218: Nikki Watson | How $10 Built a Staging Empire

Today we welcome Nikki Watson, founder of The Design Quad—a staging, interior design, and renovation business based in Dallas, Texas. In this episode, Nikki shares how she discovered staging and how $10 and an Instagram post launched a career that would change her life. We also discuss the nuances of the staging business model, industry perception, and the logistics of it all. Most importantly, Nikki emphasizes how being of service is part of her personal and business ethos and the impact that "caring" has on her business and the community. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Nikki shares how her background as a flooring rep led her to discover the world of home staging. She explains the key differences between interior design and staging, including the psychology of designing for the masses. Nikki tells the story of how $10 in gas money from her mom helped launch her first staging job. Rick and Nikki discuss the scale of The Design Quad, including staging multiple homes per day and managing hundreds of homes' worth of inventory. Nikki shares how hiring people with strengths opposite her own helped her build a strong, efficient team. She explains how her partnership with a moving company grew alongside her business and became an essential part of her operations. Nikki highlights why stagers are major furniture buyers and why brands should pay more attention to the staging industry. She shares how community service is at the core of her business and how giving back has shaped her definition of success. NOTABLE QUOTES "It started with that ten dollars." "You really have to take yourself out of it." "I hire according to strength." "This is what success is. This is what you're able to do for your family or loved ones or something that they can only dream of." SUPPORTING RESOURCES The Design Quad Website: https://thedesignquad.com/ The Design Quad Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignquad/ Nikki Watson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnikkiwatson/ SPONSOR LINKS Design Manager: https://designspec.com/survivalguide Interior Design Society: https://interiordesignsociety.org/