Whether sole practitioner or large-firm CEO,
when you're not quite sure what comes next...
The interior design business is complex, and the skills that got you 'here,' will not get you 'there.' I've guided designers through every phase of the career life cycle.
Maybe we should talk.
To save you money, the formats are structured,
but the results are always uniquely yours.
The Introductory Evaluation — You know something needs to change,
but aren't sure where to begin.
The life cycle of a successful interior design practice requires the principal to navigate through a series of transitions. Without awareness, these periods can increase stress, complexity, and doubt. Almost all transitions fall into the following categories, and all require a different level of business sophistication. As the saying goes, "What got you here, won't get you there." Whether it's time to grow, time to scale back, or time to change your entire way of doing business, these conversations will shine a spotlight on the true issues holding you back.
($975/mo for 2, 50-minute sessions, recurring monthly until cancelled*)
Why Aren't You Winning the Premium, Profitable Jobs? — There's only one reason ideal clients will choose you over other options.
For small- to mid-sized firms that are often busy, but not landing the kind of marquee and profitable jobs you need to grow, the problem is almost always a murky, ill-defined strategy. A strategy is what separates you from the pack and causes the clients you want to choose you. After helping countless firms, large and small to develop clear "maps" to achieve their goals, I created a six-week process called an ActionMap. Working directly with me, in six weeks you will:
- Clarify your most compelling and motivating goal
- Nail the demographics of the clients you want most of all
- Uncover the capabilities those clients demand that you must master
- Get rid of everything else
- Honestly assess gaps in your expertise and chart a course to overcome them
- List the specific actions you will take to ensure this strategy leads to serious income and wealth.
($4,500 including six weekly exercises and a weekly 30-minute check-in call with David.*)
Designing Your Future — Here is where you'll put me to work, doing much of the analysis and diagnostic work, and delivering detailed recommendations.
Using detailed questionnaires and interviews, I will develop a comprehensive SWOT analysis, identifying your greatest strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This is not done in a vacuum, as I will compare and contrast your firm to the actual performance of the scores of clients I have taken through this exact process. (For $24,500 when I used to travel to their sites!)
- Detailed financial analysis by me and comparison of key performance metrics to top performing firms of similar size
- Evaluation of staff, systems, and facilities and, again, a comparison of the cost-benefit tradeoffs of each
- Questionnaires and interviews conducted of staff (if applicable) and a confidential comparison by David exposing areas of confusion.
- Discussion of how best to overcome your weaknesses and guard against your threats
- Concluding results and recommendations by me in an extended written report and video presentation.
($10,450 for 12- week process, frequency of calls and interviews with David TBD)
Custom Programs — You've got a strategy you like, and a clear plan of action, but you need help filling one big problem that is holding you back
During our initial calls, I'm happy to work with you to develop a custom program. They key is that I cannot be of value to you on an ongoing basis unless I have an in depth knowledge of your business. So, even Custom Programs may begin with one of the products described above.
(To be determined with custom quote*)
Mentoring Support — I want you to succeed, and want to remain engaged as the results of our work start to show up.
For those that have been through one of the programs above, including one customized for you, I offer ongoing support and "mentoring" services. For some, this may be years of help with implementation and growth. For others, it may mean discussions about exit planning...or their favorite football teams! You'll tell me what you find valuable, and I'll do my best to provide that for you.
($1,150/mo for 2, 50-minute sessions, recurring month until cancelled)
*Design Firm MRI— This proprietary process begins with your recent financial statements and includes other key diagnostic tools.
Regardless of the coaching or consulting path you choose, the more I know about your firm, the more I can help. With this add-on, I can see deep into the performance of your firm, and compare it not only to other firms, but to my proprietary Key Success Factors. This is an option for all packages, but included in the Designing Your Future Program.
- Financial statement review
- Proprietary benchmarking
- Profitability analysis
- Key efficiency measures
- Written findings
- Executive debrief
($2,500 including writeup and one call session debrief.)
David Shepherd taught courses related to strategy, finance, and cash flow at the University of Texas at Austin for over 20 years. He specialized in applying advanced concepts to small businesses owners, including those with minimal business training. After being hired as a consultant by an interior designer, he fell in love with the complexity and opportunity of that business, and focused exclusively on it. He subsequently developed over 40 business conferences (attended by over 4,000 interior designers) while also creating executive coaching networks for over 400 principals. And for scores of firms, David provided one-to-one consulting, resulting in the most thorough and value set of case studies in the industry today.
