EP 136 | Hiring and Managing Staff for Interior Design Firms with Aysun Kuck

As your interior design business grows, so do the challenges of hiring, managing, and leading a team.

In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Aysun Kuck, who spent more than 20 years helping manage Kimberley Seldon Design Group, including a team of 13 designers and support staff. Together, they discuss the realities of hiring, firing, performance reviews, and building a strong company culture.

While many creative entrepreneurs avoid management responsibilities, effective leadership and clear hiring systems are essential for building a profitable and sustainable interior design firm.

In this episode, we learn:
• Why having a structured hiring process leads to stronger team members
• How candidates who ignore hiring instructions reveal important red flags
• Why firing is sometimes a necessary part of running a successful business
• How clear expectations improve staff performance and accountability
• Why leadership and people management are critical business skills for interior designers
• How saying yes to every opportunity can weaken your brand positioning
• Why thoughtful growth and strong systems create healthier teams and better project outcomes
• How strong hiring and management practices support long-term business success

For almost 20 years, Aysun Kuck has worked in the areas of promotion, coaching, media partnerships and client services with a number of interior design professionals across North America. She has been with Kimberley Seldon Design Group and Business of Design™ since 2003, currently as the Director of Promotion and Client Services.

As a facilitator, instructor and speaker, she trains sales staff in both Canada and the U.S., coaching on excellence in customer service and closing the sale. Aysun worked for 10 years in Human Resources with one of Canada’s largest newspapers. She brings her experience and knowledge to companies who don’t require a full-time HR department – yet still need HR. She teaches proper procedures for hiring/firing, employee contracts, performance evaluations and progressive discipline.

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