The Kate Show — Episode Summary

Episode: "Tastemaker vs. Order Taker: Which One Are You?"

Host: Kate, Socialite Agency
Date: January 26, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Kate explores the crucial distinction between being a "Tastemaker" versus an "Order Taker" in the home industry—spanning interior design, home staging, professional organizing, and window treatments. The core purpose is to empower industry professionals to shift from reacting to clients’ demands (order taking) to proactively guiding clients with expertise and intention (tastemaking), ultimately cultivating a brand that commands respect, trust, and premium pricing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Understanding the Roles: Tastemaker vs. Order Taker

• Order Taker:
  • Reacts to demands, focuses on closing the sale and "moving on."
  • Seen as an assistant vs. an expert; often experiences client haggling and delayed payments.
  • Lacks clear boundaries, branding, and proactive communication.
• Tastemaker:
  • Guides clients confidently with expertise and anticipates their needs.
  • Builds trust, commands respect, and maintains boundaries while remaining flexible where appropriate.
  • Branding, communication, and service delivery center around the client’s aspirations and transformation, not just the service itself.

"If people are treating you like an order taker, it is because you are presenting yourself like an order taker." — Kate (00:01)

2. The Importance of Proactivity

• Proactively communicating solutions and anticipating client needs sets tastemakers apart.
• Use the client’s own language in conversations and marketing — shows empathy and builds rapport.

"Being proactive is really the key differentiating factor between being a tastemaker and an order taker." — Kate (07:00)

3. Crafting a Client-Focused Brand

• Visuals & Messaging: Should reflect clients’ aspirations, not just showcase your portfolio.
  • This includes everything from fonts, color palettes, business name, and logo to messaging.
• Rebranding is natural as businesses mature and focus shifts to the client, not the founder.
• Your business name should evoke the emotions and lifestyle clients desire (“Chanel” vibes vs. “Walmart” vibes).

"Your brand should mirror your clients aspirations, not just showcase your work." — Kate (10:30)

4. Use Simple, Client-Centered Language

• Avoid jargon or "designer speak" that alienates clients.
• Explaining services in clear, everyday terms is essential for relatability and trust.

"Just speak in plain language the way you would speak to them in person, the way they speak to their friends." — Kate (15:10)

5. Intention and Strategy Drive Results

• Intention draws clients in by demonstrating reliability and relationship-building.
• Avoid shortcuts like purchasing mailing lists or backlinks — these harm reputation and SEO.
• Sustainable, organic growth comes from quality content and genuine relationships, not quick fixes.

"There’s no shortcut to true love. If you want to think about your relationship with clients as a love story... What makes it last? Intention, strategy and quality." — Kate (22:00)

6. Consistency is Key (Marketing Rule of 7)

• Trust is built through consistent messaging and visibility; prospects need 7–10 (sometimes 6–20) exposures to your brand before taking action.
• Focus messaging on facets of your offering (e.g., countertops, appliances, cabinetry) rather than just promoting the general service.
• Promote new or relaunched services with a pre-launch and regular post-launch content (emails/blogs every 2–4 weeks).

"They need to hear about your service seven times before they'll be like, huh, maybe I should reach out to her." — Kate (32:40)

7. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Announcing new ideas or services prematurely before a launch plan is in place.
• Over-focusing on yourself, your team, or your process—neglecting client outcomes and stories.
• Inconsistent, scattered service offerings or constant promotions undermines brand authority.
• Relying exclusively on social media, especially if your ideal clients are not there.
• Hiding behind impersonal branding; instead, show up with personal stories and in email marketing for stronger connections.

8. Best Practices for a Tastemaker Brand

• Highlight client transformations (“before and after” stories).
• Use visuals and messaging that reflect the client’s desired lifestyle.
• Incorporate your personality and direct communication, especially through email newsletters.
• Don’t depend solely on social media; email builds deeper, more lasting connections.
• Niche down: generalists become invisible, specialists are seen as aspirational.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If you're not deliberately crafting your brand as a tastemaker, you are defaulting to order taker status." — Kate (06:40)
• "There's no shortcut to true love... Intention, strategy, and quality. And that is how business works." — Kate (22:00)
• "Be intentional. Maybe you need a blog post... Maybe you should have that video on your website." — Kate (26:40)
• "A generalist will always blend into the background... You want to be seen as the brand that people aspire to." — Kate (28:45)
• "Most websites out there in your industry undersell your services. They overshare information about the owner and they ignore client stories. So you need to flip that whole model on its head." — Kate (39:25)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------| | 00:01 | Framing the episode: tastemakers vs. order takers, client dynamics | | 06:40 | The necessity of branding with intention | | 10:30 | Branding should evoke client aspirations | | 15:10 | The importance of clear, plain language | | 22:00 | On intention, strategy, and business-love parallels | | 26:40 | Launching new ideas and services | | 28:45 | Niching down for tastemaker status | | 32:40 | Marketing Rule of 7 | | 39:25 | Industry website mistakes and remedy |

Quick FAQ Section

• Order Taker vs. Tastemaker?
  • Order takers react and discount; tastemakers lead, guide, and charge premiums. (42:15)
• Buying lists/backlinks?
  • Don't do it: spam, legal, and SEO risks. (43:45)
• How to promote services?
  • Multiple exposures (7–10 or more) in varied formats (primarily email/blog). (44:30)
• Naming your business after yourself?
  • Possible, but evaluate memorability and client appeal. (44:55)
• Creating a client-focused brand?
  • Use client-centric visuals/messaging, ditch jargon, and reflect client language. (45:30)

Final Takeaways

Kate urges listeners to re-evaluate their positioning and marketing with clarity and intention to avoid order-taker traps and confidently become recognized tastemakers. Proactive communication, thoughtful branding, and ongoing consistency in client-centered storytelling are keys to lasting success, higher fees, and better client relationships in the design and home industries.