Trade Tales

James Dolenc and Tom Riker, the co-founders of Chicago-based firm James Thomas, are rounding out their firm’s 23rd year in business. That longevity, they say, is all thanks to their team—a group that’s invested in the firm’s long-term success, and supported by initiatives designed to boost work-life balance and pave the way for advancement within the firm. In the episode, they share their secrets to long-term employee retention, the benefits of a four-day workweek and why collaboration and separation play equal roles in their partnership.
This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center.

LINKS
James Thomas
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Sarah Goesling answers a question from a young designer who is curious about what it takes to generate new business. Goesling, whose firm Goesling Group is based in Chicago, offers advice on cultivating a diversified approach to lead generation, the right language to use when networking and the hidden value in maintaining transparency and building connections with industry partners.
This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.
LINKS
Sarah Goesling
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Laura Lubin’s firm has grown to encompass construction services and a retail operation, on top of her interior design offerings. She credits much of that success to her ability to sell a vision to clients—to cut through the noise, understand the transformation they’re looking for, and then explain exactly what her firm is capable of and how she’s going to deliver it. In this episode, she shares how hiring a director of design transformed her firm, why she launched a construction arm to deliver a luxury service and how sales can be a tool to teach clients to have confidence in the design process.

This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center and Vanguard.

LINKS
Laura Lubin
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Zuni Madera answers a question from a designer who is looking for a road map to understanding the art sourcing process. Madera, a partner at New York–based firm MC Interiors, offers advice on setting a room-by-room budget from a project’s outset, where a consultant can help with price education, and how to gauge a client’s desire for art discovery.

This episode was sponsored by Four Hands.
LINKS
Zuni Madera
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home

Hattie Sparks Collins found herself in a situation every new business owner dreams of: a period of rapid growth almost immediately after launching her firm. As she scaled up, however, she felt herself losing control of the firm’s processes—and even worse, her project standards. She decided it was time to strip back to the basics, rebuilding with a focus on sustainable growth. What emerged was a firm that not only had real staying power, but reflected her vision for what a creative business should be.. In this episode, she shares the value in hiring for help with procurement, the systems’ approach that accelerated her firm’s growth, and raising her project standards to invest in her firm’s future.

This episode was sponsored by Vanguard Furniture and Dallas Market Center.

LINKS
Hattie Sparks Collins
Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home