336. The Power of Pivoting in an Uncertain Design Market with Sascha Lafleur

What happens when the market changes and the way you've always run your design business isn't working quite the same anymore? In this episode, I'm joined by Sascha Lafleur, co-founder of West of Main, for an honest conversation about adaptability, growth, structure, and what it really takes to build a sustainable interior design business. Sascha shares how West of Main has evolved through different economic cycles, from expanding into furniture and décor services and hourly consulting to building e-commerce, retail, and a designer trade program. We talk about why adding more services isn't always the answer, why smaller firms need to protect their capacity, and how financial data and strong systems allow you to make smarter decisions when the market feels uncertain. You'll hear: How to recognize when your design business needs to pivot Why different revenue streams perform differently depending on the market The hidden operational cost of launching something new Why structure becomes increasingly important as your business grows How to choose what deserves your time and attention Why knowing your numbers gives you more freedom as a business owner How West of Main is supporting designers through its trade program If the design market feels different right now, this episode is a reminder that changing course doesn't mean something has gone wrong. Sometimes adapting is exactly how you build a business that lasts. Resources: Episode 68: Scaling your business & virtually servicing your clients with Sascha Lafleur Learn more about Sascha Lafleur at her website and follow her: @westofmain & @westofmainshoppe. Designer Trade Program Discount code: enter code resilientbydesign at checkout ---- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.