RISE, A Modern Guide for the Purpose Driven Woman Summer 2014 | Page 66

Barbara Viteri
shares her

Top 8 Tips on Running a Successful
Interior Design Business
{Style that applies to every business!}

Written by Joanna Bailey
Responses by Barbara Viteri
Photographed by Alan Barnett

Viteri Style Management founder, Barbara Viteri owns and runs one of the fastest growing interior design management firms in New York. Her customizable one on one service provides practical business management solutions for the modern day working
interior designer. She has an unfiltered, straight shooting unique approach that helps
her interior design clients navigate a successful design business in an overly crowed industry. Here she shares 8 of her best tips for small-business interior design owners:
1. Keep your mind on your money and your money on your mind. Interior design is a passionate gift to have.
Like an artist, it’s easy to blur the lines when taking your passion from hobby to business. Successful interior
designers know if you are not making money you are not in business. Money keeps score and should not be
ignored. Make time to understand your bookkeeping or hire someone who can explain your financial health
every month. Being in the red should only be a mindset for a design concept and not your company’s bottom
line.
2. The brains of your operation should be software. You are only human. It’s impossible to run and manage a
business on memory alone. You need to setup your business on a practical project management and accounting software to run the day to day. Personally I like Design Manager Cloud. (Link: http://www.viteristylemanagement.com/contact.html) It works on any mobile device and is user friendly for both Mac and PC users.
I make sure my clients can run their entire operation from their cell phones if they had to. This is my go to
software to do that.
3. Don’t forget where your bread is buttered. A paying client is a treasured client, especially the ones that refer
you more business. It’s okay to be selective with whom you work with. But having wonderful clients you enjoy working for makes your job a lot easier and lessens the toll on your sanity. So treat them like royalty. Pay
special attention to offering them high quality customer service. Never forget their birthday and always go
that extra mile when unexpected. These clients are keeping your business alive and allowing you to live your
dream. Always remember this.