Moving Forward in Tough Times
Running a studio involves more than just taste; it’s the business of interior design. When projects stall and supply chains wobble, the weak spots in your systems become apparent. In this blog, designer Nikki Levy shares how a tough season became the catalyst to tighten processes, protect profit, and rebuild confidence. We also include insights from Laurie Laizure, founder of the Interior Design Community, to show how the trade has endured past cycles and kept moving forward during tough times.
Think of this as a reset you can put into action now. You will plan for slow and busy periods, evaluate your vendors, secure a cash cushion, and implement simple marketing strategies that keep leads coming in. This is real talk for design pros and creative entrepreneurs clear steps you can apply this week.
As you navigate these tough times, think of this as a reset you can put into action now. You will plan for slow and busy periods, evaluate your vendors, secure a cash cushion, and implement simple marketing strategies that keep leads coming in. This is real talk for design pros and creative entrepreneurs clear steps you can apply this week.
Written by Nikki Levy, Nikki Levy Interiors
When everything stalled, we rebuilt the business
When Covid hit and the proverbial shit hit the fan, we were on a wild rollercoaster. One week we did not know if we had a business. The next week we had clients but no product. Our designs were stunning, but they were not executable. There was no way to bring them to life. No product, no labor, no face to face interaction. Materials had skyrocketed. Covid itself was not slow. We were busy, sourcing and sourcing and sourcing, but nothing was available. And because we could not get product, we were not bringing in the income we needed.
At one point, I had a client arrive absolutely infuriated that his neighbor, also one of our clients, was getting product when he was not. The truth was, there was nothing I could do. He was seeing the disparity firsthand, and all I could do was commiserate. But that was not good enough. Another afternoon, the same client called and called and called. I just could not pick up the phone to take one more berating over an industry that had gone completely wild. That feeling of helplessness was like nothing I had ever experienced.
Eventually, I realized I had to take matters into my own hands. My team and I dug in. Those tough, stressful times, the times we cried a lot, the times we felt completely stuck, ended up being the very thing that reshaped our business. We worked harder than ever on our processes, on our finances, and on holding each other accountable. Out of that came strength, clarity, and systems that made us better. I probably have a gray hair for every single problem we faced back then. Now I see them as markers of how far we have come. Each one is a memory of how we got stronger and how we turned the hardest period into the best thing that ever happened to our business.
Plan during slow seasons and speed seasons
That is why, when I hear designers say, “You cannot plan,” I shake my head. The slow times, the frustrating times, the scary times, that is exactly when you have to plan. You also have to plan during the times when things are moving so quickly they feel like they are flying apart. It is OK to slow it down. It is OK to take three days, disconnect from the world, and honestly assess where you are at.
Review vendors, finances, and process
Take inventory of your wins and your lessons over the years. Review your vendors. Who has been an A, who has been an F. Check your overhead and make sure your finances can carry you through a couple of slow months. If you do not have a little nest egg, start now. We had about eight months of salaries saved when Covid hit, and it was the only reason we could breathe. Since then, we have worked hard to rebuild that cushion.
Use this time to review your entire process. Onboarding. Acquiring new clients. The design phase. Ordering. Installation. Close out. If you have a couple of quiet days, sit down and write each step out. Where can you be sharper, where can you save time or stress?
Marketing moves that keep momentum
Do not forget marketing. Call publications. Look into networking events. Physically go out and meet people. Visit retail flooring and construction showrooms. Introduce yourself. Hand them your card. More often than not, those teams are looking for designers to guide their clients who feel a little rudderless. Another smart move is to spend time in new developments and connect with the developers’ design teams. There is real value in collaborating with them and helping wrangle clients together.
No designer should ever be quiet. Getting your business in order is just as important as doing the business itself. If there is one thing those wild Covid years taught me, it is that the tears, the struggles, and the gray hairs are all part of the journey. They are also what make you stronger.
The business of interior design, resilience in community
A note from Laurie Laizure, Founder of Interior Design Community
I started the Interior Design Community shortly after the 2008 housing crash. At the time, I watched incredibly talented interior designers suddenly stop working. Many of them began writing blogs. Those blogs turned into careers. They turned into media brands. They turned into empires. Think Design Milk. Emily Henderson. Many others.
If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that interior design does not break. Designers are resourceful. They find a way. They adjust. They endure. That is the community I know and love.
Right now could be a beautiful shift for many of you. Maybe you are learning new tools. Maybe you are exploring a niche you never thought to try. Maybe you are building processes and systems because your pipeline slowed down. If you have been afraid to take on kitchen design, there are tools now that help you do it confidently. Smart home integration is another powerful service that strengthens your value and helps you stand out. Learn it, teach it, sell it.
Get comfortable making videos. Use user-generated content to boost your visibility and sell your product. Partner with brands in new ways. Say yes to projects you would usually decline. Say yes to opportunities that do not look like your usual day-to-day. Maybe you can take another job temporarily to make sure your family is stable. That does not make you less of a designer. That makes you a provider. That makes you strong.
You are a designer. You still have that eye. You still carry that spark.
We will get through this together. We will create beautiful things. We will keep showing people how a well-designed space can change everything.
Operations & Project Management