Business of Home Podcast Summary Episode: The Thursday Show: Is Design Media Too Celebrity-Obsessed? Plus: The Ticking Tent Heads to Brooklyn
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Host: Dennis Scully
Guests: Christina Juarez and Ben Reinart

1. Introduction

Dennis Scully opens the episode by introducing upcoming segments, including a conversation with Christina Juarez and Ben Reinart about their new event, the Ticking Tent. He also previews the news topics to be covered, such as the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, a renovation boom, and discussions on the state of design media.

2. News Segment

a. Impact of Hurricane Helene on E.J. Victor

Timestamp: 05:21

• Overview: A month after Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast, E.J. Victor, a prominent company in the interior design industry, has delayed production due to severe flooding at its North Carolina facility. The delay is expected to last until January.

• Key Insights:

  • Christina Juarez: Highlights the unexpected nature of the flood's impact, noting that E.J. Victor's inventory suffered significant damage, leading to production halts.
    • "This is not just arbitrary delays, but it is having a real impact out there in the industry for sure." [07:08]
  • Dennis Scully: Emphasizes understanding and transparency, encouraging designers to communicate these delays to clients effectively.
    • "Hope everyone will understand that no one wanted to be in this position." [07:40]

• Conclusion: The flooding at E.J. Victor underscores the vulnerabilities within the manufacturing sector of the design industry, highlighting the need for robust disaster preparedness.

b. Renovation Boom Forecast

Timestamp: 08:54

• Overview: The Wall Street Journal reports a projected increase in annual spending on home repair and remodeling, expected to reach $477 billion by next year—a near all-time high.

• Key Insights:

  • Christina Juarez: Discusses the underlying factors driving the renovation boom, including high home equity and recent Federal Reserve rate cuts encouraging refinancing and spending.
    • "Housing prices are at an all-time crazy high. Like home equity is $35 trillion, which is up almost 100% since 2019." [10:28]
  • Dennis Scully: Advises designers to pivot their business models towards renovation projects, leveraging homeowners' substantial equity to drive profitable engagements.
    • "Designers should get a piece of that." [11:25]

• Conclusion: The sustained demand for home renovations presents significant opportunities for interior designers to expand their services and capitalize on homeowners' willingness to invest in their existing properties.

c. Engineered Stone Safety Concerns

Timestamp: 11:55

• Overview: The LA Times explores the rising concerns around silicosis linked to the cutting of engineered stone quartz countertops, highlighting efforts by companies like Cosentino and Caesarstone to develop safer products.

• Key Insights:

  • Christina Juarez: Explains the severity of silicosis and the industry's response, noting that safer quartz alternatives are being developed.
    • "Engineered stone is a $25 billion global business. They're looking to find a way to get ahead of this crisis and develop a product that's ideally safer." [14:04]
  • Dennis Scully: Emphasizes the need for both safer products and stricter workshop regulations to mitigate health risks.
    • "Can a safer product and a safer process come out of this? I hope so." [15:18]

• Conclusion: Addressing the health hazards associated with engineered stone is critical. Industry leaders must innovate safer materials and enforce rigorous safety standards to protect workers and sustain the market's growth.

d. Design Media's Celebrity Obsession

Timestamp: 16:18

• Overview: A controversial feature in Architectural Digest (AD) showcasing reality star Yolanda Hadid's Texas ranch home has sparked debate over the publication's alleged celebrity bias.

• Key Insights:

  • Christina Juarez: Critiques AD's focus on contemporary celebrities, contrasting it with the magazine's historical coverage of diverse, high-profile individuals from various fields.
    • "It's a complicated story. It's not as simple as, oh, AD is just obsessed with celebrities." [20:57]
  • Dennis Scully: Reflects on the evolution of AD's content strategy, influenced by social media's demand for engagement and visibility.
    • "Celebrity coverage has always helped to pay bills, period. That has been forever." [23:11]
  • Christina Juarez: Highlights the negative tone of online comments, pointing out the cruelty and lack of constructive dialogue in social media critiques.
    • "There is a cruelty to the discourse on social media. It's not always a celebrity who's getting roasted." [24:19]

• Conclusion: While AD has historically featured celebrities, the current perception of excessive celebrity focus is exacerbated by social media dynamics. Balancing valuable design content with celebrity features remains a challenge for design media outlets.

e. Overhead Lighting Debate

Timestamp: 25:04

• Overview: The Washington Post explores the widespread dissatisfaction with overhead lighting in home design, with celebrities and designers advocating for alternative lighting solutions.

• Key Insights:

  • Dennis Scully: Shares listener feedback expressing strong aversions to harsh overhead lighting, emphasizing the negative impact on aesthetics and guest comfort.
    • "Hate it. It ought to be banned. Why is it even still exists?" [25:27]
  • Christina Juarez: Points out the prevalence of poorly implemented overhead lighting, causing discomfort and unattractive lighting in homes.
    • "It's historically not done with a lot of thought." [27:39]
  • Dennis Scully: Encourages the adoption of layered lighting techniques and the use of dimmers to mitigate harsh overhead lighting.
    • "Remember, you've got to adjust the room to a little bit of overhead lighting, a little bit of table lighting, and it can all work." [26:51]

• Conclusion: The debate on overhead lighting underscores the importance of thoughtful lighting design. Incorporating multiple light sources and adjustable lighting can enhance the ambiance and functionality of living spaces.

3. Interview Segment: The Ticking Tent Event

Timestamp: 31:07

Dennis Scully welcomes Christina Juarez and Ben Reinart, co-founders of the Ticking Tent Event, discussing their innovative approach to interior design shopping events.

a. Genesis of The Ticking Tent

• Ben Reinart: Describes how the idea was conceived during a lunch meeting, aiming to blend their passion for curated shopping with a community-centric event.

  • "We're surrounded every day with people who love to shop either for their careers as interior designers or for their love of beautiful things." [33:24]

• Geneva Bell (Christina Juarez): Explains the inspiration behind the name "Ticking Tent," relating it to their love for striped fabrics and the eclectic mix of vendors.

  • "We all just kind of looked at each other and thought, let's put everything under one tent." [34:33]

b. First Event Learnings and Enhancements

• Ben Reinart: Shares lessons from the inaugural event, emphasizing the need for networking opportunities between vendors and sponsors.

  • "We created that moment this year... to meet the vendors and the sponsors before the day takes over itself." [39:17]

• Geneva Bell: Highlights the success of the Bouquet Bar, a popular attraction where attendees received custom nosegays, now partnering with the New York Flower Group for the upcoming event.

  • "The Bouquet Bar was really just intended to be a fun little giveaway... It really turned into like a huge moment." [40:13]

c. Upcoming Event Details

• Event Location: Industria photo studio in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, offering a 10,000-square-foot space near Domino Park.

  • "It's a beautiful little block just off of Domino park and the east river..." [43:45]

• Date and Time: Saturday, November 2nd, from 9 AM to 4 PM.

• Participants: Featuring repeat vendors like Bunny Williams and new participants such as Louise Rowe from Charland England and Toast. Sponsors include Schumacher, Benjamin Moore, Vaughan, and Curry and Company.

d. Benefits for Shoppers and Vendors

• Connection and Education:

  • Geneva Bell: Emphasizes the value of connecting with artisans and understanding the provenance of unique pieces.
    • "You get to meet and connect with an artisan who's making beautiful pottery or tabletop..." [45:35]
  • Ben Reinart: Highlights the educational aspect, allowing makers to share stories and craftsmanship with consumers.
    • "There's a moment where, tell me about this piece, where is it from?" [46:21]

• Economic Impact for Vendors:

  • Ben Reinart: Reports significant sales success for vendors, earning between $10,000 and $50,000 during the event without sharing profits.
    • "Depending on what they sold, made anywhere between 10 and $50,000..." [50:04]

• Community and Networking:

  • Geneva Bell: Stresses the importance of building relationships among designers, vendors, and retailers, fostering a supportive community.
    • "Building up those connections... makes your projects more beautiful." [45:35]

e. Future Prospects

• Ben Reinart: Anticipates growth and the development of additional events, potentially expanding the Ticking Tent brand.

  • "As we grow, we will develop offshoots of this." [51:46]

• Call to Action: The founders encourage listeners to visit thetickingtent.com for more information and to attend the event in Williamsburg.

4. Additional Industry Highlights

Timestamp: 53:09

• Gold ADUs by Ood:

  • Christina Juarez: Discusses a unique accessory dwelling unit (ADU) featuring a mirrored gold surface, signaling the maturity and innovation within the ADU market.
    • "It speaks to the fact that the ADU market is clearly reaching maturity." [53:09]

• Visit to Dallas Showrooms:

  • Dennis Scully: Shares positive experiences visiting Dallas showrooms, praising their hospitality and design centers.
    • "Universally, every showroom that I went into... we love this design center, actually." [54:04]

• Marge Carson's New Collection:

  • Dennis Scully: Expresses admiration for Christian Lemieux's new collection for Marge Carson, noting its distinctiveness and creativity.
    • "It's not a lot of what you've seen before, and it really looked great." [55:06]

5. Conclusion

Dennis Scully wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to visit businessofhome.com for more news, job listings, and workshops. He thanks the guests and guests for their participation and enthusiasm for the upcoming Ticking Tent event.

Notable Quotes:

• "This is not just arbitrary delays, but it is having a real impact out there in the industry for sure." – Christina Juarez [07:08]
• "Housing prices are at an all-time crazy high. Like home equity is $35 trillion, which is up almost 100% since 2019." – Christina Juarez [10:28]
• "Engineered stone is a $25 billion global business. They're looking to find a way to get ahead of this crisis and develop a product that's ideally safer." – Christina Juarez [14:04]
• "Celebrity coverage has always helped to pay bills, period. That has been forever." – Dennis Scully [23:11]
• "Hate it. It ought to be banned. Why is it even still exists?" – Listener [25:27]
• "You're absolutely right. I worked in publishing and media for the past 10 or 12 years..." – Geneva Bell [31:17]
• "We have the sponsorship fees that are left over after our expenses. We have the vendor participation fees and the ticket sales." – Ben Reinart [50:04]

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, detailing the key discussions on industry news, the innovative Ticking Tent event, and additional insights, complete with notable quotes and their respective timestamps.