Podcast
Trade Tales
Hosted by Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen · EN
Business of Home's editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen talks to interior designers about nurturing creativity, finding a firm’s financial footing, setting goals and discovering their own version of success as a result.
85episodes
Episodes
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Why Ali Budd wants to do design TV differently [Rebroadcast]
4d ago00:53:14Summary readyAli Budd had a shot at TV stardom—and decided she wanted to bring viewers a side of the industry they hadn’t seen before. As the business she spent years building enters the spotlight, she’s sharing what it took to find her voice—and how she built a team that could carry that vision even further. This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture LINKSAli BuddKaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryAsk Us Anything: Blair Moore on protecting your firm from shipping issues
2w ago00:29:47Summary readyIn this episode, New York and Rhode Island-based interior designer Blair Moore answers a question from a designer whose firm is facing a sudden rush of shipping problems. Moore jumps in with advice on reckoning with a decline in shipping quality, how thorough channels of communication can help catch issues before they arise, and—when all else fails—establishing your own in-house receiving operation.This episode was sponsored by Four Hands. LINKSBlair MooreKaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryHow Angela Harris put wellness front and center in her business
3w ago00:59:35Summary readyAngela Harris’s firm marks a bit of a departure from the typical Trade Tales guest, with a portfolio that spans master planned communities, model homes, commercial, hospitality, and everything in between. And yet, the lessons she’s picked up along the way—on executing her vision, firm leadership, and a rigorous approach to wellness—are valuable for designers in every corner of the industry. On this episode, she shares what it takes to fully inhabit the role of design visionary, how overhauling her firm’s infrastructure helped the team claw back creative time, why she’s pursuing a PhD centered on the concept of design as an ethical imperative. This episode was sponsored by Vanguard Furniture and Kohler. LINKSAngela Harris Kaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryAsk Us Anything: Lucy O’Brien on designing around order minimums
4w ago00:24:35Summary readyIn this episode, Philadelphia-based interior designer Lucy O’Brien of Tartan & Toile answers a question from a designer who recently had to compromise her creative vision after coming up against an order minimum. O’Brien jumps in with advice on finding a second life for extra material, the value in troubleshooting with sales reps, and being transparent with clients about unexpected fees during the procurement process. This episode was sponsored by Four Hands. LINKSLucy O’BrienKaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryRayana Schmitz on tapping outside experts to transform her firm
Jun 300:48:37Summary readyRayana Schmitz balanced several different early career paths—from fitness trainer to firefighter—before landing on interior design. Today, she’s leading her firm with the wisdom to know when to trust her gut and when to rely on outside experts. On this episode, she shares the showhouse experience that pushed her creative boundaries, how a fractional CFO saved her firm’s finances and why she maintains strict hours of communication with clients. This episode was sponsored by Vanguard Furniture and Kohler. LINKSRayana Schmitz Kaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryAsk Us Anything: Lauren Caron’s process-driven approach to far-away projects
May 2700:51:54Summary readyIn this episode, Seattle-based interior designer Lauren Caron answers a question from a designer who wants to expand her business beyond her home city without sacrificing her firm’s standards. Caron jumps in with advice on billing clients for travel time, how she maximizes site visits before the transition to remote work, and the value in an exhaustive scope of work document. This episode was sponsored by Four Hands . LINKSLauren CaronKaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryHow Audrey Scheck established her firm’s C-suite
May 2001:04:41Summary readyAudrey Scheck’s 20-person firm is a well-oiled machine—complete with a carefully structured leadership team and a top-down approach that sets the tone for every employee. Elsewhere in the episode, she shares her growth mindset as she expanded her team, how a bandwidth tracker helps the firm determine whether it's time to take on new business, and the questions that help clients step outside their comfort zone. This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center and Kohler. LINKSHema Persad Kaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryAsk Us Anything: Zoë Feldman on how to measure an employee’s design skills
May 1300:37:48Summary readyWashington, D.C.–based Zoë Feldman on how to hire for aesthetic alignment, the metrics she uses to measure an employee’s progress at the firm, and how a team member with their own style can sometimes save the firm from adopting a formulaic look. This episode was sponsored by Four Hands. LINKSZoë Feldman Kaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryHow Hema Persad built ‘the smallest, most efficient’ team
May 600:57:58Summary readyHema Persad’s experience as an A-list stylist taught her what the one percent is looking for in the design process—and helped her build a firm that’s structured to meet those needs, while also complementing her decisive approach to leadership. Elsewhere in the episode, she shares how managing a team shifted her perspective on business growth, why she’s been a fast adopter of AI tools, and what to expect from celebrity clients. This episode was sponsored by Dallas Market Center and Kohler. LINKSHema PersadKaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
SummaryAsk Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart
Apr 2900:38:46Summary readyLos Angeles–based Christine Vroom answers a question from a fellow designer with a question about a project pipeline gone wrong. Vroom jumps in with advice on the importance of taking inventory of the hypothetical situations that could impact a design business, why her firm implements a “restart fee” for clients who need to push pause, and how to mentally prepare for the ebb and flow characteristic of a designer’s workload. This episode was sponsored by Four Hands. LINKSChristine Vroom Kaitlin PetersenBusiness of Home
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