Books

How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series)

Average customer rating:

I am impressed with this book.....
how to start a home-based interior design business 4th
The title should have been: "How to Start a Home-Based Decorating Business"

How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series)
Nita B. Phillips , and Suzanne DeWalt
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorative Arts | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Home Based | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

The Interior Designers Guide to Pricing Estimating and Budgeting
Business and Legal Forms for Interior Designers
Interior Design Course: Principles, Practices, and Techniques for the Aspiring Designer (Quarto Book)
The Interior Design Business Handbook: A Complete Guide to Profitability
FabJob Guide to Become an Interior Decorator (FabJob Guides)

ASIN: 0762738774

Customer Reviews:

I am impressed with this book............2007-02-02

I agree with Juan's assessment that using "Interior Design" in the title could mislead potential readers. Since Juan sufficiently addressed this issue in his review, let's now assume that this book is titled more correctly, "How to Start a Home-Based Interior Decorating Business".

After a successful 11-year career in apparel design/production, I found myself jobless due to corporate downsizing. After soul-searching and research, I decided that I wanted to go into business for myself and that becoming an interior decorator would be a perfect fit for my skills and interests. So I purchased this book several months ago and have referred to it on an almost daily basis as I take steps to set up my business.

Ms. Phillips has a clear, concise writing style. There is no "fluff" in this book. Even though I already know some of the details on business/home office set-up, it was helpful to read it in this format and in the context of interior decorating.

There is so much I do NOT know about this industry, and that is where this book shines. The author does a stellar job of explaining the day-to-day nature of interior decorating, how to decide if this business is right for you, and the importance of writing a detailed business plan.

The book also provides business form templates that you can copy and use. Finally, the Product Overview section outlines specific instructions on measuring and costing out your projects.

I strongly recommend this book as a starting point and ongoing reference guide for anyone interested in starting a home decorating business from home.

how to start a home-based interior design business 4th.......2006-09-07

Before I purchased this book I read Juan's review, but being the"Doubting Thomas" kind of person I am, I bought it anyway. I should have listened to Juan. His review is completely accurate.

The title should have been: "How to Start a Home-Based Decorating Business".......2006-03-08

An even better title would have been "What You Need to Start and Maintain a Successful Home-Based Decorative Surface & Window Treatment Retail Business". If it had that title, I would have given it 5 stars! Why do publishers encourage such deception?

The dust jacket information about this book leads you to think it is all about Interior Design, and it is not. For example: Ms. Phillips states one of the key differences between the designation of "Interior Designer" and "Decorator" is becoming a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) which requires Interior Design or Architecture related education and experience in related fields.

I would assume most readers picking up this book have little of either if any. Then she decides to use the term "designer" throughout the book, instead of the more appropriate and realistic term of "decorator". Why? Is there a stigma about being a decorator? (By the way, one can also become a member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) as well and legally be called an Interior Designer.)

As for a home-based surface treatment and/or decorating business, this book is good. The listed topics are important and Ms. Phillips does a good job of covering the details in simple language. She has some good questions on whether running your own business is for you and the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Obviously she has been there, and has sweated it out too! Also featured are smart advertising and marketing ideas.

I felt the information on office set-up and computing was behind the times, but then again I am a gadget guy and tend to be up on these matters.

In conclusion, a person, without any experience, wishing to start and effectively run an interior decorating business that focuses on surface treatment decoration products and services (such as flooring, carpets, textiles, fabrics, wall coverings, wallpaper, and window treatments) would do quite well with this book. I think it is a great business, and there is great potential for a lucrative business.

However for someone wanting to do "Interior Design" (more than just surface treatments), they will be left dissatisfied. I advise you to look elsewhere.

How to Start a Home Based Interior Design Business

Average customer rating:

Pretty Accurate Vision of Managing a Design Business
how to start a home drapery business
This book gave me the courage!
Awesome
Should be called "How to Start a Drapery Business"

How to Start a Home Based Interior Design Business
Suzanne DeWalt
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Home Based | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Professional Reference | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Art Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Business Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Home & Garden Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Business and Legal Forms for Interior Designers
Estimating for Interior Designers
The Interior Designers Guide to Pricing Estimating and Budgeting
A Guide to Business Principles and Practices for I: Revised Edition
Mary Gilliatt's Interior Design Course (Decor Best-Sellers)

ASIN: 0762705132

Book Description

Completely revised and updated, this guide includes the author's experiences and advice on every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based interior design business. It covers everything from developing a business plan and estimating start-up costs to pricing the services and staying profitable once in business.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Accurate Vision of Managing a Design Business.......2007-06-18

Suzanne DeWalt really hits some key elements regarding running a home-based design business. For example, her advice regarding setting up an agreement before giving the client all your ideas is very good advice. True, she does emphasize window treatments as being your entrance into the clients home and that may not apply to every designer. So I took off one star. But the honest and practical advice she gives is well worth the price of the book. You can't just be "creative" you have to run a professional firm. As I am the owner of a seven-year old design firm, I say she is accurate on her advice.

how to start a home drapery business.......2003-08-08

i definitely agree with the other comment that it's all about window coverings. interior design is not all about window treatments and trying to sell products to your clients. interior design is about designing the homes of your clients. definitely a misleading book.

This book gave me the courage!.......2002-08-27

This is exactly the book I've been looking for. I completed my degree, but still felt
that I needed some "real world" guidance. This book did that. The author explained
the how to things that I couldn't figure out, like where to find the business, how to
estimate jobs, where to buy the stuff, etc. I love this book!

Awesome.......2002-03-02

I thought this book was excellent! I read it completely in 2 days! I am just considering starting my own business and I appreciated Suzanne sharing such valuable infomation. I don't think a designer "in the business" would share any of this information with you. I would recommend it to anyone just starting out in the business.

Should be called "How to Start a Drapery Business".......2000-01-17

The title is truly misleading. The authors "Interior Design" Business is a window covering business. She sells window coverings, flooring and wallcoverings but is apparantly not a designer. Don't expect any in depth advice on working with clients creating integrated room plans, using trade-only showrooms etc. If you want to focus on one aspect of the business, simply selling floor or window coverings, great. But, I feel cheated even though this book was inexpensive

Rearrange It! - How to Start and Grow a Profitable Home-Based Redesign Business

Average customer rating:

Rearrange It! - How to Start and Grow a Profitable Home-Based Redesign Business
Barbara Jennings
Manufacturer: Decorate-Redecorate.Com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Home Staging for Profit: How to Start and Grow a Profitable Home-Based Staging Business
Advanced Redesign
Building a Successful Home Staging Business: Proven Strategies from the Creator of Home Staging
Peggy's Corner: Stage Your Home for Profit

ASIN: 0961802642

Product Description

First published in January, 2002, Rearrange It has just been updated for 2007. Top interior redesign and home staging expert and author, Barbara Jennings of Decorate-Redecorate.Com, teaches you the best and most profitable ways to start, grow, manage and maintain an interior re-design business from home. Interior Re-design is the creative use of professional placement techniques coupled with practical business strategies and tactics on how to arrange furniture and accessories that clients already own. Readers will learn how to transform a home in a matter of hours using just what the client already has in the home. No degree is needed for this fun and creative business. Written in a no-nonsense, conversational style, Rearrange It! teaches readers who want a thriving interior re-design business how to prepare themselves professionally, how to get clients, how to conduct consultations, how to set up their business, how to hang art and pictures properly, and how to market and promote their services. This detailed, straight-talking, hassle-free guide is the 1st in a series by Jennings who also teaches home staging and corporate art consulting (Home Staging for Profit, Staging Luxurious Homes, Pro Art Consulting).

In Rearrange It!, readers will learn all the necessary and productive steps they should take to reach potential clients, including 31 examples of arrangement techniques used by professionals (including the most popular furniture arrangement configurations), 20 questions to ask homeowners before you get started, practical do's and don'ts, questions and answers, important legalities and set up guidance and much more.

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