Trade Tales Podcast Episode Summary
Title: Ask Us Anything: Megan Camp on Helping Clients Come to Terms with Storage Fees
Host: Kaitlin Petersen, Editor-in-Chief of Business of Home
Guest: Megan Campbell, Founder of Megan Camp Interiors
Release Date: June 25, 2025
1. Introduction
In this episode of Trade Tales, Kaitlin Petersen welcomes listeners to the "Ask Us Anything" segment, where she addresses questions from interior designers seeking advice on building and scaling their design businesses. This week, the focus is on managing the complexities of storage and receiving logistics as a design firm takes on more projects.
2. Scaling Challenges: Storage and Receiving
Megan Campbell, a returning guest, shares her firsthand experiences with scaling her interior design business. She outlines the transition from using a warehouse with per-package charges to managing her own storage units and receiving team as her business grew.
Megan Campbell [01:00]: "As our business has grown, we used to receive at a warehouse, they charged us per package... Then we got our own storage units, pay our own people to receive, inspect, and that's been fine."
3. Third-Party Receivers vs. In-House Storage
The discussion delves into the pros and cons of third-party receiving services versus handling storage in-house. Megan emphasizes the control gained from managing her own storage units, though she notes that the cost savings were not significant.
Megan Campbell [01:54]: "Not really. It just kind of gave us more control of it."
She explains how siloing projects by assigning specific storage units to different clients helps prevent mix-ups.
Megan Campbell [02:08]: "You know, the Smiths unit is 109. The Joneses is 110. And we could deliver things directly to there so that we didn't get one of 25 lamps confused."
4. Communicating Storage Fees to Clients
A significant portion of the conversation centers on how to transparently communicate storage and receiving fees to clients. Megan discusses incorporating these costs into the overall project budget and the challenges clients face in understanding these additional expenses.
Megan Campbell [12:50]: "It's very expensive. I mean, we're not talking a couple hundred dollars. We're talking thousands of dollars a month."
She highlights the importance of explaining that storage fees are a necessary part of delivering quality design services and maintaining project integrity.
5. Budgeting and Contracts
Megan outlines her approach to budgeting, where storage and receiving costs are a line item in the contract. This transparency helps clients understand the necessity of these fees from the project's inception.
Megan Campbell [25:06]: "It's a line item and we don't provide any additional information other than receiving storage and accepting costs per that month."
6. Vetting Receiving Companies
The reliability of receiving partners is crucial. Megan recounts a negative experience where a receiving company improperly shared sensitive billing information with a client, leading to the termination of that partnership. She now ensures that receiving companies have strict protocols to protect client information.
Megan Campbell [24:29]: "We actually had an issue with a receiving company a couple years ago... So that was the end of that relationship with our receiving company."
7. Ordering Timing and Procurement
Deciding when to place orders is a delicate balance between securing desired items and minimizing storage costs. Megan explains her team's strategy of ordering items with longer lead times first, such as antiques and custom pieces, while delaying orders for accessories until later stages of the project.
Megan Campbell [38:00]: "Antiques and vintage, because it's one of a kind. You don't want to take that risk because once it sells, you're never going to find anything like it."
8. Organizational Practices: Side Marks and Installation
To maintain order and prevent cross-project mix-ups, Megan emphasizes the use of "side marks"—detailed identifiers for each item that indicate the project, room, and client. This system ensures that items are correctly allocated during installation.
Megan Campbell [33:32]: "So side marks are so important... The project of the client's last name, so it's the address, the room, and the business name."
Additionally, the receiving team organizes delivery loads systematically, aligning them with the installation sequence to streamline the installation process.
9. Advice and Insights
Megan shares valuable advice she has received over her career:
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Never Take 'No' for an Answer:
Megan Campbell [39:35]: "Once you get a no, don't just say that's not the end of the road."
She elaborates on this by explaining the importance of persistence and creative problem-solving in overcoming obstacles.
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Be Comfortable Talking About Money:
Megan Campbell [40:46]: "You have to get comfortable talking about money... It's so important because that's so much of the front end of a project."
Megan underscores that clear and honest financial discussions are pivotal in client relationships and business sustainability.
10. Conclusion
The episode wraps up with Megan emphasizing the necessity of storage and receiving logistics as integral parts of running a successful interior design business. By maintaining transparent communication with clients, vetting reliable receiving partners, and implementing systematic organizational practices, designers can effectively manage their growing project loads without compromising on quality or client satisfaction.
Key Takeaways:
- Transparent Budgeting: Clearly incorporate and communicate storage and receiving fees in project budgets.
- Reliable Partnerships: Vet and establish trustworthy relationships with receiving companies to safeguard client interests.
- Organizational Systems: Utilize detailed side marks and systematic loading procedures to maintain project order.
- Client Communication: Educate clients on the necessity and benefits of storage services to foster understanding and acceptance.
- Professional Advice: Embrace persistence and financial transparency as cornerstones of business growth and client trust.
This episode provides a comprehensive guide for interior designers facing the challenges of scaling their operations, offering practical solutions and professional insights to navigate the complexities of storage and logistics in the design industry.