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Design

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Freedom™ Podcast

Dive into expert insights on how to streamline your processes, boost your confidence, and create a smarter way to run your design business.

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Marketing Luxury Design: Attracting Affluent Clients

The Design Trade’s One-of-a-Kind Guide to Working with the Best

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Book1

the language
of success

Your One-Of-A-Kind Guide To Greater Confidence and More Success

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Smarter Interior Design Sourcing – How Great Reps Save You Time, Money & Project Headaches

August 24, 2026

Designers tell me sourcing a single room took them 12 hours, sometimes 24. That number is not a badge. It is a signal that you are working alone when you don’t have to. Your reps carry deep product knowledge, best pricing, logistics muscle, and a national network of receivers and problem solvers, and most designers…

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5 Ways Tech Is Costing You Interior Design Clients

August 17, 2026

Technology should be doing two things in your practice. Making you faster behind the scenes and making you clearer in front of your client. Most designers have it backward. They under-use it where it would sell for them, and over-use it where it damages the relationship. The same firm loses clients both ways in the…

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Interior Design Markups, Day Rates, and Flat Fees

August 10, 2026

Key takeaways ✔ Every purchase goes through your firm. When a client insists on purchasing, your contract hands them full responsibility for receiving, inspecting, damage, and returns. Internet sources get treated like any other source. Purchase order, receiver, procurement management fee. ✔ There is no industry standard markup. 15 to 20 percent is too low.…

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From $70,000 in Debt to Six Figures and Debt-Free in 18 Months

August 3, 2026

I did not start my design business from a position of strength. I started it $70,000 upside down. No savings to fall back on. A cramped apartment, too many credit card bills, a whopper of a car payment, and jobless because I had been let go from Ethan Allen. (A quick aside: never argue with…

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Steal Back 10 Hours Every Week: A Better Workflow for Interior Designers

July 27, 2026

Synopsis ✔ You cannot manage time. You can only manage your behaviors around time. ✔ Time-shrinking thoughts like “I’m so busy” and “I’ll never get it all done” become your reality, because you live into your expectations. ✔ Track every waking hour for one week in 15-minute increments. It will reveal your revenue rabbit holes…

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The Interior Design Welcome Kit That Wins Clients

July 24, 2026

Here is the reframe that changes everything about your welcome kit. It is not a thank-you gift you hand over once the ink is dry. It is a marketing tool you use before your client has committed to anything. That one distinction is the whole game. When you deliver a welcome kit after they have…

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The One Word That’s Sabotaging Your Interior Design Profits

July 24, 2026

Your talent is not what decides the size of your projects. Your words are. I have watched gifted designers undersell, under-charge, and talk themselves out of the very projects they most wanted and deserved. Not because of their portfolio. Not because of their process. Because of the vocabulary they carried into the room. I taught…

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Stop Hiding in Your Interior Design Business: How to Get Seen, Found, and Hired

July 24, 2026

Here’s something I see in interior design businesses all the time, and it has nothing to do with your talent. You’re hiding in your business. Not on purpose. But you’re hiding all the same. And hiding means you’re not being seen, you’re not being found, and you’re not getting hired. Let me share how I…

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The Perfect Design Contract: Protect Your Profit, Your Practice, and Your Peace of Mind

June 29, 2026

I have seen too many designers flying without a net. That is what I call it when you work without a contract, or when you work with one that has no real protection in it. I understand why. Agreements can feel scary and uncomfortable, mostly because they are written in legalese instead of plain English.…

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9 Proven Ways to Fill Your Interior Design Pipeline with Ideal Clients 

June 22, 2026

Most designers run their business job to job, project to project, client to client, with no wait list and no queue. That puts you on a potentially very unpleasant roller coaster. Roller coasters belong at Six Flags. They are no fun at all when the ride is your cash flow and your profit.  Your pipeline…

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What Listeners are saying

Best biz advice for designers.

Melissa's advice is spot-on in my experience and the relevance to my business at the very moment is uncanny. She is great at explaining the point in a way that sticks. I have taken her advice and gone back to the transcripts to implement her suggestions.

- Jennifer Fordham

Get your pen and paper!

I've listened to Melissa's episodes. She shares a mix of design and business genius in this podcast. Whether you're a new designer or a seasoned designer, you'll want to have a notebook close by to capture these design advice nuggets! Thank you, Melissa!

- KDesign Express

Transformative podcast gem!

This podcast is a gem! It's exactly what I've been searching for - packed with valuable information, truly inspiring, and rich with knowledge. I've been hooked since the first few episodes and I'm binge-listening to catch up on the rest. Excited to dive into coaching with Melissa!

- Anonymous

Melissa rocks!!!

Since I’ve discovered Melissa’s podcast, it is my number one go-to audio content when driving. She is full of really wise advice and tips for interior designers. The more I listen to her, the more it strengthens my will to work with her as soon as I can.

- Catheline Cavarroc

Melissa gets it!

Love this podcast for the actionable tips from someone who’s learned, like us all, while in the trenches and is still learning with and for us all. I really appreciate her generosity in these podcast episodes and FB group too. Thanks for all your hard work, Melissa!

- Jacq Snaps

Amazing inspiration!

Melissa's insights and recommendations are invaluable. All episodes are well-planned and so well-organized; it makes me want to dive into applying all her tips! The nuggets of inspiration are easily digestible and relevant to a variety of experience levels. Grab your AirPods and check it out!

- Merits Design Group

Just what our industry needed!

Melissa has a down-to-earth but forward-facing approach to breaking down the ins and outs of our field. Every episode is so valuable. Mindset-focused, process-focused, and everything in between.

I’m excited for every episode- it’s gold!

- Design Empire

I feel empowered and heard. Melissa gets me!

As a professional creative, I felt heard and understood through the many challenges and obstacles we face in the industry. Refreshing to relate to someone like Melissa who can appropriately guide through these challenges with ease of mind. Wonderfully crafted, Melissa.

- Hollywood Nae

Comprehensive and direct. 

This podcast is a game-changer! Melissa includes how to manage all facets of owning a design business without losing sight of your personal life. She covers a lot of information, but delivers it in a manageable way - it’s easy to understand and she gives clear direction on how to implement. I highly recommend this to all designers looking to grow their business and regain personal time.

- 23220 Designer

Melissa is a valuable asset to your business!

I have been lucky to find and take Melissa's advice and have already increased my income. I highly value her expertise and advice. And the fact that she shares such valuable information on her podcast is amazing to newer firms (like mine). I can't recommend her enough!!

- Little Black Fox Design

A wealth of information.

I was first introduced to Melissa through her book, "Marketing Luxury Design: Attracting the Affluent Client". I was thrilled to learn she recently started a podcast. Melissa is smart, witty, and true cheerleader for those of us in the design world. Her advice and recommendations have helped me effectively build my business. I can’t wait to hear all she’ll share next!

- Jakson Gaming

Mark your calendar! This will be a weekly listen for me.

I’ve had the pleasure of being coached by Melissa and this content is beyond valuable. I’m a slow implementer so I need all this reinforcement of the good business practices she has guided me toward. If you're a creative and you need a roadmap to success, she’s your person!

- Ambinatl

Mentor extraordinaire!

Melissa is so knowledgeable, humorous and her tough-love approach is refreshing! Each time I listen, I learn so much; not just one thing. She provides excellent advice while sharing what she has learned from her mistakes, providing me with tools to become a better designer and business owner.

- TMMP77

Melissa is a game-changer!!

We started our business in October of 2022 and thank God that we happened to attend one of Melissa’s seminars at High Point Market that month, because she absolutely changed the course of our new business. Thanks to her principles, we are making 2-3 times the revenue than we had anticipated, we are booked out months in advance already, making our first year in business an unbelievable success. I would not in my wildest dreams have believed the results that we are getting. Thanks to her podcast, we are just going to keep climbing and we will know how and when to hire help, how to market, and we have already started our business with a healthy work-life balance that I never could have believed was possible. Weirdly, the podcast also helped me get closer to my husband because it gave me permission to prioritize self-care even as an entrepreneur. With better self-care, I have more time, attention, and energy for my friends and family and doggies. :) I’m now a total unabashed fan girl and can’t wait to see the incredible potential that Melissa Galt has made possible in my life. :) Thank you so much for this! Would recommend for any designer or creative no matter how long you’ve been in business. I would have given anything to know about this resource right out of design school 15 years ago. :) Thank you, thank you! Keep doing this amazing work, you’re changing lives.

- Megan J. B.

Amazing mentor!

Melissa Galt is a very creative and supportive person full of an amazing energy, who provides not only assistance as an interior design business coach, but also provides support as a friend from an encouraging perspective to the design community. I find her new podcasts to be extremely valuable as they are super helpful as well as very productive to become a successful business designer and to run a profitable firm while enjoying life. I definitely cannot wait to continue listening to her next podcasts and see how my business grows by being on the right path under her knowledgeable advice and achieving my goals while being unique, productive, successful, and the best designer and a very happy person. I cannot thank Melissa enough for her fabulous podcasts.

- Noelia Ibáñez

Experience The Affluent Creative.

I’m loving the new weekly podcast from Melissa Galt! She is personable, knowledgeable and humorous while challenging you to be realistic and introspective. I feel I found a mentor who truly understands me, inspires me and makes me think “what would Melissa do?” The weekly topics allow you to grow your business while being there for yourself and your clients. Finding ways to grow your business and your confidence. Earning more money in less time and finding your ideal clients to build the business you truly love! You will be truly surprised and inspired by what you hear. So if you are looking for weekly inspiration and direction to move your business forward, I highly recommend The Affluent Creative!

- Tanga Winstead Designs

I love Melissa-isms!!!

I’ve always loved listening to Melissa speak, she is sophisticated, and is luxury. Her insight and advice for my business has driven my design firm to the next level. So excited for her podcasts! Now, I can get inspired and motivated any time. She is a wealth of information! Melissa has these phrases that she shares that are elegant and amazing, and the perfect scripts to deal with situations we all encounter in design. I like to call them Melissa-isms!

- H Ball Interiors