Recession Proof Your Interior Design or Decorating Business
If you make your living as an interior designer or decorator the current economy has got to be hurting your business. When the economy is slow, many people who might otherwise hire an interior designer or decorator are forced to move such a ‘non-essential’ service to the bottom of their priority list. If you haven’t felt the pinch yet, brace yourself as your business could take a drastic nose-dive during an economic recession. Nobody really needs interior design services, especially in have-not times.
There’s also the fact that so many of your days are spent on the business-side of design; negotiating with contractors, waiting for deliveries to arrive, billing, gathering quotes, and so on. This is all time that doesn’t directly generate revenue for your interior design or decorating business, and when client billings are already meager, this can really hurt your financial situation.
Maybe you’re one of the many trained interior decorators who have ended up working in retail for a 100% commission. If the economy gets worse and you’re working purely on commission, where does that leave you? Even in good times, if you work for 100% commission you might as well be your own boss and have the freedom to market yourself to new clients rather than being tied to any one store.
When I decided to take the reigns of my life back and do something that would allow me to profit from my creativity, I considered a career in interior design. I struggled with that option countless times across a 20 year period when I was unsatisfied in my work. I researched, and even interviewed, many interior design schools in my “former life” but for some reason I never took the step to enroll. I decided with my BA, MBA and a couple decades of experience in business, being in a classroom for two to four years with kids 20 years my junior was not something I wanted to do.
Never mind tuition costs and the tremendous loss of income while you’re a student. Then who knows how many years of working experience as a designer or decorator would be needed after graduation to really start earning money. I wanted to unleash my creativity and love for decorating, but I definitely needed to start making money as soon as possible. So, I started my own home staging company.
As soon as my business was launched, the money was coming in. Within my second year as a home stager I was making up to ,000 per month. Compare that to the median annual salary of ,150 a year for an Interior Designer according to Salary.com this year. I’m very happy I trusted my instincts!
If you’re an interior designer or decorator and you aren’t making enough money, consider adding Home Staging to your service mix or switching to a more profitable career as a Home Stager altogether.
Here a few ways a home staging business can be more profitable than an interior design business:
• As a home stager you get the opportunity to work with different types of people than you would as an interior designer. Generally, only very high income individuals hire interior designers, which limits your target market. Home stagers work mostly with clients in the middle to upper income level which gives you a much larger percentage of the population to market to, and increases the number of projects available for you to work on.
• Home stagers enjoy a higher volume of projects than interior designers because each one is so short in nature. One interior design project might take months to complete (especially when you factor in the wait times to have upholstery done, or furniture delivered), but the average home staging project takes only a few hours or days. There’s no way I could have decorated hundreds of homes within a couple of years as a new interior designer, the way I did as a new home stager. With such quick projects, a home stager is able to complete (and get paid for) a significantly higher number of projects per year than an interior designer who often has client work on hold through no fault of their own.
• When the economy is slow, people eliminate the non-essentials. Interior design or decorating isn’t really high on the “essential items list” especially when choices need to be made about what to give up, and there’s no real deadline to redecorate or renovate a room. In uncertain times, interior design moves way down on the priority list, while home staging move up. No matter how slow the economy is or how much the real estate market has declined, there will always be people who absolutely have to sell and move by a certain date. Divorce, job relocation, job loss, mounting debts, a death in the family or a birth often get people to put their house on the market even if it isn’t the best time to sell. When a homeowner is desperate to sell their house, a home stager will often be involved since the seller stands to make a handsome profit from their services. When people have less time, less money or less equity in their house, they need a home stager so they can get whatever they can out of the sale of their home! As a home stager, your creativity and talent for decorating will serve you well in slow economic times and slow real estate markets.
I especially love the amount of creative freedom I get as a home stager. Because my clients know I’m decorating their home to sell and not for them to live in, I am able to execute my creative vision without their interference or taking their taste into consideration. I can’t imagine wasting hours sitting with a client who can’t decide which color they want for their bathroom, or which fabric to pick for their drapes. My clients don’t care what I choose as long as their house will sell quicker because of it. Besides that, my home staging business is extremely profitable which every entrepreneur wants.
If your interior design business isn’t doing as well as you hoped, it’s not too late to make a change towards living a more creatively fulfilling career that is also more profitable. Do some research into the home staging field. It’s a career that is virtually “recession-proof”.
Money Saving Tips When Shopping for Home Appliances
Check for mail in and instant rebates. Many manufacturers, retailers, and state governments are offering rebates to entice customers into purchasing specific appliances. Appliance brands such as JennAir, GE, GE Monogram, and Thermador are offering attractive rebates that can save you thousands on a kitchen appliance package. Some are even offering free dishwashers with purchase of select appliances! State governments, for instance NJ, are offering mail in and instant rebates that can total up to 0. For especially keen savings, look for an appliance retailer that offers exclusive mail in rebates.
Look for package pricing. Many appliance stores, including Karl’s in New Jersey, offer special pricing when purchasing two or more appliances. Coupled with instant and mail in rebates this can add up to big savings of home appliances! Make sure you ask for package pricing if you think it may apply to your purchase…or maybe now is time to upgrade that other old appliance in your home too.
Sales taxes are ever increasing with some areas in the country at almost 9%. Often, if you purchase from an appliance store outside of the state you reside in you can avoid paying sales tax which can be a great way to save hundreds. Check your states laws however, as some if not all states require you to report the purchases you did not pay sales tax on and pay when filing your state income tax return.
Choose an appliance retailer wisely. You may get a great price but if the delivery is not what you need (some retailers will just drop an item at your curb), then the savings may cost you more in the long run. Karl’s Appliance, for instance, offers inside delivery (to at least a garage) nationwide and white glove delivery including removal of old disconnected appliances is standard locally in New York and New Jersey.
Power Tool Safety Equipment
Power tools make the projects we engage in much easier to accomplish. These projects can be at work, home, or the office. Regardless of the setting or the project, power tool safety is something everyone needs to abide by. While power tools are very helpful, they are also sharp. Serious injury and even death can occur if you don’t use them properly.
While most businesses require employees to use the right safety equipment when operating power tools, there is nothing to regulate this process when you use them at home. Many individuals fail to use the proper safety equipment because they don’t want the added expense of purchasing it. Have you seen the prices of power tool safety equipment? It is less expensive than the cost of a medical visit. Others choose not to use safety equipment because they are in a hurry or because they are very comfortable using particular power tools.
The specific safety equipment you will need depends on the power tool you are operating. Each instruction manual will have information on the recommended safety equipment you should have on when you operate that power tool. There are several common safety items you should have readily available.
Safety goggles are essential. There is always the chance of dirt, debris, or fragments of materials getting into your eyes. Sometimes saw blades break and pieces fly into the air. Protecting your eyes is very important. Heavy duty work gloves are good to have if you are working with any sharp objects including sheet metal. A full face shield will protect even more when you are using certain power tools.
The proper clothing is very important too. It is a good idea to wear long sleeves to prevent burns and cuts, but make sure that the clothing isn’t too loose. If it is, you risk it getting tangled up with the power tool. Tuck in shirts and only wear clothing that fits you properly. Pay attention to your shoes as well. Make sure they have a non-slip sole. For some power tools, it is a good idea to wear steel toed boots while operating them.
Some power tools are very loud. You will want to wear ear plugs or other ear protection. Hearing loss is a serious issue, and you should do all you can to maintain your current hearing level. A respirator is a good idea if you will be working with any power tool that creates dust including sanders and routers. It is a good idea to make sure you have a source of fresh air getting into your work area as well. A respirator ensures you won’t be inhaling harmful chemicals or dust that is generated.
Power tools definitely are fun to use and reduce the time it takes to complete a project. However, it is essential that you take the time to wear the proper safety equipment when you operate them. The investment is well worth saving your from injuries or even death. It doesn’t matter how careful you are, how many times you have used the power tool before, how big of a hurry you are in, or how small of a job it is. Accidents involving power tools happen in a split second, so do your best to prepare for them.
Choosing Replacement Windows
Replacement windows for your home can be significant investment in both time and money. There are many manufacturers, window types and styles, and a wide price range from which to choose, and the decisions you must make can seem endless. Which manufacturer should you go with? Do you want aluminum windows or vinyl windows? Should you choose hurricane impact resistant windows or non-impact windows with hurricane shutters? What about double pane-thermal insulated or thermal insulated with hurricane impact resistant glass? How can you take advantage of the new Energy tax credit of up to ,500.00? Of course, as you make these choices you’re reminded that buying windows is like buying anything else: the more items we put in our ‘cart’, the higher the price. Choosing the right windows and a reputable company to install them for you can take a lot of time and homework, so here is some helpful information to get you well on your way.
Choose a Window
Before you decide on a manufacturer, it’s important to find the right window that fits your needs and wants. Not all manufacturers make all types of windows, so choosing a window first prevents you from being limited to the windows in any given manufacturers’ line.
When deciding on the perfect windows, take a little time to decide which features you need for your situation and which benefits you want to include in your new window purchase. A must for many homes here in Florida is hurricane impact windows. As opposed to single-pane windows with hurricane shutters (or boarded up with plywood), hurricane windows are always ready to protect against high winds whether you’re home to put up the shutters or not. Impact windows not only provide much needed protection during a storm; they can also be very energy efficient — some of our brands can save you as much as one month of electricity. Another benefit is security against home burglary, a rapidly increasing crime in these economic times. The same shatter-resistant construction that protects against hurricanes also prevents thieves from breaking into your home through your doors and windows, giving you total piece of mind.
Another important consideration in choosing windows is that building codes in many areas of Florida now require impact resistant openings for your doors and windows. Furthermore, it is the shared opinion by many in my industry that with the way the insurance industry is headed in Florida, homeowner insurance will become very difficult or prohibitively expensive to obtain without having the window and door openings of your property “hardened” (i.e., installing impact resistant products). Hurricane windows are definitely worth the investment, and once you decide they are the right way to go, it’s time to make more decisions.
Choosing Frames
In Florida, some other considerations are whether to choose an aluminum frame window or vinyl. The majority of hurricane impact resistant windows are aluminum. It is stronger and therefore easier to build the window to the standards needed to obtain Miami-Dade product approval for the impact window rating. There are very nice vinyl impact windows on the market that do meet code requirements, however expect to pay a premium for them. The difference between aluminum frame and vinyl windows (besides the price) is that vinyl conducts far less heat than aluminum, making vinyl much more energy efficient.
When considering frame construction, keep in Read more
Today?S Emerging Trend Is Using Kitchen Cabinets
everybody is thorough about the significance of kitchen cabinets. Generally speaking, not only do kitchen cabinets provide you with an increased space to store items but it also adds to the beauty of the kitchen. if there is a Kitchen Cabinets in your kitchen you can store any type of utensils in them be it silverware, dishes and appliances. it really depends on the size and lays out of your kitchen it would be nice if the kitchen is having greater size because you can arrange your kitchen in an ordered fashion. Sometimes they are seen under sink, used for hiding pans and pots or sometimes at the top of sink, used for placing the wash dishes. are you getting bored by using your old kitchen?. for those who want to give a new appearance to the kitchen the exact choice is Kitchen Cabinets. There can be any reason as to why you would want to change the cabinets such as cabinets is damaged, specified lifetime has ended.
The RTA store now providing you kitchen accessories at very low price.Know more visit this link Kitchen Cabinets .
Although these are common solutions, they cannot provide for a solution to the physical damages on cabinet such as warped wood. if that is the case then it is hereby advised that choosing the discounted cabinet is the right thing.
If you are searching kitchen cabinets then do search for discounted cabinets . beware of the quality of wood from which the cabinet is made from it is also an important factor. Also, how expensive is the cabinet depends upon the type of wood used in manufacturing . cherry which
many of the cabinets available nowadays are of made from plywood. those who doesn’t want the original wood they can opt for plywood because it would look exactly like real wood. many other options are also available before you make youe buying
After you are done with purchasing, major task, which is left behind, is to fix it.If you have an experience in fixing then you can install it on your own otherwise hire an expert to do the job for you. If you are not having earlier experience then you are going to damage the wall and the cabinet too.Make sure that you remove the older cabinets carefully as well while installing the new ones.
The RTA store offering you best kitchen accessories for your kitchen at reasonable price so don’t bother to visit here Kitchen Cabinets.
Ultimate Solution For Your Kitchen Is Discount Kitchen Cabinet
It is very clear that kitchen is an indispensible part of your house.Your kitchen increases value of your home. It is a must that kitchen should be kept very tidy.Here “comfortable” means that every thing should be placed in its proper place, so that everybody at home can work in kitchen easily. For placing the things at right location, there is a need of cabinets. If you are not able to make new cabinets for your kitchen then you can go for discount kitchen cabinets. This will assuredly resolve your problem of placing the things in kitchen.
You may find unfinished cabinets in the market at discounted price.Mainly the selling of kitchen cabinets is accompanied wit lot of offers.Once the selection of basic cabinets is made, changing doors, painting cabinets, addition of other hardware to enhance the looks of your kitchen will be easy. The most important factor while considering “kitchen cabinet” is to keep in Read more
How Is Your Outdoor Decor?
Okay, to start: you’re the landscape architect – pull up a chair and let’s get to work! Let’s start by deciding:
What you want to use the space for.
This can be single or multi-purpose. Talk to everyone in the house and brainstorm together. You may want to keep the entire space in thick, green grass just for putting practice (single-purpose). Or you may want to have a space for the kids and another for adults (multi-purpose). Do you cook outdoors? Want a flower bed? How about an area for your pets?
The other thing that goes hand-in-hand with this is considering what you’re working with.
Is your land flat, hilly, rocky or full of trees?
How much sun/shade does Read more
Is Tap Water Safe for Bathing and Showering? Your Daily Shower Could Be Dangerous
Is tap water safe for bathing and showering? Now, that is a question you really need to think about. Sure, a lot of people think about their tap water and whether it is safe to drink, but could your daily shower really be dangerous?
No doubt you love your hot shower, but maybe you have started thinking about what all is in your water. That hot shower feels wonderful, but is tap water safe for bathing and showering when there are so many chemicals and other contaminants in water?
Well, let us take a look. First of all, you need to think about the makeup of the skin. Your skin has many pores. The pores of the skin allow your skin to breathe. The thing is, not only can the body release things through the pores, but things can be introduced to the body through those pores as well.
When you get in that warm shower, the warm water actually allows the pores to open up even more than normal. This means that the chemicals that may be in the water end up be absorbed through your skin. Those nasty contaminants may be entering your body through your skin, every single time that you get a shower.
This is why you should definitely be asking, is tap water safe for bathing and showering. There is a problem with you showering in water that is contaminated. Your body is being exposed to those chemicals and it could lead to a variety of health problems.
Not only are there many different contaminants in the water you bathe in, but chlorine, which is used to help treat the water, is dangerous as well. When you shower in the water, quite a bit of the chlorine is able to get into your water. In fact, you can end up with more chlorine in your body by just taking a shower than you would get if you actually drank the water.
As you take your shower, not only are you absorbing chemicals through your pores, but you could be inhaling them as well. The shower makes water vapor form, and this vapor can contain the chemicals too. As you inhale while you shower, you are inhaling these chemicals, which means you are getting a double dose of the contaminants that are in the water.
So, is tap water safe for bathing and showering? It may not be! While most people just add filters to their kitchen faucets so they can safely drink the water, they often forget that they are bathing in it. However, you can make your water safe for bathing by using a shower filter to make sure your water is clean and pure for bathing and shower purposes.
Green DIY Energy Review – Is Green DIY Energy Another Scam?
Afraid of being defrauded by the Green DIY Energy system? After going thru plenty of forums debating about building a working DIY energy system, I realized that there are lot of people that feel doubtful about it. I don’t blame them because there truly are a large amount of con men out there. However, after tested Green DIY Energy system, I can assure you that building a working solar cell isn’t difficult and cost less than you think.
Click Here to Download the Green DIY Energy System
Yes, I am a real customer of Green DIY Energy. I actually purchased their guide myself, for .97. You’ll find a lot of so-called “reviews” from people who haven’t even purchased the product themselves; how can one give an honest Green DIY Energy review if he or she hasn’t even purchased the solar panel guide themselves?
But, rest assured that I actually have invested in the Green DIY Energy kit and have will give you the REAL Pros and Cons of it. Let’s get to it.
The Green DIY Energy Review Pros:
Manuals and Videos are Top Notch – I feel that the I paid for the guide was a fair price for the amount of instruction they contain. I was very pleased with the manuals, and especially the series of how-to videos that walk you through the entire process. The manuals are well-written, easy for a layman to follow (I myself have no previous experience with solar panel construction, and found them very easy to understand) and contain clear illustrations and photographs of the components and construction processes they are describing.
The videos are my favorite part of Green DIY Energy. They are professionally done, and follow one man, the host, as he goes through the entire solar panel construction process. He introduces you to solar panels, goes over exactly what tools and materials you need, and then constructs his own panel, explaining everything he does.
Click Here to Download the Green DIY Energy System
The Green DIY Energy bonuses are Actually Worthwhile – I haven’t gone through every one of the bonuses that come with the purchase (there are 7 ebook bonues), but what I have read through so far is actually very helpful. The ebooks contain details about the wiring process, installation and discuss solar tax credits.
The Green DIY Energy Review Cons:
Where do I get the materials? Although the guide does a nice job of telling and showing me what tools and materials I need, I wish it would tell me exactly where to purchase the materials. I assume that most of them can be found at Home Depot or someplace like that, but it would be nice if they pointed me towards websites where I could compare prices.
No phone support – I would like if they had technical support via phone to talk to when I run into problems, which I’m sure I will (nothing is ever as simple as it seems!), but as of now, they only offer email support.
So there you have it, my initial Green DIY Energy Review. I’ll update you later on in the construction process, but as of now, I’m pretty excited about the project. I think I’ll be able to actually have my own solar panel system up and running in a few days!
Green Diy Energy Reviews Is Green Diy Energy Reviews Just another Review? My direct reply to this is No. When i write any review I’ve used the product”Period”. Is This just another renewable energy guide? Again the answer’s No.This guide is extraordinarilyy prime quality. This guide has also been selected as the best solar cell guide. This is really something you need to check out. The Green DIY Energy guide is a particularly detailed solar panel. Green diy energy gives you 7 videos that explain everything easily for you.
Click Here to Download the Green DIY Energy System
Manny Siaca Vs Danny Green Live Streaming
Manny Siaca vs Danny Green Live Streaming
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010 Venue: Challenge Stadium, Perth, Western Australia Competition: Cruiserweight
The Danny Green vs Manny Siaca bout will take place this April 14, 2010 live at the Perth in Wester Australia. The said Green vs Siaca bout is for IBO cruiserweight title. Danny Green will going to defend his IBO cruiserweight title against Manny Siaca.
This is not easy for Green to win because Siaca is more experienced and toughed fighter. Lets find out if who will win in Green-Siaca fight. Stay put and enjoy watching Danny Green vs Manny Siaca live.
Manny Siaca Record: 28 W 3 L 0 D 25 KOS Alias: Green Machine Weightclass: Light Heavyweight Stance: Orthodox Style: Boxer Height: 6′1″ Nationality: Perth, WA, Australia Date of Birth: March 9th, 1973
Danny Green Record: 22 W 6 L 0 D 18 KOs Weightclass: Light Heavyweight Stance: Orthodox Style: Boxer Height: 6′1″ Reach: 30″ Nationality: Toa Baja, Puerto Rico Date of Birth: November 21st, 1975
Manny Siaca vs Danny Green Live :Danny “Green Machine” Green, from Australia has a current professional record of 28 wins (25 by way of knock out, KO) and 3 losses. He’s the current IBO Cruiserweight Champion and he just came off a 1st Round Technical Knock Out win over Roy Jones, Jr., December 2009 before the Hopkins vs Jones 2 recently.
On the other side, Manny Siaca from Puerto Rico has a current professional record of 22 wins (19 by way of knock out, KO) and 6 losses. He’s a former WBA Super Middleweight Champion and his last fight was a 1st Round Knock Out win over George Klinesmith, March 2009.
The Danny Green vs Manny Siaca bout will be a cruiserweight division title match with Green’s IBO belt at stake.
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