Marketing & Sales
BUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: Are Your Prospects Afraid of You?
I was listening to Karen Fisher of Designer Previews on the Interior Design Summit and she confirmed what I’ve always known; design prospects are often very intimidated no matter what level they are at. Design professionals too often fail to realize that this is a very BIG DEAL! They are coming to us with their…
Melissa Live On The West Coast
Just back from LA! I was the featured designer for Karastan at the Domino Bazaar, a consumer shopping and décor extravaganza touring the nation. It was a lot of fun, and I provided homeowners with lots of fresh ideas to transform their homes and their lives. These events are a great resource for the latest…
The Design Summit is Coming!
Highlands, NC! I am enjoying a productive week of online work, writing, and scheduling engagements all from the comfort of my mountain escape. Next week I head to Atlanta for a non-stop schedule of mastermind meetings, client connections, and green learning. Arm Chair Learning! The Interior Design Summit is coming at the close of October,…
BUSINESS BUILDING BLOCKS: 5 Must-Haves for Every Designer’s Website
I speak with so many design professionals and even retailers and am continually amazed at how many don’t have websites at all, or websites that work for them. I have had a website for my design practice since 1994, and even won awards for its design! My biggest clients have always come through the website.…
Birthday Week!
SEMINARS THIS WEEK! Been busy getting ready for my seminars at the ISH North America Kitchen and Bath Show. I do hope you’ll join us. Lots of great material, strategies and shortcuts, so it’s easy to implement. I’ve always been frustrated by seminars and events I attend that leave me with nothing more than pretty…
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – Scarlett Johannsson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson I have to confess that I do enjoy Woody Allen and he has gotten mellower but more sexually overt in his advanced film making. He is also (possibly forced) using overseas settings a lot more often since he created such a…
The Burgundy Room
Tucked amongst a handful of evening hot spots, this has a NY brownstone feeling in atmosphere, darkened walls, wine displays, and low light to set the mood. An extensive array of wines by the glass, the taste, and the bottle, this is much like an independent version of The Grape with half as much food.…
21
“21” – Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo This was brilliant and Spacey and Sturgess are well matched as the upstart mathematical genius and his OCD college professor with a pricey gambling habit. Fishburne seems to be doing a cameo here and that doesn’t fit his larger than life abilities, he…
Juno
“Juno” – Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons When a teenage girl is faced with an unexpected pregnancy, she enlists the aid of her best friend in finding the unborn child a suitable home in this coming-of-age comedy drama.I don’t get what all the fuss was about? Yes, this…