1090: New Show! On-Air Strategy Session: Michelle Blemel: Stop Attracting the Wrong Clients: Redefine Your Messaging and Boundaries

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Design, Arts

4.8 • 786 Ratings

🗓️ 23 May 2025

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today With Michelle Blemel: Michelle Blemel, Principal Designer of Amberleaf, Inc., has over 25 years of experience serving high-end residential and commercial clients. But despite her deep expertise, Michelle found herself attracting clients who weren’t aligned with the luxury, turnkey service she wanted to deliver. In this On Air Strategy Session, we dive into the real behind-the-scenes struggles that many seasoned designers face: Why vague website messaging leads to misaligned clients How flexibility can backfire when you're positioning yourself as the expert What to change in your testimonials and proposals to reinforce your value How to conduct project “autopsies” to continually refine your client experience If you’re ready to move from "custom to chaotic" to a streamlined, high-touch design business, this episode will show you how to make the shift. Plus, be sure to revisit Episode 1048 with Melanie Lybrand for another powerful positioning breakthrough. LuAnn Nigara and Michelle Blemel’s Ah-Ha Moments: "A strong brand doesn’t mean you’re for everyone. It means you’re the perfect choice for the right people." - Michelle Blemel More About Michelle Blemel Owner and Principal Designer at Amberleaf, Inc. in Pasadena California, Michelle Blemel has over 25 years of experience in all phases of design and project management. She leads a full service design firm facilitating all aspects of design from concept to completion. She received her Associates Degree in Interior Design from the Colorado Institute of Art, and continued her education at Parsons in Paris and Los Angeles. Known for her creative approach to customized design and use of color. With clients in high-end residential as well as commercial projects, including restaurants, ski resorts, hotels and medical offices. Michelle has distinguished herself as a creative problem solver, providing innovative solutions to tough design questions. Connect with Michelle Blemel Website Facebook YouTube X A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor: ⁠⁠Design Trade Service⁠⁠ What’s new with LuAnn Nigara ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠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 Audiobook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book 2: ⁠⁠⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠⁠⁠ 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 Other Resources: This podcast supports the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Savvy Giving Design Coalition⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about it ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠! ⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Inside Voice - Sign Up!⁠ Other Shows:⁠⁠⁠ AWDB 1048: On Air Strategy Session: Melanie Lybrand: Overcoming the Fear of Raising Your Interior Design Rates

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are you looking to build an exceptional team? Our hiring toolkit bundle at Luannigara.com
0:06.6	forward slash store is your comprehensive source for success. Craft compelling job descriptions,
0:13.8	know the right interview questions to ask, and implement a thorough evaluation process so you
0:19.0	get the right person. These were developed in collaboration
0:22.0	with my cousin Eileen Hahn and based on her 40 years of experience in building exceptional
0:27.3	teams, plus my insights from 1,000 plus interviews, our toolkits are tested and proven. Whether you're
0:35.0	scaling from 1 to 3 or from three to ten or from ten to
0:38.5	twenty, the hiring toolkit bundle provides the guidance that you can use to plan your
0:44.5	hiring strategy effectively. Go to Luannigara.com forward slash store and invest in your success
0:51.7	by investing in the success of your team.
1:07.0	Welcome to a well-designed business. My name is Luann Nigara, and I'm so glad you found this podcast.
1:13.1	Together with my husband Vince and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Window Works from the ground up.
1:19.0	So I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business.
1:24.7	I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.
1:30.1	So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business.
1:36.6	But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here too, mixed in with those aha moments
1:42.0	that I love so much. This isn't fluff.
1:44.8	Nobody has time for that.
1:46.5	Whether you are a new interior designer or a season designer, I am here to help you create
1:51.9	and to manage the kind of interior design firm that you dream of.
1:55.9	It's straight talk and it's action.
1:58.1	Are you ready?
	...

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