the start. Whether you're solo or scaling, you’ll walk away with practical takeaways you can use right away.
Go ahead and hit play. You’re going to learn something that saves you time, money, and maybe a few headaches.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
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Episode 64: Startup vs. Scale-Up: How to Know You’re Ready to Build a Team

You know that feeling when you’re drowning in sticky notes, juggling a million hats, and wondering if hiring help will save your sanity or sink the ship?
Yeah. That.
In this episode of Design Dash, Laura and Melissa are showing up (yes, even with scratchy voices and the post-travel fog) to unpack exactly what it looks like to move from solo scrappiness into sustainable team-building. Whether you're in full-on startup chaos or quietly pretending your business isn’t overdue for a scale-up—this one's for you.
We talk about:
What startup mode really looks like (and how to know if you're stuck in it)
The moment when hiring becomes less optional and more “must-do”
Common pain points that signal it’s time to scale (spoiler: stress is a big one)
The real math behind hiring your first designer or office assistant (with numbers that actually make sense)
Why delegation feels so scary—and how to shift your mindset so your team can thrive
Mistakes we’ve made hiring (and what we do differently now)
How to onboard someone without setting them up to fail
Plus… our take on whether your first hire should be a design assistant, bookkeeper, or marketing lead (the answer might surprise you)
If you’ve ever asked, “Can I afford to hire?” or “Am I even ready to grow a team?” this episode will help you make that decision with way more confidence.
And hey, if you’re already knee-deep in projects and can barely breathe—this might be the most important 40 minutes you spend on your business this week.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 63: How Designers Can Stop Losing Money and Build Profitable Businesses with Laurie Laizure

In this episode we sit down with the incredible Laurie Laizure, founder of the Interior Design Community—a space that’s rewriting the rules for designers worldwide. We’re digging into some of the real challenges designers face every day, stuff that doesn’t get talked about enough.
Laurie shares why so many designers are still undercharging for their work, how billing methods can make a huge difference in your bottom line, and what happens when designers don’t put a proper value on their time. We also get into why so many designers end up paying out of their own pocket to make a project “look right” and how to start breaking that habit.
We talk about what it really means to build a business that lasts—one that not only supports your family now but can actually be sold later when you’re ready to step away.
Laurie gives practical ideas on things like:
How to handle difficult conversations with clients
The pros and cons of flat fee vs. hourly billing
How to think about your career beyond the next project
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re charging enough, or you’ve felt that quiet pressure to make everything perfect at your own expense—this one’s for you.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 62: How to Design a Life (and Business) You Actually Love with Carolyn Rodz

In this episode, our guest is Carolyn Rodz from Hello Alice, a powerful platform helping over 1.5 million small business owners find the right resources at the right time.
We talk about what it really takes to build a business and a life you actually love. Carolyn shares how she made the bold move from Houston to a small town in Spain, what it’s like to renovate a 300-year-old rectory, and how stepping out of the U.S. hustle reshaped her view on leadership, creativity, and success.
You’ll hear practical insights about:
How to make big life decisions without losing your head
Why failure is a normal, necessary part of growth (and how to actually get better at it)
The tiny details that make a brand feel truly human
How to build a company that supports small businesses at scale without losing the personal touch
There’s a lot to learn in this conversation—from running a business across continents, to making room for creativity, to how the pace of life can actually shape what we value.
Carolyn’s story will get you thinking about what you’re building and why.
Grab a coffee. Let’s dive in.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 61: How Designers Can Turn High Point Into a Business Growth Engine with Tammy Covington

In this episode of Design Dash, we’re thrilled to sit down with Tammy, President & CEO of the High Point Market Authority—aka the woman behind the curtain of one of the most iconic events in the design world.
We dig deep into the real High Point story—the chaos, the creativity, and the quiet evolution that turned a century-old furniture market into the can't-miss destination for interior designers. From riding buses undercover to fix broken signage, to forging powerful partnerships with the NKBA, Tammy shares how she’s not just running a show… she’s reshaping an industry.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Why the designer experience at High Point feels tailor-made
How to actually prep like a pro (hint: ditch the heels, pick up the desktop planner)
And what the future holds for whole-home design…
…you’ll want to hear every second of this.
Oh—and if you’ve ever felt intimidated by kitchen & bath, or unsure how to maximize market for biz development? Tammy’s got some gold for you.
This episode is about more than strategy. It’s about finding your Framily in the madness, soaking up the energy, and turning inspiration into ROI.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 60: What It Really Takes to Build a Timeless Design Brand with Jamie Young

Ever wonder what it really takes to build a creative empire without losing your soul in the process?
In this episode we sit down with Jamie Young—co-founder of the Jamie Young Company—to unpack the beautiful chaos of growing a globally recognized design brand from scratch. Picture this: launching a business while breastfeeding and faxing orders to a small village in Mexico. That’s the kind of grit Jamie brings to the table.
We talk about everything from her first product line to the moments she hit burnout after COVID and had to ask herself, “Now what?” Jamie opens up about scaling her business, staying curious, trusting the people around her, and reinventing the brand—again and again—without losing its soul.
There’s so much heart in this conversation. Jamie gets real about risk, creative leadership, parenting while building, and how she kept her edge when it would’ve been easier to play it safe.
If you’re a creative business owner, a designer with a dream, or someone navigating burnout and wondering if it’s worth pushing through—this one’s for you.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 59: The Designer’s Edge: Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places with Thom Filicia

In this episode, our guest is Thom Filicia, legendary designer, author, and TV personality—recorded live from High Point Market.
We talk about how inspiration actually works in the real world. Not just the Pinterest version of it, but how to train your eye to notice the right things.
Thom pulls back the curtain on how he blends creativity with functionality, especially when moving between residential, hospitality, and product design. He shares how designers can think several steps ahead when creating a piece of furniture—and why sometimes the way a sofa leg is shaped today can make or break an entire collection tomorrow.
We also get into the conversations designers need to have with clients: how to speak their language, how to build trust, and how to lead them away from trend-chasing into something that actually reflects who they are.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a creative idea into something that actually works—for the client, the showroom, and the market—this one’s for you.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
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Episode 58: When the World Shifts—What Happens to Your Brand? with Victoria Holly

In this episode, our guest is Victoria Holly, founder of The Victoria Holly Interiors, an interior design firm with locations in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, and New York, with projects near and far.
We recorded this conversation live at High Point Market, and it's packed with real talk on what it means to build—both literally and creatively—when everything around you feels uncertain.
Victoria opens up about the impact of the recent LA fires and how it’s shifted not just her projects, but her perspective as a designer, business owner, and mom. If you’ve ever felt the pressure of balancing creativity with chaos, or the tension between personal branding and real-life identity, this one’s for you.
We also dive into:
What clients are really looking for in a post-crisis rebuild
How design aesthetics shift based on life stage, geography, and emotional context
The unexpected ways motherhood shapes creative direction
Why “classic, playful, and unexpected” became her new design pillars (and how to define your own)
And how to find clarity when inspiration feels completely out of reach
Victoria shares her process, her mindset shifts, and the quiet lessons that come from being forced to slow down and ask: What do I really want to create?
This isn’t just a design chat. It’s a fresh look at what it means to create meaning through space—even when the ground beneath you is shifting.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
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Episode 57: What to Do with Your Marketing When Business Slows Down

Let’s be real—when business feels uncertain, your first instinct might be to cut back on marketing. It feels like the safe, practical move. 
In today’s episode, we break down what to do instead of pulling back. We talk about how to stay visible when times feel uncertain, and how to make smart, realistic decisions about where your marketing dollars (and effort) should actually go.
Whether you’re a solo designer or running a larger firm, you’ll come away with a better sense of what’s worth it and what you can let go of.
We also talk about:
How to decide how much to spend on marketing (and why percentages matter more than fixed numbers)
What types of marketing are worth the investment right now—and which ones can wait
Why consistency is more important than size when it comes to visibility
How long it really takes to see results from things like SEO, blogs, and print
What we would do differently if we had an unlimited budget (and what we wouldn’t)
We also get into practical things like hiring a copywriter, partnering with other businesses, and what to do if you're starting from scratch or bootstrapping.
This isn’t a marketing 101 episode or a “do it all” checklist. It’s a real, honest talk about how to keep showing up—even when it feels like no one’s looking.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
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Episode 56: Profit First - Why You're Not Keeping More of What You Earn

In this episode, we're talking about something that completely changed the way we run our design business: Profit First.
If you’ve ever wondered:
“Can I afford to hire someone right now?”
“Can I invest in a branding shoot?”
“Where the heck is all the money going?”…then this episode is going to feel like a warm cup of clarity (with a strong espresso shot of truth).
We’re flipping the traditional profit formula on its head. Most business owners think:Revenue – Expenses = Profit.But what if it was the opposite!
We break down:
How the Profit First method flips the traditional business budgeting mindset (and why it actually works)
How to know when you can afford to grow your team or take on a big project (not just hope)
Why hourly billing is a powerful tool for creating consistent monthly revenue—especially when projects get delayed
What to look for in your cash flow before making your next big move (hint: your bank balance might be lying to you)
How to make decisions with confidence instead of confusion
You’ll also learn how we think about revenue goals, set margins, and make sure profit isn't something that “happens if we’re lucky”—it’s something we plan for.
Whether you're running solo or growing a team, this episode gives you practical tools, real numbers, and mindset shifts that will help you build a business that pays you well and gives you freedom.
Check out our website too:
https://designdash.com/
Follow us on socials:
https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/
https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher
https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher