Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa LaPlaca. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Lisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

I do not work for extremely high end clients-it has never been my circle. Costs of materials-especially metal and wood skyrocketed during the pandemic and have not come down. Tariffs are affecting pricing now, especially with the amount of goods that are made in China. US labor is expensive and yet the best tradespeople are having trouble surviving, especially in California where I live. They often have to work multiple jobs and often still are unable to afford proper healthcare, a frightening prospect when working out in the field and potentially not able to take care of yourself if something should happen.

Lisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

After getting my degree in Interior Design at U of IL, I returned to my hometown of Chicago to look for work. I didn’t see anything listed except a warehouse opportunity for a well known design firm and applied. I was very fortunate-upon meeting me they decided to give me a design position instead of working in the warehouse-I was elated and so appreciative! Our primary work initially was model homes, and the housing industry was booming then, so we were non-stop busy around the US-NJ, NY, FL, MO, CA, and TX as well as Guatemala and Central America. Maximizing efficiency for small square footage was at the forefront in the higher cost markets, so designing built in furniture, utilizing “special effects” to maximize the feeling of openness and bringing the outdoors in, furniture placement and scale were very important. I love making areas as functional as possible for a customers needs, while keeping aesthetics and their budget in mind.
We expanded to doing commercial work, sales offices and clubhouses, as well as hotels both domestic and internationally. The model home work was a fantastic base as you were designing to a particular demographic for each design, so you were constantly flexing those creative muscles on how to freshly approach every project. I am lucky to have worked with so many clients, developers, contractors and buyers!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

While autonomously running an annex design office where we had hired a person a month for 13 months straight in a booming economy, our sales person approached some of our existing clients and very suddenly left the office one day, and did not return. We ended up closing the office, and I needed to find a new job. As soon as I picked up the phone I realized I could not do that-the independence I had found in directing many designers and project managers made me decide to go out on my own-it was a very good economic environment at the time, but not being a marketing person I was bold to make that choice, and fortunate to have found success in business!

Tips:
Make sure you have a solid signed agreement for any project, no matter how well you know the potential client.

Make a plan for the chronology of any project, and address those long lead time items first so you are not in a difficult financial position when the deadline approaches.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Treat absolutely every single person that crosses your path the same-with respect and kindness. No status. Be adult and direct if something needs discussion.
It is an art to be liked and respected by all those you have contact with-think of how you would like to be communicated with!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/lisalaplacainteriordesign
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisalagreenlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisalaplacainteriordesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-laplaca-9981272b/
• Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MB18W7BWwFDp6xFp6