Home
Explore
Popular Podcasts
Latest Podcasts
Latest Episodes
Latest AI-processed
Categories
Setting
Theme
Sign in
Arts
Business
Business of Home, Dennis Scully
Business of Home's host Dennis Scully interviews thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the changes and challenges facing the interior design community.
Total 405 episodes
1
2
...
7
8
9
50 / page
Go to
Goodee's founders think the time has come for an ethical design marketplace
Dexter and Byron Peart are the founders of Goodee—an e-commerce site focused on design products and home goods with an ethical mission. The Pearts are twin brothers and lifelong entrepreneurs—they created the renowned fashion and accessories brand WANT Les Essentials before selling it in 2017. For their latest endeavor, they wanted to focus on selling products that are not only beautiful, but good too—and to tap into a growing audience known as the conscious consumer. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, the Pearts chat with host Dennis Scully about whether the mission or the design comes first, how the coronavirus has changed online shopping, and what makes a product good enough for Goodee. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and The Urban Electric Company.
01:02:08
22/06/2020
How will real estate bounce back from COVID-19?
It’s hard to think of two fields more closely intertwined than interior design and real estate—where one goes, so goes the other. On this week’s episode of the podcast, host Dennis Scully chats with two real estate experts to hear about how COVID-19 has affected the housing market, and what comes next. First, Leonard Steinberg, a veteran agent and the chief evangelist for tech-enabled brokerage Compass, discusses whether people will really flee cities en masse. Then, Shaun Osher, the founder of boutique real estate marketing firm Core, shares some insight into what the homes of tomorrow will look like. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane.
01:09:02
15/06/2020
Knoll CEO Andrew Cogan: The office isn't going anywhere
Andrew Cogan’s history with Knoll stretches back thirty years—he’s been with the company through changes of ownership, recessions, and now a pandemic. On this episode of the Business of Home podcas, Cogan chats with host Dennis Scully about how his strategy to move into residential categories is paying off, Knoll’s commitment to social responsibility, and why—despite what people are saying—it’s too soon to write an obituary for the office. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Industry West.
50:49
08/06/2020
Alexandra Champalimaud and CEO Ed Bakos on reinventing their firm
Over the course of almost forty years, the name Alexandra Champalimaud has become synonymous with exceptional hospitality design—her firm has worked on the finest hotels in the world, from The Plaza in New York to the Bel-Air in Los Angeles to the recently completed Raffles in Singapore. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to Champalimaud as well as the CEO of her firm, Ed Bakos. They discuss bringing a hospitality approach to residential design, the surprising way that Zoom meetings are making designers more creative, and why it’s important to react, not overreact, to the coronavirus pandemic. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Industry West.
41:46
01/06/2020
Ken Fulk always starts with a story
Calling Ken Fulk an “interior designer” doesn’t do him justice—Fulk’s San Francisco firm does everything from weekly floral arrangements to branding to planning extravagant events, complete with costumes, fireworks and mariachi bands. For the right client, he’ll even design a wedding—famously, he created a theatrical fairy-tale experience for early Facebook president Sean Parker. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Fulk speaks with host Dennis Scully about what silicon valley moguls want from interior design, why he’s been taking ownership stakes in his projects, and what lessons he’s learning from the era of social distancing. This episode is sponsored by Dedon and High Point Market.
47:10
25/05/2020
Publishing in a pandemic: Leaders at Apartment Therapy, Domino and Luxe react to COVID-19
It was already a tough time for magazines and digital publications—now, with advertisers on the run, and new challenges, like socially distanced photoshoots, it’s even tougher. But editors and publishers are finding ways to tackle the problems of the moment, and with their fingers on the pulse of the industry, they know better than anyone what matters most right now. In conversations with Apartment Therapy’s Maxwell Ryan, Domino’s Tracy Cho, and Luxe’s Pamela Jaccarino, host Dennis Scully takes a look at how the design media is coping with COVID-19. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and High Point Market.
01:28:01
18/05/2020
The man who makes everything: Rochdale Spears's Geoff Hawkes
You may not know Geoff Hawkes by name, but you know his furniture. For almost two decades, his manufacturing company, Rochdale Spears, has combined high-end craftsmanship with production at scale, making collections for retailers like RH, Anthropologie, and Williams Sonoma—as well as luxury hotels, and the company’s own line, Sonder Living. In this episode of the podcast, Hawkes speaks with host Dennis Scully about everything from how RH became such a phenomenon to what the coronavirus will mean for the design industry. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and Industry West.
54:15
11/05/2020
Herman Miller's new president on the past, present and future of retail
Debbie Propst joined the furnishings giant Herman Miller as president of retail this January, after seven years at One Kings Lane—within a matter of weeks, her roadmap for the company hit an unexpected snag. But Debbie’s team has been pivoting to address the disruption of the coronavirus, fast-tracking digital efforts and looking for opportunities amidst the uncertainty. On this episode of the podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about her time at One Kings Lane; the past and future of retail; and what it’s like to start a new leadership role in the midst of a crisis. This episode is sponsored by DEDON and Industry West.
45:15
04/05/2020
"Nimble, humble and aggressive." How one design firm is navigating the pandemic.
Andrew’s Kotchen’s design and architecture firm, Workshop/APD, has always taken a creative and thoughtful approach to business—and a pandemic is no exception. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Kotchen speaks with host Dennis Scully about how the crisis has changed his preconceived notions about company culture, what lessons he learned from the 2008 recession, and what opportunities might emerge from this uncertain time. This episode was sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.
47:38
27/04/2020
Manufacturing in a pandemic
As COVID-19 continues to spread, stay-at-home orders, disrupted supply chains and a rattled marketplace all present unique challenges for the companies that produce our industry’s finest products. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to a range of leaders to hear how they’re tackling the difficulties of this unprecedented time: Jonathan Glatt of handmade furniture company O&G studio, Sara Fritsch of lighting and lifestyle brand Schoolhouse and Andrew Crone of North Carolina furniture maker Chaddock. This episode was sponsored by Universal Furniture and Rebecca Atwood Designs.
01:12:32
20/04/2020
How to survive a recession
It’s too soon to say precisely what the economic fallout from COVID-19 will be, but many in the design industry are preparing for a challenging time. This week on the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks with two people who made it through the 2008 downturn to get some perspective on what may lie ahead. First, interior designer Corey Damen Jenkins shares the story about how he started his firm in the midst of that financial crisis. Then, financial advisor Jared Miller discusses how he helped top design firms survive the era. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.
52:28
13/04/2020
Kyle Bunting goes it alone
Kyle Bunting began his decorative hide rug business in 2001, and the product took the market by storm—soon his inventive creations were in showhouses, magazines and the best showrooms across the country. But recently Kyle made the decision to pull out of all representation and sell direct to designers. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about the story behind his unique company, and talked about the opportunities—and challenges—of going independent. This episode is sponsored by Rebecca Atwood Designs and Universal Furniture.
57:43
06/04/2020
Peter Dunham on serendipity and staying positive
Raised in France, educated in England, and currently based in Los Angeles, interior designer Peter Dunham has had a charmed life and career—to chat with him is to take a rollicking tour from the grit and glamour of 1970s New York, to early career advice from David Hicks, to a showhouse kitchen that led to nabbing Jennifer Garner as a client. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he speaks with host Dennis Scully about his renowned shop, Hollywood at Home; what effect Restoration Hardware has had on American taste, and why, despite these troubling times, he’s staying optimistic. This episode is sponsored by Henrybuilt and Buildlane.
51:30
30/03/2020
The design industry reacts to COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 has created no small amount of uncertainty in the world, and the design community is no exception. On today’s episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully speaks to leaders in the design industry to find out how they plan to navigate the choppy waters, and what we can expect once we’re in the clear. This episode was sponsored by Buildlane and Henrybuilt.
53:55
23/03/2020
Chic & Awe is bringing laughter back to design
Sara Ruffin Costello and Chassie Post are the dynamic duo behind Chic & Awe, a new home tour video series that brings a much-needed dose of surreal humor into the world of high end design. Sara and Chassie are veterans of the design media world, having both worked on the original incarnation of Domino, then gone on to contribute to everything from The New York Times to Good Morning America. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about why we’re in the era of the solo artist, why decorating is harder than it looks, and how their show is bringing comic relief to the home industry. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Henrybuilt.
51:03
16/03/2020
Marc Thee on how to scale an interior design firm
If you’ve spent any time in South Florida, you’re likely already familiar with Marc Thee’s work. Over the past 35 years the co-founder of Marc-Michaels has become one of the region’s most celebrated interior designers, and in an industry where most firms stop growing at a staff of ten, he oversees seventy, taking on projects all over the world. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Thee speaks with host Dennis Scully about why he tells his staff not to think like designers, how mentorship means letting go, and why the client’s perception is the only thing that matters. A special thank you to Dedon for hosting the conversation in front of a live audience at the Design Center of the Americas. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Buildlane.
44:04
09/03/2020
A glimpse into the future with trend forecaster Piers Fawkes
Piers Fawkes' job is, quite literally to see the future. The founder of consumer forecasting agency PSFK collects innovations from around the world and identifies patterns, which he then formulates into trend reports for a clientele of blue chip companies like Target, Apple, and Johnson & Johnson. Recently, Fawkes has been focusing on what home will look like in 2030, and some of his research has led to ideas that may seem unconventional and even a little dystopian—but the future always sounds strange, until it’s here. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Buildlane.
28:29
02/03/2020
The maker movement shifts into high gear
Dave Dawson, founder of the Urban Electric Company, and Scott Hudson, founder of Henrybuilt, are leaders of a modern makers renaissance—one that’s seeing an increasing number of companies manufacture high-end custom pieces right here in the United States. In front of a live audience at Henrybuilt’s showroom in New York, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about why they both say no to multi-line showrooms, the Toyota method, and how Dawson’s organization, the makers alliance, is creating a community for like-minded companies. This episode is sponsored by Buildlane and Dedon.
44:32
24/02/2020
Cheryl Eisen and the secrets of staging
The woman behind home staging firm Interior Marketing Group, Cheryl Eisen, has been building her empire over the last decade. This self-made CEO started the IMG brand as a solo-entrepreneur, and now oversees a hundred-person operation. On this episode, Eisen sat down with host Dennis Scully about why home staging is the exact opposite of interior design, why she’s not afraid of a recession, and how, as her company moves into making product, her 170 staged apartments are as good as 170 showrooms.. This episode is sponsored by BuildLane and Dedon.
46:51
17/02/2020
Kathryn M. Ireland is always looking for the next thing
It’s difficult to concisely sum up interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland’s charmed career —she’s been everything from an art director for music videos to a shop-owner, interior decorator, fabric designer and TV Star. Most recently she’s become an entrepreneur, founding e-design and e-commerce startup The Perfect Room, which she hopes will bring high design to a broader audience (her partner, CEO Michael O’Neal, joins the discussion for the second half of this episode). On this episode, Ireland spoke with host Dennis Scully about the role that serendipity has played in her career, how she turned the recession into an opportunity, and why being an interior designer is a lifestyle as much as it is a profession. This episode is sponsored by BuildLane and Dedon.
50:24
10/02/2020
Sheila Bridges is always reinventing herself
Designer and author Sheila Bridges started her career in fashion, but soon found her true calling in interiors, where she rose to prominence and went on to host one of the first TV shows dedicated to high end design. Over the span of two decades, she’s authored several books, worked with celebrity clients including former president Bill Clinton, and created the renowned pattern Harlem Toile du Jouy. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast she spoke with host Dennis Scully about how boundaries between disciplines are breaking down, diversity and inclusion in the design world, and why relationships are the most important part of the business. This podcast is sponsored by Buildlane and Dedon.
47:12
03/02/2020
[Rebroadcast] Bunny Williams on navigating change
As Bunny Williams Home celebrates its 10-year anniversary, founder and renowned interior designer Bunny Williams is in search of new ways to remain relevant—from both design and retail perspectives. While that may mean bolstering the digital brand and focusing on online sales, Williams’s general design philosophies remain similar to those she learned at Parish-Hadley, the legendary New York firm where she spent 22 years prior to launching her own studio. The AD100 Hall of Fame designer shares the challenges of finding and retaining talent, why the modern lifestyle is disruptive to the trade and the announcement of a new book, Affairs with Other Houses.
44:57
27/01/2020
[Rebroadcast] Nina Campbell on how the interior design profession has changed
If there’s anyone who fits the model of a great mentor, it’s British interior designer Nina Campbell. Shaped by her apprenticeship at renowned firm Colefax & Fowler, Campbell has gone on to create a nearly five-decade career in design, establishing a star-studded client list that includes Rod Stewart, Ringo Starr and the Duke and Duchess of York. In this live podcast recording, the designer shares insights from her inspiring career, as well as her take on how the industry and the profession have evolved.
41:26
13/01/2020
[Rebroadcast] Becoming Holly Hunt
Holly Hunt made headlines four years ago when she sold her eponymous company to Knoll for $95 million. But it’s never been about the money for the Texas-born designer, who started her business as a recently-divorced mother of three boys in 1983—without "a big hairy plan." She built what was then a new concept: a multi-line showroom, bringing on makers like Carl Springer, Jim Thompson and Rose Tarlow before designing and manufacturing her own line. In this episode, she shares the ups and downs of the last 30 years—from designer Christian Liagre's departure to adjusting to life post-acquisition, and what the future holds.
44:02
06/01/2020
[Rebroadcast] How Ralph Pucci Became the Master of Visual Merchandising
Whether it’s preserving his iconic mannequin label or curating his next gallery exhibition, Ralph Pucci leads by one rule: “If everyone’s going left, I’m going right.” It worked in 1985, when Pucci successfully debuted the collection of designer Andrée Putman with no industry experience, and it continues to work today, as the company now boasts galleries in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. In this week’s episode, Pucci takes us through the remarkable timeline of Ralph Pucci International and reveals his visual merchandising secrets.
01:13:20
30/12/2019
Holland & Sherry's Bryan Dicker on working with what you've got
Bryan Dicker began at Holland & Sherry when it was purely in the apparel business, offering tweeds, wools and cashmere to individual tailors. He developed a sideline selling fabric to interior designers, which has since grown into a robust business, employing 150 people at over twenty locations worldwide. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Dicker spoke with host Dennis Scully about building a team around your weaknesses, what Blackjack has to do with the fabric industry, and why his company has no plans to go direct to consumers. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
40:01
23/12/2019
Kate Verner on how licensing works now
Over the course of nearly twenty years as an advisor on licensing deals and business strategy, Kate Verner has worked with some of the most prominent names in the industry, including David Easton, Laura Kirar and Arteriors. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she speaks with host Dennis Scully about why licensing isn’t a get rich quick proposition, the need to make manufacturing cool again, and why Instagram fame doesn’t always translate to real world sales. This episode was sponsored by Chairish and Google.
45:31
16/12/2019
David Netto on a life in design
As a child, David Netto became immersed in the world of design through his father, who owned storied fabric house Cowtan & Tout. After dropping out of Harvard Architecture School, he found his true calling, building a brilliant career as a decorator and writer for The New York Times, Town & Country, and the Wall Street Journal. For this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Netto spoke with host Dennis Scully in front of a live audience at the New York School of Interior Design as part of the Dialogues on Design series. They chatted about why Instagram’s rise is good for books, how the AIDS crisis affected design, and what a Bugati owned by Ralph Lauren says about how decorators should think. This episode was sponsored by Chairish and Google.
42:49
09/12/2019
What's the future of design centers?
Six years ago, the real estate development firm Jamestown purchased the Boston Design Center and began a long-term project to revitalize the space by turning it into a hybrid. Now the building combines trade-only showrooms with retail shops, corporate offices, cafes and restaurants. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, the president of Jamestown, Michael Phillips, discusses why the design industry needs to start reaching out to consumers, why showrooms should consider nighttime hours, and why disruption is ultimately a good thing. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
44:55
02/12/2019
Carleton Varney on a colorful career
Over the course of a storied career, legendary interior decorator Carleton Varney has worked with everyone from Joan Crawford to Jimmy Carter—not to mention his 37 books, a long-running newspaper column, and a project he’s been tweaking for over 50 years, the Greenbrier hotel. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Varney speaks with host Dennis Scully about the stories behind some of his most famous clients, why he encourages students to think beyond beige and gray, and the one line of a client contract that only Dorothy Draper could get away with. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
35:33
25/11/2019
From artists to entrepreneurs: The founders of Fort Street Studio share their story
Janis Provisor and Brad Davis were established artists, displaying their work in museums and galleries across the world. Then a recession hit in the nineties, and they took a sabbatical in China, which led to an experiment with silk weaving, which, 25 years later, has led to an acclaimed luxury hand-knotted carpet company. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Provisor and Davis chat with host Dennis Scully about the ups and downs of doing business in China, why they needed to create their own brand, and treating entrepreneurship like an artistic challenge. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
40:46
18/11/2019
Charlotte Moss is a legend, not a brand
Across the scope of a storied career, legendary interior designer Charlotte Moss has written ten books, won numerous awards, and through her work on countless projects, defined an elegant take on traditional style. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she chats with host Dennis Scully about learning sales secrets on Wall Street, the importance of mentorship, and what she looks for when she Googles potential clients. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
43:17
11/11/2019
Think the fabric industry will change overnight? Not so fast
Fabric industry veteran David Klaristenfeld has spent sixteen busy years at Fabricut, but 2019 has been particularly eventful. This summer, his company acquired Clarence House, and has ramped up a whirlwind effort to grow the boutique fabric brand. Their first big move? Pulling the collection offline, so it can’t be sold to the general public—only designers. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Klaristenfeld chats with host Dennis Scully about the strategy behind the acquisition, the challenging economics of sampling, and why, despite a lot of noise, the industry isn’t going to change as radically as some people think. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
47:28
04/11/2019
Food52 conquered the kitchen. The rest of the home is next.
Founded as an online resource for recipes in 2009, Food52 has evolved into a unique and wildly popular hybrid of editorial content and e-commerce that recently attracted an $83 million dollar investment from The Chernin Group. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, host Dennis Scully chats with co-founders Merrill Stubbs and Amanda Hesser about why their site defies easy categorization, how their readers helped them design one of their bestselling products, and why they prefer to think of Food52 as a world, not a brand. This episode is sponsored by Chairish and Google.
41:23
28/10/2019
Elle Decor’s Whitney Robinson wants to solve design’s image problem
Whitney Robinson, the editor in chief of Elle Decor, is a young man, but he's already a veteran of the publishing industry. Having risen through the ranks at Hearst titles like House Beautiful and Town & Country, Robinson assumed the top spot at ED in 2017—and this month, he’s captained the book to its 30th anniversary. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about about how designers and developers can partner up, what it takes to be featured in the pages of his magazine, and why he publishes with an audience of 140 in mind. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.
51:37
21/10/2019
Rebecca Atwood is setting her own pace
Rebecca Atwood started small. The RISD-educated textile designer began by creating a line of pillows out of her own apartment, dyeing fabrics in a tiny kitchen. Over the past five years she's grown considerably, with a full line of textiles and wallpapers, a SOHO showroom, and two books to her name—but she's done it at her own pace. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Atwood tells host Dennis Scully about building her business step by step, why she opened up her accounting books to her employees, and why her showroom wouldn't fit in at the D&D Building—but that's a good thing. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.
50:18
14/10/2019
Christofle's new CEO is thinking big
Before coming to Christofle, Nathalie Remy was a McKinsey consultant for over two decades, advising luxury and fashion houses on corporate strategy. Now she's on the other side of the table, a year into a revitalization and rebranding project for the 190-year-old French tabletop company. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she spoke with host Dennis Scully about about teaching a heritage brand to think like a startup, why she's betting on sharing, and what Pharrell Williams has to do with her strategy. This episode is sponsored by Crypton and Chairish.
42:50
07/10/2019
Cheryl Durst of IIDA: Design is more than just Instagrammable moments
Cheryl Durst, the CEO of the International Interior Design Association, has been a lifelong evangelist for the power of design—she even got married in a design center. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she chatted with host Dennis Scully about the need for a shared language around pricing, how residential designers can break into commercial projects, and the surprising reason why HGTV is a force for good. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Crypton.
48:45
30/09/2019
Havenly’s Lee Mayer wants to expand the audience for design
Lee Mayer began by trying to get other people to start her company. It was 2013 and she needed a quick, affordable design service to help with a new home in Denver—a reluctant entrepreneur, it took a push from Mayer’s sister to get her to found the company herself. Six years later, Havenly has outlasted many of its competitors in the world of online design, and Mayer continues to innovate the model. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she shares her startup journey, discusses the difficulties of scaling a high-touch business, and explains how her company is priming a whole new audience to the benefits of great design. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market and Crypton.
01:06:04
23/09/2019
Ryan Korban: Designers should think more like brands
Interior designer Ryan Korban began his career creating stores for fashion brands like Aquazurra and Balenciaga. After moving into the residential world, the young designer's star rose rapidly—he now boasts a roster of celebrity clients and a growing sideline working with real estate developers. On the latest episode of the Business of Home Podcast, Korban chatted with host Dennis Scully in front of a lively crowd at the EJ Victor showroom in the New York Design Center—they spoke about the difference between fashion and design, the future of trade pricing, and why designers should think more like brands. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
34:39
16/09/2019
Poshmark has built an audience of 40 million for fashion. What can it do in the home?
After nearly a decade of building a community of 40 million that buys, sells and shares fashion online, Poshmark co-founder Tracy Sun is moving the company into the home. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Sun chats with host Dennis Scully about why the power is in consumers' hands now, the overlap between fashion and interior design, and what being customer centric actually means. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
47:55
09/09/2019
The Urban Electric Company's Dave Dawson is betting on good design
Dave Dawson started The Urban Electric Company as a small retail business in 2002—it’s since grown into a powerhouse of modern American craftsmanship, employing over 200 to make a wide array of custom lighting fixtures, all in a former navy yard in Charleston, South Carolina. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Dawson chats with host Dennis Scully about the challenges of manufacturing in America, why he’s never sold in showrooms, and how time has become his company’s most valuable resource. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.
54:27
26/08/2019
Christopher Peacock's leaps of faith
After a picturesque childhood in England and a brief career as a drummer, Christopher Peacock chanced into the cabinetry business and he hasn't looked back since. The company he founded in 1992 has been through some twists and turns, but today it's stronger than ever, with nine showrooms and a booming commercial sideline. On this episode of the Business of Home podcast, Peacock shares the incredible story of how his company survived the 2008 recession, why he's been vertically integrated from day one, and how became known as the inventor of the white kitchen. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.
53:48
19/08/2019
From suburban castles to Hudson Yards: Tony Ingrao's epic career
Tony Ingrao's clients—a mix of celebrities, financiers and captains of industry—often make headline news, but he himself is more likely found just outside the limelight. "I'm chill," he tells Dennis Scully, with a laugh. Chill yes, boring no. In this week’s episode of the Business of Home podcast, the designer shares a rare in-depth look at an epic career—discussing his fashion-world childhood, the stories behind his most iconic projects, and why, after nearly 40 years in design, he's at the top of his game. This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.
47:36
12/08/2019
Chad Stark on the innovation mindset
After a brief post-college career in the startup world, Chad Stark joined the family business as a young man, eager to modernize Stark Carpet’s operations for a fast-changing market. He’s since risen to senior vice president of the 80-year-old company, and has continuously pushed for innovation in an industry that’s often reluctant to change. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Stark tells host Dennis Scully about his experiments selling direct to consumers, his thoughts on the best way for designers to charge for their services, and whether the design industry is ready for a model called "trade preferred". This episode is sponsored by Universal Furniture.
57:03
05/08/2019
Why it's always a great day at Phillip Jeffries
In the early aughts, brothers Philip and Jeffrey Bershad took over the family wallcovering business from their father and have since grown it to employ one hundred and sixty people with operations all over the world. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, they spoke with host Dennis Scully about their work hard/play hard company culture, the advantages of focusing on a niche, and why something called WIPTAG has made all the difference. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
47:23
29/07/2019
Feather’s Jay Reno on why the time is right for subscription furniture
It’s a commonly cited statistic: Moving is more stressful than divorce. And—chasing freedom and flexibility—millennials are moving a whole lot. Jay Reno, founder and CEO of Feather, is hoping to make it easier on them with a service that offers furniture on a subscription, pay-as-you-go basis. In the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Reno spoke with host Dennis Scully about how the American dream has changed, why the time is right for his innovative concept, and the environmental impact of fast furniture. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
43:52
22/07/2019
Vicente Wolf reflects on 45 years in the industry
After fleeing Cuba with his family as a child, Vicente Wolf had anything but a traditional path to building a 45-year run as a designer. On the latest episode of the Business of Home podcast, Wolf reflects on his unconventional journey, the role of design media in his career, and why he’s not retiring any time soon. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
42:37
15/07/2019
Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks on the importance of the ‘trust factor’
In 1995, Angie Hicks lent her name to her new company, a service that crowdsourced reviews of local businesses. “It seemed like one of those inconsequential decisions you make when you’re 22,” says Hicks. It turned out to be anything but inconsequential, as her company, Angie’s List, would become a household name and a major player in the home services industry. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, she talks with host Dennis Scully about the company’s humble beginnings in 1995, why the housing crisis was an opportunity in disguise, and how the interior design profession has changed over the years. This episode is sponsored by High Point Market.
36:18
08/07/2019
Samuel & Sons' Michael Cohen thinks the trade will thrive—if it gets more transparent
Twenty years ago, Michael Cohen left a career in corporate finance to join the family business, a somewhat old-school seller of high-end tassels and trims. Cohen, along with his brothers Hymie and Joseph, has turned Samuel & Sons into a thriving, tech-forward business that’s come to define passementerie for the American market. In this episode of the Business of Home podcast, he chats with host Dennis Scully about why he looks to tech companies like Amazon for inspiration, his plan to take the brand international, and why he hopes the industry will become more transparent. This episode is sponsored by Datacolor.
50:16
01/07/2019