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5 guidelines to get the 2016 goals you set
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThose interior design professionals who focus and follow through on the most ambitious goals often reap the biggest rewards. Designers can convert their goals into reality and achieve outstanding outcomes by following these guidelines for the year ahead.
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Proper diligence is key to a successful design merger or acquisition
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures2015 was a big year for mergers and acquisitions. Even large, well-established companies like DuPont and Dow Chemical are realizing they have to diversify and extend their sales and distribution channels to stay competitive in the global economy.
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New smart design appliances your luxury clients will want to have
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAmidst all the hoopla about virtual reality, curved TVs and roll-up computer screens, manufacturers also have rolled out new lines of luxury appliances during this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Combining elegant design with the latest gadgetry, they are sure to be on your clients' wish list when they hit the market later this year.
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Use a January letter to give yourself a raise
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesInterior design professionals should think of January as "show and tell" time — and a swell time to raise their fees. It's a time to connect with those you seek to influence, show them what you got, and tell them what to do. Let's have a design discussion, check out my Houzz site, review my new portfolio, read this blog post, have a look at that video, etc.
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Consumer trends interior designers need to watch in 2016
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesForecasters have crunched their numbers, scrutinized their focus groups and peered into their crystal balls. The results are lists of trends and megatrends that will shape events in the year to come. Among them are marketing and business trends pertaining to evolving consumer preferences, buying habits and sentiments.
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Kitchens that don’t look like kitchens and other trends for 2016
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesPerhaps no other room in the home has undergone such substantial change in recent years as the kitchen. Once the sequestered domain of cheery cooks and harried moms, it has moved front and center as the hub of the household. It is the place where families come together and guests congregate with their hosts — the gateway to the great space that has replaced the traditional separated dining and living areas.
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Self-selling is key to your interior design career
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesIf you're planning a career in interior design, you should promote yourself as if your career and your future depend on it. Because they do. Self-promotion skills are every bit as important, if not more so, than space planning know-how, remodeling acumen or color expertise. You can't overemphasize the significance of personal marketing in a highly competitive job market.
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What remodeling projects increase home value the most?
Thomas Jepsen Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhen remodeling a house, how much does a project increase the value of the home? This is a question most homeowners want answered before they start a remodeling project. Of course, homeowners won't just upgrade their homes for the increased value but also for the added comfort gained from the upgrades.
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When outsourcing design work overseas, do your homework first
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesSaving time and money are two good reasons to consider outsourcing rendering and other visualization tasks overseas. However, there's no guarantee you will save either, since the quality and reliability of overseas work varies widely. Before you entrust your designs and firm's reputation to an overseas company, it pays to investigate all your options.
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Remodeling activity on growth trajectory for 2016
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesRemodeling and design activity softened somewhat during the third quarter, but not enough to break stride. All sectors — architecture, interior design and remodeling — experienced an uptick in business in September, and reported positive demand for future business.
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