What if you could hang out with experienced design professionals and entrepreneurs who have drive and vision, ask them about their successes and failures, and more; then take an insight or two to guide your own business journey? That's what we do each episode on Design Biz Survival Guide. Hosted by Rick Campos – recovering interior designer turned business coach with over a decade of experience in the design industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at how to launch, navigate, and grow your design business. The intention of this podcast is to inspire and empower designers with the tools and information you need to survive in the business of design.
Design Biz Survival Guide
Claim This Podcastby Design Biz Survival Guide
4.8(63 reviews)
219 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
Podcast Overview
What if you could hang out with experienced design professionals and entrepreneurs who have drive and vision, ask them about their successes and failures, and more; then take an insight or two to guide your own business journey? That's what we do each episode on Design Biz Survival Guide. Hosted by Rick Campos – recovering interior designer turned business coach with over a decade of experience in the design industry –– every episode is an in-depth look at how to launch, navigate, and grow your design business. The intention of this podcast is to inspire and empower designers with the tools and information you need to survive in the business of design.
Language
🇦🇦
Publishing Since
5/21/2018
1 verified contact email on file for Design Biz Survival Guide
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
June 1, 2026
219: 8 Year Anniversary Podcast Takeover with Jen Davidson
<p dir="ltr">Today we're celebrating our 8-year anniversary of the podcast with our annual podcast takeover. This year, the conversation is hosted by my friend and design community champion Jen Davidson of Interiors by Jen Davidson. In this episode, Jen leads the conversation, and we dive deep into the results of my Enneagram test. My personality type is revealed, and we discuss the corresponding characteristics that both surprised me and made perfect sense of it all. This conversation is a rare glimpse into the strengths and weaknesses that guide and challenge my personal and business journey.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SHOW HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick celebrates 8 years of Design Biz Survival Guide with the annual podcast takeover episode.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jen Davidson introduces the Enneagram as a personality tool that helps reveal the motivations, fears, and desires behind behavior.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick shares that his Enneagram results revealed he is a One wing Nine: the reformer with a peacemaker wing.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick and Jen discuss how perfectionism, integrity, fear of failure, and the inner critic show up in Rick's personal and business life.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jen explains how Enneagram numbers shift in stress and growth, and how understanding those patterns can create more self-awareness.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick reflects on how self-awareness can help entrepreneurs better navigate business challenges, creative blocks, and personal growth.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Jen shares how the Enneagram has helped her better understand herself, her clients, her team, and her business relationships.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick opens up about vulnerability, control, organization, and how his Enneagram results gave him a new tool for understanding himself as a coach and entrepreneur.</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>NOTABLE QUOTES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"The better we understand ourselves, I think the better we'll understand our actions and how we arrive at this endgame that we're calling success, whatever that looks like, it's different for everyone."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"I'm not a control freak. I'm a control enthusiast."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"Being vulnerable is actually a gift to others."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"Our business is so much of who we are. It's important to know these things and to understand yourself better, so that you can build a better business because we are not a product."</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SUPPORTING RESOURCES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Link to Eclectic Energies Enneagram Test:<br /> <a href= "https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test">https://www.eclecticenergies.com/enneagram/test</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Link to The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron:<br /> <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190/"> https://www.amazon.com/Road-Back-You-Enneagram-Self-Discovery/dp/0830846190/</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Interiors by Jen Davidson:<br /> <a href= "https://interiorsbyjendavidson.com/">https://interiorsbyjendavidson.com/</a></li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SPONSOR LINKS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Design Spec:<br /> <a href= "https://designspec.com/survivalguide">https://designspec.com/survivalguide</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Interior Design Society:<br /> <a href= "https://interiordesignsociety.org/">https://interiordesignsociety.org/</a></li> </ul>
May 18, 2026
218: Nikki Watson | How $10 Built a Staging Empire
<p dir="ltr">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.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SHOW HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nikki shares how her background as a flooring rep led her to discover the world of home staging.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She explains the key differences between interior design and staging, including the psychology of designing for the masses.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nikki tells the story of how $10 in gas money from her mom helped launch her first staging job.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick and Nikki discuss the scale of The Design Quad, including staging multiple homes per day and managing hundreds of homes' worth of inventory.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nikki shares how hiring people with strengths opposite her own helped her build a strong, efficient team.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She explains how her partnership with a moving company grew alongside her business and became an essential part of her operations.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nikki highlights why stagers are major furniture buyers and why brands should pay more attention to the staging industry.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">She shares how community service is at the core of her business and how giving back has shaped her definition of success.</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>NOTABLE QUOTES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"It started with that ten dollars."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"You really have to take yourself out of it."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"I hire according to strength."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"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."</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SUPPORTING RESOURCES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Design Quad Website: <a href= "https://thedesignquad.com/">https://thedesignquad.com/</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">The Design Quad Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/thedesignquad/">https://www.instagram.com/thedesignquad/</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nikki Watson Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/iamnikkiwatson/">https://www.instagram.com/iamnikkiwatson/</a></li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SPONSOR LINKS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Design Manager: <a href= "https://designspec.com/survivalguide">https://designspec.com/survivalguide</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Interior Design Society: <a href= "https://interiordesignsociety.org/">https://interiordesignsociety.org/</a></li> </ul>
May 11, 2026
217: Deb Mitchell | Marketing, Messaging, and Visibility Expert
<p dir="ltr">This is a special Industry Spotlight episode of Design Biz Survival Guide. This supplemental format is designed to highlight brands and partners that support designers both creatively and professionally. This is our way of sharing valuable information and resources for your business with you, our loyal listeners.</p> <p dir="ltr">Today we're speaking with Deb Mitchell, a marketing, messaging, and visibility expert based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode, Deb shares how she partners with interior design professionals to refine their messaging and boost their visibility to attract the clients they want. We also discuss Deb's behind-the-scenes exposure to the business of design, the most common marketing pain points that design business owners experience, and Deb breaks down what it looks like to work with her to develop a comprehensive and effective brand voice to grow your design business.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SHOW HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb shares how her background in writing and communications informs her marketing work with interior designers.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb explains why effective marketing requires both visibility and messaging that clearly communicates a designer's value.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rick and Deb discuss why so many designers struggle to articulate their elevator pitch and what makes their business different.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb shares how her behind-the-scenes experience inside a luxury design studio shaped her understanding of client communication and qualification.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb explains how reviews, portfolio projects, website copy, and social media can unintentionally signal the wrong type of client or project.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb breaks down why visibility does not always mean being on stage or constantly showing up on video.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb shares client success stories that demonstrate how refined messaging and positioning can attract better-fit projects.</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb outlines her process for working with designers, including her Pipeline Punch List deep-dive and strategic recommendations.</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>NOTABLE QUOTES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"If it's not effective, let's not do it."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"You need that third party to really translate between you and your clients."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"Not every red flag is actually red. Sometimes it's pinky."</li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">"There's a lot of confidence that comes from clarity."</li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>SUPPORTING RESOURCES</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb Mitchell Co. Website: <a href="https://www.debmitchellco.com/">https://www.debmitchellco.com/</a></li> <li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Deb Mitchell Co. Instagram: <a href= "https://www.instagram.com/debmitchellco/">https://www.instagram.com/debmitchellco/</a><strong id="docs-internal-guid-858ff7ea-7fff-9756-d73e-f878212e3b94"></strong></li> </ul>
219 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Business of Home Podcast
Business of Home, Dennis Scully
A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
LuAnn Nigara
Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay
Rebecca Hay
The Interior Collective
Anastasia Casey
Dear Alice | Interior Design
Alice Lane
Business of Design ™ | Interior Designers, Decorators, Stagers, Stylists, Architects & Landscapers
Kimberley Seldon
Only Girl On The Jobsite
Renee Biery
Lipstick on the Rim
Sony Music Entertainment
Trade Tales
Business of Home, Kaitlin Petersen
The Affluent Creative
Melissa Galt | Interior Design Business Coach
Damn Good Interior Designer
Cheryl Kees Clendenon and Liz Lapan
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Mel Robbins
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
DOAC
Let's Be Honest with Kristin Cavallari
Dear Media
Interior Design Business
Terri Taylor
Deep-dive analytics for Design Biz Survival Guide
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Design Biz Survival Guide?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.