Interior Design Coaching Tip Of The Week – Cutting Costs In Your Business

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Posted on: 05-18-2009 by: Erin Weir

cutting_costsIt is so easy to think about the big ticket items to cut, and yet there are a few things you can do to increase your productivity and reduce your costs at the same time.

  • Invest in technology – faster computers cut your time to get things done. Donate your old machine and recycle responsibly.
  • Invest in software that automates processes within your business. I love Studio IT. It is designed for our business and it simplifies the whole process and you can get by with less employees. It is easy to learn and it is worth the investment.
  • Invest in education – the more you know, the easier your job becomes.
  • Learn how to chunk your activities – most waste in business has to do with time. If you do similar activities at the same time, you reduce your ramp up and ramp down time and you get more done more efficiently. Hmmm…more time to play and you can make more money in less time. Teach your employees this strategy.
  • Use couriers. Your time is better spent billing or learning or playing…pay a courier to do errands or tasks that aren’t necessary or high leverage activities. You’ll reduce your car operating expenses and time involved in underproductive activities.
  • Cut your advertising expenses and start social networking – it produces better leads more cost effectively.
  • Rather than throwing out paper if it is printed on one side, cut it up and use it for your notes.
  • Turn your file folders inside out or use a new label on them rather than throwing them out.
  • Buy a nice espresso machine instead of going to Starbucks…use real coffee cups and just see how much money you save.
  • Plan your shopping trips and errands so you do them all at once rather than a few each day. Better yet, have someone else do those for you so you can concentrate on higher leverage tasks.

Be sure to share your favorite cost-cutting tips.

PS – Remember, every time you post a comment, it links back to your blog when you list your URL or web address. This increases your Google page rank the more you comment on higher ranked websites. Post away…we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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  • http://faithsheridan.com/mydesignblog Faith Sheridan

    Erin, ‘Chunking’ has been very effective for me. I suggest it to other designers/bloggers often.

  • http://decoratingsista.com Celeste A

    Love the tips here are a few of mine.
    1. Save on shipping charges order as much as possible locally.
    2. Shop online at site offering free shipping.
    3. Big art savings buy art from students,visit art colleges be the first to buy a from them and help start their career.
    4. Give Clients cost effective creative gifts just for their space for referrals money is so not personal

  • http://thatgirldesigns.blogspot.com Ann Marie

    Good ideas! Let’s not forget the old brown bag. Eating out is so expensive, and usually not as healthy at making your own. Save eating out for one day a week, say Fridays, as a treat for you and your co-workers, employees, or clients.

  • http://www.kathleenellis.blogspot.com Kathleen Ellis

    Great tips, Gail…there are so many “little” things that really add up over time…good reminders!
    Happy Monday!
    ;-D

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    Thank you for your comment, Kathleen. It’s the combination of all of the little things that make big changes.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    Terrific ideas, Celeste. Thank you for sharing.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    That is so true…and instead of the brown bag, what about a good old lunch box? Luckily, our national headquarters is out of my home, so we eat here almost every day.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    It really helps, doesn’t it? It is much easier to accomplish more in less time because you aren’t starting and stopping. Every time you start a new activity, it can take up to 20 minutes to get in the flow of it. If you stop and check your email or answer the phone, it can take another 20 minutes to get back in the mindset of what you were doing.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    It really helps, doesn’t it? It is much easier to accomplish more in less time because you aren’t starting and stopping. Every time you start a new activity, it can take up to 20 minutes to get in the flow of it. If you stop and check your email or answer the phone, it can take another 20 minutes to get back in the mindset of what you were doing.

  • http://www.norasid.com Nora Ramsdell

    These are great tips not only on cutting costs but also becoming a little “Greener” : ) I cut costs this year by becoming a member of Restaurants.com and purchase $25 gift certificates (that I give to clients) for $2 !!!

  • http://www.ceilpetrucelliinteriors.com Ceil Petrucelli

    These are all great tips! I reuse/recycle office supplies & paper all the time; recycle toner cartridges at my local Staples and get a $3.00 credit on my “rewards” account for each one. Living in VT and not an urban area, I “chunk” my activities whenever possible to save time, money, and gas! I do online ordering and on line banking and bill paying whenever possible. I find creative ways to reuse/recycle/repurpose fabrics, trims, and found items into new products. I buy office supplies and equipment on sale whenever practical. I take advantage of various free teleseminars and webinars whenever possible to keep current and to learn about new things that interest me.
    I’ve been highlighting low cost/no cost decorating tips in my monthly newsletter for past few months. Readers have appreciated that I’m not trying to “sell” high end decorating & design options to them, but offering lower cost solutions in this challenging economy. I’ve also been bartering my services with some area businesses, too. I could keep going…. I have found that in this economic climate, we all have to be more creative in our thinking, look for new opportunities, remain positive, and learn as much as possible about ways to develop and grow our business in new & different directions.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    Thank you for sharing your ideas, Celeste. The more we can share with each other, the more we can all learn.

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    It really helps, doesn’t it?

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    I agree! We really cut back on eating out and it has helped the diet, too.

  • kathy martin-friesz

    Good Morning Ladies!

    I have just been catching up on DSU postings and articles. More great information. Thanks to DSU I am now on Twitter, Facebook and my blog page is being set up. I have been working with Gibson Design Design Management to accomplish this – they have made social networking so easy on me although, I have had my struggles!

    I am truly grateful for all the inspiration, information, resources and forward thinking you provide to our profession. Looking forward to the “Green Summit”.

    Have a lovely day!

    PS Where can I find the interview you did with Kristy Diner?

  • http://www.DesignSuccessU.com Gail Doby

    Hi Kathy,

    You are so welcome!

    Erin will email Kristi’s interview to you again.

    Have a great day!

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