EP 129 | Should Interior Designers Take on a Business Partner? with Smith and Ragsdale (Part 2)
Is partnering with another interior designer the secret to building a stronger business — or a recipe for conflict?
In this episode, Kimberley Seldon continues her conversation with Abby Smith and Abbey Ragsdale about the realities of business partnerships in the interior design industry.
For many solo entrepreneurs, having a trusted partner sounds ideal, but successful partnerships require clear communication, aligned expectations, and complementary skill sets. Abby and Abbey share practical advice for designers considering a partnership and explain how accountability, planning, and honest conversations create healthier business relationships.
In this episode, we learn:
• What interior designers should avoid when choosing a business partner
• Why both partnerships and solo businesses benefit from a formal business plan
• How partnerships create built-in accountability and shared leadership
• Why choosing a partner with different strengths improves business operations
• How test collaborations help determine compatibility before formalizing a partnership
• Why discussing salary expectations, time off, and decision-making upfront is essential
• How clear communication helps prevent future business conflict
• Why successful partnerships depend on shared values, trust, and complementary skills
Design Intervention
Abby: Remember that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Abbey: Listen fully to understand what your partner is saying to you.
About Abby Smith & Abbey Ragsdale
Smith and Ragsdale in an award-winning full-scale interior design firm based in Dallas, Texas and specializing in highly functional kitchens and thoughtfully appointed interiors. We believe that every kitchen, bath and other interior design space has unique solutions achievable through expert planning. Our mission is to design interiors that reflect our client and unique lifestyle. We aim to deliver well-designed spaces in which the function, materials and client experience converge. This is achieved through careful investigation, thoughtful collaboration with our clients and trades, and keen attention to detail from project inception through completion.
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Legal Disclosure | This podcast is for educational purposes only and provides general business advice for interior designers and design professionals. It is not intended as individual legal, accounting, or professional guidance. Kimberley Seldon and Business of Design® make no guarantees regarding accuracy and are not liable for how information is used. Strategies shared may not apply to every situation—listeners should seek qualified legal, financial, or professional advice before making business decisions. References and resources mentioned may change over time.
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