228: Lindsay Olson I Honoring the Past and Embracing the Future

Today we welcome Lindsay Olson, owner and principal designer at Lulu Designs, based in Costa Mesa, CA. In this episode, Lindsay shares her journey from real estate to model homes, partnering with developers on spec homes and renovations, and ultimately launching her own interior design business. We also discuss the benefits of legacy clients and how they've shaped her diverse business model. Lindsay reflects on her 25 years in the business and compares the business of design then, now, and going forward.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

Lindsay shares how her early experience in real estate, house flipping, design school, and model homes helped shape her approach to interior design and entrepreneurship. We discuss the value of formal design education, real-world experience, and the many different paths available to today's design professionals. Lindsay explains how building a primarily referral-based business and prioritizing client relationships has created decades-long legacy clients and repeat projects. We explore how maintaining a low-profile business and protecting client privacy can be a powerful alternative to building a highly visible social media presence. Lindsay reflects on how technology has allowed her to operate a lean, efficient design firm while continuing to serve a large and diverse client base. We discuss pricing, profitability, and why Lindsay believes designers must value their expertise, communicate their fees clearly, and approach interior design as a business. Lindsay shares how she is evolving her marketing strategy, embracing social media, and stepping more fully into the role of CEO while honoring the foundation her business was built on. We talk about longevity in the design industry, adapting to change, continuing to learn, and Lindsay's definitions of survival and success after 25 years in business. NOTABLE QUOTES

"There's room for everybody, and I firmly believe there's room for everybody." "You have to value yourself and your gifts and your time and turn that into money. It's a profit. It's a business." "My secret to survival in this business has been to just keep going." "My personal definition of success is freedom." SUPPORTING RESOURCES

Lulu Designs Website: https://www.luludesigns.com/ Lulu Designs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luludesignsbylindsay/ Interior Design Diaries Podcast SPONSOR LINKS

Design Manager / Design Spec: https://designspec.com/survivalguide Interior Design Society: https://interiordesignsociety.org/