Thrive In Design

S1,E9: Top Resources A&D Sales Reps Need To Succeed

Our guest today is Sasha Denisov, who is currently a Senior Sales Representative at Luton. 

 

After graduating with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Syracuse University in 2012, Sasha leaped into a career in the design and construction industry. In her current role at Lutron, her focus is on driving sales within the home automation market. Based in Toronto, Canada, Sasha works closely with the A&D community, builders, and contractors to offer lighting solutions in luxury residences. 

 

In this conversation, Nicole and Sasha discuss:

• Sales strategies for A&D representatives
• The best way to take a consultative approach 
• 3 resources level up your interpersonal sales skills

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Get in touch with Sasha Denisov 

Instagram: @_sashadenisov or @lutrontoronto | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashadenisov/

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design:

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

>>Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here.<<

S1,E8: Using Design Thinking To Yield Innovation with Chris Stulpin

On today's episode, Nicole Lashae Ben and Chris Stulpin dive into the topic of design thinking and how interior product companies can use it to yield innovative products, services, and strategies.

Chris Stulpin is the former Chief Creative Officer for Tarkett North America, a division of Tarkett. In this role, Chris led the design, product management, marketing and project management teams, driving the company’s innovation roadmap and customer experience journey. Currently, Chris works closely with the architecture and design community, IIDA and consults to many leading manufacturers.

As a leader of Design Thinking initiatives, Chris completed studies at the Paris School of Architecture’s D School. He also completed studies in innovation at the London Business School. His education has been the foundation of leading executive leadership teams in Design Thinking fundamentals. 

Chris is a member of thought-leadership communities including the Design Futures Council, IIDA Industry Roundtable and Trend Union. Chiris has even had the pleasure of designing ad campaigns for Barney’s NY and Giorgio Armani.

Hear Nicole and Chris discuss:

• The fundamentals of design thinking 
• How services can help interior product companies differentiate themselves from competitors 
• Why circular design is something to think about in the near future

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Connect with Chris Stulpin

Email: cdstulpin@icloud.com  | Instagram: @cdstulpin | LinkedIn: @christopherstulpin

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here.

S1,E7: DESIGN CHAT: How Two Designers Impact the Built Environment with their CASE Method

While serving as a hairstylist and makeup artist for countless brides, Jameelah Watkins discovered the beauty and ethereal nature of event design. She joined forces with her friend, Ebonee Clark, and the two of them began curating events. 

 

The women quickly realized that they formed a powerhouse. Their combined artistic insight made them successful with event design and, before long, interior design. With their passion kindled for design, they began creating beauty in spaces of all sizes. 

 

Jameelah and Ebonee both had an artistic upbringing, competing in art competitions locally and nationally in high school. After college, they tried pursuing other endeavors in life, but lifestyle design, through interiors and events, reignited their passion for art. Since co-founding Lauren Wesley Designs, the two of them have made it their goal to create beautiful works of art in spaces and experiences-and to help clients design a life they love.

 

Guests: Jameelah Watkins & Ebonee Clark, Co-founders of Lauren Wesley Designs

Website: https://laurenwesleydesigns.com/interiors  | Instagram: @LaurenWesleyDesigns 

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here. 

S1,E6: Three Things Every Interior Product Company Needs To Consider

Today we have Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, talking about the method she uses to help interior product companies implement modern sales strategies that get them noticed by more interior designers, get their products used in more projects, and systematically (and legally) steal business from their competitors. 

She’s sharing the top three things she hopes every interior product company starts to consider.  If you’re trying to increase your brand awareness and revenue, while still staying relevant in a digital age, this episode is for you.

Here’s what she shares:

1. How is your company appearing in the market? 
2. How is your team consulting designers? 
3. How is your company executing a sale? 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here. 

S1,E5: Innovative Sales Strategies for Contract Furniture with Peter Kesaris

On today's episode we have Peter Kesaris as a guest to discuss the past, present, and future of the contract furniture industry. Peter has spent the past 8 years in the interior products industry in the New York, California and Canadian Markets. He started his career in lighting and window treatments. Then, he shifted over to the contract furniture business working at both the dealer and manufacturer level.

 

Today, as the Director of Sales for Insidesource, Peter focuses on new business development and serves as the main point of contact for both clients and design firms. Peter also is active in industry organizations like Corenet, IFMA, and currently sits as the Chair of the IIDA NY Mentorship committee.

 

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Guest: Peter Kesaris, Director of Sales, Insidesource

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkesaris/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterkesaris/

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here.

S1,E4: Developing Interior Products In A Shifting Market with Traci Kloos

On today's episode, Nicole chats with Traci Kloos, the Vice President of Design and Development* for Koroseal Interior Products, about innovation and developing products in a shifting market. Traci has more than 25 years of design experience spanning both residential and commercial applications.

 

With a background in architecture and interior design, Traci began her career in residential design in the St. Louis, Missouri market. She joined Masco Corporation, on the KraftMaid Cabinetry brand team in 2000, as a member of their design services group. In her 14 tenure, Traci held positions as a Senior Designer, Design Manager and Senior Design Manager, where she and her team were responsible for all photography, PR, and trade show booth designs for the brand. 

 

In 2009, she accepted a role as Senior Product Designer on the Masco Cabinetry team where she focused on color development, trend analysis and all new product design introductions for the KraftMaid brand. She went on to join Tarkett North America as a Senior Design Manager before expanding into the Director of Design Marketing role in 2017.

 

In her 7+ years at Tarkett, Traci, and her team, led initiatives that connected design to the sales organization and customers through visual storytelling. She also tracked market shifts that drove color and style direction for the brand.

 

Traci joined the Koroseal Interior Products team in June of 2021, where she leads design and development for all manufactured wallcovering.

 

*NOTE: This episode mentions that Traci is the General Manager of Design and Development at Koroseal. She was recently promoted to Vice President.

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Follow Koroseal: 

• Instagram: @koroseal
• LinkedIn: Koroseal Interior Products
• Facebook: Koroseal Interior Products
• Twitter: @koroseal

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here.

S1,E3: Considering The Designer’s Experience During Specification with Nicola Casale

On today's episode, we have Nicola Casale as a guest on the show. An accomplished interior designer, organizational leader and executive, Nicola Casale is the Vice President of Yellow Goat Design (YGD), an award-winning lighting and architectural design company. 

 

Nicola has contributed to the growth and expansion of YGD’s North American division and launched the west coast branch in 2018.  

 

Nicola and Nicole, CEO of Thrive In Design, discuss some great topics including:

• How to design experience that keep coming back to an interior product company over and over again 
• How to lean in to digital experience and embrace shifts in the market 
• Some exciting things in the pipeline for Yellow Goat Design 

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Learn more about Yellow Goat Design

Youtube | Vimeo 

Instagram - @yellowgoatdesign

Linkedin – Yellow Goat Design

Pinterest – @yellowgoat

Twitter - @yellowgoatdsgn

Facebook - @yellowgoatdesignlighting

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here. 

 

S1,E2: DESIGN CHAT: The Design Process of a Commercial Designer with Tamara Archer

Raised in Brooklyn, NY with Trinidadian roots, Tamara Archer’s design aesthetic is inspired by different cultures, world travel, architecture, and nature. Exotic flair with an urban edge is her approach to creating beautiful timeless interiors. Tamara enjoys helping her clients improve the energy in their homes and businesses to find balance with designs that inspire, relax, rejuvenate, and recharge.

On this episode, Tamara shares more about her evolution in interior design, her design process for residential and commercial interiors, and what innovations she thinks are setting trends in the realm of interior products.

 

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Guest: Tamara Archer

Website: https://www.tarcherdesign.com/  | Instagram: @t.archerdesign

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here. 

S1,E1: The Inspiration Behind Thrive In Design

On the first episode, Nicole Lashae Ben, CEO of Thrive In Design, shares a little about her journey in the interior design industry, how Thrive In Design came about, and the methodology that she uses to help interior product companies increase their brand awareness and revenue.

 

Learn more about Thrive In Design

Contact: thriveindesign.co/contact | Instagram: @thriveindesign | Facebook: @thriveindesign

 

Register for the next Thrive In Design live training here. 

 

Trailer: Thrive In Design with Nicole Lashae Ben

The Thrive In Design podcast is specifically designed in help leaders of interior product companies consider innovation and the future of the interior design industry.

CEO and Founder of Thrive In Design, Nicole Lashae Ben, takes you behind the scenes of interviews with industry moguls talking about how they plan on exceeding revenue goals in a shifting market while also making a lasting impact on the built environment.