EP 048 | Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers with Maury Riad

February 19, 2018

Listen Now

How can independent interior designers compete effectively in a crowded marketplace?

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon speaks with Maury Riad of Fuigo about the fundamentals of marketing for design professionals. From building brand awareness to establishing credibility and trust, Maury shares practical strategies that help independent firms attract the right clients and stand out from the competition.

For interior designers looking to strengthen their marketing efforts and grow their business, this episode offers a clear framework for creating a more intentional and effective marketing strategy.

In this episode, we learn:
• How independent designers can market their businesses while protecting the value of the design profession
• Why different social media platforms serve different marketing objectives
• The three essential components of an effective marketing strategy
• How to build awareness, credibility, and trust with potential clients
• Why trust is often the deciding factor when clients choose a designer
• How consistent marketing helps attract better-fit clients and opportunities

 

Take Aways

A solid marketing plan begins with ACT: Awareness, Credibility, Trust.

DESIGN INTERVENTION

Never forget about these important numbers:
1. Income statement – are you profitable?
2. Balance sheet – how liquid are you?
3. Cash flow –you

 

For more than 25 years, Maury Riad has worked in the world of interior design. As a steward of the Fortuny legacy, he, along with his brother Mickey Riad, took over operations of the Venetian textile company from their father in the early 1990s. Together, they brought the 100-year-old firm online and into modernity, expanding design, sales and distribution. Mickey directed design and creative, while Maury oversaw the business and its operations. Against all odds, they grew and reshaped the business while keeping Fortuny’s soul intact, preserving the original printing process that Mariano Fortuny developed in the early 1900s.

Working closely with interior designers, Maury has seen design go through seismic shifts. Technology has cracked open the once-insular world, bringing design to more people but also making it more homogeneous. Maury sees an opportunity to usher in an era of creative design that adapts to the digital age without losing its independence. Just as he once did with Fortuny, through Fuigo, Maury is bringing design into the future while protecting its past.

 

About Fuigo

A Japanese word, fuigo are the bellows used to fan flames for traditional sword making. Without the bellows, the oven wouldn’t get hot enough to forge a sword. Fuigo is the power behind the process, the energy that keeps the fire going. For a design firm, Fuigo means community, workspace, an unmatched resource library, software, access to top-tier product vendors and sourcing, business support and bookkeeping—it’s everything you need to design your firm’s future.

With co-founder Bradley Stephens of Stephens Design Group, Mickey and Maury Riad created a flagship space that expresses their shared vision for the future of interior design. The full-floor, 18,000 square-foot New York City studio inspires with beautifully appointed workspaces and all the amenities and resources designers need to grow a successful business.

www.fuigo.com

 

Subscribe to the Podcast

Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.

|