Is your website just sitting pretty or is it actually working for your business? If you've ever felt like your site doesn’t reflect your growth, doesn’t bring in the right clients , or still feels like it belongs to your “just getting started” era, this conversation is for you. Lori’s conversation today is with Cathleen Barnes, the founder of Cathleen Barnes Consulting, a web and brand design studio known for creating strategy-first, high-converting websites for interior designers and creative b...
Jul 19, 2025•34 min•Ep. 110
You didn’t start your business to manage chaos—yours or anyone else’s. And yet, even with a team in place, delegation doesn’t always feel like relief. You find yourself double-checking tasks you’ve already assigned, mentally tracking details you thought you handed off, or stepping back in when something feels off. Exhausting and far from the freedom you imagined! Often, the root of this tension isn’t just about team performance. It’s about connection. When team members don’t fully understand how...
Jul 12, 2025•22 min•Ep. 109
You’ve built your business with grit and a whole lot of resourcefulness. You’ve taken in all the free advice, downloaded the templates, maybe even brought on a little help and yet something is not just clicking. If you're in that messy middle where you’re no longer starting from scratch but nowhere near where you want to be, constantly beating yourself up with "I should be able to figure this out by now”, you are not alone. What you may not just know right now is that even the most successful bu...
Jul 05, 2025•11 min•Ep. 108
Today’s episode hits close to home for so many of us juggling team mishaps, last-minute chaos, or repeating the same fire drill. Every business hits rough patches; let’s be honest. However, it becomes an issue, a source of concern and a need to re-evaluate things when the same problem keeps showing up. Then, in contrast to “how can I solve this”, it is time to ask the question: Am I fixing the right problem? Here’s the kicker: If you’ve been fixing the same problem again and again… odds are, you...
Jun 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 107
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I just need more time”? If you’re in the growth or acceleration phase of your staging business, this episode will lovingly challenge that thought. Because what if time isn't the issue at all? Today, we’re diving into one of the most important mindset and structural shifts a CEO can make. If your days feel like a non-stop game of calendar blocks, your team still needs you to make every decision and your brain is carrying the entire operating manual, you’ll w...
Jun 21, 2025•26 min•Ep. 106
Have things felt… messy lately? You’re booked out, your client list is growing, and you should be celebrating—but instead, you’re overwhelmed, behind on admin, and wondering how long you can keep this up. If that’s you, hit pause on the panic because this episode is your permission slip to see that chaos as progress. In today’s episode, we’re unpacking what most business owners never talk about: how growth often looks like disorganization before it looks like success. I’ll show you why a chaotic...
Jun 14, 2025•17 min•Ep. 105
How do you know what your staging business is really worth — and how can you make it worth more? If you’ve ever assumed that your revenue or hard work alone determines the value of your business, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew. Today, I am joined by valuation expert Steven Denny, who has worked behind the scenes with staging business owners at every level—from those just getting established to those preparing to exit at seven figures. Gleaning from his experience of ...
Jun 05, 2025•41 min•Ep. 104
Is being booked out six weeks straight really the holy grail of business success? While a packed calendar might look like winning from the outside, many staging business owners find themselves stressed, stretched thin, and wondering if this is truly success. Today, I talk about the difference between being "booked out" and being "booked right." You'll discover why a constantly full calendar might actually be limiting your growth potential and keeping you trapped in a cycle of overwhelm. Beyond t...
May 24, 2025•17 min•Ep. 103
Today, we are replaying an episode on our 'Most Valuable Podcasts" list ! I hope you learn one or two new things from it.
May 17, 2025•19 min
Are you feeling like your business growth isn't as smooth as you hoped? Like you're taking two steps forward and a couple back? You're in what I call "the messy middle" – that challenging phase where you're growing your team , but things still feel chaotic. This week, I am guiding you into a candid look of what it really takes to build a team that can run your business without you. Frankly, even established businesses like mine went through bumps, hiccups, and hard conversations to get where we ...
May 10, 2025•10 min•Ep. 102
Feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list but guilty about delegating to your team? You're not alone. Many leaders struggle with what’s known as delegation guilt. But in reality, effective delegation isn’t about offloading work; it’s about empowering your team and investing in their development. High-performing teams thrive when they’re trusted with responsibility. They don’t want to be shielded from challenges —they want to grow through them. So, while you are holding back from delegating, the rip...
May 03, 2025•16 min•Ep. 101
Can you believe it? Today, you’re listening to the 100th episode of the Staging Sips podcast. And while there’s no confetti cannon, we’re celebrating something even more meaningful: the power of consistency. What began as a simple promise to show up — no matter what — has grown into a journey filled with lessons, imperfect action, and a whole lot of value for staging business owners like you. From recording in parking lots to pushing through tough personal moments, this podcast has been built on...
Apr 19, 2025•33 min•Ep. 100
Kristin and Vanessa of Bluebird Design Company join me today to talk about everything they have experienced about building their business, both from a personal and professional perspective. They share their journey from friendship to successful business partnership, and how they have transformed almost overwhelming business challenges into sustainable success. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a business from scratch with a best friend, how they have founded theirs on 13 years of friendship p...
Apr 12, 2025•50 min•Ep. 99
Are you struggling to balance client satisfaction with your own sanity? In this MVP episode, I tackle the misconception that being "easy to work with" means saying yes to everything. Instead, I show you how we maintain excellent client relationships while preserving strong boundaries at Rethink Home Interiors. Through years of trial and error, I have developed systems that create predictability clients love without the burnout that comes from constant availability. Today, I am excited to share t...
Apr 05, 2025•28 min•Ep. 98
We both know that you are great at what you do—turning empty spaces into homes that buyers cannot resist. But marketing your staging business? That’s another story. If it feels like you’re constantly shouting into the void, struggling to get noticed by the right real estate agents and homeowners, you’re not alone. Chasing leads is exhausting—and frankly, it’s not sustainable. What if, instead of hunting for clients, they came to you? In this episode, I’m sitting down with video marketing expert ...
Mar 29, 2025•46 min•Ep. 97
Most staging business owners have experienced it—the excitement of landing a new project quickly overshadowed by scheduling complexities. What should be straightforward becomes a logistical challenge of coordinating teams, access details, and client expectations. The reality is that scheduling vacant stagings can be more manageable with the right approach. It's not about eliminating complexity entirely, but creating systems that make it predictable and efficient. In this episode, I talk about a ...
Mar 22, 2025•24 min•Ep. 96
Effective financial planning is essential for any home staging business looking to scale sustainably. Rather than worry about how to afford your inventory or be limited by insufficient funds, strategic financing can be a tool that helps you grow. I have seen many staging business owners rely on credit cards or cash reserves to purchase furniture, but this approach can only create financial strain. Today, I speak with Rod; a financing expert with over 30 years of experience, with a strong focus o...
Mar 15, 2025•57 min•Ep. 95
Ever rolled out a brilliant new system, expecting excitement, only to get resistance, complaints, or worse—silence? Yep, I’ve been there. You know the change will make things better, but getting your team on board? That’s the hard part. People naturally resist change—not because they’re difficult, but because uncertainty triggers stress and fear of failure. And here’s the kicker: leading change isn’t just about processes or tech—it’s about leadership. In this episode, I am delving into why emplo...
Mar 08, 2025•34 min•Ep. 94
Do you, as a staging business owner, have the necessary skills to lead a team effectively? More like, “what if the muddy waters of team building you are wading through right now is actually the scaffold of a staging business that really thrives". No one is born leading a staging business (or any other), so I understand how hard it may sometimes be and why even though we love our businesses, this part may not be our everyday love. Just like in every other organization where people are brought tog...
Mar 01, 2025•30 min
"Can I pay at closing?" If that question and a dozen others like it sound familiar, this episode provides practical solutions for handling “sticky” client requests in your staging business. Often, we are tied between maintaining professional boundaries while building strong client relationships. For new stagers especially, these requests often turn into self evaluations and comparison thoughts, arising from not knowing whether our “NO”s are driving our clients into the arms of other stagers who ...
Feb 22, 2025•26 min•Ep. 92
In this Valentine's Day special episode, let's explore a love story of a different kind – the art of nurturing client relationships! More often than not, service-based businesses like ours miss crucial opportunities by failing to maintain meaningful connections with past clients. Yet, these relationships form the bedrock of sustainable business growth and lasting success. The concept of "loving up" on your clients goes far beyond basic marketing tactics. It's about creating intentional, systemat...
Feb 15, 2025•22 min•Ep. 91
It is a pleasure to bring out from behind the scene, Anna Huff - a dear business mindset coach, for an honest conversation about the internal work that shapes our entrepreneurial journey. From being a Pinterest manager to mindset coach, Anna shares her personal evolution and the crucial lessons she learned about the role of belief in business success. Going into the challenges that came up with her pivot - much like those you may encounter while building your staging business , she shares powerf...
Feb 08, 2025•34 min•Ep. 90
I've been taken down by the flu, so today we're running one of our Most Valuable Podcasts Enjoy! I don't think I have ever said this, but this is one masterclass session that you want to grab a journal and pen for. As we prepare to tackle our marketing issues in the upcoming episodes, it is my concern to ensure that all the wheels of your business are properly functioning. Why? Because a staging business or any other is not worth running on a broken process, defunct pricing model or a debt you c...
Feb 01, 2025•30 min•Ep. 58
Let’s talk about how to use strategic financial management as a key driver of success in your home staging business. I’ve encouraged you to start paying attention to your numbers, but now it’s time to take it further. In this episode, I’m sharing actionable strategies to help you manage your revenue in ways that fuel growth. I challenge conventional, overly complex accounting advice that doesn’t serve small businesses. Instead, I’ll share a straightforward and effective approach to managing your...
Jan 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 89
I know numbers are not the cutest things for you to look at; not when we are stagers. But we will today, and you can trust me to make it enticing. “ Do my numbers matter ?” YES! Because believe it or not, your P&L is telling the story of your business - the wins, the learning curves, and most importantly, where the golden opportunities are hiding! Think of it as your business's report card. Just like it helps students understand their academic journey, your business numbers tell you exactly ...
Jan 18, 2025•24 min•Ep. 88
Yayyyyy, it’s a brand new year! New energy, new goals, and maybe even a chance to reflect and arm ourselves with all the tools we need to crush it in our businesses this year! Now, I’m not sure where you are at this time—maybe the new year energy is still just settling in, and you're finding your balance. Or, maybe you're already hitting the ground running with a new team member, new goals, new numbers, and all the exciting new things! Today, I want to take a moment to share two incredible tools...
Jan 11, 2025•28 min•Ep. 87
Shall we talk about 2024 at Rethink Home Interiors…the year I stepped out from my role literally and almost completely? Beyond just sharing the story behind that, I’m excited to bring you along and reflect on the experience, the lessons I learned, and how it’s shaping the future of the insights and strategies I share with all my students, including you! From both sides of the past seasons—including one where my business ran without me—I’ve gathered valuable insights that you can trust to guide y...
Dec 21, 2024•20 min•Ep. 86
There could not have been any better expert to answer your questions on how to do social media marketing right, make your DM a money hotspot, and have fun while at it. A one time interior designer turned SM Guru, Emma Tesler of Ninety Five Media joins me today to share tried and true strategies for letting people know you are right here ! Both offline to deliver exceptional staging services, and online to show them how you do it! Leaning into industry stats, Emma shares the components of what dr...
Dec 14, 2024•40 min•Ep. 85
What are your goals for 2025? Whether you are clear or still unsure about those big next steps, ICYMI, this conversation is exactly what you need. You’ve probably heard me say it before: setting goals is one thing, but making them happen? That’s where the magic lies. And it’s not just about motivation or discipline; which of course they matter. More than often, it is about understanding how your brain works and using that knowledge to unlock a goal-getting superpower. Call it a Brain-Hacking Sys...
Dec 07, 2024•30 min•Ep. 84
What if you could handle dicey client interactions with confidence and calm, without the stress or frustration? As a staging business owner, you know that you’ll encounter all kinds of personalities. With that comes clients and team members who might unintentionally cross boundaries or push your limits. Most of the time, it’s not personal—they may just forget what they agreed to or don’t fully understand your process. Rather than respond emotionally, would it not be better to navigate those mome...
Nov 30, 2024•25 min•Ep. 83
