Free Reports

The Designer's Coach is pleased to offer the following free reports. They have been written to assist your Interior Design Business. Some come from the content of the book: The Designer's Coach and some are new to the program. Check off the reports you would like and they will be sent off to you. Remember, if you would like more information be sure to visit other areas of the site including the School of Business.

What's your 10 Second Hook?

“Hi, my name is Neil Gordon and I help businesses create their company story.” That is my 10 second hook. It is what I say when I introduce myself at a networking event, a seminar, or a trade show. I hope to hear back: “Oh, that's interesting- TELL ME MORE”

The Pendulum Theory

ThePendulum Theory is based on Newton 's First Law of Motion, which states that a body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed, and in the same direction, unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. In The Designer's Coach Selling System, the designer effectively uses questions to get the prospect moving along the pendulum. It doesn't matter which direction they move, we just want them moving. Now that the prospect is in motion, she will stay in motion.

Successful Negotiating
The Business Value Message
In all the work you have done through the first 5 modules of "Creating your Strategic Vision", you have devoted tremendous effort to demonstrating your Value Message. The challenge is how do you do this? It is done by asking the following questions:

1. What does your business bring to the marketplace beyond the asicIndustry core competencies?
2. What's unique about your business?
3. How will you communicate this?

Before we get into addressing these questions, let's try to understand why someone might buy from you. There are several key concepts of understanding the mind of your prospect.

Using a Niche as a Market Strategy
There are two types of Interior Design firms: Those that truly specialize in a particular area (i.e. Kitchen and Bath designers) and firms that use a niche as a market strategy. Let's focus on the latter, because if you are trying to create a message that appeals to anyone that may be interested in any form of Interior Design, you are spinning your wheels and wasting your resources. The best way to gain awareness is by marketing through the strategy of developing your niche. The biggest objection most have to this idea is that they do not want to box themselves into a narrow offering. However, this is not the case when you use a niche to
create a

Project Management for an Interior Designer
As an Interior Designer you have a clear function as a Leader and as a Project Manager. You created a Strategic Vision which is your overall 5 year plan for your company. In order to achieve the goals you set forth, you must accomplish them one project at a time, one job at a time. As I stated in The Orchid Principle; nurturing your clients is the surest way to build a business, and Project Management will be the method to reach your lofty goals.

Home Staging for Interior Designers
Today there is a great opportunity for Designers and Decorators to offer their services to the sellers of homes. This service is known as Home Staging. What is Home Staging? Home Staging is a design system of creating a "product" out of the home. Making it, in a sense, a "model" home. As any successful product, it needs to appeal to as many of its' target market customers as possible. The goal is to make a good first impression, allowing the buyer to imagine themselves living in the home. The idea is to de-personalize and remove the clutter from the home.

The Designer's Coach is offering a free report on how to build a Home Staging Business . Here are some great reasons to add Home Staging to your design or decorating business:

1. Of all professions the can refer designers, it is the Realtor that has the greatest influence.
2. As a designer, you are skilled to offer Home Staging.
3. With the Home Staging System program, designers can offer Home Staging right away.
4. There are referral opportunities with the buyer and the seller.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of your help and advice. It really has inspired me to move ahead with expanding the business MUCH sooner than I had ever planned. I really enjoy my new role as an owner/manager. It's nice stepping back from the retail end of things to really take a look at the business itself. I definitely have renewed excitement in my work.

Lisa Cibula,
Breckenridge Blinds & Draperies, Inc.

Read Neil's latest article in the September issue of Interiors & Sources.