Season 2 Ep 30: Retail is NOT for sissies! with Christina Van Blake

If you have known me for a while you may have heard my "Top 12 Truths for Being a Shopkeep" and one of my faves that I stand by is "Retail is not for sissies!" And I know that our special guest, Christina Van Blake of Home Design Dover feels the exact same way.

Christina, or as some call her Christi, is the own and prominent designer serving the Maine and NH Seacoast area for over 22 years. Her specialties in color, pattern and texture come from 3 generations of designing women which you will learn from listening. Christina truly enjoys her work, her clients and design of all kinds and her enthusiasm for the art of this business ensures each client fully understands the options and choices, why they work, and how they reflect their personal taste with the end result being a carefully curated space that feels uniquely personal and beautifully functional.

Join us as we discuss the ups and downs, with a good sense of humor, of owning a retail showroom and how to mix and integrate with a full service design firm. There are so many moving parts that are dealt with on a daily basis of owning a retail showroom and you must hone your knowledge on selling and understanding the vendors that you choose to get into bed with (so to speak, see what I did there)!

This will not be the only time Christina joins us on the podcast--retail is one large beast and we want you to join us in the journey!

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Cheryl Clendenon is the host of The Damn Good Designer Podcast and an award-winning interior designer, writer, and business coach with 26 years of full-time industry experience. With a prior career in media and radio sales, she brings a rare blend of creative thinking and business acumen to the design world. Cheryl was named KBB Person of the Year in 2021, is a nationally published industry voice with a monthly column in Home Accents Today, and regularly speaks on pricing, scope, process, and profitability. Known for her fast pace, contrarian instincts, and practical insight, Cheryl helps established design firms build stronger businesses and define success on their own terms.

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