Today With LuAnn Nigara: “Maybe” feels polite. Safe. Hopeful. But in sales? It’s a silent killer. In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, I break down the 6th Deadly Sales Sin: mistaking vague responses for real opportunities. You’ll learn why “maybe” doesn’t pay the bills, how to stop waiting in limbo, and the exact scripts to lead your client to a clear yes—or an honest no. If your pipeline is full of “we’ll think about it,” this is your wake-up call. Listen now and take back your pow...
Jun 30, 2025•21 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: If you're doing beautiful consultations and still walking away without a signed agreement—this episode is for you. In Part 5 of our “7 Deadly Sales Sins” series, LuAnn breaks down one of the most costly mistakes sales professionals make: Avoiding the Close. You’ll learn why clients actually want to be guided to a decision, how to confidently ask for the business without feeling salesy, and what practical steps you can take today to lead your consults with clarity and res...
Jun 23, 2025•17 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: In Part 4 of our solo sales series, LuAnn tackles a sneaky but costly sales habit: being a chameleon. It’s what happens when you adjust your tone, your process—or even your pricing—just to stay in the client’s comfort zone. The problem? You’re not leading the sale anymore… you’re following it. In this episode, LuAnn breaks down: The difference between empathetic communication and giving away your power How trying to be “easy to work with” can quietly weaken your value Re...
Jun 16, 2025•21 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Today we’re tackling one of the sneakiest sales habits out there—Feature Dumping. Yep, this one shows up when you think you’re impressing your client with all the bells and whistles...but what you’re really doing is overwhelming them and missing the mark. Here’s the truth: your clients don’t want a product pitch. They want a solution. They want to know how your expertise—and the beautiful window treatments you deliver—will improve their life, their home, and their peace ...
Jun 09, 2025•24 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Are you tiptoeing around the money conversation—and wondering why your quotes are landing with crickets? In Part 2 of our special series, LuAnn breaks down one of the most common (and costly) sales mistakes: Avoiding the budget talk. She explains why staying silent doesn’t create comfort—it creates doubt. And how floating a confident investment range early in the consult builds trust, transparency, and bigger closes. This episode is packed with real-world examples, minds...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: You’ve got the product knowledge, the design skills, and the consults on your calendar—but if you’re still leading with product instead of process, you’re leaving money on the table. In this episode, LuAnn kicks off a powerful new solo series: The 7 Deadly Sales Sins, based on the real-world coaching she does every week with Exciting Windows! pros. Today’s sin? Leading with the Product. And to illustrate just how costly this habit can be, she walks you through one common...
May 26, 2025•22 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit! Today, we dive into the fundamental truth that questions are the answers in sales, inspired by sales master Tom Hopkins. Learn how to transform your sales approach by asking strategic questions that create connections, clarity, and commitment with your clients. We’ll emphasize the importance of continuous learning and offer practical tips for improving your sales process. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned pro, this ...
May 19, 2025•26 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: If you’ve ever fumbled your way through a discovery call or wondered why some leads ghost you after that first conversation—this episode is for you. LuAnn breaks down five strategic questions every window treatment pro should be asking on a discovery call—plus the real reason behind each one. Inspired by the sales genius of Phil M. Jones and enriched by a powerful real-life story from Matt Cobb inside the Exciting Windows! mastermind, this episode is all about selling sm...
May 05, 2025•28 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Every entrepreneur faces moments where fear and overwhelm stop you in your tracks. In this powerful episode, LuAnn Nigara dismantles the myth of fearlessness and introduces her proven "Business Bravery" approach developed over 40+ years of entrepreneurship. You'll learn practical strategies to take action despite uncertainty, including the morning intention that transformed LuAnn's business mindset and concrete steps to move beyond paralyzing self-doubt. Featuring real-w...
Apr 28, 2025•20 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hey friends—today we’re getting real about a critical part of running a profitable business: qualifying leads. Because let’s be honest—most of us are either letting go of clients who could have been ideal, or we’re wasting precious time on ones that were never a good fit to begin with. In this episode, I’m sharing three real-world stories from my own business journey that reveal the hidden opportunities in client interactions you might be misjudging. These aren’t hypothe...
Apr 21, 2025•41 min
Today With Leslie Excell: In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, LuAnn is joined by interior designer and entrepreneur Leslie Excell, founder of Excell Design + Co, for an honest, grounded, and inspiring conversation about building a business rooted in clarity, boundaries, and heart. Leslie shares the pivotal moments that helped her reshape her business—from learning to say “no” without guilt, to letting go of the comparison trap, to honoring her own definition of success. She opens up abo...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Are you stuck speaking price while your dream clients are listening for value? In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, LuAnn gets real about how to elevate your messaging to match the elevated clientele you’re trying to attract. She walks you through the subtle yet powerful mindset and language shifts that can position you as the go-to expert for high-end window treatment projects—without ever having to “sell.” LuAnn dives into: The one perspective shift that will c...
Apr 07, 2025•38 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: What separates the window treatment pros who build wealth from those who just build stress? In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on the five non-negotiable traits I’ve seen in every successful entrepreneur I’ve interviewed, coached, or worked alongside. After 1,300+ podcast interviews, dozens of coaching clients, and decades building Window Works, one truth is clear: success isn’t magic—it’s math. It’s made of actions, habits, and decisions. Today, I’m walk...
Mar 31, 2025•26 min
Today With Amy Cramer: In this special episode of our Bound By Business series, Jessica Harling sits down with Amy Cramer of Cramer Law Group to explore the essential legal structures family businesses need. Amy breaks down why proper documentation matters in succession planning, how to match estate plans with business documents, and the importance of clear roles and decision-making authority. This practical conversation covers everything from the dangers of nepotism to implementing appropriate ...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Opening a window treatment showroom is more than just a ribbon-cutting—it’s the launch of a space that can become the heartbeat of your business. Done right, your window treatment showroom can evolve into a thriving community hub where clients, industry partners, and trade professionals come together. In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, I’m sharing proven strategies for making your showroom a destination—whether you’re planning your grand opening, celebratin...
Mar 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 311
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Are you trying to grow your business, or are you actually doing it? In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, we’re tackling one of the biggest mindset shifts that separates successful business owners from those who stay stuck: the difference between trying and doing. Inspired by the Toby Keith song If You’re Tryin’, You Ain’t, this episode will challenge the way you think about hiring, pricing, sales, leadership, and decision-making. Here’s what you’ll learn: ✔️ ...
Mar 10, 2025•19 min•Ep. 310
Today With Vita, Jill, Nikki, Julie, Leslie: Hi, welcome to Window Treatments for Profit. On today's episode, I'm joined by five powerhouse window treatment experts: Vita Vygovska, Leslie Excell, Jill Ballew, Julie Murphy, and Nikki Greenwood. For the past two years, they've been meeting monthly in their own mastermind group, sharing everything from financials to marketing strategies. More About Vita, Jill, Nikki, Julie, Leslie Nikki Greenwood: Nikki is the owner and lead designer of Savannah Wi...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 309
Today With Tim Yurek: Succession planning—it’s something every family business needs, but so many owners put off. In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, I’m bringing you a powerful conversation from our Bound by Business series, where Jessica Harling sits down with financial expert Tim Yurek to break down exactly how to plan for the future of your business without disrupting your present. Tim shares how business owners can uncover hidden cash flow, avoid common financial pitfalls, and ...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 308
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Over the past few episodes of Window Treatments for Profit, we’ve tackled the four biggest reasons why clients ghost: ✔ Not standing out as the expert ✔ Overwhelming them with too many choices (decision fatigue) ✔ Fear of making a costly mistake ✔ And now, in our final episode of this series—unaddressed concerns or objections. This episode dives into the silent hesitation that stops clients from saying "yes." When they don’t voice their doubts, they simply disappear. But...
Feb 17, 2025•50 min•Ep. 307
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Why do some clients disappear just when they seem ready to buy? In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, we’re tackling a major reason why potential clients ghost: fear of making a big mistake. Even the most excited clients can hesitate if they feel uncertain, uneducated, or afraid of regret. As the expert in the room, it's your job to recognize and ease these fears so they feel confident moving forward. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ The four ways fear of mis...
Feb 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 306
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit! We’ve been diving deep into the topic of ghosting—why clients disappear and how to stop it from happening. This was supposed to be Part 3 of our four-part series, but something happened... A listener, Beatriz, wrote in with a real-life scenario that perfectly ties into our topic. She got ghosted after sending a quote, and when she looked back at her process, she realized she never set a clear pricing expectation. And she’s not alo...
Feb 03, 2025•22 min•Ep. 305
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Are you losing clients because they feel overwhelmed by choices? In this episode of Window Treatments for Profit, we tackle decision fatigue—why it happens and how it can sabotage your sales process. Discover actionable strategies to: Simplify the decision-making process for your clients. Position yourself as the trusted expert they rely on. Secure sales while building lasting relationships. Don't miss these powerful insights to reduce client ghosting and take your consu...
Jan 27, 2025•25 min•Ep. 304
Today With LuAnn Nigara: If you’ve been in the window treatment business for any length of time, you’ve likely experienced this: you pour hours into a proposal or consultation, think you’ve nailed it, and then—silence. The client disappears, leaving you frustrated, confused, and wondering what went wrong. Let me assure you, ghosting isn’t about your worth as a person. But it is often about how you communicate your value as a professional. The good news? This is fixable. A Big THANK YOU to Today’...
Jan 20, 2025•22 min•Ep. 303
Today With Jessica Harling: Hi, welcome to Window Treatments For Profit! Today, Jessica and I recap the key insights from our 'Bound by Business' series. We’ll dive into the five invaluable lessons Jessica has learned from her experiences in family business dynamics. From navigating challenges to celebrating the unique joys of working together, we’ll explore the reality behind family businesses, the importance of setting boundaries, and how to communicate effectively. Join us for a candid discus...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 302
Today With LuAnn Nigara: In this episode of "Window Treatments for Profit," I tackle a challenge many window treatment professionals face: the dreaded question, "Can you do better on the price?" Join me as I share my insights on pricing and the importance of understanding your value. I’ll guide you through the beliefs that shape your quotes and how to maintain confidence in your pricing strategy. Let’s dive into practical strategies to handle price objections and ensure you’re not undervaluing y...
Jan 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 301
Today With LuAnn Nigara: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit! Today, I’m diving into the vital elements of building a high-performing team, drawing insights from Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. We’ll explore the importance of trust, the role of healthy conflict, accountability, and focusing on collective results. If you’ve ever felt like your team just isn’t “gelling,” this episode is for you! Plus, I’ll share details about my upcoming workshop that will help you kick off...
Dec 23, 2024•22 min•Ep. 300
Today With Amanda Smith: Hi, welcome to Window Treatments for Profit! In this episode, we’re sitting down with Amanda Smith, a leader in the window treatment industry and co-founder of Seamless Workroom. From her start as a teacher to becoming a sought-after partner for interior designers, Amanda’s story is a testament to the power of systems, efficiency, and a commitment to quality. More About Amanda Smith Like many others in this business, I did not start out as a fabricator of window treatmen...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 299
Today With Theresa Harmon: Join me in this inspiring episode as I chat with Theresa Harmon, the current president of the Richmond, Virginia WCAA chapter. Theresa shares her journey in the window covering industry and emphasizes the importance of discovering your "why." With a background in graphic design and a passion for creating, she discusses the challenges and joys of running her own business, from problem-solving design dilemmas to connecting with clients. We also dive into the supportive c...
Dec 09, 2024•47 min•Ep. 298
Today With Brandon Barton: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit for another Bound by Business episode hosted by Jessica Harling. In today’s episode, Jessica interviews Brandon Barton of K to Z Window Coverings based in Louisiana. Brandon is a a 25-year veteran of the window treatments industry who took over the family business from his grandparents—and currently works closely with his brother and his wife. He’s here to share the lessons he’s learned from working with family, overcoming challe...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 297
Today With Lisa Jones: Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit. Today, I am excited to welcome Lisa Jones, owner of Lisa Jones Interiors and president of the Atlanta chapter of the WCAA. Lisa started her business 25 years ago, but at her 17th she reached a breaking point—she decided either she was going to close up shop or make a big shift in her business. After joining the WCAA and listening to A Well Designed Business along with other industry podcasts, Lisa discovered how to transform her bus...
Nov 25, 2024•59 min•Ep. 296