Explore Home - A Podcast from Universal Furniture

This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Megan Molten, founder and creative director of her eponymous design firm in Charleston, South Carolina. Tune in as Neil sits down with Megan to discuss her design career journey, the importance of building ironclad client relationships, and her forthcoming work featured in Flower Magazine. Megan explains how the positive feedback generated from her design-focused social media accounts gave her the confidence to transitioninto a full-time design career. Neil and Megan also touch upon how the design firm is expanding its reach, the creative process of designing a show house, and Megan’s design goals for 2024. For more information on Megan’s work, visit meganmolten.com or @meganmolten.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast. This week, we invite you to explore home with Yvonne Christensen and Nichole Speirs, owners of Utah-based House West Design. Listen as Yvonne and Nichole discuss how “meeting” on Instagram led to joining forces and opening House West Design. They discuss the challenges of merging two companies together, from day-to-day processes to delegation and hiring the right team. Over the course of the last 3 years, they have assembled a tight-knit, well-rounded group of designers. Next, Yvonne and Nichole talk about how Universal’s collections, quality, and depth and breadth of in-stock items allows them to streamline ordering furniture for their projects. House West Design is also part of our first partner in Designer Made. Designer Made is a captivating new series that invites you to step into the world of interior design and witness the seamless fusion of creativity and craftsmanship. In this compelling new series, we’ll join forces with renowned interior designers as they artfully combine their passion for design with our carefully curated collections.⁠ ⁠ Designer Made is an ode to designers and the work they do to transform spaces into living, breathing works of art. The furniture's on us, but the vision is all them.⁠ ⁠ For more on House West Design, you can follow @housewestdesign on Instagram.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Rydhima Brar, founder and principal of R/Terior Studio based in Los Angeles, California. Listen as Rydhima discusses opening her interior design business at the very start of COVID and how her previous corporate role helped her pivot her business strategy. Then, Rydhima shares with Neil more about her childhood growing up in Kuwait and how her upbringing played an integral part in her unique aesthetic. After, they discuss Rydhima’s first visit to High Point Market and the value she found in making the cross country trip. They then wrap up discussing Rydhima’s partnership with Universal during the recent Pasadena Showcase House. For more on Rydhima and R/Terior Studio, you can follow @rteriorstudio on Instagram now.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast. This week, we invite you to explore home with Carmin Black, Founder of Half United. Half United is a for-profit philanthropic company that puts helping others above profit. Selling “socially good goods,” Half United works with artisans in developing countries to produce one-of-a-kind items. This leads to gainful employment in places that are in desperate need of opportunities. Neil and Carmin talk about how she and her brother started Half United when they were 24 and 19 years old, with $200 and a dream. They began working with Tom’s, who took them to Haiti for a photoshoot. Carmin and her brother traveled the island visiting and speaking with locals. It was then that their plan was solidified to help impoverished communities take their local products to market. They began with one handbag, expecting to sell 50. They received 1,000 orders! Each bag took 2 days to make which led to the employment of up to 300 Haitians. As a result, the town flourished with homes being built, food on the table and children going to school. Now, Half United works in 8 different countries producing a variety of items. Carmin is constantly on the look-out on how to adapt trends that are in high demand that can be made in developing countries, instead of large manufacturing facilities. Carmin will be at the Universal showroom during Spring High Point Market selling corn and shell jewelry, candles and candle boxes, glassware and straw bags. Please stop by to learn more about her passion to help others. Learn more about Half United at https://www.halfunited.com/ Become a wholesaler at https://www.halfunited.com/pages/wholesale-program

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast. This week, we invite you to explore home with John McClain, CEO and Creative Director of John McClain Design. Home design is in John’s blood, his family built homes and he tagged along as a kid. This led to the discovery that he loved every aspect of home design, from the foundation to the roof. Neil and John talk about how he began by decorating friends’ homes for a free lunch. On a whim, he auditioned for an HGTV special that focused on designers. He made the cut, and the exposure made him an in-demand designer. Following this momentum and a fortuitous meeting on a cruise, John moved to LA and began designing full-time. John discusses how he has perfected identifying the best clients for his business. It took a lot of years, and a lot of mistakes, to discover what type of projects and people he worked best with. John believes that systems and processes are the foundation of any organization. So much so, that he wrote a book detailing his business best practices in the hopes that others can learn from his experiences. John will be speaking in the Learning Center at the Universal Showroom during Spring High Point Market about attracting the ideal client. Reserve your seat at universalfurniture.com/marketevents. Discover John's Book - https://thedesignerwithin.showit.site/book Discover John's Coaching Series - https://johnmcclaindesign.com/

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast. This week, we invite you to explore home with Tammy Nagem, President and CEO of High Point Market Authority. As the newly appointed HPMA President, Tammy describes her transition into the role and the anticipation of the upcoming Spring High Point Market. Tammy and Neil discuss how anyone who is serious about the home furnishings business needs to attend HPMKT. It is the epicenter of the furnishings industry, you will see more product, more categories, and more inspiration than at any other show. Tammy details how she and her team work diligently to make High Point Market an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Some of these efforts include market advisors, Insiders Tours and even a webinar to help first-time attendees plan their trip. With over 13 blocks of showrooms, there is a lot to see and do! Tammy and Neil end by discussing the importance of feedback from attendees. Their input helps evolve and shape the HPMKT experience. Tammy spends countless hours meeting and talking to attendees to discover how to better serve them. An exercise that can help any business to improve. To learn more about Spring High Point Market, visit highpointmarket.org.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast. This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Erika Ward, owner of Erika Ward Interiors in Atlanta. Listen as Erika describes her journey from majoring in finance at the University of Georgia to working at her family-owned flooring business. There, she put her business acumen to the test with budgeting and estimating construction projects. Erika used this experience to be hired as the project accountant on the Georgia Aquarium. She was In her 20’s and terrified, but the experience proved to be invaluable in learning how to manage large-scale projects. During this time, she dabbled in interior design, slowly building a stable of clients. Erika left her corporate job in 2009 to open Erika Ward Interiors. Neil and Erika discuss the importance of being visible online with blogs, social media and websites. Consumers want to know who you are and how you work before reaching out. Erika also gives tips on walking clients through their initial sticker shock by thoroughly reviewing all that is involved clearly and concisely. Erika and Neil close by discussing why she loves attending High Point Market. Erika loves to visit her top vendors to see what’s new, as well as take the time to go off the beaten path. This Market she is looking forward to attending several educational events to broaden her horizons and network with like-minded professionals. Learn more about Erika at erikaward.com and on Instagram at @mrserikaward

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Amy Bartlam, owner of Los Angeles based Amy Bartlam Photography. Listen as Amy describes her road to becoming an interior design photographer. As a child in England, both her parents were deeply involved in the arts, and encouraged their children to be so as well. Amy's father let her use his cameras for school projects and a lifelong love affair with photography was born. Amy’s first “real” job was assisting a wedding photographer. Her favorite part of photographing weddings was focusing on the spaces and details. This led Amy to pursue photographing interiors. Neil and Amy discuss the artistry and skill it takes to plan and execute a beautiful interior. When photographing for interior design projects, Amy always asks “what story are you trying to tell.” There is a misconception that photography is reality, but what it is really doing is telling a story, evoking a feeling. When building a brand it is important to tell the story that you want clients to see. Neil and Amy talk about how Instagram and Pinterest have changed the way she approaches photographing an interior, it is imperative to plan what and how you are going to photograph an environment to maximize its impact on social media. Finally, Amy discusses some of her most recent projects with RUE Magazine, Southern Home Magazine and Universal. To see Amy’s work, visit https://www.instagram.com/amybartlam/

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Will Brinson, CBS Sports Senior Writer. Listen as Will details how he went from an English major at NC State to a sports writer for CBS. Will began his career writing on sports message boards on his lunch breaks, he caught the eye of a sports blogger and from there, worked his way up the ranks. He has been hanging on tight to his dream job ever since. Will and Neil discuss the similarities between a well-run NFL organization and a well-run company. Both have faith in the people hired to manage day to day tasks. Both know how to delegate and let people do what they do best. Both know when to step in and when to step away. Will has seen the benefits firsthand of organizations that recognize their resources and manage them well. They then review how the NFL has managed to capture the attention of fans year-round, from the draft to the Super Bowl, the NFL has discovered the secret of making a Sunday game become a year-round entertainment machine. You can read Will’s articles at cbssports.com or listen to his Pick Six NFL Podcast.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Erinn Valencich, interior designer, real estate developer, and entrepreneur. Listen as Erinn details how she first made her way into the design industry, starting with some special childhood roots. Neil and Erinn then touch on Erinn’s progression into the custom design industry. They then discuss Erinn’s exciting new furniture collaboration with Universal, as well as take a closer look at what inspires Erinn and how she uses that inspiration to execute timeless pieces. After a chat on what Erinn is most excited about as she releases her Universal line during market, they then touch on her connection with StyleRow, which will be featured in Universal’s Designer's Lounge. For more on Erinn, you can visit erinnvdesigngroup.com or follow her on Instagram at @erinnvstyle. Erinn will also be hosting several events during High Point Market at the Universal Showroom. You can visit universalfurniture.com/marketevents for more information.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with our very own Director of Product Development at Universal Furniture, Shannon Lookabill! Listen as Neil and Shannon first start by discussing Shannon’s journey into furniture design, beginning with influence from his family as a child. They then touch on Shannon’s start at Universal and later delve into the detailed process of creating furniture products, starting with defining a need. They then chat about the many ways COVID has affected the furniture industry as well as its specific impact on design and production. And then, after discussing what Shannon thinks makes for a great design, the two end their conversation discussing Universal’s upcoming Erinn V. collection and why they are especially excited for this launch. To stay up-to-date on the upcoming Erinn V. launch as well as other new Universal Furniture additions, follow @universalfurn on Instagram for more.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Jonathan Vehar, Partner at Pilgrimage Professional Development Group. At Pilgrimage, Jonathan partners with organizations to help them more effectively and efficiently achieve their goals through a focus on teamwork and communication. Listen as Neil and Jonathan discuss the art of setting goals at the top of every new year. Jonathan elaborates on his advice regarding how to set specific goals while keeping in mind the steps it will take to achieve them. They then touch on COVID and how Pilgrimage has specified applicable communication methods to move forward in new ways. Next, they discuss how exactly to measure success in business from both a numerical and behavioral standpoint. And lastly, Neil and Jonathan end their conversation by discussing motivation and how to avoid falling into a “work rut” as the year progresses. For more on Jonathan and Pilgrimage, you can visit pilgrimpro.com now and to schedule, a time to talk with him directly visit https://calendly.com/vehar Other reference links mentioned are listed below https://blogs.foursightonline.com/learning-agility-dont-let-preferences-steer-you-in-the-wrong-directionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFtOI0u14JIhttps://www.ccl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/BecomingLeaderFostersInnovation.pdf

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week, we invite you to Explore Home with Kelli Lamb, Editorial Director and Co-Principal of RUE Magazine. Neil and Kelli kick their chat off by discussing more about Kelli’s professional start in blogging and how she eventually made her way to Rue Magazine. They discuss the many ways RUE has grown and changed since Kelli first joined the team as an assistant. Neil and Kelli then discuss a new market opportunity called ‘5 Minutes With’ which is hosted in the Universal Showroom. Here, designers are able to meet with Kelli and the RUE team for quick meet and greets as a way to foster connections and get the most out of market visits. They then touch on RUE’s latest endeavor: publishing a book! Kelli expands on the book publishing process and what she is looking most forward once it is released. They then close their discussion on what ‘home’ personally means to Kelli. For more on Kelli and RUE Magazine, you can find them at Instagram @ruemagazine and @kellilamb.

Welcome to the Explore Home podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with Patrick and Meghan Sharp of design studio Mister + Mrs Sharp. They first detail how they met — within the visual merchandising department of Banana Republic — and how their time spent in retail naturally propelled them into the furniture and design industry. They then discuss their perspective on working alongside your significant other, and why they are especially thankful for the opportunity to do so. They then touch on the unique community of Serenbe, located outside of Atlanta, and how their design influence can be found within the community (they also live there!). They then discuss some of their Universal Furniture favorites that they have used in recent design projects. And later, they reflect on COVID-19 and the effects it has had on their business over the last 2 years. For more on Mister + Mrs Sharp, you can follow the pair on Instagram at @misterandmrssharp.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with Tiffany Cassidy, principal designer of Lagnappe Custom Interiors located in St. Thomas, VI. Listen as Tiffany discusses her journey to living and working in the Caribbean, starting with earning a degree in chemistry and eventually finding her way to upholstery, fabrics, and now, interior design. Tiffany then shares a bit more about island life, detailing what she loves most about the laid-back lifestyle. Neil and Tiffany then discuss the opportunities and areas for growth when it comes to working with your spouse, as Tiffany does. To wrap up, Tiffany touches on why she loves specifying products from Universal Furniture, especially from our Coastal Living collaborations, and chats about which pieces she loves the most. For more on Tiffany and Lagnappe Custom Interiors, you can visit https://www.lagnappe.com now or follow them on Instagram @lagnappe.interiors.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with Ginna Christensen, interior design leadership expert, business coach and consultant. First, Ginna details the start of her career at Giorgio Armani and how the lessons learned there helped shape her professional foundation as she moved from fashion to interiors. Then, Ginna and Neil delve into the topics that Ginna typically focuses on with her clients, including the importance of building a brand story and consistent messaging. Neil and Ginna then touch on the significance of locating outside resources and how to effectively and efficiently collaborate with them. They end their conversation with a discussion about High Point Market and why Ginna feels it is imperative to take advantage of the many educational seminars that are offered during the bi-annual event. To learn more about Ginna and her business, you can visit https://ginnachristensen.com to schedule a remote consultation and be sure to follow her on Instagram @ginnachristensen

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with designers Patti Carpenter and AmyLynn Schwartzbard as they join Neil to discuss the Kaleidoscope Project. This exciting design initiative took place at the Cornell Inn in Lennox, MA as a group of 23 diverse, under-represented interior professionals renovated and redesigned 21 unique rooms within the space. Patti and AmyLynn detail the entire evolution of the project, from how it first came to be, to the process of selecting the featured designers, and finally what makes them the most proud of the remarkable final product. Patti and AmyLynn also touch on what their next set of goals are as they move forward with this venture. This is one episode you don’t want to miss! To learn more about the Kaleidoscope Project and its featured designers, you can visit https://www.thekaleidoscopeproject.com.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with Ericka Saurit of Saurit Creative, a digital marketing firm for the home industry. Listen as Neil and Ericka start with a brief history of Ericka’s professional career, including her years spent living and working in China. They then touch on Ericka’s involvement with Airbnb to build their Airbnb Plus division along with Universal Furniture. She then elaborates more on opening her own business and details how she helps her clients with one of their biggest requests: social storytelling. Neil and Ericka then wrap up by talking about their favorite aspects of market opening back up as well as sharing more on how to use social outlets like Instagram to benefit your business. For more on Ericka and Saurit Creative, you can visit her website at sauritcreative.com or follow them on Instagram at @sauritcreative.

Welcome to the Explore Home Podcast! This week we invite you to Explore Home with Sharon Savage of Lancaster Custom Crafted Upholstery and Don Massenburg of Design Inkredible. Listen as they begin by discussing the various challenges and opportunities that COVID-19 has presented within the design industry in the last year. Then, Neil, Sharon and Don discuss HPxD (High Point by Design) — what it is, what its mission is and how it is a prime and exciting new resource for interior designers all year round. With HPxD, designers now have access to view product and meet with brands outside of the traditional High Point market times. The three then share their favorite parts of this new initiative and how they have already experienced a positive impact from HPxD. For more on Sharon Savage, please visit https://www.lancasterccu.com. For more on Don Massenburg, please visit http://www.designinkredible.com. For more on HPxD and to sign up please visit https://hpxd.org.

Welcome to Explore Home Podcast! This week we explore home with Danny Seo, Publisher and Co-Principal of RUE Magazine. Danny is the epitome of a modern-day Renaissance man, he is the author of 14 books, has run a non-profit organization, worked with Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon, and produced and starred on an Emmy award winning lifestyle show. Neil and Danny discuss his unusual and inspiring childhood. On his 12th birthday, which happens to be Earth Day, Danny decided he wanted to start an environmental organization. It became the largest non-profit organization for teenagers for environmental advocacy in the US. Danny then focuses on his desire to combine his passions: the environment, eating well, entertaining, and traveling. This led to writing books on home renovation, entertaining, charities, and philanthropy. 7 years ago, Danny launched the Naturally Danny Seo brand. His magazine, Naturally Danny Seo, hit the shelves and immediately flew off of them. This success launched him into the world of television, including his own show on NBC and countless guest spots on daytime talk shows. Neil and Danny then talk about his latest endeavor, RUE Magazine, now on newsstands. Danny is a firm believer that consumers favor quality, from the paper that the magazine is printed on, to the content, Danny oversees it all. Danny and RUE magazine are bring the publication to life at the Universal showroom during High Point Furniture Market. Designers will have 5 minutes to showcase their work to Kelli Lamb, Editorial Designer of RUE magazine. To learn more about Danny and RUE magazine visit ruemag.com