Episode 85 - Business Advice From Luann Nigara

1. INTRO

Today we are thrilled to bring a new guest to you. She is not only our friend and industry colleague but a woman we have learned a lot from over the years. LuAnn Nigara began her career more than 30 years ago as a co-owner of Window Works, an award-winning window treatment and awning retailer in NJ. Now she’s also the host of the top-rated interior design podcast called A Well Designed Business, is a highly sought after speaker and an author of two top rated books on well-designed businesses.

With so many of us reinventing ourselves and our businesses during the Covid crisis, we thought that now was the perfect time for us to have a lively chat with Luann. 

2. SPONSOR

Before we get started and say hello to Luann, we want to tell you that Episode 84 is sponsored by Currey & Company, our go to lighting, furniture and accessory manufacturer.  Currey & Company has not skipped a beat during the pandemic – their inventory is plentiful and they are shipping without delays.  When you visit their website curreyandcompany.com, we want to draw your attention to the Designer Gallery.  It is a wonderful way to see their products in situ and in particular a great way to check out the scale of each piece.  Currey and Company is very active on all social media platforms so check them out. 

3. ON WITH THE SHOW – WHAT’S YOUR WHY? 

So let’s jump into this episode and welcome LuAnn Nigara!

 The last we saw each other, we were sitting at a beautiful dinner in Napa, CA put on by Signature Kitchen Suites and Design Hounds. It was a blast! I remember you turning to us and asking us “What is your WHY?” 

As we are all navigating unchartered territories with our businesses during Covid 19, this seemed like a great place to start to allow our listeners to hear what you’re all about when you coach others.  

So what do you mean by What is your WHY? 

4. CHARGING YOUR WORTH

We were doing a photo shoot yesterday of one of our multi-family projects and our photographer was telling us how she’s branching out with new kinds of photography as helping designers with installations to keep  income coming in. She was explaining to us how she was recently asked to shoot an Airbnb for the ridiculous sum of $200 and obviously had to turn it down. 

You talk a lot about this subject so we would be interested in your business advice during these crazy times when everybody is desperate to keep their pipeline busy on how to maintain your value and continue to charge what you are worth. 

5. FLEXIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICES

Luann, your wealth of knowledge and gregarious, meaningful advice to our industry is so amazing. Your website is a treasure trove of insightful tools for a well-designed business. 

As we mentioned, you are a sought-after speaker and the queen of live events. With many of these events on hold right now, what solutions have you come up with for YOUR business? 

To Keep up with Luann and tap in to all she can offer you and your business, go to her website luannigara.com, tune into her podcast “A Well Designed Business” and be sure to purchase both of her books on Amazon – The Making of a Well-Designed Business and A Well-Designed Business, The Power Talk Friday Experts.  Thank you Luann!