How one strategic Consultation Call helped this interior designer transform three key areas of her business.
The Problem:
After 13 years running her interior design business, my client “Elle” was ready to grow and invest! She knew exactly what she needed to optimise her time and efforts inside her business; a time tracking app, effective processes for each service, and clear, beautiful documentation to onboard her clients.
The Plan:
During our strategy Consultation Call, I helped Elle identify her top three goals: Service Processes, System and Template set up, and Client Information Documents.
For each goal, we fleshed out what was required to encompass her whole design business.
Developing the Process of each Service:
- Renovations
- New Build Selections
- Display Homes
- Furniture Fitouts & Styling
Setting Up the Systems & Templates she needs:
- Time tracking app
- Team collaboration / project management tools
- Document & email templates
Designing beautiful, up-to-date Client Information Documents:
- Services Guide
- Proposals
- Welcome Guides
- What to Expect Guides
After establishing this extensive Action Plan, I gave Elle the opportunity to take the next step in working with me; a Project Package to implement all the great ideas we’d come up with. Being time poor and overcommitted to her design projects, she was delighted to continue working together and to handball the Action part of the Plan to me!
The Process:
As it often does, our Action Plan evolved as we started working through implementation. We spent a chunk of time discussing her services and we refined her current processes for efficiency and clarity. Once that was in place, we were able to build out Elle’s other goals.
First I introduced her to a powerful interior design project management software, called Programa, to take care of her scheduling, task management, project management (using our new project processes) and time tracking. I did all the backend magic so she and her team could quickly start working with the new software.
Next, I set up a shared online filing system and folder structures for her design team to work within, reducing double-handling and unnecessary emails. It also manages document versions, and collaboration with clients.
Thirdly, I created email templates and internal checklists for key project phases. ‘The Process’ from her newly created client guides were reiterated in client email templates and documentation for clear communication.
The Payoff:
After only a few short weeks, Elle said she already felt professional enough to charge more! She said her cash flow had improved by implementing and following the new process for client invoices and payments, and she now felt confident to ask for payments upfront.
From now on, she will be able to accurately quote projects and explain her pricing to prospective clients, presenting them with her clear process in her beautiful new client guides.
During the implementation stage, we added full T&Cs to her fresh client proposals. She initially thought this would scare people off, but it had the opposite effect! By agreeing to comprehensive terms & conditions, it provided protection and reassurance to both her clients and herself.
Her design team also saved time communicating with each other by reducing the daily to do lists, endless emails and attaching of documents etc.
By setting up a general admin email, it reduced her overwhelm of constant procurement and delivery notifications, reduced double handling and mitigated the chances of something slipping through the cracks.
Elle has been delighted with the results of our strategic Consultation Call and Project Package. She said “Thank you so much Katherine. Can’t thank you enough!!! The work you have done for me has taken such a load off my shoulders and I just would never have done it on my own.”
