Today’s guest is Barbara Viteri, CEO and owner of Viteri Style Management. She is one of THE leading advisers in the interior design industry for productivity and business management. Barbara will put it to you straight with unfiltered opinions, and no bull shit. Her specialty is helping boutique businesses, mainly design firms, get their companies profitable and organized. Hobby makers need not apply.
Barbara and I first spoke two years ago about the mistakes every designer makes in their business. I think it’s safe to say that whether you’re an interior designer or not, being an entrprenuer presents many challenges. Having the right tools, skills and people in place are the difference between making it or breaking it. For over 20 years this girl from the hood is proof positive that the cream always rises to the top. She has helped hundreds of everyday interior desginers propel their businesses into million dollar boutiques, from the comfort of their homes. She offers up time saving tools, management tips and secrets, to everyday business skills to help streamline your business and boost profitability.
Whether your new to the game or been around the block for twenty years, today’s podcast will give you three take aways to implement in your business immediately.
Join me as I sit down with Barbara to discuss:
The tools every entrepreneur needs to build an empire from home
- the trends of the industry
- what every designers website absolutely must have
- why virtual assistants don’t always work and when they do
- how to hire a manager vs an assistant
- understanding your books to make better business decisions
- full-time vs part-time and why every designer makes this mistake
For more info on Barbara and her site, click here. To listen to our first podcast, click here.
To find Barbaras article on StyleRedefine on trendsetters, click here.
My best and largest/longest project came about because the wife had two Massoud Chairs from her prior marriage, so they found a couch they wanted on the website. Looked up who could get it for them locally – me and another in a different nearby county. Wife had worked with an ID from the other county before and had a bad experience, so they went with me. I arrived, and they handed me a glass of wine, and we settled. 3 hours later they walked me out to the car, and I saw then walk back to the house with there arms around each other. Perfect clients – and now they have a 160 Sq Ft refrigerated wine room. First time I did one, taught myself what I needed to know. Now I base clients on how they greet me as well.
Love Designerlebrity talk! Michael Boyd, Amanda Nisbet…there all great fun, and Keith Baltimore’s design made my mouth drop to the floor 🙂
After listening to this, I’m redoing my front page. My personality shows through everywhere else.
Good job Heather! I think that is the key now – to let your personality shine and let them know who they are going to work with. Like Barbara said, it’s like a marriage, so treat it accordingly.xxAmanda