Ewa Doherty on starting and scaling with an exit strategy

Text me and tell me what you think of this ep. Starting an interior design business with an exit strategy — rather than building it to keep forever — is one of the most overlooked approaches to studio setup. In this episode, regional NSW designer Ewa shares how she built her supply selection and B2B builder service with saleable IP in mind from day one: documented systems, transferable processes, a packaged service model, and zero dependence on her personal creative genius to deliver results.──────────────────────────CHAPTERS──────────────────────────0:00 How finding a podcast on a cruise ship changed the trajectory of a grief-filled career pivot4:30 Why Ewa started her interior design studio with an exit strategy — and where the idea came from10:00 What transferable skills from freight logistics and global sales actually do for a design business16:45 How to get interior design work from builders in a regional area — the exact outreach method26:00 Should you do B2B builder relationships or wait for residential clients?33:20 Why Ewa passes 100% of trade discount and charges a procurement fee instead39:45 How to price interior design services when you genuinely don't know what you're doing yet46:00 What was harder than expected: the social media problem, and why she stopped caring52:30 Outsourcing SketchUp, lighting design, and floor plans — what to hand off and how to price it58:00 How Ewa operates a portable, regional design studio from a motorhome──────────────────────────RESOURCES MENTIONED──────────────────────────→ Programma project management software: programma.app→ Studio Build — 6-week AI implementation intensive for interior designers: [link]→ Studio CEO — 12-week business coaching programme for interior designers: [link]──────────────────────────ABOUT RHIANNON LEE──────────────────────────AI strategist for Australian interior designers. Former Oleander & Finch. Creator of the Studio Suite — Studio Learn, Studio Build, and Studio CEO — operational AI implementation for design businesses, not productivity theatre.→ Instagram: @the_rhiannonleeThanks for listening to this episode of "Designing Success: From Study to Studio"! Connect with me on social media for more business tips, and a real look behind the scenes of my own practicing design business. Grab  more insights and updates:Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/oleander_and_finchLike Oleander & Finch on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/oleanderandfinch For more FREE resources, templates, guides and information, visit the Designer Resource Hub  on my website ; https://oleanderandfinch.com/Ready to take your interior design business to the next level? Check out my online course, "The Framework," designed to provide you with everything they don’t teach you in design school and to give you high touch mentorship  essential to having  a successful new business  in the industry. Check it out now and start designing YOUR own successTHE FRAMEWORK  ( now open)  https://www.oleanderandfinch.com/the-framework-for-emerging-designers/Remember to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Your feedback helps me continue providing valuable content to aspiring interior designers. Stay tuned for more episodes filled with actionable insights and inspiring conversations...