1123: Ali Faulkner: What to Do When a Client Says “No”: Lessons from a Lost Design Proposal
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Today with Ali Faulkner
Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. We’ve talked before about conducting an autopsy of a project—looking back and figuring out exactly what went right, what went wrong, and where to improve.
But what about conducting an autopsy of projects that you didn’t win? My guest today, Ali Faulkner of AEF Interiors, lost several bids in a row, and decided to make a big change; she reached out to those potential clients and asked for feedback afterward.
Ali is sharing the exact questions she asked and how they changed everything for her business.
Ah-Ha Moments
“I realized I was chasing what everyone else wanted to chase rather than what I actually needed to be profitable and continue to build my business.” -Ali
"You get a quote to do a roof. One guy is 20K, one guy is 30K and the other guy is 35. Like I'm sorry, who's even thinking about the 20K guy? You're just like, you're off the list, right? Because... you automatically distrust the 20." - LuAnn
A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor:
Other Shows Mentioned:
AWDB #768 Jaipur Living: A New Collaboration with Kate Lester
AWDB #790 Rick Campos: Design Biz Survival Guide- The Answer to All Your Business Questions
AWDB #856 Enrique Crespo: Describing His Type-A Personality Mindset
AWDB #1059 Rachel Usher: Creating Community and Strength in the Interior Design Industry
Other Resources:
https://www.thebusinessofinteriors.co.uk/podcast
https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/podcast-for-interior-designers/
https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/retreat-registration/
https://www.thebusinessofinteriors.co.uk/2025-community-summit
This podcast supports the Savvy Giving Design Coalition. Learn more about it here!
AWDB #717 Susan Wintersteen: Interior design firm standards in a nonprofit passion project
AWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design
Revelwoods
revelwoods.comhttps://www.thebusinessofinteriors.co.uk/podcast
thebusinessofinteriors.co.ukhttps://designbizsurvivalguide.com/podcast-for-interior-designers/
designbizsurvivalguide.comhttps://designbizsurvivalguide.com/retreat-registration/
designbizsurvivalguide.comhttps://www.thebusinessofinteriors.co.uk/2025-community-summit
thebusinessofinteriors.co.ukSavvy Giving Design Coalition
savvygivingbydesign.orgAWDB #164: Susan Wintersteen- Savvy Giving by Design
luannnigara.com