How to Start a Home-Based Interior Design Business, 4th (Home-Based Business Series)

List Price: $18.95 Discount Price: $6.23

Customer Reviews:

The title should have been: "How to Start a Home-Based Decorating Business" [Posted on 2006-03-08]
An even better title would have been "What You Need to Start and Maintain a Successful Home-Based Decorative Surface & Window Treatment Retail Business". If it had that title, I would have given it 5 stars! Why do publishers encourage such deception?

The dust jacket information about this book leads you to think it is all about Interior Design, and it is not. For example: Ms. Phillips states one of the key differences between the designation of "Interior Designer" and "Decorator" is becoming a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) which requires Interior Design or Architecture related education and experience in related fields.

I would assume most readers picking up this book have little of either if any. Then she decides to use the term "designer" throughout the book, instead of the more appropriate and realistic term of "decorator". Why? Is there a stigma about being a decorator? (By the way, one can also become a member of IIDA (International Interior Design Association) as well and legally be called an Interior Designer.)

As for a home-based surface treatment and/or decorating business, this book is good. The listed topics are important and Ms. Phillips does a good job of covering the details in simple language. She has some good questions on whether running your own business is for you and the pros and cons of entrepreneurship. Obviously she has been there, and has sweated it out too! Also featured are smart advertising and marketing ideas.

I felt the information on office set-up and computing was behind the times, but then again I am a gadget guy and tend to be up on these matters.

In conclusion, a person, without any experience, wishing to start and effectively run an interior decorating business that focuses on surface treatment decoration products and services (such as flooring, carpets, textiles, fabrics, wall coverings, wallpaper, and window treatments) would do quite well with this book. I think it is a great business, and there is great potential for a lucrative business.

However for someone wanting to do "Interior Design" (more than just surface treatments), they will be left dissatisfied. I advise you to look elsewhere.

how to start a home-based interior design business 4th [Posted on 2006-09-07]
Before I purchased this book I read Juan's review, but being the"Doubting Thomas" kind of person I am, I bought it anyway. I should have listened to Juan. His review is completely accurate.

I am impressed with this book..... [Posted on 2007-02-02]
I agree with Juan's assessment that using "Interior Design" in the title could mislead potential readers. Since Juan sufficiently addressed this issue in his review, let's now assume that this book is titled more correctly, "How to Start a Home-Based Interior Decorating Business".

After a successful 11-year career in apparel design/production, I found myself jobless due to corporate downsizing. After soul-searching and research, I decided that I wanted to go into business for myself and that becoming an interior decorator would be a perfect fit for my skills and interests. So I purchased this book several months ago and have referred to it on an almost daily basis as I take steps to set up my business.

Ms. Phillips has a clear, concise writing style. There is no "fluff" in this book. Even though I already know some of the details on business/home office set-up, it was helpful to read it in this format and in the context of interior decorating.

There is so much I do NOT know about this industry, and that is where this book shines. The author does a stellar job of explaining the day-to-day nature of interior decorating, how to decide if this business is right for you, and the importance of writing a detailed business plan.

The book also provides business form templates that you can copy and use. Finally, the Product Overview section outlines specific instructions on measuring and costing out your projects.

I strongly recommend this book as a starting point and ongoing reference guide for anyone interested in starting a home decorating business from home.

Sales person... NOT a designer [Posted on 2008-09-20]
I am an interior designer. I was incredibly disappointed with this book. The author spends a single paragraph on what a designer actually does, then dismisses it as the lesser direction to go in. The purpose of a designer is to provide a service to clients, to provide guidance, advice, expertise, and help them create a beautiful space.

Unfortunately this book spends much of its time concentrating on the sales aspect of the business. By doing this you do not have the interest of the client at heart, the concern is more about the sale of an item, and upselling the client, than providing the client with a service. I find this to be a conflict of interest, and incredibly unethical. Design is not about selling products to a client, but providing a service to them. Everyone who is an entrepreneur does have to be a salesperson, but a designer is selling their experience, knowledge, and expertise, not vertical blinds.

I was upset at the example the author gave in chapter 9, on how to convince a client to purchase something the client did not feel they could afford. It is incredibly unprofessional of an interior designer to state that they accept all major credit cards, and can provide financing. A designer is there to provide a service, not financing.

This book does have a place in the world, it is perfect for a salesperson as well as a decorator. a great example of how this would work, is if you were interested in having a showroom of products. It also has some great information on marketing ideas, it is acurate on some of the essential parts of a designer/decorator career. But is a misrepresentation of the profession to claim to be an interior designer when in essence you are a salesperson.

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