Trade Tales

Ask Us Anything: Jenna Chused on rising prices in the tariff era

Jenna Chused joins the show to answer a question from a designer who is looking for help when it comes to communicating with clients about tariffs. Chused, whose firm is based in Brooklyn, jumps in with advice on why she’s shifted her sourcing approach to shield her business from price volatility, how tariffs show up on her firm’s invoices and how early budget discussions prevent sticker shock further along in the design process.LINKSJenna ChusedKaitlin PetersenBusiness of HomeThis episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.

How Dan Mazzarini built a firm that benefits from a diverse project mix

Dan Mazzarini kicked off his career working in retail design before stepping into residential and hospitality work. Today, clients hire his firm for all three—leading to a diverse project mix that keeps his team freshly inspired. On this episode, he shares how he used his firm’s recent rebranding as a team-building opportunity, the one question he uses to kick off every project and how he’s talking to clients about the economics of design in today’s climate.LINKSHouse SprucingKaitlin PetersenBusiness of HomeThis episode was sponsored by Renewal by Andersen and Dallas Market Center.

Ask Us Anything: Anissa Zajac on getting out-of-state jobs right

Anissa Zajac joins the show to answer a question from a designer who is looking to scale her business by expanding into new markets. Zajac, whose firm is based in Indianapolis, jumps in with advice on the importance of setting clear expectations with clients from the outset, establishing in-person touchpoints at key moments in the design process, and the remote project management tools that keep all team members on the same page.LINKSAnissa ZajacKaitlin PetersenBusiness of HomeThis episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton. 

Heather Fujikawa on always putting the business first

Heather Fujikawa quickly realized that she wanted her firm to be about more than herself, and built up a team early on so that her budding design business could grow exponentially. The secret, she says, is a work environment specifically designed for each employee to thrive.LINKSHouse SprucingKaitlin PetersenBusiness of HomeThis episode was sponsored by Joon Loloi and Serena & Lily. 

Ask Us Anything: Noz Nozawa on how to find the best talent

Noz Nozawa joins the show to answer a question from a designer who’s finding it difficult to expand her team. Nozawa, whose firm is based in San Francisco, jumps in with advice on the value of investing in a professional recruiter to find top talent, how to gauge a candidate’s design passion in the interview process and why it’s essential as principal to set the firm’s standards for boundaries and communication.LINKSNoz NozawaKaitlin PetersenBusiness of HomeThis episode was sponsored by Four Hands and Crypton.