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7 paths to peak profits for interior designers
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesInterior design professionals can boost their bottom line and have a fantastic finish to 2014 if they follow seven simple strategies.
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Kitchen and bath trends for 2015: Subdued elegance with a dash of cheer
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWith the fall remodeling season well underway, the design media have now turned their attention to handicapping the hot design trends for the year ahead. In recent weeks, several reports have been released that provide insights into consumers' and designers' emerging preferences and priorities in kitchen and bath projects.
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Stop storytelling and start story‑sharing
Timothy Clark Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhen it comes to marketing, it's time to start differentiating your home improvement company from everyone else. And here's how to do it. For decades, home pros have told the story of their business. One company was founded by two brothers who learned the trade from their hard-working father. Another has been in business since 1946. This one has earned 17 major awards, and that one has a five-star rating.
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To LED or not to LED? That is the question
Pamela Tresp Facilities & GroundsAccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, commercial and institutional buildings, public street and highway lighting consumed about 274 billion kWh for lighting — roughly 21 percent of commercial sector electricity consumption in 2012. The October 2014 issue of LD+A magazine cited that total electricity consumed totals up to 461 billion kWh each year.
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2014 Halloween designs range from spooky to chic
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesThe air is getting festive, and if you are planning your Halloween décor then a quick look at the latest design trends is warranted. A recent survey conducted by the National Retail Federation and the International Council of Shopping Centers has revealed that consumers are set to spend anything between $7.4 billion and $11.3 billion this year for their Halloween shopping.
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‘Now’ is how to build your interior design business
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesInterior design professionals can't grow their profits simply by convincing prospects to buy. The key is convincing them to buy now. You compete with far more than your competitors when it comes to getting prospects to work with you now. You compete with those new cars that prospects want to buy. And those vacations they want to take. And those college tuitions they have to pay for.
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Immigrants boosting sales in the US housing market
Bambi Majumdar Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesAn eye-opening report released by Fannie Mae revealed new and rather unprecedented developments in the housing horizon. It seems that the homeownership gap between native-born Americans and immigrants has been steadily narrowing in the past decade.
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Narrowing the ‘green gap’ for homeowners
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesMarketing researchers call it "the green gap" — the difference between the universe of consumers who say they care about conservation and protecting the environment and the universe of those who act on those values when making purchases.
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Active design: A trend with legs
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAlong with ways to make buildings more sustainable and healthier, researchers, professionals and governments are looking at how building design can promote physical activity as well. Growing concern about the health risks and high cost of obesity, overly sedentary lifestyles and poor ergonomics has pushed active design to the forefront of emerging trends in the building industry.
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Is standing out a problem? Discover the ‘only’ solution
Fred Berns Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWhy you? That's the question on the minds of everyone you seek to influence. How well you answer that question determines how successful you'll become in your interior design career and business.
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