LuAnn Nigara

LuAnn Nigara I help home decor pros create profitable businesses.
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LuAnn Nigara, keynote speaker, business stategist, host of both A Well-Designed Business and Window Treatments For Profit podcasts, co-owner of Exciting Windows and National President of the WCAA.

06/12/2026

In today's sponsored show, I sit down with William Kauker and Dawn DiGregorio, the passionate team behind Mr. Steam, industry leaders in the art of steam showers and next-level bathroom experiences. You already know how to design a beautiful bathroom. You know how to talk about a relaxing, welcoming space. But as it turns out, steam showers are more than high-end luxury add-ons. Join me as we discuss how steam rooms optimize how your clients live, how easily these units can fit right into a standard shower footprint without needing a massive room, and how to talk to your clients so you can confidently guide them before they even realize what they need.

Go to https://loom.ly/yH2S7r4 to listen!

“The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.” — Ralph Waldo EmersonLeadership isn't just about setting the ...
06/10/2026

“The speed of the leader determines the rate of the pack.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Leadership isn't just about setting the vision... It's about setting the pace.

Your team is watching how you communicate, how you handle challenges, how you follow through on commitments, and how seriously you take the standards you've set for your business.

That's why leadership isn't something you do occasionally. It's something you model every day.

The good news? You don't have to have all the answers. But you do have to be intentional about the example you're setting. Whether you realize it or not, people are taking their cues from you. 💚

This week an EW member got this text from a designer:Hi! We have a house that we need Hunter Douglas for. What is our di...
06/08/2026

This week an EW member got this text from a designer:
Hi! We have a house that we need Hunter Douglas for. What is our discount on that?

That is the whole text.

No mention of the project. No interest in the process. No conversation about expertise or ex*****on.
Just: what is our discount.

Here is what I told her to say back.

I'm sorry, we don't operate this way. All projects need to be field measured, discussed for the unknown details that might impact the project, and then they are quoted. Our services are white glove and high touch, which is much more than simply placing an order of product. We are happy to quote any project and would appreciate your business, so please let me know if we can help under these conditions.

Warm. Professional. Clear.

And here is the part most people miss.
That response is not a no. It is a defined door.

If the designer comes back curious about the process, that is a conversation worth having. She may become an excellent long-term trade account.

If she comes back asking for the ballpark anyway, you have your answer. Not because you decided at face value.

Because you gave her the picture and she was not interested in it.

That is the difference between skilled disqualification and lazy dismissal.

Final episode of When the Right Thing Gets Hard is live now. Go to https://loom.ly/e2CR3WU to listen!

One of the reasons I keep coming back to The Business of Interiors Community Summit is because it isn't just another eve...
06/08/2026

One of the reasons I keep coming back to The Business of Interiors Community Summit is because it isn't just another event.

It's a room full of people willing to have honest conversations about what it really takes to build a successful business.

The questions that matter most in business usually aren't the ones you can answer with a quick Google search. They're the questions that come from experience. The questions about mistakes, difficult decisions, profitability, leadership, and what actually works when things get hard.

That's what Rachel Usher has created with this community, and it's why I'm excited to be part of it again this year.

The theme is resilience, and we're going to talk about what that really means in business. Not just surviving challenges, but building a company that's strong enough to withstand them.

I'll be sharing two sessions: one on the non-negotiables of a resilient design business, and another on one of my favorite topics—profitability.

Because talent fills a portfolio. Strategy fills a bank account.

And if we're going to talk about building businesses that last, we have to talk about both.

I'd love to see you there. Learn more 👉 thebusinessofinteriors.co.uk/2026-community-summit

If something in your business feels harder than it should, there’s probably a reason.Before you assume you need to work ...
06/06/2026

If something in your business feels harder than it should, there’s probably a reason.

Before you assume you need to work longer hours, hire another person, or simply try harder, take a look at the process behind it.

Are you reinventing the wheel every time? Are clients asking the same questions over and over? Is your team relying on memory instead of a documented system?

More often than not, the problem isn't the people. It's the process. And the good news? Processes can be improved.

So the next time you find yourself thinking, "Why is this so difficult?" don't just push through it. Get curious. There may be a process gap hiding underneath the frustration.

I met Isabel Ladd on a panel at High Point last fall and knew immediately I had to get her on the show. She is a self-ta...
06/05/2026

I met Isabel Ladd on a panel at High Point last fall and knew immediately I had to get her on the show. She is a self-taught, Brazilian-born, Kentucky-raised maximalist who has built a business that is as intentional as her interiors — and she held nothing back in this conversation.

We talked about the handbook she sends potential clients before they ever get on a call with her, why she deleted over 50% of her portfolio, how being the loudest maximalist in polite, traditional Kentucky became her biggest advantage, and so much more.

Go to https://loom.ly/uVrd9sA to listen

A huge thank you to Oana and the team at OM Drapes Design, Sunbrella, and IDS Orange County for having me in sunny South...
06/04/2026

A huge thank you to Oana and the team at OM Drapes Design, Sunbrella, and IDS Orange County for having me in sunny Southern California! ☀️

You all know I love talking about the business behind your beautiful work — systems, leadership, profitability, and the decisions that help you build something that truly supports your life.

And that's exactly what we did yesterday.

Thank you to everyone who came out, asked thoughtful questions, took notes, and tagged me in your photos and posts. I love seeing the event through your eyes afterward.

My calendar keeps me moving, so if you'd like to keep up with where I'm headed next, make sure you're following along here.

And if you have designer friends who aren't following yet, be sure to tag them below. You never know which event, conversation, or idea might move the needle in their business. 💚

Jason Saft is one of the most sought-after luxury stagers in NYC — staging multi-million dollar properties that sell in ...
06/02/2026

Jason Saft is one of the most sought-after luxury stagers in NYC — staging multi-million dollar properties that sell in weeks after sitting on the market for years.

But here's what you don't see on Instagram: the year he said yes to anything and everything, the studio apartment he staged for free, the nights working until midnight designing spaces, and the very clear boundaries he's learned to set (and break) along the way.

In this episode, Jason is pulling back the curtain.

Whether you're a stager, designer, or running any creative business, this conversation is packed with real talk about value, boundaries, systems, and what it actually takes to operate at the highest level.

Listen now: https://loom.ly/uyI_pbg

Not every season is meant for constant growth. Some seasons are about strengthening foundations. 💫Refining your systems....
05/31/2026

Not every season is meant for constant growth. Some seasons are about strengthening foundations. 💫

Refining your systems. Tightening up your processes. Getting clearer about your priorities. Creating more stability behind the scenes.

And sometimes, those quieter seasons are the very thing that prepares you for the next level of growth when it comes.

So if things feel a little less “go go go” in your business right now, don’t assume you’re falling behind. You might just be building something stronger.

The client experience starts long before install day. Honestly, it starts before a client ever speaks to you.It starts w...
05/30/2026

The client experience starts long before install day. Honestly, it starts before a client ever speaks to you.

It starts with your website. Your social media. Your newsletter. The way your business presents itself when someone is quietly deciding whether or not they trust you enough to reach out.

And then it continues through every interaction after that.

The first email.
The discovery call.
The walkthrough.
The follow-up text message.

Every touchpoint is telling your client something about what it feels like to work with you.

That’s why client experience is not one big moment. It’s the accumulation of a hundred small ones.

So here’s your Saturday reminder: take a look at your business through your client’s eyes. What experience are you really creating? 💚

Address

34 E Northfield Road
Livingston, NJ
07039

Telephone

(973) 535-5860

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