Rephonic
Artwork for Trade Tales
Interior Design
Client Relationships
Entrepreneurship
Business Growth
Work-Life Balance
Client Management
Project Management
Design Process
Creative Process
Design Business
Creative Entrepreneurship
Covid-19
Social Media Marketing
Design Burnout
Client Experience
Acquisition
Business Coaching
Team Management
Client Communication
Sabbatical

Business of Home's editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen talks to interior designers about nurturing creativity, finding a firm’s financial footing, setting goals and discovering their own version of success as a result.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes171Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignBusinessArtsEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Trade Tales

Latest Episodes

Rayana Schmitz balanced several different early career paths—from fitness trainer to firefighter—before landing on interior design. Today, she’s leading her firm with the wisdom to know when to trust her gut and when to rely on outside experts. On th... more

In this episode, Seattle-based interior designer Lauren Caron answers a question from a designer who wants to expand her business beyond her home city without sacrificing her firm’s standards. Caron jumps in with advice on billing clients for travel ... more

Audrey Scheck’s 20-person firm is a well-oiled machine—complete with a carefully structured leadership team and a top-down approach that sets the tone for every employee. Elsewhere in the episode, she shares her growth mindset as she expanded her tea... more

Washington, D.C.–based Zoë Feldman on how to hire for aesthetic alignment, the metrics she uses to measure an employee’s progress at the firm, and how a team member with their own style can sometimes save the firm from adopting a formulaic look.

Thi... more

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Recent Guests

Audrey Scheck
Designer and founder of ASD Interiors (Audrey Scheck Design)
ASD Interiors
Episode: How Audrey Scheck established her firm’s C-suite
Zoë Feldman
Designer and founder involved with Demi, a new arm of her firm
Zoë Feldman Studio / Demi
Episode: Ask Us Anything: Zoë Feldman on how to measure an employee’s design skills
Christine Vroom
Designer; previous Trade Tales guest
Episode: Ask Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart
Hanna Li
Designer and Creative Director at her Los Angeles-based interior design firm
Hanna Li Design
Episode: Why Hanna Li’s design proposals include a sustainability fee
Melissa Oholendt
Designer, BrassBath
BrassBath
Episode: Ask Us Anything: Melissa Oholendt’s go-to interview questions for new hires
Elizabeth Bennett
Industrial design background, co-founder of Kobel & Co.
Kobel & Co.
Episode: Kobel & Co.’s radical take on the client questionnaire
Mallory Robins
Former architect turned designer, co-founder of Kobel & Co.
Kobel & Co.
Episode: Kobel & Co.’s radical take on the client questionnaire
Alison Giese
Designer focusing on collaborations with architects/builders and a holistic design process
Independent designer (specializing in whole-house projects)
Episode: Ask Us Anything: Alison Giese on how to streamline your design presentation
Jess Ebert
Designer, Founder of Four Story Interiors
Four Story Interiors
Episode: Jess Ebert on why delegation is the key to longevity

Host

Kaitlin Petersen
Host of Trade Tales, Editor-in-Chief of Business of Home

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 97 ratings
  • Inspiration for a Maker

    I am a furniture maker, and this podcast gives me so much value. It helps me to see the perspective of my client - the designer. I also Garner many takeaways that help me in my business. The host asks insightful questions and draws out great responses from her guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kwadwo89
    United States7 months ago
  • Superlative Info/Advice Provided

    Interesting and timely topics updated weekly…superlative guests with just the right balance of information, advice AND humor!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrentTK
    United States8 months ago
  • So helpful!

    The recent episode with Swati Goorha was so helpful! She shared so much of her process and I’m grateful to hear so much detail about how other designers structure their services. It’s such a journey figuring out what works best. Thank you for this platform!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emily Lindberg Design
    United States2 years ago
  • 💎💎💎

    I’m not an interior designer myself (PR coach) but people in my program and community are! And this is a show I would definitely recommend to them, especially those in the earlier stages of their biz! Kaitlin and her guests know their stuff and even tho I have zero experience in this industry I found it engaging and easy to follow along! Excited to share with my community!

    @gloriachoupr

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _doremi101
    United States2 years ago
  • Priceless Resource!

    I’m so thankful to have found this podcast! I am new to the design world, but have recently launched a new firm with my daughter @DaynaSterlingInteriors who has a degree in design & has worked under some well-known designers a for about 10 years. I recently retired from a 25 year career in finance. Listening to real life tales has been priceless in helping me understand more about the business, and helping us both know that we are not alone in encountering the various challenges of running our... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Princess DarDar
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests consistently present practical, actionable takeaways for running a design firm.
Listeners praise the show for real-world education and mentorship vibes.
Insightful host with thoughtful questions helps guests share concrete strategies.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#14
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#82
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#101
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#23
Indonesia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#25
India/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#32
Singapore/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ask Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart
Q: How do you explain a restart fee to a client who has hit a crisis?
Explain that the restart fee helps hold space in the roster, covers lost time, and signals a commitment to re-engage with a structured plan, while acknowledging the client's situation and offering flexibility about the amount or timing depending on the crisis.
Ask Us Anything: Christine Vroom on how to pivot when your pipeline falls apart
Q: What best-case clauses would you have in your contract to handle client crises and pauses?
Christine emphasizes pausing and restart provisions as essential, including a restart fee and a clear 'space in the roster' concept to keep clients engaged while protecting cash flow, plus a philosophy or contract section that sets expectations about communication, deliverables, and contingencies.
Melissa Oholendt on how to become the creative director of your design firm
Q: What was the moment in 2020 when you felt the ground shift in your business?
The pandemic, while devastating for many, became the catalyst that accelerated growth; from May to June 2020 I leaned into weekly Q&As and suddenly workload exploded, forcing a rapid shift from surviving to scaling with new systems.
Ask Us Anything: Alex Kaehler on strategic growth
Q: What is the first thing to outsource when a designer decides to grow?
Identify and delegate the non-core, repetitive, and admin-heavy tasks first (like procurement, paperwork, and back-end operations) to free up time for design leadership and client relations, while still keeping control where it matters most.
Ask Us Anything: Dan Mazzarini on how to get client approval for antiques
Q: What advice do you have for navigating the selection process when procuring antiques?
Communicate honestly with antique dealers, secure items with deposits when necessary, and visualize the items in the project context to get client approval.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Trade Tales

What is Trade Tales about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A design-focused interview series that centers on running a design practice as a business. Across episodes, listeners get practical guidance on hiring, team management, client alignment, pricing, and process optimization, with a steady emphasis on culture, sustainability, and long-term growth. Guests range from solo designers to partner-led firms, often sharing actionable tactics for scaling, improving client experiences, and maintaining creative integrity while building financial footing. Noteworthy angles include immersive discovery processes, client-focused questionnaire redesigns, transparent pricing, and sustainability-informed business models that justify fees tied to research and in-house capabilities. This mix makes it valuable for ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Trade Tales?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Trade Tales:

1. Business of Home Podcast
2. The Interior Collective
3. A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast
4. Dear Alice | Interior Design
5. How to Decorate

How many episodes of Trade Tales are there?

Trade Tales launched 5 years ago and published 171 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Trade Tales?

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What guests have appeared on Trade Tales?

Recent guests on Trade Tales include:

1. Audrey Scheck
2. Zoë Feldman
3. Christine Vroom
4. Hanna Li
5. Melissa Oholendt
6. Elizabeth Bennett
7. Mallory Robins
8. Alison Giese

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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