Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1530891
I t's no secret that Dallas is a designer's daydream. From the Dallas Design District to Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas to countless home tours, this city thrives on good taste. But impeccable taste and design doesn't just happen. While the city is home to some of the world's best designers and showrooms, running their businesses takes more than luck and magic — it takes strategy. That's where Design Management Company shines. Founded by longtime industry veteran Lloyd Princeton, Design Management Company has provided management consulting and human resources services to the interior design, architecture, and home-furnishings industries for almost 30 years. The firm specializes in the unique challenges creatives face managing their businesses, such as helping overcome client issues, managing contracts, navigating profit margins, nurturing staff, and more. It takes work to make Dallas look this good. Offering recruiting, consulting, speaking, and succession-plan services to creatives from coast to coast, and all over the globe, Design Management Company is a one-stop shop for industry professionals who want to keep their mind on their work and not the minutiae of running or growing a business. Launching Design Management Company was a good fit for Princeton's skills — he saw a white space in the market to help creatives merge elements of their craft with their company. "What is obvious to me in business is not always obvious to other people, and it's an area in which I'm very good at providing counsel," he says. "Aside from my dedication to the design industry for almost 30 years, I'm a businessperson who studies the wider business and practical world to stay abreast of the economies that affect us day-to-day." Whether a firm contracts Princeton's team for a specific or ongoing need, Design Management helps identify priorities and makes an action plan. Princeton's experience, efficiency, sincerity, and high-energy nature are keys to his success. He also serves as an expert witness in disputes, which is a testament to his unique understanding of the subtleties of working with the trade. When it comes to Dallas specifically, Princeton knows the sky's the limit. "This place rocks," he says. "I love being here. The design industry is so robust and sophisticated. It caters to an elite clientele who knows what they want, and they get it." Princeton's advice for potential clients is to keep an open mind. "Be open to the outcome and don't be afraid to experiment," he says. "Get a little dirty and try new things. We work to live, and life should be fun and explored. We're not saving lives, but we are helping to make them more enjoyable." To contact Lloyd, go to designmanagement company.com or call 469.850.6473. PAPERCITY PROMOTION Meet Design Management Company Lloyd Princeton Running a Design Business Takes More Than Good Taste. The design industry is so robust and sophisticated in Dallas. It caters to an elite clientele who knows what they want, and they get it. — Lloyd Princeton 52