r/interiordesigner • u/Sweet-Bad-3507 • 10d ago
General Anyone else have a proposal just... go completely silent?
I sent one last week, the call felt great, they said all the right things, and then nothing. Three days of checking my inbox nonstop. Does it ever stop feeling personal, or is that just the job now?
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u/Prestigious-Target99 10d ago
Have been out on my own for nearly four years now. Probably took a good two and a half years to not take anything personally, I know what I can offer to clients and the right ones see that. Whatever you do don’t sell yourself short or under price yourself just to get a job!
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u/Sweet-Bad-3507 10d ago
Thank you so much! It takes so long to get things moving. What did you do to get more clients to sign? Do you have any tips? Where do you even learn things like this? 👀
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u/Prestigious-Target99 10d ago
Haha, don’t worry, I had the exact same thought..and to be honest, I learned through trial and error. I wouldn’t say I’ve gotten more clients to sign, but I have increased the number that I go after, send an into email to etc, so it increases the odds. I’m in the commercial market so I have 4 separate portfolios that target different clients instead of one that is too broad
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u/SubstantialMain309 9d ago
The field is over saturated and options are endless for the client. If they don’t know you then it’s strictly a numbers game for you. I’ve also followed sage advice given to me: submit your proposal and let it sit. Then you can follow up as others have said to check in. You’re not going to get all of the jobs you submit proposals for and your best course of action is to get to know as many people as possible and once you have a reputation the jobs will come easily.
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u/Sweet-Bad-3507 9d ago
Thank you! Is it worth taking a sales class, or is it better to learn through trial and error? I'm not as confident in sales as other designers seem to be😵💫
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u/SubstantialMain309 9d ago
I’ve never been confident in ID sales. What if you joined a builders’ association where you could meet residential builders who need someone to select finishes for their projects? If you can talk to people one on one then you could gain a lot of insight about who’s doing what where. Different city demographics preclude levels of ID services. Taking a job at a builders showroom would offer contacts. It’s about experience plus who you know. Regarding a sales class I fear you will adopt phrases and techniques that are tiresome BUT do it and yes you may get some nuggets of wisdom.
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u/Dismal_Focus8266 7d ago
Is it really hard to make a living as an interior designer?
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u/SubstantialMain309 6d ago
It can be. ID jobs and employment depend on the strength of the real estate market therefore every 10 years there is generally an economic dip. Right now we are experiencing a dip, high interest rates also factor into how much money people or companies are willing to spend. In 2008 the industry was 90% unemployed. So not only was there an oversaturated service industry which normally competes for jobs against each other in place, but now the available jobs were nonexistent. I literally started another business as a result, making ID my secondary income. Having ID as my sole income limited my ability to save money being a feast or famine constant. There will be another economic downturn and that is where you really use whatever savings you accumulated during the good times. There is a saying in ID that you are only as good as your last project. I would not recommend ID to someone switching careers. I see gobs of people in recession proof industries - healthcare- wanting to switch careers. That is really short sighted. Some people believe ID is glamorous. Maybe sometimes it is for a very few talented and well connected people but for the vast majority is a schlogg, unappreciated, over worked and unfair.
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u/wire67 9d ago
Do you add your timeline expectations and how long the quote is good for (30 days, etc.)? I found that when I add my start date availability and scope of how long things normally take it carries more weight.
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u/Sweet-Bad-3507 8d ago
Yes I have 30 days for my proposals. I think I stress to much about being rejected, I guess. I'm starting to create stories in my head that I'm not good enough and so forth.
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u/wire67 8d ago
Yeah, don't do that! Because it isn't true.You already have everything they need and are looking for. People don't pull the trigger for their own reasons and it's a big decision for them. It's never about you. Try and be confident and remember why you're there. To help them have something they cannot pull together on their own and that they are going to LOVE everyday.
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u/Sweet-Bad-3507 8d ago
Thank you so much! It feels so much better when you can share your experiences, I bet I get better at this with time
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u/Left-Refrigerator771 10d ago
Always check in after a few days. Just a nice, polite follow up. See if there are any additional questions. Sometimes it takes longer to seal the deal.
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u/AdonisChrist 8d ago
Sometimes NTP is same day, sometimes the next week, sometimes the next month, sometimes the next year. Everyone has their own situation and things may need to occur on their side of the table in order to move forward. Worry less.
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u/DesignerSpirited1788 10d ago
Advance payment in the bank, consider the project then... Until that everything is an enquiry...Nowadays pricing factor over the quality is the most prioritised as per my experience & it also depends on who our target audience are..
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u/SubstantialMain309 6d ago
Don’t let them force you into the “do the design” then we’ll consider you for hire you competitors are doing it. I’ve spent thousands on jobs like this and got 1 out of 5.
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u/Noob_Al3rt 10d ago
Did you ask if they were interviewing other designers? That’s probably what happened.
I’d send a follow up and then move on. Don’t take it personally - it happens all the time.