by Design Biz Survival Guide
What if you could hang out with experienced design professionals and entrepreneurs who have drive and vision, ask them about their successes and failures, and more; then take an insight or two to guide your own business journey? That’s what we do each episode on Design Biz Survival Guide. Hosted by Rick Campos – recovering interior designer turned business coach with over a decade of experience in the design industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at how to launch, navigate, and grow your design business. The intention of this podcast is to inspire and empower designers with the tools and information you need to survive in the business of design.
Language
🇦🇦
Publishing Since
5/21/2018
Email Addresses
1 available
Phone Numbers
0 available
April 21, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Today we welcome Jenny Slingerland, Founder & Principal Designer of Black Ink Interiors based in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this episode, Jenny shares her unique journey into design, from working as a labor and delivery nurse to launching her own thriving interior design firm. We dive into her transition from healthcare to homebuilding, the pivotal moments that shaped her business, and how her greatest weakness—understanding the financials—evolved into her biggest strength. Jenny's story is a testament to the power of surrounding yourself with experts, staying curious, and building a business that supports your personal values and family goals.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SHOW HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jenny’s path from nursing to interior design, and how she paid her way through design school by delivering babies.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How working for top custom home builders gave her a strong foundation in construction and technical design.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The importance of asking “why” on job sites and the impact of curiosity on professional growth.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why Jenny and her husband decided to team up in business and how his financial and construction background supports their success.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">How COVID prompted a re-evaluation of business goals and led to a lifestyle-driven pivot in her firm’s structure.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jenny’s transformation from financially overwhelmed to financially empowered through business coaching and “Finance Fridays.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The critical role of time tracking in profitability and project efficiency.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Her advice on establishing systems and processes before growing your team.</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>NOTABLE QUOTES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“You can be the most talented designer in the world and your business can fail because you're not watching your numbers.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“We all have our zones of genius. Hire the people that you specifically need.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Just because you know your business is doing great doesn't mean that something doesn't come up—you have to keep learning.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Success is no longer about crazy financial goals. It’s about supporting my family and creating a lifestyle we love.”</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SUPPORTING RESOURCES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://www.blackinkinteriors.com/">Black Ink Interiors Website</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/black.ink.interiors/">Black Ink Interiors Instagram</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Michelle Williams (Business Coach): <a href="https://www.scarletthreadconsulting.com/">Scarlet Thread Consulting</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Time Tracking Tool: <a href= "https://timelyapp.com/">Timely App</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Book: <a href= "https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30780674-profit-first">Profit First by Mike Michalowicz</a></li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SPONSOR LINKS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://www.designmanager.com/">Design Manager</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://danielhouse.club/pages/dbsg">Daniel House Club</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://www.hookerfurnishings.com/">Hooker Furnishings</a></li> </ul>
April 7, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Today we welcome Emily Campbell, principal designer of Emily Jean Interior Design based in Portland, Oregon. In this episode, Emily shares her fresh perspective on the business of design as a student and entrepreneur. We discuss the pivotal moment that prompted her transition from fashion to interiors, her experience of balancing design school with launching a business, and how she’s building a foundation for long-term success by combining technical skills with real-world networking. Emily also shares how her entrepreneurial spirit, fearlessness, and commitment to community are shaping her journey.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Show Highlights:</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emily shares her creative roots in fashion and how her design interests evolved toward interiors after building and renovating her own home</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She explains why she chose to return to school to learn the technical side of design, despite already having a strong foundation in textiles, color theory, and branding</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emily discusses the importance of choosing a program that focuses not just on skills, but also on networking and building real-world relationships</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She talks about the entrepreneurial spirit that runs in her family and how it's influenced her desire to start her own business</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emily opens up about the role of mentorship in her career development and how working alongside seasoned designers is helping her learn faster and more confidently</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She reflects on the transferable skills she gained from fashion trend forecasting, like overcoming shyness, building confidence, and approaching people fearlessly</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emily emphasizes the importance of getting out of the classroom to network, visit showrooms, and engage with the design community early and often</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She shares advice for students in design programs: ask questions, stay curious, and embrace the learning process</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emily offers her personal definition of success: focusing on the process of creating something meaningful rather than the outcome<br /> <br /></li> </ul> <h3 dir="ltr">Notable Quotes:</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Hold on to a beginner’s mind and never let yourself feel like you know it all.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“It’s okay to fail. Redefine what failure means to you.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“Just because you can see the vision doesn’t mean the client can—you have to be able to show them.”</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">“The classroom and showrooms are where you should be asking the questions.”</li> </ul> <h3 dir="ltr">Supporting Resources:</h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.emilyjeaninteriordesign.com/">Emily Jean Interior Design Website<br /></a><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/emilyjeaninteriordesign/">Follow Emily on Instagram</a></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Sponsor Links:</h3> <p><a href="https://www.designmanager.com/">Design Manager</a> — Project management, accounting, and purchasing built for interior designers<br /> <a href="https://www.hookerfurnishings.com/">Hooker Furnishings</a> — Versatile furniture, décor, and designer support<br /> <a href="https://danielhouse.club/pages/dbsg">Daniel House Club</a> — Sourcing from over 150 vendors in one place with trade pricing and concierge service</p>
March 24, 2025
<p dir="ltr">Page Sigband, founder of Design by Page and Joyride Garage Design, joins the podcast to share how she carved out her place in the design world by specializing in one of the most overlooked spaces—the garage. In this episode, Page walks us through her background in graphic and furniture design, her transition into museum design, and how these experiences uniquely shaped her niche business model. From TV appearances and magazine features to pop-up tents and mechanic shop visits, Page reveals the real marketing strategies that move the needle. We also explore how thoughtful branding, hands-on sales experience, and good old-fashioned networking have fueled her success and brought a fresh perspective to garage design.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Show Highlights:</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Page’s unique design background in graphic, furniture, and museum exhibit design shaped her storytelling approach and hands-on creativity.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Her pivot into garage design began with transforming her own space during the pandemic and led to a TV opportunity that launched Joyride Garage Design.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Branding was a critical step, including rebranding her business and learning the importance of trademarking the right way from the start.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Old-fashioned networking works best—building relationships at car shows and with auto industry professionals has driven more business than media features.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She values freedom over scale, prioritizing creative satisfaction and personal fulfillment over running a large firm or managing a team.</li> </ul> <p><strong> </strong></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Notable Quotes</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"I just want enough work to satisfy my creative soul."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"The only thing more complicated than the business of design is a niche business of design."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"You can't just flip the open sign and wait for them to come. You've really got to show up for this."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"I don't know anyone who's doing garage design—this could be a really cool niche."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"Branding lesson: talk to a trademark attorney first. It can save you a ton of time and money."</li> </ul> <h3 dir="ltr">Supporting Resources:</h3> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.designbypage.com/">Design by Page Website<br /></a><a href= "https://www.joyridegaragedesign.com/">Joyride Garage Design Website<br /></a><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/designbypage/">Follow Design by Page on Instagram<br /></a><a href= "https://www.instagram.com/joyridegaragedesign/">Follow Joyride Garage Design on Instagram</a></p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><br /> Sponsor Links:</strong></span></p> <p dir="ltr">A bit thank you to our sponsors:</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.designmanager.com">Design Manager</a> – Project management, accounting, and purchasing built for interior designers.<br /> <a href="https://www.hookerfurnishings.com/">Hooker Furnishings</a> – Versatile furniture, decor, and designer support.<br /> <a href="https://danielhouse.club/pages/dbsg">Daniel House Club</a> – Source from over 150 vendors with exclusive trade pricing.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Follow and Review</h3> <p dir="ltr">We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select 'Ratings and Reviews' and 'Write a Review,' then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast.</p> <p> </p>
IDCO Studio
LuAnn Nigara
Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen
Business of Home, Dennis Scully
Chairish Inc.
Hot Young Designers Club
Ballard Designs
Alice Lane
Cathy Heller
Darla Powell
Kimberley Seldon
Jasmine Star
Marie Forleo
Michelle Lynne
Dear Media, Arielle Lorre
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at [email protected] for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.