Think Christmas decorating is a December hustle? Think again. Holiday Pros: Master The Business of Christmas is the podcast for professional holiday decorators and designers who are ready to build a real, year-round business — not just a seasonal side gig. Hosted by Heather Lundervold, founder of Christmas Design Institute and a 25-year luxury holiday design veteran, and Lindsay Sutherland, business systems strategist and co-founder of Biz in a Box Solutions, this show pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a profitable, scalable holiday decorating business. Every episode, Heather and Lindsay bring you real talk — no fluff, no gatekeeping. Whether you're thinking about starting your first decorating business or you're a seasoned pro ready to scale, you'll get the strategies, systems, and honest conversations that move the needle. Topics include: pricing and deposits, building and managing your team, client acquisition, contracts, CRMs, networking, inventory, off-season planning, and so much more. This isn't just a podcast. It's your year-round business mentor — showing up every week so you're ready when December arrives.
Holiday Pros | Mastering The Business of Christmas for Interior Designers, Lighting Professionals, and Holiday Decor Business Owners
Claim This Podcastby Lindsay Sutherland
Podcast Overview
Think Christmas decorating is a December hustle? Think again. Holiday Pros: Master The Business of Christmas is the podcast for professional holiday decorators and designers who are ready to build a real, year-round business — not just a seasonal side gig. Hosted by Heather Lundervold, founder of Christmas Design Institute and a 25-year luxury holiday design veteran, and Lindsay Sutherland, business systems strategist and co-founder of Biz in a Box Solutions, this show pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a profitable, scalable holiday decorating business. Every episode, Heather and Lindsay bring you real talk — no fluff, no gatekeeping. Whether you're thinking about starting your first decorating business or you're a seasoned pro ready to scale, you'll get the strategies, systems, and honest conversations that move the needle. Topics include: pricing and deposits, building and managing your team, client acquisition, contracts, CRMs, networking, inventory, off-season planning, and so much more. This isn't just a podcast. It's your year-round business mentor — showing up every week so you're ready when December arrives.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/28/2026
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Recent Episodes
July 23, 2026
Pick Your Price Point: The Smart Way to Structure Your Holiday Design Business
<p>Not all Christmas clients are created equal — and that's actually a very good thing.</p><p>In this episode, Heather and Lindsay break down one of the most practical topics for anyone building a holiday design business: the difference between budget clients and luxury clients, and how to decide which lane is right for you. Spoiler — the answer might be both.</p><p>Heather pulls back the curtain on how she structures jobs at every price point, from a two-hour tree install that pays $1,000 with nearly 100% profit, all the way up to five-figure luxury projects for names like Fox Broadcasting. And she makes a compelling case for why new designers shouldn't write off the budget client — because four of those in a day is four thousand dollars, and that math hits different when you're just getting started.</p><p>They also tackle the question Lindsay gets asked constantly: what if I love the business side but I'm terrified of the design side? Heather's answer is simple: the Designer for Hire program exists exactly for that reason. You don't have to be the one holding the ornaments to run a profitable Christmas business.</p><p>From reverse-engineering your income goals to understanding the rental model, knowing when to send a designer instead of going yourself, and building a business that fits your lifestyle instead of the other way around — this episode is packed with the kind of straight talk that actually moves the needle.</p><p>Plus, Heather announces the six-week certification kicking off August 3rd — and for podcast listeners, there's a special discount you won't want to miss.</p><p>The Christmas Design Institute was founded by Heather Lundervold to help you become an interior Holiday Designer.</p><p><strong>Choose Your Path:</strong></p><p>Path 1: Become a certified decorator and join the designer-for-hire program</p><p>Path 2: Launch your own Christmas Business.</p><p></p><p>Explore both at <a href="https://www.christmasdesigninstitute.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasDesignInstitute.com</a></p><p>Christmas Callers was founded to solve one problem - Helping Holiday Professionals land commercial contracts. We pull lists, enrich data, and baby sit leads all to help you be in the right place at the right time.</p><p>Book your consultation with us now at <a href="https://christmascallers.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasCallers.com</a></p>
July 16, 2026
The Done-For-You-Christmas Business
<p>The decorating is the fun part. The invoicing, the taxes, the "wait, did I even get paid for that?" — that's the part that burns people out.</p><p>This week, Lindsay Sutherland and Holiday Heather Lundervold break down exactly how to get paid without the headache: the three job types every decorator needs to know (install only, install + supplemental decor, full design), how to price and invoice each one, and the sales tax rules most business owners get wrong.</p><p>Heather also opens up about 26 years of running her business on Google Docs and a notepad — and why this is the first July of her career she isn't panicking. Plus: details on the six-week certification launching August 3rd for anyone ready to build a real Christmas business this season</p><p>The Christmas Design Institute was founded by Heather Lundervold to help you become an interior Holiday Designer.</p><p><strong>Choose Your Path:</strong></p><p>Path 1: Become a certified decorator and join the designer-for-hire program</p><p>Path 2: Launch your own Christmas Business.</p><p></p><p>Explore both at <a href="https://www.christmasdesigninstitute.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasDesignInstitute.com</a></p><p>Christmas Callers was founded to solve one problem - Helping Holiday Professionals land commercial contracts. We pull lists, enrich data, and baby sit leads all to help you be in the right place at the right time.</p><p>Book your consultation with us now at <a href="https://christmascallers.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasCallers.com</a></p>
July 9, 2026
Pricing Your Services: The Things Nobody Tells You
<p>Last week we covered the basics of pricing your holiday decorating services. This week, Lindsay and Heather go deeper — into all the things most new decorators forget to charge for, and exactly how those overlooked costs quietly eat your profit margin alive.</p><p>In this episode of the Holiday Pros Podcast, Heather Lundervold draws on 26 years of trial and error to walk through the hidden costs that don't show up in a basic estimate: storage, delivery, trailer wear and tear, packing time, tax planning, and the two extra hours on both ends of every job that most designers never bill for. Lindsay brings her business consulting background to the table to explain why pricing per project often protects you better than hourly billing — and how the "rule of thirds" can keep your cash flow healthy no matter how big your season gets.</p><p>They also tackle one of the most common early-career mistakes: celebrating a $12,000 job before calculating what it actually cost to deliver it.</p><p><strong>In this episode you'll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>How to price storage — even if you're using your own garage</li><li>Why delivery and pickup labor can add up to four unbilled hours per job</li><li>The "rule of thirds" for managing your money as a self-employed decorator</li><li>Package pricing vs. hourly: when to use each and how to protect yourself either way</li><li>How to present a three-tiered proposal so clients can choose their own investment level</li><li>Why asking for a "budget range" (not a budget) changes the conversation immediately</li><li>How taxes can blindside new business owners — and what to do about it</li><li>When to charge the same hourly rate for yourself as your install team (and when not to)</li><li>Why Biz in a Box Solutions has a done-for-you system that walks you through every stage from first call to final install</li><li>Heather's book in progress: Six Figures in Six Weeks with the Business of Christmas</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Upcoming Events — don't miss these:</strong></p><ul><li>🎄 <strong>Holiday Design Master Class</strong> — Scottsdale, AZ at Sherwin-Williams | July 17, 1–5 PM (4-part series: July, Aug, Sept, Oct) | christmasdesigninstitute.com</li><li>🎄 <strong>Christmas Expo</strong> — Dallas, TX | July 20–25 | Heather's 3-part workshop series July 20–22, conference July 23–25 with 12 design sessions | christmasexpo.com</li><li>🎄 <strong>Las Vegas Market</strong> — Last week of July | Las Vegas Market Center | Must have resale number; Heather's students can attend as her guest</li><li>🎄 <strong>HollyCon</strong> — International Conference for Holiday Design | St. Louis, MO | Feb. 25–28, 2027 | In conjunction with Transworld</li></ul><br/><p>The Christmas Design Institute was founded by Heather Lundervold to help you become an interior Holiday Designer.</p><p><strong>Choose Your Path:</strong></p><p>Path 1: Become a certified decorator and join the designer-for-hire program</p><p>Path 2: Launch your own Christmas Business.</p><p></p><p>Explore both at <a href="https://www.christmasdesigninstitute.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasDesignInstitute.com</a></p><p>Christmas Callers was founded to solve one problem - Helping Holiday Professionals land commercial contracts. We pull lists, enrich data, and baby sit leads all to help you be in the right place at the right time.</p><p>Book your consultation with us now at <a href="https://christmascallers.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ChristmasCallers.com</a></p>
12 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Holiday Pros | Mastering The Business of Christmas for Interior Designers, Lighting Professionals, and Holiday Decor Business Owners
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- What is Holiday Pros | Mastering The Business of Christmas for Interior Designers, Lighting Professionals, and Holiday Decor Business Owners?
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This podcast updates daily.
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