Don’t let the lack of a formal interior design education stop you from exploring your dream of having your own interior decorating business. There’s a proven model with a more than 50-year track record.
“Our franchise approach has a history of providing the means for talented people, mostly women, to turn their passion and creativity for interior decorating into an opportunity to be in business for themselves but not by themselves,” explains James S. Bugg, Jr., CEO and president of Decorating Den Interiors. “So many love what we do because it has the complete structure, a turnkey business they can simply plug themselves into.”
To prove his point, the company just recently placed into business its largest group of new interior design business owners in many decades. Eleven new franchisees from six states and Ontario, Canada completed their Decorating Den Interiors University qualification to be approved to open their new interior design businesses.
They represented a range of backgrounds including experience in home building, real estate, corporate management, health care, teaching and interior design. Three are in Texas, two each in Florida and Illinois, with the others in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Etobicoke, Ontario.
The new franchisees are Kelly Bailey (Milton, Ga), Heather Arnold (Hudson Oaks, Tx), Colette Anaya (Plainfield, Il), Shona Muccini (Austin, Tx), Cindi White (Las Vegas, Nv), Fern Duarte (Etobicoke, Ontario), Shelley Walter (Windemere, Fl), Danielle Leonard (Plainfield, Il), Kendra Wendt and Brian Bloomfield (Scottsdale, Az), Carole Canepari (Santa Rosa, Fl) and Hope and Jeff Boyd (Houston, Tx). Anaya acquired the DDI franchise from Jan Bromberek, one the company’s leading franchises and a Franchise Owner of the Year; a team of experienced designers who will continue to work with the new owner.
Qualifying, then Comprehensive Education
To qualify for franchise ownership, candidates first go through an approval process that includes multiple interviews, a personal assessment, design projects, interviews with the executive team and other franchisees, and a local market evaluation.
Once approved, there is a comprehensive nine-week initial training program referred to as Decorating Den Interiors University, which consists of five phases:
- Onboarding with four online courses over five weeks along with staff support for setting up the business.
- Thirteen online courses on Introduction to design, products, marketing and sales over a week’s time.
- Instructor-led virtual education and hands-on training in marketing, sales, DDI’s proprietary Back Office Support System (B.O.S.S.), and other DDI support tools over another week.
- In-person learning at the company’s education center in Easton, Md., covering design, sales, product, and other tools over another week.
- A review week consisting of 15 online courses.
Ongoing education and camaraderie-building with existing franchisees takes place regularly in local regions.
“Our franchisees start as a home-based business but many set goals for larger businesses and have grown to have a team of designers and support staff operating out of a stand-alone studio,” Bugg said. “We are perfect for interior designers who want to take their business to the next level, for individuals experiencing corporate burnout and want independence, and others who may lack formal design training but have the passion and natural talent.”
About Decorating Den Interiors
Founded in 1969, Decorating Den Interiors is North America’s largest interior design and home furnishings franchise company. Its nearly 250 franchisees operate throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its franchisees have direct relationships with suppliers in its LIVV Home Collection™ of fine furniture, custom window treatments, wall and floor coverings, accessories, lighting, and closet systems.
Entrepreneur Magazine named Easton-based Decorating Den Interiors to its 2023 selection of the Top 100 Franchises that can be started for under $100,000.
If you would like to explore turning your dream into reality, click here.
