EP #27 | What Waiting Tables Taught Me about Running a Business

The experience a client receives and great service is so important. Lucky for me, that comes pretty naturally based on my experience working in fine dining. The goal at the end of a meal is to leave the customer with a full belly, and a dopamine hit from laughter and being with people they love. My goal was to make it feel like an effortless and seamless experience, which is the same goal I carry into my interior design business!

Today I share all about how I feel that my experiences working in a few fine dining establishments helped shape me to be a better manager of projects and clients and to help me understand what high end clients want. 

In this episode we answer questions like…

1. How your past experiences have/can shape your interior design business
2. How you can use these experiences to create your unique selling proposition
3. What I learned from waiting tables that helped me craft my business

Here’s a glance at this episode…

[04:40] I share how previous experiences (waiting tables or not) have shaped your ability to create a unique selling proposition for your interior design clients.

[08:26] Experience is everything, right? I share how to figure out the experience a client is after and help to provide that in your service. The goal is to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well.

[11:55] I jump into efficiency when providing service and how to create efficiency in your business. I share how to handle billing, emails, and correspondence to streamline your time.

[14:39] I share how important it is to truly know your audience when relaying information. From contractors to clients to vendors, it matters how you relay information related to the interior design project.

[17:24] Anticipating needs of our clients is KEY! I share how you can anticipate common needs for clients.

[20:48] I jump into how to mitigate mistakes, those that are in your control and those that are not in your control. I share when and how to share those mistakes or delays and how to relay this information to your clients in a positive way.

[26:40] I share how to make friends with your back of house staff, your contractors, etc in a way that can help your business thrive, help with mistakes and concerns along the way, and how to nurture these relationships.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

Designers Oasis Shop