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

Nikki , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

In the beginning it was just me doing all of the tasks. I was the stager and mover, the contract creator and deliverer, the receptionist and the janitor like most small business owners. I started Home Staging while I had a full time job so this made it even trickier. As my business grew, I knew I needed help fast. For several years I volunteered at a ministry called Exodus Ministries where women coming out of prison or rehab go with their children and live for a year. As a participant in a leadership program, I was introduced to this organization and was there every chance I could volunteering my time. The idea came to me to hire one of the young ladies there. This would help me free up some time and give someone an opportunity to do something other than the normal jobs they are able to do with a background. I met with the Director and told her my plan. She brought a young lady in that day and I interviewed my first employee on the spot. This day changed both of our lives. If I was starting my business over today, I would hire her on day one of opening my business, no doubt.

Nikki , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started as a Marketing Rep for a chain of flooring stores for 10 years and I built relationships with Investors, Realtors and many other affiliates of the Real Estate Industry. When my twin daughters left for college, I decided that I needed a side job. Something that will help me pay for books for two university girls. I discovered the world of Home Staging. I started advertising to some of the groups that I was a member of that I had a Home Staging company and got business immediately.

We are a flat rate Home Staging company. That means as long as the house is on the market the furniture stays there for one flat fee and there are no monthly rental fees. This is what makes us so popular in our market and now in the Atlanta Georgia Market also. Staging helps a house sell faster and for more money which is everyone’s goal involved in the transaction. Our other service, since flooring is my background is flooring and remodeling. We have had the pleasuring of working in some of our Mavs players’ homes and many other wonderful clients. From Bathroom Remodels, Kitchen Remodels, Room Additions, down to one room of carpet we handle each job with care.

I am most proud of our upcoming show on HGTV called “Buy it Or Build it”. I think every designer’s dream is to have their work showcased on some platform. Our dreams came true in January 2021 when our clients Chris and Calvin Lamont (twin brothers) called and said they were doing a show on HGTV and wanted The Design Quad to be on the entire season. It will air this summer and we could not be more excited for the world to see our work on television.

The thing we want the community to know about our company is we go above and beyond for each and every job we secure. Our company is built on a base of integrity and everyone you encounter there will blow you away with their willingness to serve.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Growing a business is tough. Any business. Most people are going to say it’s building relationships with people that makes them raving fans and they will refer business to you. Which is true, but the thing I think really makes you stand out in this information age is establishing yourself as the expert in your field. I give classes on Staging and Design to agents and investors all over the country. This has been by far the best thing I could do for my business. If you can’t physically get in front of people, video is the way to go. People want information on anything. I’ve written articles, given interviews and spoken in front of thousands of people about what I do for a living, and they remember when my industry comes up in conversation.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Showing up everywhere and signing up for committees. In order to show someone that you are dependable you have to keep showing up. In our industry there are realtor meetings that happen all over town usually early morning for breakfast. When I first started going, I didn’t speak to anyone, but I kept going. After a while, I would pass out my card to the people at my table or I would find someone who looked easy to talk to and give them my card. As I warmed up, I had met everyone in the room, but I never missed a meeting. For about a year I went without a call. Shortly after that period, people started calling me regularly because now they knew I wasn’t going anywhere and that I was a dependable person.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedesignquad.com
• Instagram: @thedesignquad
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thedesignquad
• Linkedin: @thedesignquad
• Twitter: @thedesignquad
• Youtube: The Design Quad
• Yelp: The Design Quad

Image Credits
Scott Peek Photography, Unique Exposure Photography