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Business

Andrew Joseph PR

96 – Industry: Interior Design PR and joining getting involved in an Association

1:09:22

Interior Design PR and joining getting involved in an Association

On this episode of The Chaise Lounge, Nick chats with Andrew Joseph from Andrew Joseph PR, and Phyllis Harbinger jumps in with some tips on getting involved with American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Getting to know Andrew Joseph from New York (3:55)

Located in New York, Andrew Joseph starts his days around 4am. This ensures he is able to properly service his clients around the world. Andrew also admitted that starting his day so early allows him to indulge in mid-day naps.Few people know that Andrew came from humble beginnings in a small farm community in Oklahoma. If he wasn’t working in public relations, he would likely be a farmer like his sister’s family.

How did Andrew get into public relations? (9:00)

Andrew moved to New York 17 years ago and landed his first job as a  research assistant at Vanity Fair, before moving on to other publications. In these positions, he noticed a great deal of turnover and realized this profession was not right for him. However, while in these jobs, Andrew was able to interact with the public relations departments and fell in love.

Andrew moved on from fashion and found a firm that exclusively represented architects, interior designers, and luxury home furnishings. He mentioned that fashion is ephemeral and moves fast, where interior designif focused on the home that sustains and supports your soul.

What does Andrew’s business look like today? (12:31)

Currently, Andrew Joseph PR employs four individuals full time and additional interns from all walks of life. The team services 15 clients and is on a growth curve. Andrew and his team fulfill about 50% of their clients’ pipelines with traditional public and media relations opportunities including print publications, speaking gigs, etc. However, based on compiling the average number of print opportunities, the team was able to see the limited inventory available, which led to a greater understanding of what they can offer. Andrew Joseph PR is not only a creative resource for magazines, but also provides more non-traditional opportunities for its clients, including social media, blogs, and podcasts.

Andrew really looks to make sure potential clients are the right fit and has even turned clients down. He stated that his company delivers on agreed upon goals and objectives, not just bringing in new business. A few words of wisdom from Andrew include – This is a visual industry. You need a good website, images, branding, and to document your work over time.

If you would like to connect with Andrew:

Associations with Phyllis Harbinger (40:19)

Phyllis has been a member of ASID since 1990, when she joined as a student. She mentioned that serving in associations like ASID, IIDA, NKBA, etc. provide leadership opportunities  and allow you to hone your skills in dealing with all kinds of personalities.

Phyllis was asked to run for president, turned it down, and then later realized that she was interested in the opportunity. She was able to serve as president and now is a chair on the chapter support team at national level where she supports and councils eight presidents. Phyllis has enjoyed unexpected opportunities since being involved in ASID, including: panel discussions, speaking gigs, and even a book deal.

In the beginning, Phyllis volunteered on committees. She found a support system within ASID and developed meaningful relationships. And recommends the same path – Join committees to see how it works and then think about leadership. Get information on available committees and how they support board members. It’s OK to move around until you find one you like. Your profession will continue to advance if you support it through an organization. Overall, Phyllis said that ASID has made her a better business person and a better leader.

On a separate note, Phyllis was invited to participate in George To The Rescue, an NBC show that provides home renovations for deserving families all via donations and pro bono work. Phyllis is extremely passionate and excited about this opportunity. The episode will air in February.

If you would like to connect with Phyllis:

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com.  Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

interior design business

92 – Industry: Social media, choosing an Interior Design program and finding success

00:45:03
This week we focus on our Industry, which means Nick is joined by Phyllis Harbinger a few others that bring great value to you the interior designer.  On this episode of The Chaise Lounge, Nick chats with Holly Mattson from CIDA on interior design program accreditation, Fred Berns shares tips on sales and marketing in the design industry, and Phyllis Harbinger jumps in with some social media strategy.

Interior Design Accreditation with Holly Mattson (0:20)Interior design accredidation

Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Holly Mattson is the Executive Director of CIDA, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. With 186 currently accredited programs in the US, Canada, and abroad, CIDA sets standards for quality assurance in professional level interior design programs. In her position, Holly works with the programs on an administrative level, where volunteers conduct evaluations of the programs, which include student interviews to ensure standards are being met.
Acquiring accreditation is voluntary and is obtained by completing an application on basic eligibility requirements and complying partially or completely with 16 specific standards. These standards range from basic resources, like faculty and facilities, to a focus on professional content, including a minimum of a bachelor’s degree within the program and other basic education credits. Programs are reviewed every six years for re-accreditation.
While attending and graduating from an accredited program is not a necessity to become a professional in the design field, there may be an advantage. Accredited programs expose students to a rigorous process and curriculum, which can help prepare them for the professional environment. Employers may be looking for accredited programs on resumes and the level of preparation and education may better prepare student for NCIDQ, the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please visit accredit-id.org.  The FAQs, list of programs and contact information, online programs, and program accreditation history list may be a good place to start.

Marketing and selling yourself with Fred Berns (10:08)

Fred Berns - interior design businessNick and Fred have known each other for awhile now, going back three years. Nick had called Fred for a live event in Denver. Interestingly enough, this event turned into Nick speaking with another group of designers and business owners, which ultimately parlayed into The Chaise Lounge. Now, Nick is podcasting on a weekly basis!
Nick and Fred were able to reconnect more recently at the Interior Design Society National Conference in Dallas. Fred spoke on the Selling Methods of the Masters. As he mentioned – It’s not rocket science!
Fred has been coaching interior design professionals for quite some time. He stated that so many work so hard, but so few earn top dollar. Throughout working with his clients, there are a couple of things in common when it comes to sales and financial success:
● Designers must sell themselves. They may not be the best designers, but they must be the best self promoters.
● Many say they don’t market themselves. If you have a website and/or social media accounts, this is marketing! It’s more than an ad in a magazine.
But what if selling is not your specialty? What if you have no sales experience? How do you get better?
  1. Build your network. Make a hit list of who you need to know.
  2. Probe for pain. What are the challenges, dilemmas, and pain points of those who you need to influence? Come up with solutions for that pain. Be the caregiver.
  3. Blog, market, and produce content for social media on those pain points. Solve your clients’ problems.
The biggest mistake interior designers make in sales: Leaving money on the table. Too many clients are treated as one and done. But rather, Fred proposes:
  • Work with clients on a regular basis; be dependable.
  • Educate clients on all services they offer and all they can do.
  • Include a bio on your website, Houzz profile and other social media to spell out your capabilities.
  • “Play billiards” – Set up your next shot. Up sell, cross sell.
By increasing repeat business by 40%, you will double your income in a year! Don’t act as an “order taker” but as a problem solver – If they are changing all décor items in a room, they will likely want to paint, which will lead to drapery. Interior Designers should be design consultants who coach their clients. Turn a one time contact into a long term contract.

If you are picking up with Fred is putting down, you can find more words of wisdom on http://interiordesignbusiness.net/ where he offers personalized coaching calls to take your business to the next level. Fred also specializes in promotional bios for designers at Bio Briefing and website coaching at Website Onceover.

Social Media with Phyllis Harbinger (24:16)

Anecdotally, in the design industry there is quite an array of social media savviness from a low level of understanding to those who rock it and to those who pay others to help. Regardless of where your level of comfort lies, social media isn’t going anywhere. We need to embrace a social presence.
Phyllis mainly uses Facebook, Instagram, Wecora, and Houzz.

On Facebook, Phyllis utilizes her personal account as well as pages for DCI Studio, Harbinger Design Consulting, and even some private groups she has created or been invited to. By posting on these pages and within groups, Phyllis is able to get more visibility and attention on her content from these relevant audiences. Phyllis also mentioned that she is getting into Facebook videos more.

Phyllis also mentioned she works with Donna Cravotta from Social Sage PR. While it is absolutely acceptable to employ help with social media, it is important to remember that the content and engagement should be in your voice.

 

While Pinterest is a very popular social platform, Phyllis uses Wecora to connect with her clients instead. She invites clients to discussion boards to show and share thoughts back and forth. If you are interested in a promo code for Wecora, please contact The Chaise Lounge.

Phyllis uses Houzz to give prospects homework prior to meeting. She asks them to create ideabooks and reasons why they like those photos, which helps to interpret the clients’ needs and wants as well as likes and dislikes.
Overall, social media can be a reflection of who you are, personally and/or professionally. Be mindful of how you are portraying yourself.
If you would like to connect with Phyllis:
● Email: info@harbingerdesignconsulting.com
● Phone: (914) 734-1382
● Facebook:  Harbinger Design Consulting
● Instagram: DCI Studio

Wrap Up

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com.  Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

87 – Marc Thee: Best Interior Designer in the world?

1:27:33

Marc-Michaels Interior Design

Marc Thee: Best Interior Designer in the world?

Today on the lounge, we welcome two guests: Rachel Moriarty gives a quick glimpse into her business and experience on the Chaise Lounge Advisory Committee, then we hear from Marc Thee about his 30+ years in the business.

Up first, Rachel Moriarty!

Rachel is a solopreneur out in San Diego where she specializesrustic coastal in making spaces look new with vintage or already owned items. Rachel originally got her start in Visual Merchandising and Photo Styling so it was a completely organic shift into She joined the Chaise Lounge Advisory Committee to lend a voice for other solopreneurs like her who might be working alone at home on the sofa, but are still running a stellar design business.

She and Nick dive deep on keeping up with Facebook’s ever-changing algorithm, which most recently favors live stream video. Rachel, an introvert herself, says you just have to get over the initial jitters of broadcasting live and then it gets easier and easier. And even if nobody tunes into watch you live, you still get interaction after the fact.

To get herself on a consistent schedule, Rachel has been doing a 30-Day Facebook Live Stream challenge. She’s on Day 21, with videos ranging from 5-7 minutes, and she’s already landed 3 projects from her efforts.

Let’s model Rachel’s success! I invite you to join me in your own 30-day Facebook Live Stream Challenge. Starting September 1, tag your posts with #TCL30days and @thechaiselounge to join a group of Interior Designers who are looking for the next step in their Marketing game.

And now onto Marc Thee!

Outdoor Living Room Marc Michaels

In the beginning

Marc originally came into the industry after an opportune internship with Betsy Godfrey that led to a full-time position once he graduated. She really took him under her wing and showed him the ropes. Just three years later, Marc borrowed $25,000 to open his own showroom. It was slow for about the first year and a half, but the rest was, as they say, history. He’s now been in business for 30 years with a staff of 65-70 employees. Being in Florida means he’s had the chance to focus mainly on vacation homes ranging from $3-$80 Million in value. They tackle both new-build and remodel projects.

Building a Team

He hasn’t done it alone, though. He attributes much of his success to the great relationship he has with his business partner, Michael Abbott. Michael takes care of the numbers, allowing Marc to focus on the creative aspects of the business.Losing control in the end design is often one of the fears people have about hiring employees. Here’s what Marc has to say about that: “Are there 10% of the decisions made by my staff different than the ones I would have made? Hell yeah, but 50% of those decisions were probably better than the decisions I would have made.” Marc also notes that they “try to pair an incredibly creative person with an incredibly organized person.” He’s found that normally people tend to lean to one side of the spectrum, but can learn a lot of valuable skills from someone on the opposite side.

Designers who work for him also have a clear budget to follow on each project so they can get started purchasing right away. “Our designers know that they can spend 42% on furniture, 12% on fabric, and 10% on artwork.”

Logistics

Marc notes that, perhaps above all else, Interior Design is an exercise in logistics. “90% of what we do is production. It’s fighting for every single thing we order. The days of picking up the phone and ordering a piece of furniture and thinking it’s actually going to show up, that doesn’t exist.”

“And for it to all collide…the thousands of things that all have to happen when those five trucks pull up that day that you’re finally installing after two years of construction, wow. The fact that we can bring it all in for a landing within 3-5 days… it’s a feeling like no other. And it’s also exhausting!”

Building a Team

Yacht Interior Design Marc MichaelsWith so many moving parts, it’s inevitable that something will go wrong. Being in business for 30 years means learning to roll with the punches. Marc has learned how to turn “mistakes” into amazing outcomes and to also take things with a grain of salt. As long as you keep in constant communication with the client, it’s not the end of the world if a furniture piece is backordered.  At the end of the day, Marc says, they are selling an environment. It’s about the “emotional tug.” So it’s ok if one item is not a masterpiece.

What has made Marc and his team so successful? Marc says, “We do not have big egos, we listen, and people enjoy working with us. We take an interest in making their lives better.”

You can find Marc at http://www.marcthee.com/ and Marc-Michaels Interior Design at http://www.marc-michaels.com/.

Wrap Up

If you are interested in posting a job you have in your design firm (you need an intern, a JR designer, a SR designer, etc) please visit our new Job Board for interior designers.  If you are looking for an internship in interior design, an interior design job, or anything related, see our open jobs.

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website atTheChaiseLoungePodcast.com.  Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business.  See ya!

75 – Industry: Talking about 3D Modeling programs and being grateful

00:51:40

Industry header

It’s another installment of the Industry series where your host discusses a specific topic with an industry expert, Phyllis Harbinger. On today’s show, we are speaking on gratitude, specifically having an ‘attitude of gratitude!” Tune in for valuable insight into the interior design world, and continue to learn how to grow your business.

Phyllis Harbinger: ‘Attitude of Gratitude’

“I really think this is such an important topic, because we all grateful at thanksgiving, around the holidays, to our employees, to our vendors, to our clients, but what about the rest of the year, those other 11 months? When you really think about it, you need to take even little snippets of opportunity to show that you are grateful to someone for whatever they did to make your day or to enhance a project, I think that is just so critical to success.” Phyllis goes on to talk about how the changing nature of business, over email and phone, and how important hand-written notes or face to face contact can be in showing gratitude. Phyllis talks about a specific service called “Send Out Cards,” which allows her to easily and conveniently send out a personalized card or gift, she also talks about holding client appreciation events, and even holding it at a client’s home after a project finishes. “It’s a great way to market, and it really doesn’t cost you that much, you know a couple bottles of wine, some cheese and a server, for the client to show off their new space to their guests, while also marketing your work.
Phyllis continues talking about gratitude, especially with her staff, and gives an example where if you maybe can’t afford to give out a raise, giving an extra day off around the holidays or even on in a regular work week, as a way to show gratitude. “I think you’ve got to look at what you’ve got, what’s your bandwidth, and then decide, but always try to be grateful and always thank people for what they do.” Nick talks about how easy it can be to forget to do these little things, but how important and beneficial it can be. Phyllis says, “People would rather have experiential gifts rather than concrete gifts, and sharing an experience is a way to show comradery.”
Check out harbingerdesignconsulting.com to learn more from Phyllis on topics similar to what was discussed today, such as ways to grow your business and market your work.

Jillian Lare: 3D modeling and its place in Interior Design

Next up on today’s show, Nick interviews an industry revit rendermember that brings value to the interior design business through a specific topic, today we’re talking about 3D modeling software’s and how they can be used to grow your business. Nick and Jillian start off by talking about the 5 big ‘take-aways’ from the Design Blogger’s Conference. Jillian is an instructor at Iowa State teaching interior design. Her background includes industrial engineering along with a creative nature, which led her eventually to become an interior design who focuses on efficiency of spaces.
Jillian describes how she got her start using 3D modeling software’s throughout her career, she describes how 3D modeling is helpful in helping clients visualize a space and communicate with contractors on the project. She describes her first introduction to 3D software, which started with Sketch-Up, a google program. She also talks about the Autodesk product, Revit, that she now teaches at Iowa State along with Chief Architect, another useful design software. Jillian also talks about 3D modeling versus hand drawn visuals, and they debate between which technique is more useful for students. “We’ve actually had employers tell us that they will pay more for a new employee that can hand draw,” Jillian advises.
Jillian talks about the time constraints these types of software have to fit within, and how she selected Chief Architect as her main tool for 3D modeling, She’s even written a free e-book comparing the three software, that helps others decide which product to use, as these software programs can be a big financial investment. Jillian describes the costs of each of the software she’s explored and the pros and cons of each.
designstudentsavvy.com is where you can find Jillian’s e-book, along with blog posts and tutorials, both written and video with downloadable models to follow along with. You can also reach out to Jillian by emailing her directly at jillian.lare@gmail.com

Updates from The Chaise Lounge

Nick is getting ready to head down to Atlanta, for the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furniture show to obtain some great interviews from attendees and designers down there.
Another great announcement, we are considering a second show each week for our listeners, that focuses on Kitchen and Bath design specifically. Sound like something you are interested in? If so, please reach out to The Chaise Lounge and let us know your thoughts!
We’d like to thank one of our very best sponsors, Design Manager, software that is designed around interior design businesses. Check it out and see how this software can help you save time and money in your business. Along with Design Manager, we would like to highly recommend you get in contact with Benjamin Moore, and specifically, one of their trained interior design representatives to learn how to take your paint to the next level, check out www.benjaminmoore.com for more information.
If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com. Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business. See ya!

65 – High Point Market Wrap Up

01:05:36

Hello Chaise Lounge Listeners! Today we have a final wrap-up episode of the 2016 Spring High Point Market. If you listened to the episodes from the High Point series you probably noticed that some of audio was not of the greatest quality, so we reached out to a couple of the designers we interviewed at High Point for a second interview. On today’s show you’ll hear completely new content from Amy Flurry, updated audio from Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Farah Merhi and a special interview with the CEO of the High Point Market Authority, Tom Conley.

Amy Flurry : Recipe For Press 

Amy Flurry spoke at this year’s High Point Market, with a session called “The Press Release is Dead.” Her background is in publishing and recipe for PressAmy shares her expertise in the subject with people who are trying to get their work published. Amy talks specifically about the relation of publication of work to interior designers and how important that can be to success. Amy’s experience in the publishing world came from editorial work spanning almost 20 years for nationwide publications. She would essentially be pitching stories to the publications, and was very successful at doing so. Her success was not unnoticed, and Amy began receiving requests to “grab a coffee” with people who wanted to know what exactly it took to get their work published.

That said, Amy published a book entitled “Recipe for Press” that provided as she puts it “everything all editor’s want you to know” in order to get your work published. In the book and on today’s show, Amy dispenses advice to those working to get published, including where and where not to invest your money and the three key things an editor is looking for in your initial pitch. Amy and Nick also discuss the biggest mistake people make when reaching out to editors and publishers and the importance of doing your homework on the publication up front.

Farah Merhi: @Inspire_Me_Home_Decor

The next interview on today’s show is with Farah Merhi, a prominent persona in the Instagram world with her page @Inspire_Me_Home_Decor. You may have heard Farah in the Chaise Lounge previously as Nick interviewed her live at the High Point Market. We were so impressed with Farah we wanted to have her back again, to make sure our listeners were able to glean as muchInspire Me Logo advice from her as possible. Farah says of her time at High Point, “Everyone in this industry needs to experience this at least once!” Farah and Nick speak further about their time at High Point.

Farah’s road to her massive success in social media as it relates design really started with a remodeling project of her own home. After searching for inspiration photos on the web, and finding the content to be lacking, Farah decided to start her own Instagram account to collect imagery that inspired her. She would find images from professional designers to design enthusiasts or simply snap photos of things or places that inspired her. Her Instagram page has grown to a platform now where professionals and non-professional alike can find inspiration. Farah’s Instagram following is topping out at over 3.2 million followers!

Nick and Farah talk about the process of tagging your posts to get the most exposure and impact and how to best reach your audience. They also discuss the time frame it took for Farah to get to her level and the exponential growth her page has encountered through the use of re-posts. Tune in to hear more about Farah’s aesthetic, her goals for the future and the obstacles she’s faced in getting to where she is today.

Cheryl Kees Clendenon

Next up, Nick re-joins designer and retail store operator Cheryl Kees Clendenon from Pensacola, Florida with a follow-up interview to the one recorded at High Point Market.

Cheryl holds a background in sales and marketing, and eventually transitioned to a successful career in interior design. Cheryl talks about the start of her design business and how it really started just through friends and family asking for her help with their spaces, and as she puts it, “it just snowballed from there.” With no formal education in interior design, Cheryl talks about how her portfolio has been the platform for which she has presented her work. In her business, Cheryl describes her favorite “hat to wear” as the creative side, she is really driven and inspired by materials and loves to sit in her space and just go through materials that inspire her.

1514 Home Logo

Nick and Cheryl talk about the business side of her firm, she states “You are fooling yourself if you think there isn’t a sale component to what you do,” as a designer. It’s just as important to have that expertise as it is to have the creative expertise. Beyond her successful design firm at In Details Interiors, Cheryl has recently launched into the retail side of the business, with a storefront open in Pensacola, called 1514 Home. Nick and Cheryl talk about how she selects lines to carry in her store, and how she varies the price points of the pieces she carries.

Tom Conley: CEO of High Point Market Authority

Last up on today’s show we are honored to talk with Tom Conley, the man behind the scenes of the highly successful High Point Market. As the CEO of the High Point Market Authority, Tom’s job is to set the dates of the show, promote the speakers and showrooms that will be present at each show and organize the registration and overall transportation system throughout the town to make sure attendees can easily get to where they want to be. Nick talks firsthand about his experience with the outstanding customer service that the Market provided during his time there. Tom organizes over 400 employees at each Market event and also talks to Nick about the fantastic App they the Authority created to provide fast and convenient customer service for those attending Market. To close, Tom talks about the prep for the next High Point Market, which will be held the last week of October 2016 and Nick shares his advice for attending market.

High Point Oct 2016

 

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com.  Lastly, find The Chaise Lounge on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or post a review on iTunes, you may even hear your review read live on our next podcast. With that said keep dreaming big, and keep designing a great design business.  See ya!

53 – Drew McGukin: Rising New York Interior Designing Star

00:48:09

Drew McGukin Background

Drew McGukin: Rising New York Interior Designing Star

Nick joins designer Drew McGukin of Drew McGukin Interiors live on a chaise lounge at the Design Blogger’s Conference in Atlanta. In this week’s podcast find out Drew’s perspective on leading a successful design team, his latest endeavors, including designing and manufacturing a customizable furniture collection, and how he got to where he is today.
Drew got his start in the design industry after a successful run in the residential real estate market in Atlanta, Georgia. By flipping and altering the homes he was listing, Drew discovered his true passion for Interior Design.
After spending 18 months at the New York School of Interior Design, Drew was determined to give 110% of his energy to Interior Design in New York City.

Design=CollaborationDrew McGukin interiors

When it comes to Drew’s team, he strongly enforces a motto of “Design equals Collaboration.” Drew believes that every member of his team should be able to see themselves in their work, creating a rewarding culture within his business. Within the firm, Drew sets the design direction for each project; then encourages his talented team of designers to interpret that direction. Drew manages 95% of the business development of Drew McGukin Interiors.

From Interiors to Furniture

Drew has recently been focusing his talents on a capsule furniture collection designed and manufactured 100% by him. Listen in to find out how Drew has curated this line to be truly customizable; allowing other designer’s to select finishes and materials to suit their client’s needs. The furniture line came to be after simple social media postings featured the pieces Drew was creating for his own client’s and projects. His goal is always to have the “work speak for itself” thus making it easy to market and sell.

Make a list, and Check it off

In the podcast, Drew speaks about the need for designers to be flexible in their design and with their clients. With communication being key in this industry, Drew wants to “let people (clients) be who they are, and meet them where they are”. The firm’s proposal and design process starts with providing a top to bottom cost estimate to get the space to reflect the design that the clients have selected Drew to create. From there, Drew has an open dialogue with his client’s to determine where and how far they wish to take the design.
Drew and Nick discuss the power of social media, and the role it has played in the growth of Drew McGukin Interiors. Drew believes strongly in keeping the personal touch and authenticity of his work present in all of his posts.
For students and new professionals, Drew offers the following advice “Surround yourself with successful people,” don’t be afraid to ask those you admire for advice, find mentors, take internships and seek out opportunity.

What’s Next for Drew McGukin

Drew is looking forward to the future expansion of his already successful furniture collection. He will also appear on an upcoming episode of Design Smackdown on the Design Network which will go live in April. Check back here for a link once the show has aired. Lastly, Drew is thankful for the design industry, which has been good to him, the incredible opportunities he’s had and the amazing people he’s met. Learn more about Drew at DrewMcgukin.com and follow him at @drewmcgukin on Instagram.

Updates from The Chaise Lounge

The Chaise Lounge is excited to announce that we will be attending the High Point Market event in North Carolina April 16th-20th. Contact Nick at me@nickmay.co to connect with The Chaise Lounge at this awesome event!
As always connect with Nick on Facebook, Instagram @thechaiselounge and now on Twitter (@Nickinthelounge).
Lastly, we’d like to give a shout-out to our fantastic sponsors, Design Manager and Benjamin Moore Paints.

If you would like to hear more episodes, please visit us on iTunes or on our website at TheChaiseLoungePodcast.com

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