{Photo by Paige Winn Photo}
Oh hey! A big giant picture of myself- my favorite thing in the world!! I thought I should include it because I am looking like a professional and I am sharing my professional opinions today on how to become a decorator. This is probably going to be one of the longest post I’ve ever written so buckle up friends! Never in a million years would I think I have anything to teach about starting a business but more and more I have people asking me how exactly I got started so I figured I would share all that I know! I have learned so much from other bloggers and decorators so I know that any little tidbit can give you the push you need. I hope that if you are struggling to find a place to start this post can be your jumping off point. I mean, really what fun would life be if you didn’t chase your dream so let’s dive in…
1. Blogging/Social media
When I started my blog I didn’t tell a single soul other than my husband that I was doing it. I literally hit “publish” on the first post, linked it on my Facebook page, and let my friends find out like that. I was too nervous to tell them my hopes of starting a decorating business so I just let them find out with the rest of my social media acquaintances. However you start, stating your dream out loud can be nerve-racking. Starting a blog was my jumping off point because A. I wanted a place to start journaling all of my decor-related thoughts and B. The blog was a way to start marketing myself. I highly suggest starting a blog if you are interested in this career path even if you aren’t trying to grow a big readership. It can be a central place to collect your thoughts and a version of a portfolio (more on that in a minute.)
In addition to my blog I created a business Facebook page and an Instagram profile. I would recommend creating business profiles that are separate from your personal accounts so there is a definite focus. People want to come and see design-related stuff, not your three year old’s birthday party so it’s better to have that division. Now, with that being said I am kind of a rule-breaker on this (that’s kind of a theme for me.) I have a business Facebook page but I only have one account on Instagram so mine is a meld of business and personal. I would say it’s 90% design and 10% personal though. The main thing to consider, and this is a whole other post in itself, is that your feed is cohesive. I edit all of my photos within IG in the same way so they are bright and crisp. I pay attention to the composition of my photos so if I have one that is pretty busy the next one will have more white space. Sometimes I am as anal as making sure there is a common color throughout a row of photos on my feed. And then sometimes I post a photo of my kids because they look cute. It’s all a give and take and I try not to make myself too crazy about it. I will say that a bulk of my new clients tell me they found me through Instagram or Facebook so it’s definitely worth dipping a toe in those arenas.
I make sure to tell anyone who is asking about how I built this business that blogging and decorating are both full-time jobs. If you are pursuing the blogging side of things, meaning you want to have a really big audience, sponsored opportunities, and revenue generated by your blog that is a job in itself. There was a period of time that I managed to do both but I reached a point where the blog required as much time as my actual clients and I had to decide which avenue I wanted to invest more time in. Decorating is where all of this was rooted for me so I chose to pull back a little on the blog. If you can handle both (I would say that’s probably easier if you don’t have kids or at least not young ones) go for it, otherwise figure out which is your passion. Maintaining a blog is one thing, but nurturing it into a sustainable income is a whole other!
2. Professional Photos
{photo by Laura Sumrak}
If there’s one thing I wish I had done sooner it would be having a professional take photos of my projects. It is so hard to capture the mood/feeling/arrangement of a room and it really takes the skillful eye of a photographer. I have many blogger friends who have taught themselves how to use their nice camera and they can really capture their designs well, but again this is a skill that takes time and commitment so if you’re too busy invest in a good photographer! I love seeing my rooms come to life through their lens…there is no better advertisement for your business!
3. Build Your Stash
I have built up this business intuitively rather than by-the-book so my advice may not be the most direct way of doing things but it’s what has worked for me. When I first began I would source fabric just by looking online but then I realized having samples in hand was much more effective. I would shop mainly a local warehouse because they had the best prices. Since I was trying to appeal solely to “budget-friendly” design I felt that I had to find the best deal on everything. The only problem is that a lot of warehouses do not reorder so when a fabric is gone it’s gone. I ran into this a couple of times and had to start from scratch on the fabric scheme. Now I source fabrics from a variety of local showrooms and my own stash. I am constantly ordering swatches, many of which you can order for free, and organizing them by color. Building my own stash has become one of my top priorities because it is so convenient to have them all at my fingertips. I also like that I can uniquely curate my own showroom of fabrics. I have also pulled my own file of paint colors so that I have swatches on the ready. I have samples of all my colors so we can paint small swatches on the wall when deciding on the perfect color. In addition to having these tangible visual aides, I constantly pin images from the internet so that I have virtual folders I can readily access of tables, rugs, lamps, beds, etc. If I recommended one single thing to help put your clients at ease, it is to have as much in visual form at meetings as you can. People like to see and feel products in real life!
4. Business-y Things
This is my least favorite topic of those I am going to cover but it’s essential. First and foremost, get business cards sooner than later! They should match your blog or any other marketing materials you plan to use. Come up with a name, logo (you can find tons of graphic designers to design one on Etsy!), and overall scheme that is cohesive. You can always update or tweak down the road but it’s important to have a recognizable brand. I suggest doing something that fits in style-wise with your overall design aesthetic.
You also want to have a portfolio to share with potential clients. I know, I know until you have your first few clients it’s hard to have a portfolio but get creative. Use photos from around your own house if you have projects that you’re proud of or beg friends and family to let you style areas around their house and then photograph those. If neither of those things are an option you can also gather inspirational images from the internet that will give a client a sense of your taste. You have to start somewhere! How you present these is up to you…I chose to have some photos bound into books but you could easily print some on nice paper or just have them saved on your computer in a photo album. These days Instagram could also be a way to showcase your style!
That’s the fun stuff but you also need those business-y things like a Tax ID and LLC paperwork. The Tax ID will give you access to most “to-the-trade” products so you want to get that filed asap. Even if you don’t have many clients that require TTT stuff right off the bat you will, hopefully soon, and you will need a Tax ID to apply for accounts. I also set up an LLC to protect us personally should anything ever go wrong (fingers crossed we don’t ever cross that bridge)
Find a system that works for you for accounting/taxes. I rely on some pretty primitive methods but they are what work for me…I am talking pen, paper, envelopes of receipts, and Paypal. This is a side that really intimidates me but luckily I have a very left-brained financial planner of a husband so he helps me through these parts or just handles them altogether. I am sure I make him quiver when I show him “my books” 🙂
And aside from the back-office stuff I would recommend gathering testimonials from clients, once you have some under your belt. This is one of those things I am suggesting yet haven’t even done myself but I think it’s important to show you that even I am still getting my ducks in a row. There are several sites on which you can make surveys, making it a cinch to quickly poll people once they have used your services. Asking your clients to do this (with a big cherry on top!) is a great way to gather feedback that you can share as marketing tool for prospective clients.
5. Connect with Others
Being in any kind of creative field can be so hard on your self-esteem. Although I encourage using social media for marketing yourself, I also know that it can be a really hurtful place. I am not talking anything as extreme as bullying, but the comparison game can be harsh. I can be having a perfectly happy day and then suddenly fall down the rabbit hole of someone else’s feed and am left with such negative feelings about myself and my path that it’s hard to regroup. It’s important to mentally refocus and remind yourself that anyone you view as farther along can just serve as inspiration and motivation not discouragement. I have also had some negative encounters with other ladies who are pursing their dreams. Not everyone is out to help you and some people are completely caught up in competitiveness. This is my least favorite trait! You have to learn how to seek out the people who want to cheer you along and are happy for your successes. Don’t waste time on people who aren’t because their insecurities will suck all the fun out of this!
Make time to connect with people who build you up and push you along. Reach out to others who are doing similar things to you,whether virtually or locally in your town. My friends can support me all day long but theres something different about sitting down with another decorator and talking about all the ins and outs of this business. I need it to grow and learn and it’s nice to give your non-design-addicted friends a break from hearing about your latest wallpaper crush 🙂
5. Set Goals
I listened to a hilarious podcast the other day that was discussing the wandering mind of a creative. Having a more fluid way of seeing the world is great when it comes to creating room designs but it can be a hazard when it comes to forming a solid business plan. I have always operated based on gut feelings and spontaneity so I have had to learn the skill of goal-setting. It doesn’t always come easily but I have really come to appreciate the motivation of having a goal laid out in front of me. I make simple goals such as, Gain more new build clients or Bring in 2 new clients per month so that I can focus my efforts on more specific things. And these goals are only for me so I can tweak them as I go if need be. Challenge yourself…set a new goal each month or each quarter. You’ll be amazed at what your capable of!
6. Preserve Your Sanity
{photo by Paige Winn Photo}
Being a creative person takes a certain amount of vulnerability. When we share our ideas it feels like baring a part of your soul. And what if people don’t like it? What if they like someone else more than you? There are so many ways to find insecurity (see: Social Media above) and it can become all-consuming. I have found that it is important for me to step away and get out of my own head. I try to schedule things that will force me to remember there is a whole big world outside of this. I am in a Bible study that meets every two weeks and I do my best to never schedule other things during that time. By making this a priority I am forced (in a good way) to focus on whatever it is we’re doing as a group, whether discussing our book or volunteering. I encourage you to also find things outside of your decorating business (or any entrepreneurial thing!) that will help you take your focus to something outside of yourself. Chasing a dream can become very inwardly focused and we all need to be reminded that in the grand scheme of things we are part of a much bigger picture. Join a Bible Study, volunteer, have coffee with a friend, take part of a book club, train for a 5k….whatever it is, find an outlet to help preserve your sanity!
7. Learn as You Go
I can’t think of a better image than bookshelves for this tip. Styling shelves is a tricky thing and takes many tweaks and edits as you go. Creating a business can be much the same! I learned a long time ago that I would probably never be done learning this business. Each client, each project, each success, and each failure teaches me something brand new. Every time I stumble upon a new-to-me designer’s portfolio that I love I pick up new tricks and every time I see a fabric I can’t live without I dream up a new concept for a room. It’s constant learning and it should be! Find ways to keep yourself interested and challenged. Read new design books, find new blogs, meet with a local designer, visit an art gallery, go to market, stroll through stores. Pick up inspiration anywhere you can and always be open to learning something new. It sounds so simple but it’s really the key to longevity in any endeavor. You have to keep the passion alive and your knowledge fresh or things will dry up.
There will always be someone you view as more talented or further ahead but no one can take YOUR place. Focus on your goals and congratulate yourself on every success, big and small, and just remember that your drive to do this is reassurance enough that you have an innate love of design and a unique eye and that is a valuable skill! Trust me, there are plenty of people out there who don’t possess that and are more than eager to pay you for your services! I hope that this post has at least taught you one thing new about how I built my decorating business. I am sure there are so many paths to get there and mine not be the exact route you want to take but more than anything I want to be an encouragement for you to believe in yourself and go for your dreams! Please leave me a comment letting me know what was most helpful to you, what your goals are, or what I left out! I’m all ears and here to answer all your questions!
xoxo
Michele- the joyful Home says
This is so encouraging, and I always love learning about others’ journeys. I’m just a blogger now, and I’m still trying to learn all the ropes about that, but it’s fun to know that’s where you started and that I’m not the only one who often gets overwhelmed/obsessed by social media ?
Beth says
Blogging requires so much work so congrats to you for diving in that arena! I find so much creative satisfaction from that side too!
Stevie storck says
Thanks for sharing, Beth! I took my design business full time in April and it is so nice to hear someone else’s experience and know that I’m not the only one! Great tips!
Beth says
Stevie congrats! And I’m so happy to know of your blog now- read just a snippet and loved it! The “three E’s” are great!
Donna says
Great tips Beth. Definitely very helpful. Keep pushing. You’re an inspiration to those of us passionate about all things design.
Beth says
Aw thanks Donna-so nice of you to say!
Michele @ Moonfield Interiors says
Thanks so much for this post! Just what I needed right now as I’m slowly getting my own business off the ground. So, so helpful to hear what works for you as well as what you’ve struggled with. Love the idea of creating portfolio books. I’d love a post about how you keep your paint, fabric stash, etc, organized. When you can squeeze it in 😉
Karrie Trowbridge says
This a great Beth!! I think everything that you shared is so true and relevant to this trade. I can definitely relate to the learn as you go theory…I even love the social media self doubt references. I started my blog a year and a half ago as a way to put myself out there, despite how absolutely nerve wracking that thought is. But I have to say, it has been so rewarding and has helped grow my business in ways I never thought possible. And, the crazy part is… My blog, my photos, and my designs are all pretty basic and done by me. Nothing to brag about, instead quite the opposite, but somehow I still get work! This year I hope to hire a photographer and a bookkeeper…Definitely two things that take a lot of my time where I realize a professional could do a much better job in half the time. I hope that it will allow me to spend more time being creative and blogging…Two areas that have been put on the back burner because of work demands. My social media and blog following is small, but I still manage to get work….I hope this is encouraging to others who are just starting out. Thanks Beth for writing this great post!
Kerry says
Thanks, Beth! This post was exactly what I needed. It’s almost as if I was meant to find it today! I’ve just recently started up my own design business and it’s so comforting to hear your perspective and to know that other designers go through the same challenges. All really great tips! Thanks for taking the time to share!