S7, E1: Mastering the Shift from E-Commerce to Design Sales with Nicole Lashae Ben

Welcome to the Season 7 Kickoff of the Thrive In Design Podcast with Nicole Lashae Ben! 🎉

In this exciting premiere episode, Nicole dives deep into the nuances of transitioning from e-commerce to commercial design sales—a significant shift that demands strategic planning, market insight, and a refined sales approach. Unlike the fast-paced world of direct-to-consumer sales, the design market operates on longer cycles, involves multiple stakeholders, and requires a deep alignment with industry standards.

Nicole breaks down what it takes to thrive in this specialized space, sharing actionable strategies for assessing product readiness, setting realistic goals, and leveraging tools to secure your place in the design segment. Learn how to not only get the spec but keep the spec—and transform it into a steady stream of recurring revenue.

Whether you're new to the design industry or looking to sharpen your commercial sales strategy, this episode is packed with insights to help you succeed.

Tune in to kick off Season 7 with Nicole Lashae Ben and take your first steps toward mastering design sales!

Key Highlights from the Episode:
[00:01] Introduction to the show
[02:23] A recap of 2024 and a sneak peek of 2025                                                [09:01] The inspiration behind today’s topic
[09:44] A case study: Expanding into different design segments
[13:22] What to consider when transitioning to commercial design sales
[14:03] #1Product readiness: Meeting design segment standards
[17:54] #2 Setting realistic sales goals and the metrics to focus on                           [26:10] Understanding the hospitality design segments                                                                                                               [26:37] Two practical tips for success in design sales 
[28:20] Wrap up and end of the show

Notable Quotes:

• "You have to do a deep dive into figuring out if your product is ready for a specific design segment when it comes to design sales."
• "Setting a sales goal in design sales is very different from setting a sales goal in e-commerce."
• "The sales cycle is much longer in design sales than in ecommerce."

Resources Mentioned

• Design Pool Patterns: https://www.designpoolpatterns.com/

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design:

• Website: thriveindesign.co
• Instagram: @thriveindesign
• Facebook: Thrive In Design
• LinkedIn: Thrive In Design

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here:
https://training.thriveindesign.co/

Get your copy of "The Ultimate Guide to A&D Sales" here:
https://www.thriveindesign.co/brand-reps

Read the Thrive In Design Insights blog for more in-depth strategies and expert tips: https://www.thriveindesign.co/our-blog