What my Dog Trainer Taught Me About Running an Interior Design Business

You may well be wondering what on earth dog training has to do with running an interior design business.

And who could blame you?

They are hardly related fields, after all.

Bear with me here and I'll explain.

Dog training and interior design business?

A couple of weeks ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed (as you do). I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, just seeing what was going on. 

And then I saw a post from a dog trainer in my local community facebook group:

Now, at the time I wasn't looking for a dog trainer, and so I read it and moved on to something else.

And then a funny thing happened. 

Over the next few days, I started to think about my own dog.

About how annoying it is when he barks at the door every time someone comes. About how he doesn't allow delivery people to deliver their parcels without giving them a mouthful of barky abuse.

About how when he came to live with us as rescue dog, he was very anxious and barked all the time. Maybe his door barking was anxiety based too.

And then I got to thinking about how much better it would be if I could calmly open my front door and greet visitors. If I could sign for parcels without having to hold him back at the same time. 

And sure enough, after a few days, I picked up the phone and I booked the dog trainer to come round and work with my dog!

Was I looking for a dog trainer? No!

Did I still book her to come and work with my dog?

Yes!

So, what's this got to do with my interior design business?

You see, when you run a locally based business, like dog training or ... interior design... (ah, now you see where I'm going with this) your audience doesn't always know that they need you, until you suggest it. 

I wasn't considering hiring a dog trainer at all that day, yet I still had a problem that a dog trainer could solve. 

But it took her reaching out, and reminding me that she could solve my problem, before I took action.

Important Lessons for your Interior Design Business

There are some important lessons to learn here.

You will undoubtedly have clients out there who would LOVE to have your interior design services, but they are not actively looking for an interior designer.

If you make yourself known in your local area, if you post regularly about what you are doing and the problems you can solve, there will be people watching, people absorbing your message. People who will realise that they have a problem that needs solving. 

If you sow the right seeds, telling people what you do, how you can help them and how they can contact you, you will start to get your diary full. 

Oh, and in case you were wondering... did it work? Does he still bark at the door?

Well, look at his little face. Butter doesn't melt, right? ;)