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Rui and I caught up over a virtual tea one afternoon: I had a generic lychee & rose tea; she had a Slow Mellow Yellow.
The founder of Grass People Tree, Rui is also an erstwhile model for the likes of Valentino and Maybelline, Wing Chun practitioner (and teacher) and self-proclaimed ‘servant of the tea’.
We talk about several key moments: that unlikely meeting with a billionaire who ended up being her ‘wingman for London’, the fateful Valentino campaign that planted the seeds for a two-and-a-half-year journey of exploration, and how the story that begin in the mountains of Guizhou really stemmed from a bet (or prank—depending on which way you look at it).
This is a heartfelt conversation about living as an immigrant and an ‘in-betweener’, about growing up too quickly and losing your roots, about being backstage and holding that tea flask, and going onto the centre stage and owning your stories.
Plus, we spend a little time musing over Chinese calligraphy (cake analogy included) and where the name “Grass People Tree” came from.
You were a model for a long time before coming to London. How did the modelling career come about?
It started out as a joke.
I was 15 years old, and my best friend was playing a prank on me and entered me into a modelling competition. They were betting on it.
And I then made a deal with another friend of mine within the group—I grew up with four boys and they’re like my brothers—I said I was going to try and win it. If I won it, we would split the bet winnings. The modelling competition was just a bet!
What happened at the competition?
I went on and won the regional, then the national, and within six months my life just changed.
Guizhou is very rich in natural resources, but it was in the bottom 3 in terms of poverty.
I went from right in the middle of nowhere in Guizhou, to being signed with an agency in Beijing and an agency in France.
I grew up as a mountain girl, and suddenly was exposed to the adult world before the age of 16, and it was a very distorted version of the adult world.
How did that play out?
I became the face of Maybelline—the first Asian model to do that.
In terms of money, I didn’t know what to do with it.
I remember going into a supermarket—those massive ones with many different floors. There was a section on the fourth floor for home appliances. I remember buying as many as I could, and sending all of them back home to everybody that I know.
I had no concept of finance or wealth management.
You were so young when you left home. How did that affect you?
There was a lack of feeling of home, being with your friends, growing up with your friends, and also being in school.
I’d always wanted to do art. So I went to uni in Shanghai and studied art and English, but at the same time I was modelling.
It was really like being a uni student was my part-time job. In the fourth year, I didn't even know where the library was. It was that bad, really shameful!
In my last year at uni, I was pretty fed up with how things were. The industry, the people, and what I felt was a misalignment between my values and the vibe of the modelling industry.
The fashion industry is pretty unhealthy. At the time, everyone was very exposed to drugs and alcohol. I'd never been interested in any of this. You know, the most extensive experience for me is to smoke a joint and that's it.
I felt like there were a lot of things that didn't align with me, but I couldn't quite identify them because I was so young. I just experienced this anger, I'm angry towards everybody. I don't trust them, I don't chat, I don't vibe with them.
If I walked onto a set, I would just assume everyone was a dick. And most of the time they would be. There were a lot of egos and a lot of insecurity. I paint quite a dark picture of the fashion industry, but this is just my personal story of it.
I just felt like having a break.
I think from the age of 16 to about 20 or 21, my rent was paid to airplanes. I lived on an airplane. I slept on it. I ate on it. I met friends on it.
I remember one day I woke up and didn't know where I was, so I needed to go open the blinds. “Oh, yellow cabs. Okay, that's New York.”
People on the outside would think, “Oh, you're so glamorous” but really deep inside, the fundamental, deep questions were bubbling up.
I was asking myself, “What am I doing?”
Did you still stay in touch with your family and friends in Guizhou?
I would go home to Guizhou whenever there was a gap in my schedule. I remember it’s usually in the beginning of November, which is my birthday, and it’s also when everything stopped (after the Spring/Summer fashion week season).
Going home was like my own way of healing. It’s going back to the closeness that I'm used to because I grew up within a community. My parents weren't around so much so the community brought me up.
I grew up knowing that I can go to any house and people will be there to safeguard me.
All of a sudden that was gone and you're like, “What should I do now?”
I was just so tired of moving around.
And that’s when you decided to go study in London?
That’s a very interesting story.
I was hesitating at the time whether to go to London or New York. I was living in Shanghai and in the French concession, which is very beautiful. It’s a mix of yin and yang, and eastern and western.
There was a jazz club that I’d go to everyday. One Saturday, I went there and there was this silver-haired man in a white shirt, with a tacky champagne bucket and two bottles of champagne.
He came and spoke to me and said, “Do you want to put your coat here? I have space and am waiting for my friends to arrive.”
So I said, "Where are you from?" And he said he lived in London and we started chatting. I told him I was hesitating (about where to study) and he was like, “You have to come to London to study art. Are you kidding me?” He asked if I’d heard about Central Saint Martins.
I was like, “Yeah, but they're there, I'm here.” (Moves hands around to signals high and low)
He then asked me “So have you tried it? How do you know you can't do it?” He was the wingman for London.
But that’s not the end of the story.
The next day was Sunday, and so I would go chill out with the owners of the jazz club. Our favorite pastime on a Sunday was to eat dimsum and to watch the CCTV. People do all sorts of things like snogging each other when they're drunk.
They saw me talking to this old man on the CCTV and they were shocked. They were asking me, “You chatted with this person. Do you know who he is?”
It turns out I was chatting to Richard Branson for two hours!
Wow, you have Richard Branson to thank for ending up in London. What an incredible story. Does London feel like home now?
Since I've been rooted in London, in Brixton, it does feel like home.
For me, when I leave London, I don't really miss London, but I would really miss Brixton or a particular spot in Brixton. To me, it’s got a good vibe, good style, good manners, humanity, integrity, fun. It's life, you know. Brixton is different from Notting Hill, for example. Everyone has their struggle with life. But when people come together, there's always clarity, and a celebration of life.
At my favourite pub, they do Jamaican jazz on Thursdays, and you see 90-year-old grannies moving and shaking their booties, it's just great.
That makes me feel at home, because home to me is very much like that type of courtesy and kindness. And at the same time, it is truthful. When you come out of Brixton tube, there're so many crazy people out there, but they're not pretending to be what they’re not. They say whatever they say, they are wherever they are. And I actually really like that as well.
I think consciously, and also unconsciously, there's a lot that connects to who I am. Also, being in London really makes me try to explore who I am really.
That hasn't been a very easy process because, when you leave home, you lose your roots. You feel like you get diluted a bit. And even now, when I go back (to Guizhou), my friends would say, “Oh, don't worry about her, she's a foreigner.
But I come here and people will be like, “Oh, she's very Chinese.”
I'm constantly in between places, and that has been with me since the modelling kicked off. I think Grass People Tree has really helped me figure out what that means, and the integrity and pride that comes with it, as opposed to the confusion and the sense of loss that came with it before.
You were a fashion model for a long time, modelling for some of the biggest names. I noticed on your Instagram stories that you've got a highlight that is titled "Previous Life". Is that how you see things— is there a line that you've drawn?
What I meant by “Previous Life” is that it’s a phase of my life which is now in the past.
That phase was when I was constantly moving around without knowing where my roots are. That, to me, is a previous life. All the pain, the struggles and the confusion—all of that contributed to making me know profoundly where my roots are, and how and what I can do to grow that.
I still do modelling, but I have two criteria. Firstly, it's got to be a job that I know that will vibe with me and that has a good crew. Secondly, it's got to be worth my time. That means I only work with people that I know, or work on projects that pay well so that it justifies my time.
I do a lot of consultation now, and I work with many young girls, sharing with them my stories and telling them what are the things they need to watch out for.
I do still work in fashion and modelling, but I think that the form of that is now up to me, it's not about me being a slave.
It sounds like you were feeling a lot of internal struggles that came with feeling a loss of identity. How did you face them head on? What made you look at yourself and think that you needed to find out who you are?
In Chinese, there’s a saying “It takes two hands to clap.” You can't make a clap with one hand.
On the one hand, I was in the process of working things out. Particularly after having attended Saint Martins, I realised that everyone's struggling with their identity and looking for answers.
But the great thing about Saint Martins is that everyone's looking for answers or to prove they have something to say with such desperation. That to me is very inspiring. You get elevated by your peers. And then soon you're thinking, “What am I doing?” I did a lot of things to figure stuff out. I did modelling. I had two design studios. I did window display projects. I was just going to try lots of different things.
And on the other hand, something happened as I was modelling.
I think we were shooting a Valentino campaign. There were a lot of Mars bars and a lot of coffees!
At some point you just feel like you need something more refreshing. So as every Chinese person does, in your bag, there's always a tea sachet that your parents or your relatives give you.
I had this green tea that my parents gave me. I cleaned the coffee pot and brewed the tea. Immediately the leaves started popping up and doing pirouettes.
It was very beautiful. Through the glass jar, you could see it. You could smell it.
Instantly, the music was off. Everyone came to look at it. What is this?
Wow. What happened next?
I remember somebody passed through the studio door, smelled it and asked, “What's that?”
He ended up joining us to have tea. And I started telling them, “Oh it's a green tea from home.”
“Where's your home?”
“My home is Guizhou.”
“Where's Guizhou? Show us on Google.”
I started to show them on Google, and they were like, “This is your home? It's like Avatar, the movie.”
They started to ask more questions. “What's it like growing up there? How come you're here?”
Because I brewed a pot of tea, curiosity came, questions came, presence came. Everybody was there and everyone was together, and not in a stressful manner after working on that campaign for 20 hours.
From then on, something clicked for me. Because for the next six months, I did exactly that every Thursday. There was always a group of 10 or 20 people at my house, drinking tea on a Thursday evening.
That went on for six months. And at the same time I was giving people tea for free. Take this, drink that, try this. I was doing that to the point that my friends got so hooked—on the tea, the stories and everything around it.
They said to me, maybe that's your way out.
Were you looking for a way out?
I wasn't consciously, but I think going back to the clap analogy, there has to be two things, the yin and yang or whatever you want to call it.
There needs to be a yearning, and when you see something you make that link.
I was quite reluctant because I've been so brainwashed by Western education and Western media about China's negatives. I grew up there in Guizhou and I was taught by the tea masters. Everyone was saying to me, that tea from home is the cleanest you can find in China. And of course, I just thought, “I don't believe you.”
I had to go back and check it out myself. So I went back and did that. What was planned as a two-month trip, became an on-and-off adventure for two and a half years.
What did you do for the 2.5 years?
That period was me going back home and going through a process of clarifying, “Why am I here in London? What am I doing with my life?”
I met so many people along the way.z
Once I put the message out, a lot of yuán fèn (editor’s note: loosely translated as fate or serendipity) happened, and chá yuán (editor’s note: tea-inspired fate or serendipity) also happened.
I was introduced to the leaders of the tribes, the government people who are very passionate about tea, historians, writers, and people who went to Cambridge but came back to start a tea business. I went to more than 280 villages within that two and a half years. And I collected more than 30 notebooks worth of writing.
What do you write in your notebooks?
Whatever people say.
I enjoy learning, and particularly when there is interest, you don't even think about it (learning).
It's so modern in China nowadays. No one takes a notebook out and writes notes. Most of the notes were taken at a tea table.Because I was exploring the tea and the culture around it, wherever you go, there's a tea table and people share tea with you.
You ask a question and they tell you the answer; then you ask more questions, they tell you, and then you get a notebook out and you just start writing, or drawing.
That has been, to me, perhaps the best time in my adult life, because you just learn so much about who you are. It's very personal to me.
Before I started the journey I wasn't sure what was going to happen.
What did those 2.5 years teach you about who you are?
Richness. The richness in my culture. How I grew up, the diversity of that, the celebration of that, the difference from how the Western world views it. The way of life at a very deep, profound level.
I didn't know much about wild indigenous teas. I didn't know there is such a library of diversity. It's mad. There are more than 400 languages spoken just in my province alone. And two villages next to each other speak completely different languages.
To me, it was like, “Whoa, what am I doing in the UK?” I didn't even know this shit. There's just so like, dope. It really blew my mind in realizing this is the place I come from. These are my people. And these are the people who teach me. And everywhere I go, you meet with such sincere kindness and a sincere wish to share.
The first year when I ran Grass People Tree, I never paid for a tea. They gave me the tea and said, “Well wishes are all that we can give you. Have it, share it. Go with it. Don't be afraid. Just share with people and share our stories.”
I remember last time that when the Rao brothers gave me the tea, the younger brother was making tea and had so many blisters on his hand.
When he was loading the tea into the jeep, it was such a big truck and he filled it up. I was like, “I don't need so much tea.” And he held my hands with his hand that was full of blisters. I remember the blisters bursting in my hand when he shook my hand. And he said, “Our stories depend on you. We don't have the skills and the language to speak to those people who are out there. But you are the person who can do that.”
I was like “Okay, no pressure.”
What a powerful moment. So do you think that you are the connection? You are the messenger?
I think I'm the servant of the tea. That's what I've been doing.
It's really taught me a lesson about being true to myself. And once you do that, there is really nothing to be afraid of and nothing to be planned, in the broader sense, because it just evolves itself.
How did that mesh with your life in the fashion world?
There was an overlap when I was doing modelling and also trying to start Grass People Tree.
I remember being backstage during London Fashion Week. I would always have a tea flask, and the vibe would always get so much better instantly because I have something to share.
You always meet the same people. I remember having the same dresser for two seasons. In the second season he asked me, “How's the tea business going? Everyone knows that now you have a thing that you wanted so desperately to share.”
How has your fashion background affected the way you do business, or your storytelling narrative?
I think, for one, is to stick to people who know you and really celebrate you as you are. If you say my butt is too big, I’m not gonna walk on your catwalk. You have to know me as who I am. I think that translates as a kind of coherence in who you are.
But also, I think fashion has prepped me to work hard.
Glamour aside, every single model who is out there in every season has a tremendous amount of commitment. Within 20 days you could be in 30 different places. That's just how it is. And the people may be as fucked up as can be. The creative process itself is the brilliance of people, the talent, set designers and more.
Seeing all of that really teaches you about work ethics and expectations. If this is where I want to go, this is how much work I need to put in.
And another thing that is important is knowing where your passion is. At Central Saint Martins, people around me are all so passionate about something. Sometimes it borders on obsession. But it's that obsession that really pushes you, and sometimes deconstructs you, tears you apart, and regroups you into someone new for a period of time.
I think that passion is very important. You're going to experience fatigue from all sorts of things like doing admin, standing at the post office, or going into a room of 20 CEOs and pitching them about why they need to drink your tea.
Doing all of these things stem from passion.
Being a model, there are those backstage moments, but once you’re on the runway, you’re centre stage. How does that feel for you?
Even when I was very young, one thing I felt that I took ownership of and really enjoyed is those 30 seconds when you're on the catwalk.
You step into a narrative that is very different from reality. Fashion is a fantasy. Whatever the moodboard is for this season's inspiration, you adapt.
When you walk onto the catwalk, you are the centre of the attention. You hear the cameras clicking, the whole world is watching.
I think I now have a more grown-up understanding of other people's work that they do for you to be there on the centre stage.
As a messenger of tea, do you still feel like you’re at the centre stage?
For sure. I'm at the centre of my own stories. And I want to let others find their own centre stage as well.
Because to me, Grass People Tree is about that narrative that is so authentic to you.
The world desperately needs that right now. Inequality aside, we face so much challenges when it comes to cultural appropriation. I think it’s important to encourage people to tell their stories and own their stories, particularly younger people.
I was looking at your Instagram. You seem like a writer.
I write a lot.
I wrote a novel at the age of nine and it was published.
When I was a teenager, I wrote a lot because I had so much pain. I never understood why.
Now I identify it as my healing process, or contemplation process, introspective process. It's really a part of me trying to figure things out.
Last lockdown, I wrote a lot.
Do you write in English or in Chinese?
It depends.
When I'm in China I write a lot in Chinese. When I'm here I mostly write in English.
I think it's dependent on what your linguistic environment is.
Are you the same person when you’re writing in English versus Chinese?
I haven’t really thought about that before, so this answer is going to be very general.
If I’m in China, I feel like a more emotional person.
When I’m writing in English, perhaps I’m more… rational?
I become less emotional, but on point, in what I want to say. So I guess, maybe in Chinese, I'm a bit freer and a bit more myself.
Are you stepping away from your emotions and becoming more objective when writing in English?
think it’s about the vocabulary you use to describe your feelings.
English is a very generic language. It’s formed by letters.
But Chinese language is about the composition of a word.
This is when it becomes very interesting and very useful for me nowadays. I was trying to facilitate a team exercise recently.
We were exploring the meaning of “sharing.”
I was trying to contemplate with my “English brain.” What does sharing mean?
Often when I'm stuck, I would go back to Chinese calligraphy, or the writing. So sharing is (made up of two characters) fen and xiang.
When you say fen, it really means to be torn apart, to give a piece of yourself, like a cake. Then with xiang, there's the enjoyment.
That gives me such profound understanding of the meaning of things.
And that’s how “Grass People Tree” came about.
Yes.
That’s why people are in the middle, and responding to the balance of things. The word reveals so many layers.
I really like that, and thinking like that gives me tools which I don't think English as a second language does.
Nowadays, if I wanted to write something, I would do a voice recording, because I’d just say whatever comes out and it might just be a mishmash of different languages.
But it's about the flow of my thoughts. If I went straight to picking up a pen, I might have to deal with the spelling of the word, the grammar, the way to express something, the meaning of the expression, or the artistic way to go at it. All of these things will come at once, when I’m actually also trying to create a train of thought. That becomes a barrier when I’m just trying to get things out.
Besides writing, what other rituals or routines do you have?
I think it’s about knowing to choose myself.
Particularly as a woman, as a woman who is non-white, as an immigrant, and as a small business owner. And also as a person who lives thousands of miles away from home. You need to find a way to connect with yourself here (Rui puts her hand over he heart).
I think even the running of Grass People Tree to me is very healing. I haven't been home for two years, which is a long time. I think it's about doing things that you know are going to make you go back to a space that you're yourself completely.
I do a lot of that because I live by myself. I do kung fu, I do Wing Chun. I drink tea.
So all of the things you associate with a Chinese person who has an identity crisis, I do.
Embracing one's true self and cultivating authenticity in fashion is a special practice of self-care. Fashion is a form of self-expression that can have impacts both personally and publicly. With influencers, actors, and models often being the role models and trendsetters, there can be times in which authenticity becomes a questionable attainment.
For personal stylist Jiovani Cervantes, authenticity is the very essence that makes fashion unique and deserving of celebration. Jiovani has over seven years of industry experience, designing and refining his service specifically to revitalise an individual's sense of self-worth and personal style.
Throughout his career, Jiovani has had his work featured in well-known industry publications such as Digital Vogue, Yellow Mag, and Selin Magazine. He has also enjoyed collaborating and working with emerging artists such as Keraun Harris, Jackie Mitchell, and Inas X.
Jiovani's experience, confidence, and commitment to authenticity enable him to thrive in the crowded, high-pressure fashion industry. We speak to Jiovani about his personal awakening to the power of fashion, his what personal style really means.
As told in Jiovani's own words.
On inspiration
When did your styling career begin?
My interest in styling first sparked in middle school. My friends liked how I presented myself through what I wore, so they would ask me to create outfits from their closet that they could wear throughout the school week. Whether it was to simply look cool or popular, get noticed by the girls, or even keep up with the latest trends, I continued styling my friends until my senior year of high school and I enjoyed every minute of it.
What motivates you?
Those near and dear to my heart. The people who I came up with through hard times, who have always supported my creative endeavours, and who have always given me a sense of purpose. They’re the reason I work as hard as I do. The more I create, the closer I come to making sure they’re taken care of forever.
Who do you draw inspiration from?
Rick Owens. His mindset, perspective, and brand identity align with mine in many ways.
How would you describe yourself?
Artistic, Ambitious, Bold, Creative, Compassionate, Edgy, Elevated, Enthusiastic, Expressive, Grunge, Intelligent, and Polished.
And your style?
I truly think most of these adjectives can be used to describe my personal style. Personally, I’ve always called my style “Polished, Elevated Grunge”.
On trends
You prefer not to follow trends, why is that?
Style is meant to promote authentic individual expression, how can you properly do that when you are dressed to blend in with the others around you?
I’m not saying you shouldn’t participate in the trends, some are worth trying out, the issue is when the entire foundation of your style is inspired by what’s hot right now.
What tactics do you use to steer clients away from trends, and towards a style that is authentic to them?
I encourage my clientele to create budget plans, 5 year plans, and a personal style mood board, a visual representation of the new style realm they should be shopping and dressing within. When you know yourself, the direction in which your life is going in, and how to save money, the new places you’ll shop at won’t sell cheap trends, they’ll sell quality and longevity.
In your eyes, what is authenticity?
Authenticity is how far you’re willing to go to stay true to who you are and your values, despite the pressures of social conformity.
Pretending to be something you aren’t is exhausting. On the other hand, being unapologetically yourself can be liberating and fulfilling.
On business
What are the biggest challenges you face as a freelance stylist?
Recession and economic inflation. I often work with high-profile clientele but, for the most part, I work with everyday people. These clients aren’t expected to pay much, but they pay enough to keep the bills paid, gas in the car, styling supplies stocked, as well as other expenses. One of the ways I’ve overcome this is by spreading my outreach throughout my team and making it a goal to reach out to x amount of client leads per week.
How do you manage and operate your styling business on both coasts?
We don’t need to be in the same state to work together. My network of clients lives throughout the US from Seattle to California, New York to Florida.
Simply describe the occasion, outline your budget, and send over your measurements. Once I have shopped for the look, I’ll send back the remaining shopping balance and expedite shipping to your current location. You then keep the look after—that simple!
On achievements
After seven years in the industry, what has been your highlight?
My career highlights include:
- Working on a Karl Kani set when I first moved to Los Angeles.
- Styling personalities during the rise of “influencer culture”.
- Styling aspiring musicians for artist development agency Wealth Nation.
- My first publication in Vogue
- NYFW client styling
- Creating a Fashion Show event series that promotes and highlights independent designers in the San Fernando Valley.
What has been the most memorable moment in your career so far?
I once styled a musician for their headlining performance. After the show, the entourage headed back to their mansion for an after-party. At some point during the party, I find myself out on the balcony, overlooking the city of Los Angeles, just thinking about where I come from and how the hell I’ve managed to get this far. It was one of those moments where life comes full circle and you kind of step back and look at all that you have achieved and gone through in appreciation. I just smiled and started to imagine what more was to come.
... What is to come?
I won’t share all of my future aspirations. However, I do plan to mentor stylists and implement basic cut-sew classes in schools and communities in the future. Mentoring stylists on how to build and curate slow, ethical, versatile, and long-term wardrobes could help reduce consumption, whilst implementing basic cut-and-sew classes in schools and the community could help encourage recycling and reduce waste in landfills.
On the next generation
Is fashion school necessary?
I studied pattern and textile coordination as well as colour theory and analysis during my time at FIDM (The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising). This knowledge comes in handy when I’m identifying what colours will look best on my muse and what textile and pattern combinations work without clashing too much.
If you aim to become a stylist, you don’t need a degree to qualify. You just need to know how to put together looks and have an outstanding network of resources. If you aim to be in PR, designer clothes, or visual communications, then I’d suggest going to school.
You offer a course for aspiring stylists. Why is it important to you to teach?
Teaching and helping others have always been some of the things that fulfil me in life. I’ve gotten so far in what I would consider my dream job, that I feel as though I have a responsibility to share what I’ve learned so that the next creative has a chance at turning their dreams into reality. That’s just the way I am.
What advice do you have for aspiring wardrobe stylists looking to make their mark in the fashion industry?
This career is not glamorous. It is brutal, high-performing, last-minute, and leaves little room for error. But it is highly rewarding. It is not enough for you to love fashion, to really make it in this field it has to be your life. Figure out what it is you want to do in the industry, figure out how to be the best in your lane, and embrace failures as stepping stones to success with unwavering resilience.
Follow Jiovani on Instagram, or learn more about his styling services on his website.
With climate change continuing to impact our daily lives, businesses are having to take steps to make their operations and offerings more sustainable, and the interior design industry is no exception.
Interior design and construction is a notoriously wasteful sector. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the construction sector was responsible for 62% of the total waste produced in the UK in 2018. Interior designers struggle to stay green when their process inherently requires an abundance of material and carbon-emitting deliveries.
Evidently, better sustainable practices are needed in the interior design industry. As the interior design industry continues to innovate, sustainability must be a part of the vision.
Focusing your efforts on sustainability also benefits your business. Implementing eco-friendly initiatives into your interior design business has the power to draw in investors, clients, and top talent to your business.
Many interior designers do strive to be more sustainable, but what does a sustainable interior design studio really look like and is it achievable for the average interior designer? We have compiled a 6-step strategy to help you take your first step in becoming a more sustainable and environmentally conscious interior design business.
What does it take to be a sustainable interior design business?
Depending on how your interior design business operates, your eco-friendly journey could span from making minor adjustments to your process to reconstructing your entire operations.
You'll need to shut down all environmentally harmful practices and find greener alternatives moving forward.
Characteristics of a sustainable interior design business:
- Less use of energy, water, and resources
- Uses renewable energy
- Low waste production
- Promotes sustainability education
- Supports sustainable partners and suppliers
How sustainable practices can benefit your interior design business
Build organisational resilience
Sustainable business strategies do not only positively cont are made to last and self-sustain.
For this reason, having a sustainable business plan minimises the impact of economic uncertainties like rising energy costs. Furthermore, this makes it easier for you to meet new regulatory requirements in the future.
Enhance brand reputation
Action speaks louder than words. Going green shows prospective clients that you don't just care about making a profit, but you care about your impact on the world as well.
A growing number of clients are choosing services that align with their moral standings, and a commitment to sustainable practices will leave a positive impression on this growing clientele.
Increase sales
Clients and investors now have an eye for brands with environmental accountability. As a result, companies with high environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings have a higher return on investment as clients are more willing to spend more for sustainability.
Sustainable business practices for interior designers
Getting educated on the current state of the environment is the first step to making your business more sustainable. The next steps will depend on you and the type of business you're running!
Read through six actionable eco-friendly business practices and take your pick now:
Calculate your carbon footprint
Before anything else, it's important to know where your business currently stands.
Calculating your carbon footprint is the best place to start your sustainable journey. It provides you with invaluable information that outlines what practices produce the most emissions and how to work around them.
You can use Carbon Trust's online calculator to track your direct and indirect emissions or follow the guide on how to measure greenhouse gas emissions by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Implement a hybrid or remote work setup
Have tasks that can be managed online? Work remotely!
Hybrid or remote work setups consume less electricity and produce less waste. Since employees mostly work at home, less is spent on transport fuel and electricity. This strategy is especially popular among creative businesses!
If that's not possible, you can opt to promote green transport like walking, cycling, or using public transportation instead. You can give green incentives, invest in shared shuttle services or carpools, or set up exclusive bicycle parking spots for your employees.
Choose eco-friendly alternatives
When shopping for appliances for yourself or clients, always prefer energy-efficient options. With less energy consumption, you and your clients can effectively decrease your carbon footprint and cut down the energy bill in the next years! Bonus: Energy-efficient appliances enhance air quality because of their low carbon emissions.
Here are some promising eco-friendly appliances to invest in:
- Cool roofs
- LED lighting
- Solar panels
- Smart plugs
Partner with sustainable vendors
If you outsource your materials, ask yourself these questions—where do they get their materials from? Do they practice fair trade? Do they pay their workers right?
As an advocate for the common good, you'll want to support businesses that share the same values. So take time to run a quick background check on potential partners to make sure you're sourcing from ethical manufacturing.
You can do so by visiting their workplace and observing the operations firsthand. You can also connect with their previous clients and browse comments and other reviews.
Promote sustainable brands
The promotion of sustainable solutions in your project designs and consultations can be a great way to become more environmentally mindful.
If you're an interior designer, you can recommend using eco-friendly appliances or locally-sourced materials to your clients. Similarly, stylists can recommend clothing brands that advocate against animal cruelty.
Showing a burning passion for the environment is the key to attracting like-minded clients!
Reduce, reuse and recycle packaging
The simple act of recycling avoids excessive waste being produced by your business. Instead of single-use plastics, use reusable containers or biodegradable materials to create recyclable packaging.
The switch of mindset goes a long way. You could even ask suppliers delivering packages to your office to keep reusing the same boxes and packaging when making scheduled deliveries. Oftentimes now there are even options for minimal packing, reducing the amount of waste you produce.
Continue to learn and improve your practice
Effective copy is a game-changer for your brand. Well-written copy can help you develop a unique brand identity and, as a result, attract new customers.
Yet, for creative small business owners who aren't natural writers, composing website and social media copy can be a daunting task.
Fortunately, a new generation of AI tools with copywriting capabilities can alleviate some of the burden. These tools can craft engaging copy in a matter of seconds, leaving you with just one responsibility: adding the finishing touches!
Let's explore five of the best AI copywriting tools in 2023.
Benefits of using AI copywriting platforms
AI copywriting tools are designed for efficient writing. They reduce the time you spend on brainstorming and content creation, allowing you to focus on higher-priority tasks.
That being said, AI still lacks the human touch needed to make your copy appear more personable and truly representative of you and your brand. Therefore, AI can't do all the work for you—think of it as a helpful assistant! Here are four reasons why you should use an AI copywriting tool...
- Free up your time. By handling all writing tasks, AI tools save you 90% of the time you'd typically spend on writing.
- Enhance your marketing strategy. AI copywriting tools can also gather interesting ideas and concepts from the internet that you can use to strengthen your marketing strategy, including social media goals, current trends, and recommended KPIs to track.
- Simplify the writing process. With AI writing tools, you don't need to be a professional to write effectively. These tools do the job for you, leaving you with the straightforward task of reviewing and revising the content as you see fit.
- Boost conversion rates. These tools can also be used to create targeted content. This means they can analyze your target audience and generate attention-grabbing copies that will increase click-through rates and conversions.
How to use AI copywriting tools for your business
Three specific tasks that an AI copywriting tool can complete in seconds...
- Write blog posts. AI copywriting tools can write anything from captions to long-form articles. Even better, some AI copywriting platforms offer varied writing style options to match your brand voice perfectly. Just type down an outline or describe the content you want to create, and AI will take care of the rest!
- Create personalised email templates. AI copywriting tools simplify email marketing by creating custom email templates that attract readers. By analysing recipient data, these tools create content that is sure to pique their interest. This makes your emails more engaging and persuasive, leading to higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions!
- Rewrite existing copy. AI copywriting tools can help you take your ad copy and blog articles from good to great. Just paste your content into the AI platform to check for grammar errors and suggest writing improvements.
5 Best AI copywriting tools for small business owners
ChatGPT
Best for: Busy solopreneurs
Write seamlessly with ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is one of the fastest-growing AI copywriting tools available. It is best known for its user-friendly chat-style interface, where you can input a question or command.
For this reason, ChatGPT is best suited for creating generic content, such as social media posts, emails, or short-form articles. The only drawback is that it has limited knowledge of events after 2021. Try these commands:
- Write a social media caption for a post about the best employee of the month.
- Create an email template for a pet supplies store
Bard
Best for: Trendy business owner
Bard is steadily gaining attention for being the 'smarter' alternative to ChatGPT. It has real-time access to the internet, and is updated on the current zeitgeist.
Bard can run plagiarism and grammar checks on existing copy, as well as creating new, current content. The cherry on top, it shows the related sources of the content, allowing you to cite easily or read more. Try these prompts:
- Run a plagiarism check on this text "insert text"
- Make this blog post more engaging "insert text"
Jasper
Best for: Creative teams
If you're seeking an all-in-one platform for all your content, Jasper is the way to go!
Jasper is a versatile AI platform for copywriting, complete with its own template library and cloud storage for collaboration. It opens to a document-style interface, where you can access and edit your work exactly as you wish.
Simply write a description for the type of content you want and fill in the SEO options and more. You can also utilise the Jasper Brand Voice to create content that mirrors your own style!
Quillbot AI
Best for: Non-native writers
If you already have a lot of content but are unsatisfied with how it's written, look no further than Quillbot—one of the best paraphrasing tools available!
Quillbot takes your content and rewrites it more clearly and concisely. It's also a hub for several other useful tools, including a paraphrasing tool, summariser, grammar checker, plagiarism checker, and more. It's perfect for non-native English writers and small business owners.
Wordtune
Best for: Witty creatives
Wordtune is another rephrasing tool designed to enhance readability and content quality. Similar to Quillbot, you easily switch between different tones and resize the word count with ease.
What makes Wordtune stand out is Spices. As the name suggests, the SPices feature mixes in statistics, facts and even jokes to your copy to add flair to a previously dull piece. This makes the content sound more authentic and engaging.
"I need a break!" You say to yourself as your bride-to-be sends you yet another text on a Sunday evening.
As a wedding planner, you pride yourself on fostering great relationships with your clients, but that doesn't mean you should sacrifice your work -life balance. You can still delver a quality wedding planning service whilst setting boundaries with your couples.
Establishing communication boundaries with wedding clients looks different for everyone but can include outlining preferred methods of communication, the expected timing of communication, and defining expectations and responsibilities of both parties.
Establishing boundaries early on presents an expectation to your clients that they are to respect your time when it is not their time. Having clear boundaries allows you to give equal time to all of your clients, dedicate attention to other aspects of running your wedding business (urgh, accounting), and spend quality time with your loved ones.
We have compiled a 5-step to help you respectfully but firmly establish boundaries with your wedding clients and achieve a healthy work-life balance. Let's begin...
5 Strategies For Setting Healthy Boundaries With Clients
Setting boundaries in your work as a wedding planner can at first seem uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Ease the transition with five simple steps to setting boundaries with clients—ones that enhance your work, not diminish it.
Learn to say no
No is a simple word, but one that people-pleasers find near impossible to say.
Saying no is not evidence of you being unaccommodating or difficult, it is evidence that you know what works best for you and your nusiness and you are commited to delivering that high quality service. If you communicate this properly with your clienst from the outset, they will understand and respect your boundaries.
Some clients might not respect your boundaries, and decide to find another wedding planner instead. But remember, the right client will find you in the end. Working with toxic wedding clients is of no benefit to your business in the long run.
Write boundaries into your contract
The way in which you communciate, and what clients can expect of you should be clearly stated in wirting, in your contract.
Your contract can outline what methods of communication are acceptable and what your working hours are. For example, your client can only contact you via text after 8am and not after 7 pm. It is important that both you and your client agree to the terms of service at the beginning of working together.
Set your price
Sometimes you can make exeptions to your boundaries, by working over time or accomodating a specific client request—this is testament to you going above and beyond for your client. However it is important to explain from the outset if these services will come at any extra cost.
Outline any additional fees in your contract, that way you can't be accused of hidden costs and your client can make an informed decision on how they use your time.
Stick to your rules
It is tempting to reply to a late night text, answer your client's phone call at an inconvenient time, or apologise for not solving something that was in fact outside of your responisbilties just to keep the peace. However, in the long run this will only damage your ability to run your business efficiently and could lead to burnout.
Make sure to prioritise yourself and your well-being at all times. If a client can't respect you and your time, then it's time to re-evaluate your working relationship.
Sometimes, needs change, and so too can your professional boundaries. Revising your boundaries once in a while is a healthy way to check-in with your self and ensure you are offering a high quality wedding planning service.
The takeaway
Wedding planners need firm but fair boundaries with their clients in order to enjoy a healthy work-life balance and provide a quality wedding planning service. Setting boundaries is not always easy, but it is important.
Your boundaries stipulate expectations when it comes to client communications and your responsobilties as a wedding planner. Use your contract as a tool to highlight these boundraies, and stick to your rules throughout the process. The right wedding client will respect your terms of service.
What sets your wedding planning business apart? Are you skilled in dry-hire venues? Do you specialize in sustainable practices?
Contrary to common belief, narrowing your focus as a wedding planner doesn't reduce your client base. In fact, defining your niche can attract ideal clients and enhance your marketing strategy's impact.
This article will explore...
- Attracting Dream Clients: Specializing in a niche draws couples seeking your unique expertise, aligning every job with your passion.
- Enhancing Marketing Strategies: A clear niche enables targeted and effective marketing, distinguishing you from generic planners and reaching ideal clients.
- Maximizing Press Exposure: Unique niches attract media attention, enhancing credibility, visibility, and brand recognition among like-minded clients.
Excited to discover how specializing can spur new growth for your wedding planning business? Let's get started!
Discover the Benefits of Niche Wedding Planning
Many view specializing in a wedding planning niche as restrictive, but it actually attracts better-suited clients and enhances job satisfaction. Here's why:
Attract your dream clients
Focusing on a specific wedding niche draws couples who align perfectly with your expertise and passion. Your niche selection reflects your interests, ensuring a genuine connection with your clients.
Define Your Ideal Client
Narrowing down to a niche allows precise targeting of your "ideal client". Understand their profession, location, and wedding priorities to tailor your marketing strategies effectively.
Refine Your Marketing
A distinct niche enables a focused and unique marketing approach, distinguishing you from a sea of generic wedding planners.
Effective Marketing Strategies:
- Research competitors in your niche for insights.
- Analyze their client engagement tactics.
- Align your marketing to directly address your ideal clients' desires.
Boost Press Opportunities
Media and online communities crave unique stories. Stand out as a niche expert to attract interviews and features, boosting your credibility and visibility.
Build Your Brand
Featured interviews elevate your authority in your niche, acting as free publicity that attracts like-minded clients searching for your specialized services.
Pursue Your Passion
Choosing a niche aligned with your interests and expertise transforms wedding planning into a labor of love. As Mark Twain said, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Explore Unique Wedding Planning Niches
Looking to specialize in a wedding planning niche but not sure where to start? Don't worry, we've gathered a few niche ideas to spark your creativity:
Budget-Friendly Weddings
Luxury doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag. Offer couples a dream wedding without breaking the bank, showcasing your resourcefulness and creativity.
Vintage-Inspired Weddings
Are you passionate about history and antiques? Specialize in vintage weddings, bringing retro charm to modern couples looking for a touch of nostalgia.
Fantasy Weddings
Turn fairy tales into reality! Embrace your creativity and cater to couples with imaginative wedding ideas, making their dreams come true with unique and magical celebrations.
Quick-Plan Weddings
Thriving under pressure? Specialize in planning weddings on short notice, from intimate elopements to grand affairs abroad. Your organizational skills will shine as you help couples tie the knot swiftly and smoothly.
The takeaway
In a saturdated wedding planning market, a strong niche is your biggest chance of success. Finding your niche and distinct style as a wedding planner will help you to:
- Attract clients that you are excited to work with. Every job will be a job that you want to work on (and they'll likely be more work avialable to you.)
- Improve the effectiveness of your marketing strategy.
- Create more press opportunities
In an ideal world, an interior designer's schedule would be filled year-round with exciting design projects, satisfying both creativity and income!
However, the interior design industry can be unpredictable. There can be long gaps between projects. While new projects will come, these gaps can lead to financial stress.
Thankfully, there are alternative ways for interior designers to earn money. You can monetize your expertise in new and creative ways to maintain steady revenue for your interior design business year-round. These strategies can help boost your income and reach a wider audience!
This article will explore...
- Highlighting five alternative income streams for interior designers, such as affiliate marketing, writing e-books, coaching, starting a YouTube channel, and setting up a virtual store, to ensure consistent revenue.
- Emphasizing the importance of leveraging existing knowledge and skills in creative ways to generate additional income and reach a broader audience.
- Offering practical advice on maintaining cash flow during slow periods in the interior design business through passive income and varied revenue strategies.
Five alternative income streams for interior designers
Use affiliate links
Affiliate marketing is a low-risk, high-reward revenue stream for interior designers. It leverages the content you already create.
Start by finding affiliate programs that align with your brand and values. Then, add affiliate links to your website, blog, or social media. Highlight products you use and recommend to your audience.
Some brands also accept ambassadors. Keep an eye out for opportunities to represent them!
Write and publish an E-book
E-books let interior designers share their expertise and insights while earning additional income through sales.
You can sell your e-book on your website or platforms like Amazon. Promote it via social media, email marketing, and other channels. You can also offer your writing services to other interior designers.
Writing an e-book takes time and effort, but it can provide a steady stream of passive revenue for years to come.
Coach fellow interior designers
If you're an established interior designer, you have valuable knowledge and expertise that can help aspiring designers succeed.
Offer guidance to help them avoid common pitfalls, develop their skills, and build a successful business. You can provide one-on-one coaching, group coaching programs, or online courses. Sharing your experience can generate additional income and help others grow.
Start a YouTube channel
Interacting with suppliers and clients is crucial for your interior design business, so facing a camera and engaging with an audience might come naturally to you.
Starting a YouTube channel can boost your brand and image as an interior designer. Once you build trust with your viewers, you can monetize your channel and secure brand collaboration deals.
Unsure about content? Start with interior design tips and hacks you know well, then expand from there.
Set up a virtual store
Working on various projects helps you refine your aesthetic and connect with top furniture and decor suppliers. You can recommend their items in your virtual store.
You can also feature your own products, from a handmade welcome mat to an acacia coffee table sourced from Southeast Asia. This can add another income stream to your interior design business.
The takeaway
As an interior designer, steady work isn’t always guaranteed. Balancing your creative passion with commercial demands is a common challenge.
Despite uncertainties, there are ways to maintain a steady income for your interior design business. From establishing a presence on YouTube to exploring affiliate partnerships, numerous avenues can help secure financial stability when work is slow.
As an interior designer, you seek to please every client you take on. And in an ideal world, clients would have nothing but good things to say about you after a project. But unfortunately, that isn't always the case.
Criticism and negative reviews are an inevitable part of running your own interior design business. It's normal for interior designers to receive bad reviews every now and then. You just can't please everyone. However, it's critical to know how to make amends with your client and turn this into a positive learning experience.
Remember: The only bad feedback is the feedback you don't get. So instead of beating yourself up over it, learn how to handle negative client feedback and channel it to improve your interior design business.
Why client feedback matters to interior designers
Positive reviews reinforce your marketing. The feedback of previous clients informs prospective clients about all the good things you bring to the table. Incorporating positive reviews into the marketing of your interior design business will attract new clients, build trust, and consolidate your reputation. Here are a few benefits of collecting client feedback as an interior designer...
- Improve your marketing. You can use good reviews to create a better marketing strategy. Some of the most common ways to use reviews for interior design marketing are by pinning them on your social media page, and creating a client testimonial page on your interior design website.
- Establish a positive reputation. Good reviews translate to stronger credibility. It tells potential customers that it's worth investing in your interior design services and that you're skilled enough to get the job done excellently.
- Develop your skills. There is always more to learn as an interior designer. Reviews will break down your service from the client's perspective, so you can see what aspects of your interior design service you can improve.
What to do when you receive a bad interior design review
Whether a beginner or an established interior designer, a bad review feels like a straight punch to the gut. Negative client feedback could make you angry, or even make you doubt your skills as an interior designer—this shouldn't be the case.
Regardless of what you're feeling in this moment, stay above your emotions. This isn't about you, it's about the work done on this particular project. This means that when the issue gets addressed, it can put your business in a better spot moving forward.
Here are the do's and don'ts of how to handle negative client feedback as an interior designer...
Don't make excuses
The first step is to not get defensive. Sometimes designers either deny the experience, pass the blame back to the client, or ignore it altogether.
The last thing you want to happen is to unknowingly dismiss your client's feelings just to protect your own. This leaves an impression to potential clients that you don't value their opinions if it does not align with yours.
Do take responsibility for your actions
When you receive a negative review from an interior design client and get that urge to respond and defend yourself—pause. Put yourself in the shoes of your client and try to understand their side.
After, you can write an appropriate response. Apologise and thank them for their honesty, validate their experience, briefly state your side of the story, and conclude with a plan of action.
Don't respond rudely or curse them out
Sometimes, you'll encounter toxic clients who like to strike below the belt. They intentionally provoke you to gauge an unprofessional reaction.
Because your feelings may get in the way, you may fall right into their trap without knowing it. So how should you reply to rude comments?
Do respond professionally when you receive a rude review
Do not try to 'match' their energy or respond just as sarcastically. Any rude behaviour, even as a defence, will hurt you more than them. It makes you look childish to potential clients.
Don't ignore or edit the review
Some websites and social media platforms give you the authority to edit or delete reviews. This is particularly helpful if you want to censor private information or if the review is too long.
For this reason, it can be tempting to just delete or rewrite a bad review to keep that 100% satisfaction rating—but will it let you sleep soundly at night? Maybe not so much.
Do respond honestly and immediately
Even with the power to manipulate what's seen on your page, you can't change the fact that it did happen. Doing so will only stir confusion among clients and will decrease the trust they have in you.
The only thing you can do is censor any foul words or derogatory remarks. Then, make sure to respond as quickly as possible to prevent looking like you're avoiding the issue.
Don't take it to heart
A negative review is an opportunity to learn, not to beat yourself up. Don't let one or two negative client reviews take away your crown. Otherwise, you might miss the sea of opportunities life has to offer.
Do learn from your mistakes
Think about how to channel negative reviews positively into your career. What areas do you need to improve on? How do you resolve these issues? How do you make up for it?
If you're at a dead end, you can always reach out to fellow interior designers or seek the help of an interior design mentor.
The takeaway
At the end of the day, constructive criticism from clients is an integral part of the journey to becoming a more successful interior designer. By channeling negative client reviews the right way, they can be used as valuable lessons that help you to grow and improve as an interior designer and as a business owner.
Resist the urge to make excuses, respond rudely, or edit or ignore the review. Instead, take responsibility for your actions, respond professionally, and focus on self-improvement. Only you know your own worth and potential, use these reviews as a catalyst to improve the quality of your interior design business.
Looking for a way to enhance your influence as a British interior designer? Let this be your sign to apply for UK's top design awards!
Every year, the UK design industry celebrates excellence in interior design through a series of prestigious awards. They showcase excellence in all areas of design and help new and existing interior designers thrive.
With a design award under your belt, your interior design career is set for success. Apart from prestige, you also extend your influence with extensive publicity. Find out which British interior design awards you should apply for and how they can help your career.
Benefits of design awards to interior designers
The interior design industry presents design awards to recognise unparalleled talent in the industry. Applying for design awards is an exciting journey to grow your interior design career.
Three ways applying for an interior design award will benefit your career as an interior designer:
Increases brand visibility
Winning, or even participating in an interior design award will attract media attention. It is common for participants to receive press attention and have their work published across top interior design trade publications. With this much exposure, you don't need to look for projects; projects find you.
Enhances your reputation
Design awards are your 'bragging rights' for brilliant interior design innovations. They validate your industry expertise and bring value to your name. When greeted by an award-winning designer, clients know they're in good hands!
Drives the industry forward
Design awards feature the best breakthroughs in interior design. Think cutting-edge technologies, unique concepts, and groundbreaking innovations from rising and established interior designers. If your a designer innovating in your field, people need to know about it.
Top 5 design awards for British interior designers
International Design Awards (IDA)
Entry fee: Starts at $80
Featured categories:
- Interior Designer of the Year
- Residential Interior Design
- Workplace Interior Design
The International Design Awards (IDA) is a community of designers, thinkers, and entrepreneurs who sought to fill in the lack of recognition in the design industry way back in 2007. Now, they're on their 17th year of celebrating excellence!
IDA welcomes works within the last five years from interior designers, clients, and students! Winners receive a specially-made trophy and a feature on the main page of the IDA website.
London Design Awards
Entry fee: Starts at $119 + $30 annual fee
Featured categories:
- Mix-Use Building: Residential and Commercial
- Intelligent Homes
The London Design Awards is an international competition hosted by the International Awards Associate (IAA). IAA is committed to moving the industry forward by recognising existing and new talents.
The event is open to designers from all categories and professional backgrounds—even hobbyists are welcome! Apart from a certificate of recognition, winners will be promoted on the London Design Awards' website for 5 years.
BIID Interior Design Awards
Hosted by: British Institute of Interior Design (BIID)
Entry Fee: Starts at $138
Featured categories:
- Interior of the Year Prize
- Anna Whitehead Prize
The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) aims to advance interior design excellence in Britain whilst adhering to an environmentally-responsible system.
If you're shortlisted, your project will be visited by expert jury members for a thorough inspection. Winners will receive a trophy, a digital badge, and exclusive brand coverage and PR opportunities.
SBID International Design Awards
Entry Fee: Starts at $277 + $55 admin fee
Featured categories:
- CGI and Visualisation
- Kitchen, bedroom, and/or bathroom (KBB) Design
The SBID International Design Award is one of the most sought-after design awards by British interior designers. It's the first interior design award that obtained a GOLD Standards Award Trust Mark from the Independent Awards Standards Council.
The SBID International Design Awards welcomes entries from all across the world. Apart from the coveted trophy of excellence, winners also receive extensive media coverage, free access to After Party networking, and an invitation to SBID's exclusive networking event Meet the Buyer.
Design Week Awards
Entry Fee: Starts at $326 + VAT
Featured categories:
- Exhibition design
- Hospitality interiors
- Wayfinding and Environmental Graphics
Design Week is well-known as the UK's top weekly design magazine, but it is also host to one of the most desired design awards in the UK.
Work submitted to the Design Week Awards will be critiqued by a jury of over 50 esteemed design experts. As a winner, you will be featured on the Winner's Showcase, receive a Design Week Awards lightbulb trophy, and enjoy once-in-a-lifetime PR opportunities!
The best marketing strategy for interior designers is simple: let your clients speak for you!
Beautiful photographs of your interior design work and a well-designed website will catch a prospective client's attention. However, client testimonials will convince them to seal the deal. Feedback from real clients is reliable, personal, and offers great insight into what a client can expect from working with you.
We've created a guide to help you ensure you receive detailed and productive feedback from your interior design clients. This guide will show you how to use that client feedback to effectively improve your services and advertise your interior design business. Read on to learn how to ask for client reviews as an interior designer and how to use client testimonials in your marketing.
This article will explore...
- The importance of client testimonials in establishing credibility and attracting prospective clients by providing reliable and personal feedback on your interior design services.
- Practical steps for collecting client testimonials, including choosing the right time, selecting the best mode of communication, crafting clear and concise questions, and expressing gratitude and respect for the feedback received.
- Effective ways to use client testimonials in marketing your interior design business, such as displaying reviews on your website, sharing feedback on social media, and incorporating testimonials into printed promotional materials to enhance your reputation and reach.
Importance of client reviews to interior designers
Client testimonials are quotes from past clients that describe their experience with your interior design business. Positive reviews boost confidence and serve as excellent marketing content. Constructive criticism from clients highlights areas for you to improve as an interior designer, helping you grow and refine your services.
A collection of positive client testimonials is a powerful marketing tool for your interior design business. Here are three key benefits of client testimonials for interior designers...
Build a positive reputation
You don't grow a good reputation overnight. It is a long and continuous process of showing the world your potential.
Client feedback establishes your credibility. It assures potential clients that you're a skilled interior designer and can deliver their dream vision. The more positive reviews you have, the stronger your reputation becomes. This makes it easier to bag ideal clients and projects!
Increase your client conversion rate
Client reviews directly impact your client conversion rate. Prospective clients trust testimonials from your previous clients, making them more likely to choose your services.
Improve your service
Client feedback is crucial for service development. Constructive criticism is invaluable for growth. There's nothing more appealing than an interior designer who listens to their clients!
Testimonials help you identify improvement areas as an interior designer, from client communication to project management.
How to ask for client feedback as an interior designer
Great client reviews are a game-changer for your interior design business. So, how do you get them?
The most important rule when it comes to collecting client testimonials is that your attitude matters more than the method. Remember, you're asking a favor. Be polite, grateful, and accept feedback with an open mind.
Here are four steps to help you collect excellent client reviews as an interior designer...
Step 1. Choose the right time
When should you ask for client reviews? Don’t wait until the project is finished for feedback. Maintain open communication with your client throughout the process. This allows you to address any issues immediately, rather than waiting until it's too late.
However, collect more in-depth feedback at the project's end. Give your client time to settle into their new space before following up with a testimonial request.
Step 2. Pick a mode of communication
If your client agrees to write a testimonial, decide how you'll collect their feedback. You could arrange a face-to-face meeting, a phone call, or provide them with questions digitally.
As their interior designer, you should know your client's preferred mode of communication. Do they like emails? Are they less tech-savvy and prefer paper forms? Or do they find forms a hassle and prefer talking in person? If you're unsure, just ask!
Step 3. Craft your questions
When drafting questions for your client feedback forms, ensure they are clear and concise. The clearer your questions, the better the client feedback. Ideally, a feedback form should take no more than ten to fifteen minutes to complete.
Personalize your questions, especially if you’re asking for a testimonial from another professional. Here are some effective questions:
- What did you like most about working with me? This question will highlight your strengths as an interior designer, both creatively and in project management.
- Would you recommend me to others? Why or why not? This assesses your client's satisfaction and can reveal areas for improvement.
- What could I have done better? This helps identify service gaps that need addressing.
Step 4. Be grateful and respectful
After receiving a client testimonial, whether positive or negative, always express your gratitude. Saying thank you goes a long way in strengthening your relationship with clients and leaves a lasting, positive impression.
Lastly, seek your clients' consent to use their testimonials in your marketing content. Most will agree, but some may prefer to remain anonymous. Either way, respect their decision as an interior designer.
How to use client reviews in your interior design business marketing
Now that you know how to collect great client testimonials as an interior designer, it's essential to use them effectively in your marketing. It's time to put your client reviews to good use! Here are three ways to leverage client testimonials to promote your interior design business.
Display client reviews on your website
The first place to showcase your glowing client reviews is on your website. Create a dedicated client testimonials page or integrate feedback across your site. For example, include quotes from clients next to images of your projects in your portfolio.
Share client testimonials on social media
A significant percentage of people seeking interior design services search social media to find the right interior designer. Your social media presence must reflect your brand effectively. Feature client testimonials prominently on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms where you promote your interior design studio.
Highlight the best reviews by pinning them to the top of your feed. This way, it’s the first thing viewers see when they visit your page. Update frequently to keep the content fresh!
Add testimonials to your printed marketing materials
Enhance your promotional materials by adding impactful quotes from clients. Extract 1-2 of the most compelling sentences from client feedback and feature them on your flyers, brochures, and other printed marketing materials. Remember, don’t rely on a single client testimonial; showcase a variety to appear more reputable.
The takeaway
As an interior designer, client feedback is crucial to the growth of your business. Testimonials can shape your services and highlight areas that need improvement.
When requesting feedback, ask specific questions and make it easy for your clients to respond. Positive testimonials are invaluable marketing tools for your interior design business—share them widely.
As a wedding planner, one of your most effective marketing strategies is the positive feedback from your previous wedding clients. Prospective clients want to hear about the great experiences of other couples who have worked with you and feel confident that you can deliver the same magical experience for them.
Even though your clients leave their weddings with the utmost gratitude, they don't always leave you a review. Your happy couples quickly return to busy, newly married life and leaving a review can often slip their mind.
This is why you need an easy process to follow up with your clients and encourage them to leave you a glowing, informative review that you can use in your marketing. Client testimonials should decorate your wedding business website, your social media, and, possibly, printed for marketing material.
This is a guide to gathering high-quality client testimonials for your wedding business and using client feedback in your marketing. Ready to begin?
Why client testimonials are important for your wedding planning business.
Wedding planner testimonials are a free and effective marketing tool. Your visual portfolio catches the eye of prospective clients, your outstanding client reviews will help to seal the deal. Client testimonials offer insight into your ability and professionalism as a wedding planner, allowing potential clients to use your wedding planning service.
As well as being a great marketing strategy, client feedback is also an opportunity for you to grow and improve as a wedding planner. Even negative reviews offer a chance to learn. Consider all points made in your client feedback and use it to inform your process in the future.
How to collect feedback from your wedding clients
After the wedding day, it is a good idea to drop your clients a message. In this message, you can wish them well and thank them for trusting you to create their beautiful big day. This is also the perfect opportunity to ask for their feedback on their wedding planning experience.
It can be daunting to ask for feedback, but having a positive and encouraging mindset can make it a lot easier. And the rewards are definitely worth it!
Timing is everything
Warning: do not follow up with your clients 2 days after the wedding! The newlyweds will be busy enjoying married life, jetting off on their honeymoon, or easing back into daily their lives.
The perfect time to send a message to your clients requesting their feedback is 3-4 weeks after the wedding. Now, clients will have more time to offer thoughtful feedback on your services and won't feel pressured by your request. If you don't hear back from your client, it is okay to send them a follow-up message after a few weeks.
If you're new to the idea of client testimonials, don't be afraid to reach out to old clients long after the 3-4 week period has passed. As a nice touch, perhaps you could send your message on their anniversary as part of your celebratory message.
Make it easy
Your couples are doing you a favour by offering you their feedback, so you should make the process as easy as possible for them.
- Be clear and concise in your request for feedback but ensure your client knows they are under no obligation to do so.
- How do you want to receive the feedback? Via Whatsapp, email, or the communication method you used throughout the process is likely easiest for your client. Alternatively, you could think about investing in a client testimonial template to make the process super smooth and professional.
- If you'd like your clients to leave feedback on an external site such as Facebook or Google, provide them with a direct link to do so.
- Provide prompts to help your clients write their testimonials.
Offer guidance
Writing is not everyone's cup of tea. Some of your clients might not know where to start with their testimonials. Some might leave a lovely message but fail to offer useful feedback.
To get the best client testimonials, prepare specific questions and prompts for your couples to answer. Here are some.
Some questions to start with:
- What made you choose our wedding planning business?
- Did we meet your expectations in planning your dream wedding?
- Will you recommend us to your friends and family?
You can also prepare a form or templates they can just fill up. This way, you'll sort out all the feedback in an organised manner to highlight and share.
Where to Post Customer Testimonials and Feedback
Once you get your reviews, maximise them. Don't let it rot in your storage space, make sure to post it . However, it is crucial to ask for your client's consent before posting anything (as mentioned before).
Wedding planning business website
Your website is your portfolio. It contains all the evidence of your beautiful work as a wedding planner, so make sure to back it up with amazing testimonials.
Client feedback serves as a testimony to your competence as a wedding planner. Place it where people can see it, especially on your home page. You'll be surprised at how impactful client feedback is for other prospective clients choosing their wedding planner.
Social media
Most newly engaged couples find their wedding planner on social media page. When visiting your page, you want people to have instant access to glowing feedback from your previous clients.
On Instagram, you can use your highlight stories for easier clicks. You can also make them pinned posts on your Facebook Page. You could even use client reviews to produce new content for TikTok.
The takeaway
Client feedback for your wedding business will provide you with a whole range of benefits. Positive testimonials from your couples serve as a powerful and cost-effective marketing tool that can catch the attention of prospective clients, ultimately helping to seal the deal.
Beyond their role in attracting new clients, these testimonials offer crucial insights into your professionalism and capability as a wedding planner, aiding potential clients in making an informed choice.
Starting a career in the creative industries is a daunting experience, a little like skydiving out of a plane. If launching your career as a creative is skydiving, then consider a creative mentor your parachute. A mentor is an experienced professional in your creative field who will guide you through your early creative career with invaluable insights, honest feedback, and introductions to industry connections.
Luckily for you, there are a vast amount of amazing mentors covering all aspects of creativity, so finding one is just a digital networking platform away.
Having a mentor as an emerging creative is invaluable. They provide guidance, wisdom, and industry insights only experts know. Mentors also offer support, share experiences, and help develop crucial skills, all of which help you navigate difficulties and locate opportunities.
Follow this guide to connect with the right creative mentor for you.
What is a creative mentor?
A creative mentor is someone who is "a few steps ahead of you" in the industry. They are well established in their chosen creative field and have first hand experience of all the industry has to offer—the good and the not so good.
Just like the cheat code in your favourite game, a creative mentor helps you level up faster in your career. Creative mentors help you to use your existing talents to your advantage, whilst expanding your overall skillset. They can offer guidance and emotional support when you face challenges and can help break down barriers into the creative industry by introducing you to a network of connections.
In a way, the relationship between you and your mentor will be a collaborative one—they share their expertise and you share your passion and fresh ideas.
How do I choose the right creative mentor for me?
There are many factors to consider when looking for a creative mentor. A suitable advisor should be a good match on a personal level, as well as professional. Here are some questions to ask yourself before searching for a creative mentor:
- What are my goals for this mentorship? Be clear on what you want your mentor to help you achieve.
- What are my specific areas of interest? It is wise to pick a mentor who has experience in this niche.
- What makes me work best? Do you respond well to critique or are you looking for a more nurturing mentor?
With the right pairing, you and your mentor can work collaboratively towards your long-term vision and bring your creative career to life. Above all, remember to listen to your intuition when selecting a mentor.
Discover the best creative mentorship programmes
Find your dream creative mentor in one of these digital networking platforms:
Creative Mentor Network
Creative Mentor Network supports socio-economic diversity by connecting young emerging creatives to dedicated mentors.
The Creative Mentor Network exists to provide support for under-represented creatives in the industry. Their mentorship comprises three programmes:
- Bespoke: for larger enterprises
- Break the Wall: for small businesses and freelancers
- Accelerate: 1-1 sessions for entry-level talents.
The mentorship programme promises to equip mentees with a network of professional contracts, a growing portfolio, an enhanced skillset, and an understanding of the creative industry landscape.
Shadow to Shine
Shadow to Shine is a London-based charity networking platform that offers training and mentoring programmes for young creatives. Shadow to Shine empowers emerging creatives aged 16 to 24 as future leaders of the industry.
The mentorship programme is conducted virtually and can be flexible to allow for a range of schedules.
Re:create
Re:create is a straightforward networking platform, allowing young talent to connect with "super talented mentors" from all around the world.
Re:create hosts a huge bank of industry experts from a diverse range of creative fields, comprising everything from food stylists, to copywriters, to game artists. Whatever your aspirations, you'll find a role model eager to support you on Re:create.
Merit
If you're a creative working in the tech space, Merit is the platform for you. Merit mentorship programmes includes career advice, interview training, industry insights, helpful feedback, and potential employment referral.
ADP List
Find a creative mentor with ADP List.
Finding the right mentor is easy with ADP List. Smart filtering capabilities allow you to browse mentors by their field of work and other important factors such as experience level, specialities, and language. Get to know each of the suitable mentors using their in-depth profiles and reviews from previous mentees.
The takeaway
Engaging with a creative mentor is a great way to take your career in the creative industries to the next level. Whether you're a budding event stylist, or an aspiring interior designer you'll find a wealth of industry talent willing to show you the ropes.
When deciding on a mentorship, be sure to consider your personal goals and the learning style that works best for you.
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