Posts by Gail Doby
Focus on Business Essentials
All businesses have their ups and downs, good times and not-so-good times. When business is lean, like now, two things will help you pull through. One, keep in mind that the present situation is only temporary. The good times will return. Two, use the time you have now to focus on the essentials, so when…
Read MoreWhen and How to Re-open the Office
As some states and municipalities begin to relax stay-at-home restrictions, employers have a big decision to make as to when and how to re-open their businesses. Two of their biggest challenges are how to ensure the workplace is safe and how to convince employees it’s okay for them to return. Maintaining social distancing measures and…
Read MoreStick to Guidelines to Qualify for Loan Forgiveness
Chances are if you’ve recently applied for a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) small business loan, you’ve yet to get a decision on your application or you’ve been told it’s on hold because the lender has run out of funds. Congress is now very close to approving additional funding to revive the program, this time with…
Read MoreHow to Apply for Federal Small Business Assistance
There’s been some confusion as to what, how and when designers can apply for assistance offered through the recently enacted CARES federal COVID economic relief bill. Here is some basic information to help you get started. Also, download a copy of The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act, which contains more detailed information…
Read MoreHelp Available for Design Businesses
Photo Credit: Stark Photography These are challenging times for interior design businesses. As events currently are unfolding, we could be looking at months of disruptions, delays and disappointing sales. Don’t despair, though. Resources are available to help you, your team and your business weather this crisis. The federal government recently took steps to ensure that…
Read MoreDo You Have An Emergency Preparedness Plan?
News of business closings and supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 health threat is a reminder that every business should have an emergency preparedness plan. Aside from the sudden and wholly unexpected virus outbreak, extreme weather conditions in the past few years have led to more intense natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, floods…
Read MoreBoost Team Productivity
Effective time management is the key to maximizing productivity. At the end of the day, it’s not the amount of effort you put into your work but what you do with that effort that produces results. With so many demands and disruptions vying for our attention, the challenge for many of us is keeping ourselves…
Read MoreShould You Belong to an Industry Organization?
Photography by Emily Wilson Photography Maybe you’ve thought about joining an industry organization but felt the dues were too high, the benefits were too few, or you were too busy with other commitments to make it worth your while. Being part of an industry organization may not drive a lot of extra business to your…
Read MoreSetting Boundaries for Clients
You owe it to your clients to do your very best for them. You owe it to them to listen and be respectful of their needs and wishes. You don’t, however, owe them every minute of your day. For the sake of your productivity and sanity, it’s important to be clear with clients about how…
Read MoreDo You Have A Brand Or A Business?
By Gail Doby, ASID CVO and Co-Founder of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting Photo Credit: @bakerbroductions How do most of your clients find you? Do they seek you out, or do they happen to come across your work, along with that of dozens of other designers, through a random search? One of the biggest differences…
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