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business: Are You Wearing a Fanny Pack? - 12/21/09 09:50 PM
My best friend Karen and I were at the gym last week walking on adjoining treadmills and chatting. Karen was telling me about a man she saw at the gym the day before. "He was so handsome," she said. She went on to describe his flowing hair, piercing eyes, and great body.
"But then I saw..." She paused as she scrunched up her face. "...he was wearing a fanny pack."
I laughed out loud. Karen, who likes to call herself the "Fashion Police," immediately altered her high opinion of this otherwise perfect man.
So this got me thinking. … (4 comments)
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business: How to Profit from Your Staging Expertise - 10/28/09 09:58 AM
If you are looking for a quick way to profit from your expertise, teleseminars are the way to go. Teleseminar: An informational presentation done over the phone, where people can attend (call in) from all over the world.
Why should you add teleseminars to your business repertoire?
You gain credibility by boosting your expert status Teaching a class in design gives you professional clout. You are instantly seen as the expert designer with all the answers. And the easiest way to present a class is by doing a teleseminar. It is not only more relaxing for you (because no one is looking at you, … (3 comments)
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business: Multiple Streams of Design Income - 12/16/08 09:39 PM
Let me give you a little-known secret for protecting your income - no matter what the economic climate: multiple streams of income.
Let's face it. If you have income coming in from various sources, you are less likely to suffer when one or two of them is slow.
As designers, most of us have ONE source of income: working with clients. Yes, we do many things for them and sell various products, but THEY are our only way to make money. Without clients who are willing to hire and pay us, we have no business.
But it doesn't have to be that way!
Designers are finally learning that they … (3 comments)
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business: An important message for design professionals re: the economy - 10/22/08 05:58 PM
Can you personally affect this economy in a positive way? Absolutely! Don't think for a moment that one person can't make a big difference. And it doesn't take a lot of hard work or time.I have been studying what makes some designers successful - wildly successful, despite what the outside world / media / friends are saying about the economy. Many of them have doubled or tripled profits this year. They are enjoying the dream businesses that they've worked for, and feeling fulfilled and happy.And the best part about being successful is that you actually make more people successful - just … (3 comments)
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business: #24 realtor out of 1.3 million shares her secrets! - 10/16/08 09:18 PM
I just finished listening to a recorded interview with Edie Marks - the #24 realtor in the country. She has sold over $800 million in real estate. She shared her secrets to networking and creating relationships with the ultra-wealthy.
Edie is one of the 14 experts sharing valuable techniques and strategies for thriving during tougher times - at the Interior Design Summit, October 28 - 30.
This is a first-of-its-kind Tele-Summit for the home design industry. I am giving a class - talking about how I tripled my design business using email newsletters, and showing you how you can do it, too.
If … (4 comments)
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business: Prosperity Plan Provides Hope To Interior Design Industry During Economic Crisis - 10/05/08 06:24 PM
Press Release:
Groundbreaking Interior Design Summit unveils progressive marketing strategies and inspiration so interior design firms thrive during the Recession. 13 top marketing gurus, renowned business coaches, best-selling authors and media-savvy interior designers share success secrets in inaugural tele-summit October 28, 29 & 30, 2008. Find out why third largest design firm CEO thinks it is a perfect time to start an interior design business.
Design Success University and Wealthy Decorators co-host content-packed tele-summit event that interior designers attend from the comfort of their homes, offices or cell phones. No travel required to learn cutting-edge marketing strategies to grow and manage … (0 comments)
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business: I'm going to be a speaker at the Interior Design Summit! - 09/30/08 09:26 PM
Could you be the next celebrity home stager or designer?
Well, even if you are not looking to become a "celebrity," I'm sure you'd love to have moreaffluent clients beating down your door wantingto hire you. My colleague, Gail Doby of Design Success University has put together an amazing line-up of best-selling authors, renowned business coaches, and wildlysuccessful designers to reveal how you, too, canbe running a thriving home design business.
Imagine if Beth Slifer, CEO of one of the largest interior design firms in the country, showed you how to grow your firm, find great employees, manage your business, … (3 comments)
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business: Stagers - Want Success? You don't have to do it alone! - 09/05/08 09:19 PM
"The marketing is more important than the mastery" For success, you NEED to focus more energy on marketing. Most decorators dislike that part of the business. But you CAN learn easy, fun, inspirational ways to get known as the expert that you are. So you can make more money doing what you love! If you can't see the video below, you can click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsGEg4kjf7w … (7 comments)
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business: Stretch Your Way to Success - 09/04/08 09:24 PM
Last Wednesday, at my weekly Mastermind Meeting, I was suddenly motivated to demand that everyone set a "Stretch Goal" for the week. While we always talk about our goals and what we need to get done, I felt that we all needed to make a really noticeable jump to another level. No more being satisfied with coasting along, getting enough done, or just doing fine.Of course, when it was my turn to state a Stretch Goal, I realized that I would actually have to step out of my own comfort zone. Eeek! So I stated that I really want to hire … (5 comments)
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business: Chocolate Flowers - 09/01/08 08:09 PM
Going Beyond Customer Service
While taking a break from an intense day of antiquing, my friends and I ducked into a quaint coffee shop to rest our weary bones. We each decided to order chai lattes - a black spiced tea with a coat of foam on top. The barista asked if we would like cinnamon and chocolate in the tea and, before I could raise an objection (chocolate in tea?), one of my friends responded affirmatively for all of us.A few moments later the lattes were ready and we were summoned to the counter to pick up our fancy drinks. … (19 comments)
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business: 3 Ways to Make More Money with Email - 06/29/08 08:52 PM
Email is the cheapest form of marketing out there. So why isn't every small business owner using it? Well, it's probably because most people are unaware of how easy it is to turn a simple email into a marketing "cash machine."
Try these 3 easy ideas, and you'll notice a quick boost in business!
Set up an Email Signature FileAn Email Signature is text that is automatically included at the bottom of every email you send. It should include your company name, a short description of your services, your phone number, and a link to your website. How many … (11 comments)
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business: Stop Trading Hours for Dollars - 06/26/08 10:43 PM
(Create Passive Income)Once again, I'm actually writing this article from my bath. You have to try this! It's so much fun to get work done while soaking in the tub. This is a perfect example of what you can do if you learn how to leverage your time and create passive sources of income for yourself (I explain all this in the article below).How Designers (and other solo-preneurs) Can Make More Money in Less TimeHow did I turn my struggling 7-day workweek into a thriving, successful design business (where I work only 4 days a week, make lots more money, and … (8 comments)
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business: Getting Creative in a Challenging Economy - 06/24/08 08:57 PM
Are you feeling like your clients and prospects are getting more wary about spending money? Are they taking longer to make decisions? Are you struggling to convince homeowners to purchase from you? If not, great! You are one of the lucky ones. Although "official" statistics do not yet show that consumer spending has dropped, many designers have seen a slow-down in spending on home furnishings. So what do we do? Many small business owners stick their heads in the sand and ignore it, hoping that what they've done in the past will start working again... soon. But studies show that if … (10 comments)
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business: My Biggest Time Management Secret - 06/03/08 11:53 AM
I struggle with getting everything done, just like everyone else. All my life I've tried to cram too much into each day. Then I had a baby, and - well, those of you who have kids know that's like adding 3 more full-times jobs to your schedule.
So when people ask me how I get so much done, I try to think about what I'm doing that many others aren't.
One thing I've learned to do is delegate. I'm not perfect at this - I'm still learning to give things away. But each week that goes by, I let a little … (18 comments)
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business: Response to "Relationship Marketing" - 03/26/08 05:43 PM
In response to Relationship Marketing … (1 comments)
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business: Relationship Marketing - 03/24/08 01:16 PM
Since moving into my new house just a few weeks ago, I have received dozens of postcards, brochures, and flyers from all kinds of decorating professionals. I actually AM in the market for some services, including landscaping, house cleaning, entertainment systems, etc. But I haven't been inspired to call any of the companies who sent their promotions.Until today.I got a personal note in my mailbox from a man who is in the landscaping business. Instead of trying to impress me with anonymous photos and generic headlines, he talked about himself. He talked about the economy. He said that he understood that … (22 comments)
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business: Get Out of Your Overwhelm! - 02/07/08 07:56 PM
I know the feeling too well. I wish I could say that I don't, but I am prone to feeling overwhelmed. As business owners with so many external and internal factors to deal with - the economy, the housing market, our families, our own homes, the demands of our clients, backordered and discontinued products...(oh my gosh, I am feeling anxious just typing this list!), we are bound to feel overwhelmed and stressed sometimes. So what should we do?
Here is what I hear from the 'experts': Take a bubble bath. Get a massage. Read a book. Take a walk.
I usually … (2 comments)
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business: How I Tripled My Design Business - 02/05/08 08:26 PM
Do you want to know the biggest secret to increasing your home fashions business? It's sending a regular e-mail newsletter - an article or simple tip that your potential clients will find useful. If you can write an e-mail, you can dramatically increase your success.
Writing an e-mail newsletter helps you:
● Achieve expert status
● Increase sales
● Gain new clients
● Improve customer relations
● Get more referrals
● Make More Money!
It's true. Writing one simple e-mail, as little as once a month, can do all that for you. But here is the challenge: It has to be done right, or you won't see these spectacular … (7 comments)
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business: More on Dealing with "Competition" - 02/04/08 09:29 PM
Whenever you feel like there is too much competition - too many other designers or realtors in your area, too many do-it-yourself shows on tv, other professionals getting the big jobs that you want, etc. - you have to remember that you are coming from a place of "lack." The truth is: there is no lack in the universe. There is enough business for everyone. The right customers - your target - will come to you.Focus instead on the fact that there is no one else like you. You are truly unique. Think about your strengths, your unique talents, your own passions. Really … (10 comments)
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business: Attract Your Ideal Clients - the EASY WAY - 02/01/08 05:53 PM
I want to start this article with a quote from my favorite Law of Attraction teacher - Esther Hicks.
"You could sit for 15 minutes and conjure an image of yourself (with your ideal clients, in your ideal business). And if you could imagine it to the point that you bring yourself to some level of enthusiasm, you will have accomplished more in that 15 minutes of visualization than you could in 10 years of action."
Would you like to see how this works in attracting the type of clients that you really want? This is a simple exercise that will … (7 comments)
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Nika Stewart - Decorators' Success Coach
Howell,
NJ
More about me…
Nika Stewart Enterprises, LLC
Office Phone: (732) 462-0972
Email Me
Success Tips and Inspiration for Home Industry Professionals
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