Posts by Melissa Galt

Revenue growth is not impactful unless your profit margin keeps up—or increases. Too many designers have been burned by flat fees and have scurried back to hourly billing. But hourly is not the safe harbor it appears to be. Today we’re having one of the most important conversations in your business: how flat fee interior…

You can have a strong discovery process and solid business structure, but if you’re standing in the wrong rooms, you will still struggle to land the clients you most want. Positioning is the missing piece, and today we’re talking about why proximity, not hustle, is the key to landing luxury interior design clients.  Affluent decision…

Discovery is the hinge between marketing and money. It’s not intake. It’s not a casual consult. It’s not a “let’s see if we’re a fit.” Discovery is where profit is won or lost.  If you’ve been losing projects before you ever quote them, it’s likely not your pricing that’s the problem. It’s the depth and…

Episode #181: You’re booked. Revenue is climbing. You just wrapped your best year yet. And yet, you’re still the one answering every question, approving every decision, and emotionally managing every client. Sound familiar? What you’re experiencing isn’t a workload problem. It’s an identity problem. And until you recognize that, no amount of hiring, hustling, or…

Busy doesn’t equal rich.Busy doesn’t equal resilient.And busy absolutely does not mean your firm is built to last.  If you’re booked, juggling installs, answering team questions nonstop, and still feeling pressure in your chest at night about cash flow, this is for you.  Because the real measure of a profitable design firm isn’t activity.  It’s…

When interior design leads slow down, it’s usually a market shift, not a failure. Clients become more deliberate and need clearer leadership, process, and confidence before they commit. Instead of discounting or posting more, smart firms tighten qualification, clarify outcomes, and strengthen conversion through trust-focused messaging. If you’ve noticed fewer inquiries, slower replies, or clients…

If you’re searching for why your interior design business isn’t growing, you’re not alone. Many talented, driven designers feel stalled despite doing so many things right. From the outside, it may look like you should be further along. Inside, it can feel frustrating, exhausting, and confusing.  Here’s the truth I’ve seen after 30+ years running…

To understand why so many interior designers are working harder than ever and still feeling financial pressure, look beyond workload. The answer is embedded in your pricing structure. This is one of the most misunderstood and consequential decisions you will make in your interior design business. And it is about far more than rate tactics.…

Hiring is one of the most emotionally loaded topics in the business of interior design. When I hear designers say, “I have a team, but now I’m more overwhelmed than before,” I know exactly what happened.  Hiring didn’t fail you.Structure failed you. Hiring is not a relief strategy.It’s a leadership strategy. And when it’s done…