Interior Designers, Keep Your Head in the Clouds...

Kvadrat "Cloud" Sculpture Designed by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

We all know the quote "Keep your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground". Well for me that meant to keep dreaming and work hard on making those dreams come true. I have always wanted to start a business that would allow me to work directly with interior designers. The love for interior design was always a passion of mine, but it was the designer that got me to dream. Interior designers fascinate me, not only with their creativity, but their keen sense for transformation. They are chameleons when it comes to their art, but most importantly when it comes to business.

"Head in the Clouds" Photography via Victor Demarchelier

For almost two decades I was privy to working directly with the pros. From the start of my working career, I was molded by the design industry. I learned so much from the design icons. The common tread amongst designers are that they are big dreamers and visionaries. When it came to business they were able to see the changes they needed to make to stay on top of their game. They embraced it and always kept their eye on the prize. Even when the adjustment meant they needed to start from scratch, they were smart about tapping into the right support. This is why I am so in awe of them and maybe why the quote kept popping into my head when I was seeking to start my business.

Cloud Pendant from Fire Farm Custom Lighting

My cloud light bulb went off. I saw how the industry was changing over the years. The economy made those drastic changes rapidly in 2009, but I knew the design business would adjust and come back stronger. There were a new breed of designers wanting to take their passion and create a viable business. They became laser focus on practicality, time efficiency and effectiveness. They sought after the latest technology that was not just a one size fits all, but was created specifically for them. They just needed to find support to tap into. The problem was now the support they needed became a saturated market of overwhelming amount of consultants, gurus, coaches, books, subscriptions, seminars, webinars and more. All valuable resources, but where do you just...start?

Artist Ukigumo Floating Clouds

It's very easy to get lost with so many options. I saw the need for a simplistic style of direction and support designers were looking for. So I started Viteri Style Management, LLC in March of 2012. My mission was to provide practical solutions to interior designers wanting to run a boutique style business. To be able to grow and run a firm with just a handful of people, if not less, takes what the new breed of designers are doing. They tap into support that makes transitioning practical, time efficient and effective. You could not find a bigger supporter in this mission than VSM.

 Vision by Interior Designer, Kelly Behun

The new year brings new direction. VSM has always listened and watched as the industry yet again stays ahead of the curve and transitions into a new era of doing business. Designers are embracing cloud computing more and more. The toughest part is getting the support needed to make it a smooth switch without all the added noise of how they should run their business. They just need to get STARTED!

We are excited to partner and collaborate with companies that will help us meet our mission and enhance the design community. We partnered with our elite interior designer's choice for complete cloud base software, Design Manager. This highly recommend, fully integrated project management and accounting software interacts with all business apps. With their launch of CloudSpace it is the solution to our mission. They have recently won the ASID Industry Partner Merit Award and have serviced the design community since 1984. Our collaboration will get the designer's business to run entirely and securely in the clouds. VSM will make it an easy reality for design firms to work virtually.

 
 It does not stop there. We are thrilled to partner with Jamie Raquel Inc. who has brilliantly created the stylish file tote. We partnered with them last year to offer a charitable coupon to all of our clients and design fans. With every purchase using the coupon code "viteristyle" 100% of the affiliated proceeds went to our supporting charity, My Stuff Bags Foundation. Jamie Raquel Inc. were generous enough to offer 15% of the retail sales on top on that. It was hit! In honor of our partnership they have extended the charitable coupon till January 31st, 2013.

Our holiday gifts to our design clients have been like potato chips, they just can't have one. We gave a beautiful recycled Italian leather envelope in the color of our favorite champagne label, Veuve Clicquot. It was a thoughtful gift to help our clients present their toughest presentation to their clients (The Bill) in the most stylish manner. After emails, thank you notes and phone calls we just had to consider a partnership with Fiorentina which offers high quality recycled Italian leather products in delicious colors. 

We are looking forward to offering our services and products in 2013. We like to thank all of our clients, inspiring interior designers, fans and new partners for venturing with us during our journey to meet our mission. We are embracing this new year with the welcome of change and a refreshing start as we are sure many of you are too. We look forward to meeting new wonderful designers that will continue to inspire us. We are just like you who keep dreaming and will continue to keep our head in the clouds and our feet on ground. Cheers to the New Year!

XOXO

Barbara V.