Suzanne Price

Easton, Md.— Decorating Den Interiors has named Suzanne Price, of Rockville, Md., as its new director of training and education replacing Melanie Jakab who has retired after nine years in that position.

“Suzanne has the right experience to continue to grow our expertise in the business of interior design. She has the practical combination of having had her own interior design business and having been one of our franchise owners and field managers,” said Jim Bugg, Jr., president and CEO. “She also has been a decorative artist and held sales and management positions for major hospitality companies. She understands both our basic home-based model, but also has the organizational background to help our larger franchises who have teams working out of stand-alone studio/office/receiver locations.”

“This is a great time to take on this position,” said Price. “An increasing number of new owners have had their own design business. Because of my experience, I can credibly show them the advantages of our proven systems and profitability management tools. While I love design, I very much enjoyed the coaching, teaching and mentoring of new franchise partners. I look forward to helping Decorating Den Interiors continue its terrific growth in retail sales and franchise development.”

Melanie Jakab

“Melanie, who also is a former franchise owner, has made significant contributions to our growth,” said Bugg. “She played a critical role in developing our pioneering technology-based single-source system for managing all aspects of communication with prospects, leads and customers. It gives our owners a one-stop shop for marketing and business management so they have more time for designing. Our owners, particularly those who have come from other design positions, continually tell us how our educational programs are second-to-none. This is in large part due to Melanie. We wish her the very best in her retirement and we are very pleased that she will continue to assist us in field management on a part-time consulting basis.”

Price is responsible for the company’s training center in Easton, Md., its Professional Decorating and Sales School, its program of continuous education through its field managers, its ongoing series of sales and design webinars, the Lifestyle University classes and workshops at its annual international conference and supplier market, its regular owner visits to the High Point Furniture Market, and development of other educational and business management resources.

Price’s designs have won numerous awards internationally and have been published in nine books, national and regional magazines including Woman’s Day Windows and Walls, Metro Washington Home Improvement, Washington Home and Design Magazine, Taste of the Bay Magazine, and Paint Magic magazine, as well as in the Washington Post.

Decorating Den Interiors is North America’s leading in-home decorating service and largest interior design and home furnishings franchise company. Its franchise owners/design professionals are located throughout the U.S. and Canada. 2014 was its best year in sales since 2008. In addition, the company opened 18 new franchises in six states, Washington, D.C. and Canada.