We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Justine Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Justine below.

Justine , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

The best boss I ever had supervised and mentored me throughout my internship. While in college, I had a summer internship back home, working for a small interior design company. My boss operated similarly to the way I operate with my business, in that she was the owner and lead designer. She hired on interns over the summers or during busy periods, and I had the pleasure of working with her one on one over the course of roughly 4 months. During this time, she equipped me with a wealth of design knowledge, tips and overall life advice. At the time, I was not sure what the trajectory of my career would look like once the time came, but I find myself still relying on the things I learned that year while navigating business now. I feel blessed to have received the opportunity I did, as it was unlike many other interns’. I was likened to more of an assistant, and spent the summer working side by side with my boss on home visits, site measures, consultations, organizing the office, drafting preliminary plans and furniture/material selections, to name a few. Up until that point, I did not feel as though I had enough hands on experience working as an interior designer, and this helped catapult my abilities, as well as grant me the confidence I was missing. She used every opportunity as a learning lesson, and I took notes the entire time. Her energy was warm, inviting, and nurturing, and she was no stranger to treating me to ice cream after a long day of work. Together we visited client’s homes, showrooms, and lunch and learns. We met some amazing fellow small business owners and tradespeople who had unique work perfect for the clientele we were serving. I got a healthy dose of professionalism 101 also, as we managed projects from start to finish, coordinating deliveries, installations and construction. A great amount of how I operate my business and manage my clients comes from her and what she taught me. I will always hold a special place in my heart for her and that summer.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

JustDesigns is an interior design company currently serving the Greater Cleveland area. We aim to conceive design that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, keeping the client’s needs at the heart of our focus. JustDesigns provides expert guidance throughout the entirety of the design process and doesn’t stop until our clients are 100 percent satisfied with the completion. We believe outstanding design is possible under a myriad of budgets, and we use our professional and trained expertise for execution. The owner of JustDesigns, studied Interior Architecture in college and has help multiple design positions residentially and commercially. Her experience from school, training, and work has equipped her with the necessary tools for this line of work. Our long term goal is to aid in tackling urban and areas of lower socioeconomic status, dispelling the misconception that only those of a high socioeconomic status are qualified for design services other than those of urgency. We understand the gravity proper infrastructure and aesthetic has on mental and physical well-being. We want to assist in combating these issues through our work. JustDesigns also has a business sector dedicated to repurposing old furniture with a resin twist, ranging from dining room tables and vanities, to floors and canvas art. Not only does JustDesigns strive to revamp your space, but to compliment it with your own special art piece as well.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy I have found for growing clientele is increasing the amount of face to face interactions I have regarding my business and word of mouth referrals. In a world where social media is the pinnacle of life as we know it, and so many people have been catapulted into success from going viral, I find solace in learning that my interpersonal relational and communication skills have taken me far. Getting to know my clients on a one-on-one level, remaining personable and honest has gotten me more word of mouth clientele. These clients are typically more eager and increasingly genuine in their inquiries. They know someone first-hand who can vouch for the level of quality work and professionalism I provide, and have seen the work I have done for their friend/family-member/colleague/etc. in person. While social media is an efficient tool for advertising and client growing, there is something to be said for face to face interactions that the internet cannot replicate.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I built my audience on social media thus far, by staying consistent. Staying consistent includes, the amount of posts and interactions I have weekly, the amount of times I repost/tag my business page from my personal page and directing my clients to my social media accounts. One of my favorite ways to gain clientele is through pop-up shops and showcases. While there, I am persistent with handing out business cards that has a QR code to take you directly to my pages, and I am sure to direct potential clients to my social media pages. I follow other businesses and am sure to interact with them, in hopes of developing a mutualistic relationship. The more I show an interest in their work, the more interested they are in mine. This also grows my business networking pool, meeting more people with likeminded interests as mine. The more people I meet, the larger my following. My advice to those just starting is to be consistent above anything else. The thought of posting “too much” or reposting the same content again can be intimidating and scary at times, but these are necessary steps for social media success. Work on reframing the way you view this; instead of being afraid you are annoying your followers, think about how important it is that those who may have not seen the post before see it now. Think about the impact that level of repetition can have for your growth and success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.justdesigns.net
• Instagram: @justdesigns_llc
• Facebook: JustDesigns, LLC
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/justdesigns-llc/
• Twitter: @justdesigns_llc
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustDesignsShop