The Designers' Advisor Asks...

Here you have it – directly from designers and brands – answers to your most-asked questions! You will find a themed collection of monthly interviews with a range of creative professionals from The Camberyard Collective.

As The Designers’ Advisor – business development guru – Polly works with aspiring as well as established brands and designers in the interiors world. Advising on all aspects of how to run and grow a business, she gets into the nitty gritty – the business behind the creativity. She has now reached out to the fabulous Camberyard Collective to share their wisdom and provide an insiders’ guide to the interiors business through this on-going Q&A.

Read on. Be inspired!

Jen Morton

On a positive note, we’d love to hear about any benefits you may have discovered amidst the difficulties?

Connecting with people like we haven't before. The Camberyard Collective, under Polly's wise and helpful guidance has given all designers and suppliers within the group a real sense of belonging, support and mutual respect that we face the same difficulties …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Jen Morton Interiors


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Jen Morton
Photography by Ellie Simpson
Melinda Kiss
Photography by Sarah Maria Photography

Melinda Kiss

As an interior designer or brand, how has the pandemic affected your work?

I think it’s fair to say that for the time being, the pandemic has flipped my professional life upside down! I imagine my situation is very similar to most designers …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Keyhole Interiors


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Amber Ryder

Looking ahead to the future, we’re interested to know how, if at all, you might take your own business forward in a new way?

Following the pandemic, and as a result of enforced isolation, I see how key social interaction is. Spending more time with clients and really understanding and getting to know their motivations has always been paramount, but the personal exchanges that take place between designer and client is now more evident …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Studio Ryder


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Amber Ryder
Milena Hutchings

Milena Hutchings

We are all trying to find silver linings to this crisis; what has been your experience so far in terms of creative thinking and output?

I’m certainly trying to see this period as an opportunity – although it’s not always easy! And that opportunity comes in all walks of my life, including my kids, fitness, education and, yes, last but not least, my business …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

MDesign Interiors


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Nicole & Patrick Moulton Black

We are all trying to find silver linings to this crisis. What has been your experience so far in terms of creative thinking and output?

We have been very fortunate that to date we have never had to do any marketing, all of our work has been repeat business or via referrals and word of mouth …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Origins Design


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Nicole & Patrick Moulton Black
Elie Jones
Photography by Jo Douet

Elie Jones

How have you responded to the challenges to ensure safe practices as well as safeguard your business?

I think still talking to clients is really important even if work isn’t progressing and we can’t meet in person. Keeping up conversations and strengthening relationships is a priority now …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Elie Jones Interiors


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Emma Hooton

We’d love to hear about any benefits you may have discovered amidst the difficulties.

As a team we are so happy to have quiet time to catch up on an extremely busy start to the year and get through our to-do lists without distraction, particularly when focussing on estimates or detailed drawings …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Studio Hooton


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Katie Longshaw-Pye
Photography by WM Designs

Katie Longshaw-Pye

Looking ahead to the future, when this pandemic is behind us, we’ve been thinking about how this enforced shutdown might be an opportunity to do things – personally, professionally and as a society – a bit differently. We’re thus interested to know how, if at all, you might take your own business forward in a new way?

It’s highlighted the importance to me of future-proofing my business: investing time in building my brand, working on my identity, mission, website and photography …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Magpye Interiors


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Ana Engelhorn

How have you responded to the challenges to not only ensure safe practices but to safeguard your business?

Even before the crisis, I was working largely on my own in my home office, so there’s been little change to my day-to-day working environment (if you discount the children at home!) …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Ana Engelhorn Interior Design


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Ana Engelhorn
Photography by Hector Jensen Pie
Emma Green

Emma Green

On a positive note, we’d love to hear about any benefits you may have discovered amidst the difficulties.

I have really noticed how much more efficiently meetings happen when they are virtual. There is none of the chat and pleasantries that usually takes up time during face to face meetings, particularly with suppliers and contractors. I am also saving a lot of time not travelling to meetings, which can be better dedicated to other client work.

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Emma Green Design


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Kia Stanford

Looking ahead to the future, how, if at all, you might take your own business forward in a new way?

I am hoping that it means my team feel more comfortable working from home at least one day a week …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Kia Designs


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Kia Stanford
Photography by Carlos Adama
Hélène Dabrowski

Hélène Dabrowski

As an interior designer or brand, how has the pandemic affected your work?

It has slowed down my work and potential projects have been put on hold as clients want to see the effect of the pandemic on financial markets …

INTERIORS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

Hélène Dabrowski Interiors


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Trisha Walton

Are you happy you made the switch?

I am incredibly happy in my new career and have been fortunate enough to work as a freelance designer across a spectrum of projects …

Creative Career Changes – Looking into the psychology behind it

Freelance Interior Designer


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Trisha Walton
Photography by Rebecca Challis
Kate Kitchen
Photography by Katariina Jarvinen

Kate Kitchen

What prompted you to turn your love for interiors into a career?

After leaving my job in the City as a trader, where I’d worked for 10 years, I renovated several properties of my own …

Creative Career Changes – Looking into the psychology behind it

Reverie Interior Design


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Ana Engelhorn

What were the biggest challenges you faced in making that career change?

My biggest fears when changing careers were my age, my lack of freedom to work 18 hours a day …

Creative Career Changes – Looking into the psychology behind it

Ana Engelhorn Interior Design


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Ana Engelhorn
Photography by Hector Jensen Pie
Jen Morton
Photography by Ellie Simpson

Jen Morton

If you could give yourself one piece of advice on making that switch, what would it be?

It’s important to listen and take advice …

Creative Career Changes – Looking into the psychology behind it

Jen Morton Interiors


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Lisa Mitchell

What’s your top piece of advice for running a business?

Surround yourself with a supportive professional network (e.g. accountant and mentor) get all the necessary industry accreditations and know how to keep yourself motivated …

RUNNING AN Interiors BUSINESS

Interior Style Studio


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Lisa Mitchell
Photography by Nick Smith
Jeannine Birch
Photography by Lara Scott

Jeannine Birch

If you could only do one piece of marketing for your business, what would it be and why?

Social media is powerful – Instagram has been instrumental to our growth and to new designers finding us …

RUNNING AN Interiors BUSINESS

Coral & Hive


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Ciara Ephson

HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOU HAVE HAPPY CLIENTS – SO VITAL TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS?

By listening to them. It’s essential to take a proper brief – make sure you understand what they want and then design and advise accordingly …

RUNNING AN Interiors BUSINESS

Fentiman Design


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Ciara Ephson
Photography by Kristy Noble
Petra Arko
Photography by Edmund Dabney

Petra Arko

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR USP – WAS IT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS OR DID YOU HAVE TO DEVELOP YOUR NICHE?

I suppose we always had our USP, but we didn’t know how to describe it at first. It happens with time …

RUNNING AN Interiors BUSINESS

Bergman & Mar


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Henrietta Holroyd

IS THERE A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SOURCE SUPPLIERS?

Be creative and visually open-minded …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Henrietta Holroyd


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Alice Charrington
Photography by Emma Farquhar

Alice Charrington

Is there a 'best time of year' to start a business?

A good time to launch is when there is a hive of activity in the interior design world …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Alice Verenna Interior Design


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Lizzet Belcher

HOW DO I GET MY FIRST CLIENT?

Networking is one of the best routes …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

House of Rowan


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Ziad Alonaizy

How do I ensure I stay inspired and don't burn out?

I stay inspired by keeping my eyes open, taking in events and exhibitions …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Ziad Alonaizy


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Lizzie Tovey

How do I get my first client?

Firstly, get laser-focused on who your ideal client will be and what service you would like to provide …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Studio Houghton


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Lizzie Tovey
Photography by Guy Frederick
Tamsin Allen – Fawn Interiors
Photography by Robert Allen

Tamsin Allen

Is there a 'best time of year' to start a business?

We have not noticed an up or down period – we’ve found it’s more dependent …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Fawn Interiors Studio


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Emma Kewley

Is there a right and wrong way to source suppliers?

Create a set of criteria that your suppliers need to meet …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Interior Folk


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Emma Kewley
Photography by Martin Gardner
Lisa Bradburn
Photography by Sue Salamon

Lisa Bradburn

How do I ensure I stay inspired and don’t burn out?

It’s easy to get drawn into Instagram as a source of inspiration, but take the time you might spend scrolling to visit …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Lisa Bradburn


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Emma Hooton

Is there a 'best time of year' to start a business?

It generally takes about three months to set yourself up as a new company, so it would be best to build up …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Studio Hooton


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Kay Westmaas
Photography by Rebecca Reid

Kay Westmaas

How do I ensure I stay inspired, and don't burn out?

Don't take on too much work. This might sound obvious, but when starting a business, you may find yourself …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Studio Westmaas


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Robin Sprong

How do I get my first client?

When you start a new business, you may need to invest …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Robin Sprong Wallpaper & Surface Design


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ANA AZEVEDO and Renata Teixeira

Is there a right and wrong way to source suppliers?

We met a number of our suppliers at trade shows, but by far the best way is through …

LAUNCHING An Interiors BUSINESS

Kassavello


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