Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends
Podcast Description
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes such as entrepreneurship, design industry challenges, work-life balance, and community support. Episodes discuss personal stories like balancing family and a growing business, financial management for designers, and redefining success, exemplified by guests who share their journeys from struggles to triumphs.
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you’re just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you’re not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Samantha Cuello, founder of Strata Marketing Studio, to discuss what effective marketing really looks like for interior designers and home furnishings brands.
With over 15 years of experience in the design industry, Samantha shares her journey from journalism and editorial work at Business of Home to building marketing programs for brands like The Shade Store, Semi Handmade, and Calico Wallpaper before launching her own agency.
Together, they unpack the key differences between marketing B2B brands and consumer-facing interior design firms, the role of a Fractional CMO, and how designers can make smarter decisions about where to invest their time and marketing dollars.
Samantha explains why trying to be everywhere at once is one of the biggest mistakes designers make, why your website and Instagram should remain foundational marketing assets, and how paid advertising can be leveraged strategically when the timing is right.
Whether you're a growing interior designer, a home furnishings brand, or simply looking to create a more intentional marketing strategy, this episode is packed with practical insights on building visibility, attracting the right clients, and focusing on what actually drives results.
In this episode, you'll learn:
• How Samantha built Strata Marketing Studio and identified a gap in the market
• The difference between B2B and DTC marketing in the design industry
• What a Fractional CMO does and when it's worth hiring one
• How to choose the right marketing channels for your business
• Common mistakes interior designers make with social media and advertising
• Why your website and Instagram should be your strongest marketing assets
• How to think about paid advertising without wasting budget
• Why ”less is more” when it comes to marketing strategy
Connect with Samantha Cuello:
Website: https://stratamarketingstudio.com
Instagram: @stratamarketingstudio
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/
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*Only for interior designers & pro's who serve the industry
Disclaimer
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