Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicki & Natalie Conlon
Hi Nicki & Natalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Nicki has a background in education but a heart for design. When looking for a way to integrate into the design world, it was natural for her to choose a path of educating designers on great design products and lines. she has been blessed to have wonderful mentors in this field, and her background in education and hospitality seems to fit well in assisting her clients.
Nicki started NC Design Products in 2021, and her daughter Natalie joined in 2023. The two really enjoy expanding their knowledge of the commercial design industry together as an unstoppable mother-daughter duo!
Natalie graduated from the University of Alabama with an undergraduate degree in psychology in 2022 and a master’s degree in advertising and public relations with a concentration in digital communications in 2023. During her time as a student, she interned with NC Design Products.
Since graduating, Natalie has taken on the role of manufacturer sales representative for all of NC Design Products’ commercial lines. Interior design has always been an interest of hers. She loves the creative outlet that NC Design Products allows her to have when discussing all of the possible ways to elevate clients’ spaces.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting up your own company is no easy undertaking. Our main goal has been to find manufacturers that align with our values, and the only way to do that is by putting ourselves out there- which is an intimidating feat. We prioritize our relationships with clients and each manufacturer because our end goal is for everyone we work with to have a positive experience with us.
The main struggle we have had is finding the right contacts for each of the diverse lines that we carry. It is always exciting to pick up a new line, but with that comes the challenge of finding the right clients for the new products we are trying to sell. Thankfully, as we continue to grow NC Design Products and make more of a name for ourselves through different networking opportunities, this obstacle has begun to lessen.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
NC Design Products specializes in representing commercial design products in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. We offer eight distinct lines: Frasch, Leftbank Art, Mak, LA Spec, Carvart, Florida Seating, Segis, and Fiberlite Umbrellas. Each line provides a broad range of products, catering to almost every need of designers and architects. Additionally, these lines offer semi-custom solutions for lighting, art, furniture, architecture, and acoustical elements.
What sets NC Design Products apart is our deep commitment to our clients and our respect for the individuals behind the product lines we represent. We meticulously vet potential manufacturers before partnering with them to ensure they offer reputable products with reliable lead times. We pride ourselves on our robust communication efforts with both clients and manufacturers. Maintaining consistent communication is key to completing projects efficiently and ensuring client satisfaction, which in turn enhances our chances of future collaborations.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
As NC Design Products is exclusively managed by our mother-daughter team, Microsoft Office 365 has been invaluable for organizing our individual tasks and efficiently combining our shared responsibilities.
The app we use the most is LinkedIn! It offers numerous fantastic features for business profiles. Not only is it an excellent platform for networking with potential clients, but it also allows us to showcase our completed installations and share our pride in the hard work behind the scenes. We love these posts because our clients and the manufacturers we represent appreciate them. When our clients are happy and the manufacturers are pleased with their work, we consider it a job well done. “Before and After” posts are always popular on social media and tend to generate significant engagement on our page. LinkedIn’s networking opportunities with other commercial design representatives are another major benefit. NC Design Products is part of several commercial design-related LinkedIn groups, which are fantastic for expanding our contacts and discovering new ideas through shared blogs, inspiration photos, and products.
From an editing perspective, we rely heavily on Canva and CapCut. These apps are our go-to tools for creating social media graphics and reels. While we often let our installation photos speak for themselves, we use these apps to highlight specific products or offers when needed.
Lastly, we use HubSpot for all our email campaigns. This app offers excellent features for categorizing and personalizing contact lists, ensuring recipients receive emails about products or offers relevant to them. HubSpot also provides comprehensive analytics to help us improve our open rates.
As technology and social media continue to evolve, we’re committed to staying current. We feel fortunate to have a good understanding of how to capture our clients’ attention across various platforms and hope to keep improving our strategies!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ncdesignproducts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nc_design_products/
