Now is the Best Time for Starting a Nursery Design Business

Business Overview:

If you are an interior designer with an affinity for babies’ rooms, you should think about starting a nursery design business. It’s not a must that you be a professional designer but it will help you get your first few jobs. If you’re not a designer, you can still be a success with this business idea if you have a good eye for the latest nursery designs and décor. If you are a skilled designer working for a large design company, this is the perfect opportunity to go out on your own and showcase your own personal style and talents. The startup costs for this business are relatively low since your clients will purchase your supplies. You will need to purchase a few catalogs and fabric swatch books from manufacturers so your clients can show you their preferences in furniture, fabric styles and textures. Next you will need to design a marketing plan to get your business name out there to your target market. One way to find new clients may be to contact baby planners in your area as many of them do not offer design services. Your clients will be expectant parents or parents of young children. A new baby needs a special room with just the right crib, bedding, paint, mobile, accessories, etc. When a second baby joins the family, often the older sibling will need a new “big kid” room. You’ll want to have business cards with you at all times that you can hand out whenever you run into potential clients. Set up a website that outlines your services and your pricing. You should also put photos of your designs online to give your clients examples of your work. Once you have completed a few nurseries, word will spread throughout your community and you will soon need to hire designers to help you handle the work. At this point you can even look to local colleges, universities and design schools for internship programs in which the students earn college credit instead of being paid by your business. As long as people keep having babies, there will be a demand for professional nursery designers which makes this the perfect time to start a nursery design business.

A Day in the Life of a Nursery Design Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your schedule to see what appointments you have that day. You will gather your books and supplies and meet your clients at their homes to discuss their needs. You will then contact your suppliers to order large items (cribs, changing tables, etc.) and you will go shopping for smaller items. If you don’t have appointments and don’t have any shopping to do that day, you will spend your time marketing your business by placing ads in local parenting magazines and leaving fliers at baby stores around town.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be expectant parents and parents of small children who need expert nursery design services.

What You Need to Start:

• Interior design experience (or ability to hire designers)
• Website
• Portfolio
• Design books
• Marketing plan and materials

The Good:

• The demand for design services will always be high.
• Startup costs are low.
• You can charge top dollar for excellent design services.
• You can run this business part-time while you build your client list.
• It is truly rewarding to deliver the perfect room for a new baby.

The Bad:

• It can take some time to get your first few (paying) jobs.
• You may have to work with some challenging clients who are difficult to please.

Resources:

• Interior Design Society
• International Interior Design Association
• American Society of Interior Designers
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Interior Designers
• Wikipedia on Nurseries

About The Author

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