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A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

1138: BEST OF SHOW: Beth Bender: Back End Operations for Your Interior Design Firm

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Business, Design, Arts

4.8786 Ratings

🗓️ 7 November 2025

⏱️ 80 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today with Beth Bender: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, I’m talking with Beth Bender, principal and co-founder of The Dove Agency where Beth has developed a team that expertly provides back-office operations for interior design professionals, from strategic planning and consulting to targeted marketing solutions. With 20 years of design experience, Beth decided she wanted to start something that would help those in the design industry with the back end of their businesses. Supporting both the financial and marketing aspects of the design business, Beth and I discuss The Dove Agency, how it works, benefits of working with the agency, and the fact that if you don’t run your operations smoothly, no matter how talented you are as a designer, it could mean the end of your business. LuAnn and Beth Bender’s Ah-Ha moments: “One of your premises is that interior designers should invest in the back end, operations end of the business. You’re talking my language because the whole premise of my podcast is that yes, you need talent to be successful, but your talent isn’t going to be the reason that you are successful. You can get some attraction and some clients, but to create a long lived sustainable profitable business you have to learn how to efficiently run the back end.” – LuAnn Nigara “We feel that for a design form to be able to have sustained growth you have to have a two-pronged approach. You have to be able to identify both your marketing needs and your financial needs and they have to be in step.” – Beth Bender “At the end of the day, it really should come down to counting every penny because there are tight margins. Regardless of whether you are charging by the hour, or a set fee you still have to know, How much time did I spend on that project? What was the monetary value of that time?” – Beth Bender More About Beth Bender: Principal and Co-Founder Beth Bender specializes in new client and strategic partner acquisitions for The Dove Agency. Beth has developed a team that expertly provides back-office operations for interior design professionals, from strategic planning and consulting to targeted marketing solutions. Additionally, Beth oversees human and organizational development services and she also manages strategic growth strategies at The Dove Agency. Beth earned her degree in human and organization development from Vanderbilt University, and she brings more than 20 years of design experience to her work, enabling her to advise and assist clients with uniquely informed perspectives as she helps them maximize their time, resources, and profitability. Combining their impeccable expertise, proficient knowledge, and well-versed viewpoints, Beth and her co-founder, Kenda, together developed services that streamline administrative processes, giving interior design professionals the time to do what they do best—design. These processes are the foundation and hallmark of The Dove Agency today. Beth works closely with the marketing team to strategically position each designer with the tools necessary for calculated growth, increased influence, and measurable success. Connect with Beth Bender: Website Instagram Facebook Pinterest What’s new with LuAnn Nigara luannuniversity.com https://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 Other Shows Mentioned Episode 575 Lisa Gilmore: Finance Fridays! From 850k to 2.25 Million in One Year! WTF Episodes: #653, #645 , #610 , #586 , #551 , #539 Sara Lynn Brennan Episodes: #607 , #524 , #514 , #463

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, I have been nominated for the Window Fashion Vision Reader's Choice Award in the best

0:06.8

consulting and education category. And here's a thing, this matters to me. After 40 plus years in

0:13.8

the industry, this nomination feels like a meaningful acknowledgement of all of the work I've

0:19.8

poured into helping you, helping all of us

0:22.7

build a better business. So if anything I've ever shared here on this podcast has helped you

0:29.5

show up stronger, think differently, or lead better, I'd really be so grateful for your vote.

0:35.7

You can cast your vote at WF-dashvision.com forward slash readers dash choice dash 2025.

0:46.5

Annoying, I know.

0:47.7

I'll also put it in the show notes.

0:49.9

But it's WF-dashvision.com forward slash readers dash choice dash 2025.

0:58.8

Here's the thing.

1:00.0

The voting ends Friday, November 14th, 2025.

1:05.0

It's a hot minute around the corner.

1:07.7

And I really, really, really, really, really, really, would be grateful if you voted.

1:12.7

Thanks, tons.

1:24.7

Welcome to a well-designed business.

1:26.9

My name is Luann Nigara and I'm so glad you found this podcast.

1:30.8

Together with my husband Vince and our partner, Bill, we have grown our company Windowworks from the ground up.

1:36.7

So I know and I understand the challenges you face in running your interior design business.

1:42.8

I also know that your talent alone isn't enough

1:46.0

to ensure your success. So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help

1:53.0

you grow your business. But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here too,

...

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