Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michele Frigon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Michele, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?
What is now “DesignerLink” was evolved from a small group of Interior Designers that would meet Bi Monthly as a support group. But in March of 2020 (COVID) everything changed. The Business of Interior Design was exploding and Trade Partners were trying to reach Interior Designer (safely) and Interior Designs were buried and trying to access their Sources.
This small group evolved into “Designers in the Driveway” and we brought in over 6 Trade Partners to show materials. Interior Designers started to join our group, as they needed more access as well. It was then, that the realization that a Local Interior Design Community as well as a Vehicle for Trade Partners to cast their net wide and far was much needed. The next year, we turned this into a Membership Based Business and created a Larger Mini Trade Show featuring up to 10 Lines and our Membership Grew. TODAY, DesignerLInk has over 70 Members on the NorthShore and we Partner with over 70 Trade Partners from Larger Established LInes , to Independent Represented Lines, to Boutique Lines. In the Fall of 2024 we are expanding the concept to the Western Suburbs of Chicago and we have our Eye on growing the concept to Chicago and also Denver Colorado.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Michele Frigon and I am founder of Michele Frigon Design LLC and DesignerLink. I have been in the industry for over 25 working in Model Home Design, Corporate Interiors and now Residentail Design. As founder of DesignerLink, I saw a need for the connection and collaboration not only between Interior Designers but also our Trade Partners and our Interior Design Community.
DesignerLink is an Interior Design Community. We create our community through Monthly Design Collectives (or mini Trade Shows) and Social Events. Our Monthly Design Collectives bring 12-14 of our Trade Partners closer to our Interior Designer Members studios to create opportunity to source convieniently and efficiency for their businesses and bring sources to them they might otherwise not see.
We also offer Social Events to help Interior Designers connect with their peers. We more recently have integrated an Interior Design Business coach in guest speaking opportunities. Finally we offer an Interior Designer Member Portal that offers a Community Chat, Listing of Industry Events Around Town, Garage Sale (for oops and overruns) as well as a listing of all our Partnering Trade Partners . Now DesignerLInk is not only a community for Interior Designers, but it is a Communtiy for our Trade Partners and COMING soon we will be offering Membership and benefits for our Partnering Trade Partners as well. More to come
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
DesignerLInk has been a labor of love for the past 8 years. Something that. has organically grown from about 5 Interior Designers to now 70. Along the journey of evoloving DesignerLink, I certainly have run into many nay sayers and individuals that question what you are doing and what your mission is. There were times, that I considered closing down DesignerLink. However, I was convinced that this was valuable and I pushed on…..I realized during this journey that everytime I am confronted with some form of resistance or challenge, it is a “sign” that I need to push even harder.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Honestly, my mission has always been to support Interior Designers & Trade Partners and help them create more efficiencies & profitability in their business. For Interior Designers, I want them to be able to source quickly and have access to potentially more then they might normally have time for in a regular day. So many Interior Designers work on their own and I want them to feel like they are supported and part of a community, and know they are not alone. For Trade Partners I want to help them Cast a Wider Net and access more Interior Designers as the industry has grown it is just hard to call on everyone. Additionally, I would like to give them the opportunity to connect with their peers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designerlinkcommunity.com
- Instagram: designerlinkcommunity
Image Credits
Robin Subar Photography – Portrait
Kathleen Virginia Photography – Image of the Show