709: Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors:The Stages and Decisions to Grow Your Design Business

Today with Jenny and Ben Slingerland Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Jenny and Ben Slingerland of Black Ink Interiors share the growing pains of their luxury design firm, how they run their team, and how they fill the gaps in expertise. Jenny also details what her Design for Build course involves and how it helps her students expand their business and get the respect of builders. Pick it apart: [25:22] Ben explains what their new hire, a client experience coordinator, manages [27:24] Jenny explains how she provides initial design guidance on a project to her design staff and has designers handle client communication [38:49] Jenny shares the coaches she and Ben have hired to enhance and grow their business [44:01] Jenny explains how her class can help designers gain an additional revenue stream and how to talk to clients about the furniture stage [47:41] Jenny explains how her LuAnn University course will help designers [1:07:58] Jenny shares real advice for designers just getting their feet wet LuAnn and Jenny and Ben Slingerland’s Ah-Ha moments: “There is nothing greater to me if my students get one job or a positive response from a builder.” - Jenny Slingerland   “It’s knowing what the builder’s expectation is and delivering it in an organized, buttoned-up manner.” - Jenny Slingerland   “If you can make their life easier, they will hire you again and again.” - Jenny Slingerland More about Jenny and Ben Slingerland: Jenny is the Owner and Principal Designer of Black Ink Interiors, a luxury residential interior design firm based in Arizona. She and her team serve clients throughout the United States and the Bahamas. Jenny is known for her unique sense of style and her ability to visualize the possibilities of any space. She is an award-winning designer who has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Business of Home and Luxe Magazine.  Ben is the Chief Operating Officer of Black Ink Interiors. He left the corporate world in 2018 to join the team and oversee the back end operations, allowing Jenny and the design team to focus on the client-facing activities. Ben has an MBA and over 20 years of business experience across multiple industries and disciplines including land acquisition & development for a national homebuilder and senior procurement and human resources roles at Mars Incorporated. Connect with Black Ink Interiors: Website  Instagram  Facebook  Pinterest What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour at High Point LuAnn Nigara and Friends Meet and Greet at High Point  luannuniversity.com Inside Voice, Outside Voice Monthly Virtual Events http://www.luannnigara.com/cob Get The Goodies! For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Pre-Order Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2 Connect with LuAnn Nigara LuAnn’s Website LuAnn’s Blog Power Talk Friday Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor: Mydoma: To learn about how it can uplevel your professionalism and organization, go to mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness and scroll down to the designer testimonial videos. Also on that site, my listeners can click to receive 20% off Mydoma for 3 months.