TRADE RESOURCES
EDUCATE . INSPIRE . CREATE
Below are some of my favorite tools to help organize your life & business. Get productive and spend time on the things that really matter.
Click on the Green.
BUSINESS SOFTWARE & TOOLS
In order to run a successful profitable business we all need systems and processes in place. Here are some of my favorite Business Management Softwares on the market. These softwares help run the backend of your business along with helpful tools to track ideas and manage work flow.
If you see "*" that means I am currently using that software on a daily basis.
BUSINESS SOFTWARE
* IVY CO | The best project management design software yet! Stylish, easy to navigate & affordable. It integrates with quickbooks for accounting and has live chat/ phone support. You no longer need to except checks as form of payment. A program created by designers for designers.
MY DOMA | Design software great for "E-Designers"
DESIGNER LOGIC | Solid program, live tech support is slim
STUDIO DESIGNER | A robust software very focused on finances and tracking.
QUICKBOOKS | Accounting Software
HARVEST | Simple online time tracking
EXPENSIFY | Automate your expense reports
MY HOURS | Keep track of all those hours your spend
DESIGN FILES | Great for E-Design project, workflow, and mood board creation.
DUBSADO | This is a business management solution designed to cut out the busywork.
HOUZZ PRO | Build your design presence online, brows inspiration, helpful client communication tools
BUSINESS TOOLS
*MIKO & BOONE | Design Trade Resource Center. Avoid the stress of ordering, tracking, and managing product purchases on your own. Experienced, professional and wonderful customer service.
* MONDAY.COM | Great for project workflow
TRELLO | Organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible way
WRIKE | Task manager
BASECAMP | Team management and communication
SMART SHEETS | Manage and automate collaborative work, organize project schedule, to do list and blog posts
STEELYARD | To the trade only- interior design vendor resource
POCKET | Search for things on the web to read later, save it with their bookmarklet
SCREEN CAST-O-MATIC | Fast, free screen recording
ZOOM | Conference calls, video, screen recording
LAST PASS | No longer loose all your passwords
EVERNOTE | Keep track of your ideas, content and inspiration
TWEAK YOUR BIZ | Help generate titles for articles and blogs
* MOO | Beautiful quality business cards, flyers and more
SEND OWL | Send digital products to clients straight to their email or via a download button
PLANNER | Stylish and functional
SLACK | Slack is a collaboration hub, where the right people and the right information come together, helping everyone get work done
BUSINESS BY THE BOOK | Fabulous accounting and bookkeeping firm. Tell them Laura Thurman sent you
WISE STAMP | Create fabulous professional
e-signatures
DOCUSIGN | Get contracts signed
*UPWORK | This platform connects professionals and agencies to businesses seeking specialized talent. SEO, graphics, logos and much more
DESIGN SOFTWARE
Now for the creation of our projects. These are some of the tools I feel are best for presentations,
drawings, and graphics.
* AUTOCAD | For all your drawings/ construction doc needs. Read packages carefully you may not need the "full" version
* SKETCHUP | Great for 3D modeling, you can also do your drawing (floor plans/ elevation) on this platform
FLOOR PLANNER | If AutoCad or Sketchup is to advanced, this is a simpler solution
CHIEF ARCHITECT | If AutoCad or Sketchup is to advanced, this is a simpler solution
CHIP IT | Capture the perfect Sherwin William paint color from a photo
*ADOBE CREATIVE SUITES | If you have never heard of Adobe, prepare to be blown away! Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign are our favs. Editing photos, creating presentation boards and creating templates, graphics etc..
ADOBE SPARK | Transform your ideas into stunning visual stories and graphics.
*CREATIVE MARKET | Find the perfect creative asset to
bring your project to life
COMMUNITY
& EDUCATION
Need inspiration, motivation and or education content look no further. From industry news, to podcasts, to the top Facebook business pages, to professional books, and business coaches I've got you covered.
PODCASTS TO FOLLOW
EXPLORE HOME | By Universal Furniture
SAID | By Designers Today
A WELL DESIGNED BUSINESS | By LuAnn Nigara
THE CHAISE LOUNGE | By iMay Media
DESIGN PERSPECTIVES | By Gail Davis
BOH- THE BUSINESS OF HOME | By Business of Home
PROFIT IS A CHOICE | By Michele Williams
TASTEFULLY INSPIRED | By Mark P. McDonough
DESIGN BETWEEN THE LINES | By American Society of Furniture Designers
BUSINESS OF DESIGN | By Kimberly Seldon
GOAL DIGGER | By Jenna Kutcher
RISE PODCAST | Rachel Hollis
CLASSES & COACHING
ATLY | Online workshops and classes. Perfect a skill or gain a new one. Affordable and fun.
KAJABI | Online creative and personal classes
VERONICA SOLOMON | Interior design mentor & coaching
CHERYL NAGLE KEES CLENDENON | Interior design consulting & coaching
MASTERCLASS | Professional and personal workshops, lots of goodies here.
LAURA THURMAN | Design Mentor
SCARLET THREAD CONSULTING | Michele Williams
GAIL DOBY | Coaching & Consulting
ALYCIA WICKER | Interior design resources
BUSINESS ARTICLES
ARTICLE THAT EXPLAINS DESIGNER VALUE AND COST
SEO PRACTICES
DESIGNERS TODAY
BOH- BUSINESS OF HOME
FACEBOOK BIZ PAGES
SMALL BUSINESS THINK BIG
WHAT THEY DON'T TEACH YOU IN DESIGN SCHOOL
IVY DESIGNER NETWORK
INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS STRATEGIES
SKETCHUP FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
BOSS GIRL BLOGGERS
DOCUMMENTARIES
ABSTRACT: THE ART OF DESIGN
THE CREATIVE BRAIN
THE PIXAR STORY
JEREMY SCOTT: THE PEOPLES DESIGNER
BLURRED LINES: INSIDE THE ART WORLD
THE 100 YEARS SHOW
PRINT THE LEGEND
JACKSON POLLOCK
DESIGN IS ONE: LELLA & MASSIMO VIGNELLI
MINIMALISM: A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE IMPORTANT THINGS
LEGO HOUSE: HOME OF THE BRICK
KONSTANTIN GRCIC: DESIGN IS WORK
SOCIAL MEDA
Despite that fact that I hate that Social Media is taking over the world, as a business owner it is an integral part. I hope these tools will help organize, automate, or inspire you to tackle your social game!
SOCIAL MEDIA
HOOTSUITE | Schedule all social media posts
LATER | Schedule and automate posts
POST PLANNER | Find the best content for your audience
BUFFER | Social media management for marketers and agencies
CANVA | Create social media (and other) graphics free
PINFINITE GROWTH | A course on maximizing Pinterest
PIN GROUPIE | Find group boards on Pinterest with
PLANOLY | Plan you Instagram post in advance
ADOBE SPARK | Transform your ideas into stunning visual stories and graphics.
PINTEREST ACADEMY | Master marketing on Pinterest
STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
VIDEO & PHOTO EDITING
These are my video hero's!
IPHONE ACADEMY | Learn how to capture the best photography and video on your IPhone
MOMENT | Phone filming equipment. You can capture it ALL with your phone
APPS
YOUTUBE CHANNELS TO FOLLOW