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A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design  Business Podcast

1187: WWLD: If Talent Isn’t the Problem, Why Aren’t You Getting Hired?

A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast

LuAnn Nigara

Design, Business, Arts

4.9810 Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today With LuAnn Nigara: You’re talented. You’ve built something thoughtful, elevated, even exceptional. So why isn’t it landing? That’s the real question behind today’s What Would Lu Do. In this episode, I answer a question from a creative entrepreneur who offers highly customized, luxury-level products designed in collaboration with interior designers. Her question? Do designers even want this level of custom work… or do they prefer established brands with systems and structure? But that’s not really the question. The real question is: If what you offer is so good… why isn’t it getting traction? What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why talent and quality are not the deciding factors in getting hired How market fit determines whether your offer lands or gets ignored The difference between being visible, distinct, and discreet (from my conversations with Kate O’Hara) Why high-end clients expect custom… but demand it be effortless How designers actually discover (and specify) vendors and partners The role of relationships vs. visibility in growing a high-level business What both vendors and designers must do to reach the next tier The Big Takeaways 1. Not every great offer is for every client If you’re trying to appeal to everyone, you’ll connect with no one. 2. The higher the level, the narrower the audience Luxury, custom, and bespoke always mean a smaller, more specific market. 3. Discovery might get you noticed. Relationships get you hired At higher levels, opportunities come through trust, not chance. 4. Custom is expected. Effortless is required Your value isn’t just what you create. It’s how smoothly you deliver it. 5. Whether you’re a designer or a vendor, the path is the same Find the right rooms. Get in them. Stay in them long enough for trust to build. Referenced Episodes To go deeper on client tiers and positioning, listen to: Episode #1148: A Framework for Understanding Luxury Interior Design Clients Episode #1157: Marketing to the Three Tiers of Luxury Clients and How to Attract Each One Mentioned in This Episode In this episode, I reference a creative entrepreneur who submitted today’s question. While I typically keep the focus on the lesson rather than the source, in this case, seeing the type of work we’re discussing may be helpful. You can find her information in the show notes below: Trisha Patel Website Instagram Have a Question for WWLD? Head to: 👉 luannigara.com/WWLD Submit your question and it might be featured in an upcoming episode. 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 What’s new with LuAnn Nigara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Power Talk Friday Tour⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 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

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, hey, this podcast is brought to you today by June Leloy. If you are an interior designer,

0:05.8

you probably already know about Lolloy and how great of a RUG resource they are. Now imagine that

0:12.3

same industry expertise and design know-how expanded into a total home framework. That's exactly

0:19.2

what they have achieved with their sister company,

0:21.5

June Lolloy. June Lolloy offers everything from rugs and furniture to lighting and decor,

0:26.6

all with the same commitment to design and quality you know Lolloy for. Check them out. Go to

0:33.6

June Lolloy.com. That's J-O-o-o-n-l-o-I-com and sign up for their trade program to get perks like

0:43.9

their trade-only discount. That's June-liloy.com.

0:48.3

Thank you. Welcome to a well-designed business.

1:02.4

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

1:06.3

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

1:12.3

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

1:17.9

I also know that your talent alone isn't enough to ensure your success.

1:23.4

So on this podcast, we talk about strategies and practical steps to help you grow your business.

1:29.8

But make no mistake about it, we have our share of fun here, too, mixed in with those

1:34.4

aha moments that I love so much.

1:36.9

This isn't fluff.

1:37.9

Nobody has time for that.

1:39.6

Whether you are a new interior designer or a season designer, I am here to help you create and to manage

1:46.0

the kind of interior design firm that you dream of. It's straight talk and it's action. Are you

1:51.6

ready? Let's get started. Hi, welcome to a well-designed business. Today is a what would

1:59.6

Lou do episode where you send in your questions about your business and I answer them right here on the show.

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