We recently connected with Julie LaBruna and have shared our conversation below.

Julie, appreciate you joining us today. What can you share with us about the story behind how you found your key vendors?

My most reliable method for establishing vendor relationships involves visiting furniture markets. There are four major furniture markets held twice a year, with the largest taking place in High Point, NC. These markets are exclusive to trade professionals, and historically, the majority of attendees were retail buyers, but now more than 60% are interior designers.

The event lasts four days, and I usually adopt a different strategy for each visit. My main objectives include reconnecting with existing vendors, meeting representatives to explore new offerings, attending educational seminars, sourcing for ongoing client projects, and identifying new vendor resources. Depending on the year, I might prioritize educational sessions or focus on discovering new vendors. With High Point spanning 13 blocks, featuring over 2,000 vendors and 11 million square feet of showrooms, it’s crucial to have a well-planned approach, as it’s impossible to see everything.

I aim to establish vendor relationships that will best meet my clients’ needs. Important considerations include high quality, competitive pricing, a diverse range of items, and strong customer support. I seek assurance that when I purchase on behalf of my clients, the vendors will address any issues and stand firmly behind their products.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My academic background is in Accounting, and I spent over 20 years in the corporate finance and accounting sector. Most of my corporate career was spent in management roles, including Controller and Senior Vice President of Finance. However, my true passion has always been in all types of designing including my own home renovations and decorating, parties and charity events. For several years I volunteered my time as the Design/Auction Chair for the RDK Melanoma Foundation for the annual event held at The Breakers in Palm Beach. It was a natural step for me to combine these two interests and launch my own interior design business. I believe my strong foundation in business and leadership is essential for effectively running my company. I truly see this as my calling and have no regrets about the journey that led me here; each experience has been a valuable lesson.

Currently, Sunny Interior Design provides a variety of residential interior design services to clients in West Palm Beach, Florida and nearby areas. Whether you need comprehensive renovation design and project management or simply want to refresh your space with new furniture, window treatments, paint, art, and lighting, our team is ready to assist you.

At Sunny Interior Design, we adopt a collaborative approach for every project. We work hand-in-hand with our clients to grasp their vision and craft a space that aligns with their individual needs and preferences. Our team is committed to keeping up with the latest design trends and techniques, ensuring that every project is carried out with the utmost expertise and creativity.

We take great pride in our meticulous attention to detail and dedication to quality. From the initial design concept to the final installation, we aim to surpass our clients’ expectations, delivering a space they can truly call home.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

My family and friends strongly urged me to launch my own interior design business, but I was still hesitant about leaving my corporate career. After months of researching how to start a design business while maintaining my current job, I shared my thoughts with a friend, expressing that I was seriously considering taking the plunge. She encouraged me and mentioned she wanted to renovate her home and update her furnishings, asking if I could assist her. We spent our evenings and weekends selecting materials and vetting contractors through trial and error, managing to find some excellent ones, along with a few that weren’t so great. When it came to purchasing furniture, I bought wholesale and applied the knowledge I’d gained from online courses and visits to High Point Market. Although her project spanned several months and I didn’t charge her a design fee, the experience was incredibly valuable and boosted my confidence in my abilities. To further solidify that I was making the right choice, I entered one of my completed designs into a design contest held by one of my top vendors, The Uttermost Company, and I won 2nd place out of thousand of entries! I reduced my corporate work schedule to just a few days a week while growing my interior design business, and it didn’t take long for me to make the complete transition—since then, I’ve never looked back!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I feel incredibly fortunate to reside in a wonderful community featuring over 1,800 homes. Our area is thriving with home sales and ongoing development. Many of the residents are seasonal and own multiple properties, which creates excellent opportunities for renovations while my clients are away. My business has expanded primarily through word-of-mouth referrals within the community and recommendations from past clients. Additionally, I promote my services in a local community magazine and maintain a professional profile on a prominent home improvement online platform, which generates a healthy number of client leads.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sunnyinterior.design
• Instagram: www.sunnyinteriordesign8
• Other: Houzz:https://www.houzz.com/pro/julie-labruna66/__public