Founders & Friends

39. How Starting a Coffee Table Book Became So Much More with Candice Brooke

In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with returning guest Candace of Mark Brook Photography to discuss the unexpected journey behind The Design Ledger — a curated coffee table book celebrating Charleston’s best interiors. What began as a creative marketing idea quickly evolved into an accidental business, opening up conversations about publishing, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and the realities of scaling a creative product. Candace shares how her background in wedding photography and luxury albums inspired the concept for The Design Ledger, originally envisioned as a relationship-building tool and “love letter” to Charleston’s design community. Instead of traditional advertising, the book became a unique way to connect designers, showcase timeless interiors, and create something tangible in an increasingly digital industry. The conversation dives into the intense behind-the-scenes process of self-publishing Volume One — from photographing projects and designing layouts to navigating legal contracts and surviving a major printing disaster just weeks before launch. Despite the setbacks, the book gained immediate traction, with local stores and designers eager to carry it, turning what was meant to be a gifted marketing piece into a retail product and growing brand. Candace also opens up about the financial realities of producing high-quality coffee table books, including losing money on wholesale sales due to high production costs, and her search for large-scale printing solutions that can support future growth. Looking ahead, she shares her ambitious five-year vision to expand The Design Ledger into cities across the United States through a franchise-style model while preserving its identity as a curated art piece rather than an advertising publication. Throughout the episode, both Candace and Ronniesha reflect on entrepreneurship, creative risk-taking, and the power of building meaningful relationships through intentional projects. Candace closes with advice for aspiring creators: if you feel called to make something beautiful, start now — but give yourself the time and patience to do it well. You can find Candice at: https://www.markbrooke.com/ https://www.readthedesignledger.com/ 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/ Connect with all things Founders & Friends on our Facebook Group & Instagram *Only for interior designers & pro's who serve the industry

38. I Am Hiring And I Am Scared Sh*tless

Heyyyyyy a solo episode by yours truly! All about how I am hiring and how I am scared and how I calm myself down :)  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/ https://www.instagram.com/alderandstone_/ https://www.instagram.com/foundersandfriendspod/ 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/ Connect with all things Founders & Friends https://www.instagram.com/foundersandfriendspod/

37. The Biggest Mistakes Interior Designers Make in Business

In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera is joined by Erin Hildmann and Keri Hinterreiter, co-founders of The Collective for Designers, to unpack the real, often unspoken side of building a design business.  Drawing from their backgrounds in event management, client communications, and telecom consulting, Erin and Keri share how they transitioned into the design industry and ultimately built a business dedicated to helping designers succeed beyond creativity—on the operational and strategic side.  The conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship’s realities, from the constant mental load of ownership to the importance of structuring a strong co-founder partnership. They emphasize why a formal operating agreement, aligned vision, and clearly defined roles are critical to avoiding conflict and building a sustainable business.  Ronniesha, Erin, and Keri also break down the most common mistakes designers make—like skipping contracts, failing to map the client experience, relying on gut over data, and falling into people-pleasing habits. A major theme throughout the episode is the importance of systems and data-driven decision-making, especially when it comes to pricing, profitability, and scaling.  Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to build a profitable, aligned, and resilient design business.  You can find Erin & Keri at: https://www.thecollectivefordesigners.com/ https://www.instagram.com/thecollectivefordesigners/   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/

36. Behind the Drawings: The Missing Piece in Interior Design with Jessica Marchant

In this episode we chat with Jessica Marchant, founder of Blue Sky Creative, joins Ronniesha Rivera to share how she built a thriving B2B technical design business from the ground up—starting in the uncertainty of COVID-19. With a background in corporate technical design, Jessica leaned into her strengths in AutoCAD and 3D rendering to create a “back-of-house” partner for interior designers. She opens up about her experience with burnout in corporate life, and how entrepreneurship has given her the flexibility and control to build a more sustainable career. The conversation dives into the often-overlooked power of technical documentation, why clear drawings can make or break a project, and how designers can effectively outsource without losing creative control. Jessica also breaks down her business model—from hourly design drawings to flat-fee construction documents—and why transparency in pricing has been a game changer. They also explore the importance of collaboration between designers and architects, and Jessica shares candid advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: before starting your own business, spend time working for someone else to truly learn the industry. You can find Jessica at: https://blue-skycreative.com/ https://www.instagram.com/blue_skycreative/ 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/

35. How Kaitlyn Wolfe Built A Multi-Dimensional Brand

In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with multidisciplinary designer and founder Kaitlyn Wolfe to unpack the evolution of her growing design empire. What began in 2016 as Iconic Design and Build has transformed into a multifaceted brand encompassing luxury interiors, product design, and retail. Kaitlyn shares how rebranding under her own name created clarity, allowing her business to expand into distinct yet connected divisions—including a luxury interiors studio focused on ground-up construction and boutique hospitality projects. The conversation dives into the launch of her product lines—Ground Floor, a made-to-order furniture and lighting collection, and Substrate, a boutique tile line developed in partnership with a distributor—as well as the unexpected rise of Shop My Warehouse, which evolved from a staging inventory solution into a thriving e-commerce business. Kaitlyn also opens up about the realities of managing multiple business identities, the importance of travel as both inspiration and reset, and the operational lessons that come with scaling. Her approach to entrepreneurship is grounded in action: launch quickly, iterate often, and ensure the right people are in the right roles as the business grows. This episode is a masterclass in building a layered, design-driven brand—without waiting for perfection. You can find Kaitlyn Wolfe at: https://kaitlynwolfe.com/ 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/