November 16, 2022

On this week’s From the Tap podcast, we’re welcoming Amy Youngblood, founder and lead interior designer of Amy Youngblood Interiors, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. We discussed a key business principle for her studio: developing a strategic approach to clients.

Our conversation began with Amy recalling the circumstances of her initial awareness of the importance of targeted thinking with regard to both client acquisition and retention. She opens up about how her experience with a life/business coach opened her eyes to the power of this intentional approach. She also talks about specific books that were influential on her direction.

Next, the designer talks about what kind of client she strives to attract, and how she manages that process. After outlining the profile of her ideal client, Amy details the screening procedure her firm has put in place to qualify potential customers, a process that touches on budget, goals, scope, personality and more.

Then the discussion turns to how Amy handles challenging clients while preserving their relationship. The designer cites specific instances of how she has negotiated with and counseled them through real-life problems that frequently occur in projects, ensuring that the outcome is of mutual benefit.

Amy wraps up the podcast with a look at how adopting a careful client-vetting process has shaped her practice on both operational and creative fronts.

Watch the full video above or listen to the podcast on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets.

By Leslie Clagett, KBB Managing Editor