How Nyla Free Designs Started & Business Tips Based On My Own Experience
Writing about how I started my business has been on my list for a while now. This post covers my journey from 1994 (some of you reading this, may not have even been born!!) to roughly 2014.
Having my own business was never a dream of mine, but now I cant imagine not doing what I do. I’ve learned an incredible amount along the way and continue to learn each day.
Thank you for prompting me to write this post. I hope it sheds light on my simple beginnings in the design business, allows you to get to know me a little more, and provides some encouragement, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the business for years. So let’s get started!
Education
I graduated from Mount Royal College in 1994 (now Mount Royal University). What is now a four year bachelors degree, was a two year program of intense learning, graduating with a Diploma of Interior Design. That’s it. That’s all. All other learning has been on the job, and via business conferences.
TIP: Go to school. It’s valuable and credible. There’s a lot of temptation to learn via You-Tube or simply start a company because you have style, or an eye for design. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of successful designers out there who haven’t gone to school, but I highly recommend you do.
ENCOURAGEMENT: Use your time at school to not only learn about design, but also hone in on your own personal style and value system. This will be great preparation as you graduate and start looking for a job.
Work Experience
After graduating, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I got a summer job in the facilities management department at Petro Canada. I went floor to floor, office to office, noting deficiencies in each and every room… on ALL. 52. FLOORS.
From there I worked at Ethan Allen as a design assistant, creating furniture layouts, and visiting clients homes on an as need basis alongside a designer. I was there for roughly two years.
My next job was career changing, and this is where the relationship building began. I was newly engaged and looking for wedding decor. My mom and I were shopping in an up and coming (now hot spot) area in Calgary called Inglewood. We popped into a home decor boutique that had a pair of floor candelabras I fell in love with, and thought would be perfect for our ceremony. The owner obliged to loan them to me and after multiple conversations about life in general, design, marriage etc., she offered me a job. I worked at this store for a few years before she decided to open another store, called Domicile, geared towards a more modern aesthetic. I assisted with purchasing the furniture, had the opportunity to travel to secure lines, and build/ design the aesthetic of the store. Domicile also offered custom furniture and interior design services, both of which I was heavily involved in.
I learned so much in this role. I was exposed to an incredible amount of “in the trenches” experience, I worked a crazy amount of hours and met amazing people.
After five years, my husband had a job opportunity in a new city, I was pregnant with our first daughter and it was time to move on.
TIP: Never underestimate the value of learning through every opportunity, even if it’s not exactly what you envision doing long term.
ENCOURAGEMENT: It’s ok to start small. Not everyone gets their dream job right out of the gates. The experience and knowledge I gained from working retail, from a customer and furniture perspective was huge. Leverage every opportunity to help launch you into the next one.
How Nyla Free Designs Started
After the birth of our first daughter in July of 2001, I was in the thick of a new chapter of life. A new mom, new city, new house and all sorts of emotion to boot! I hadn’t spent any time thinking about work or what life as an interior designer would look like in the future, until a door opened and an opportunity presented itself. A past connection reached out to see if I would help select furniture for their newly built cottage. After careful consideration, I decided to take on the project. This was the birth of my company.
Soon after I was speaking with a friend in the industry who suggested I call her sister in law, as she was looking for a designer. I took a deep breath, picked up the phone and called her. Next thing I knew, I had another project.
My network of people and contacts were mostly in Calgary, however I lived in Red Deer, which is an hour and half away. While I had a few projects in Red Deer, my business grew more in Calgary, which resulted in commuting back and forth. Every other week, I packed up my car (essentially my office on wheels), my toddler, and everything I’d need for three days of work. Thankfully I had the help and support of in-laws while I stayed in Calgary. I would NOT have been able to do this without them. I also had extremely understanding clients and suppliers who were happy to have my daughter in meetings should the need arise. Truth be known, when I didn’t have her with me, they would always ask where she was.
TIP: Relationships matter. Talk to people. Get comfortable reaching out and being vulnerable. It’s hard but necessary when you’re just starting out on your own.
ENCOURAGEMENT: You CAN run a business and have young kids. It’s not easy, but it’s doable with the right support. There is no work life balance. You’ll have days you’ll need to focus on being a mom, others when work is priority, and some you’ll have to juggle both.
The Early Days
I was a one woman band for many years. I was the designer, the draftsperson the accountant, the purchaser, the organizer, the marketer, among many other things. I didn’t know what I was doing in many of these areas other than designer and draftsperson, but even then I was young and green. I learned along they way, tread water (often with my arms flailing), and tried to figure it all out as I went.
Social media was not what it is today, so word of mouth was my main source of connection and securing projects. I had enough work to build a viable business, which I continued to do so from Red Deer, working mostly in Calgary.
In 2006 we moved back to Calgary, pregnant with our second daughter. While I did ease up on my projects, I never really stopped working.
I continued to work from home as a solopreneur, day and night, in between school pick ups and activities for our five year old, a newborn/ toddler schedule and managing a household. Writing this, I don’t know how I did it. I do recall the feeling of being on a hamster wheel most days, however it’s extremely important to note that I did, AND DO, have a VERY supportive husband. He has been a huge part of me getting to where I am today.
TIP: Don’t try and do it all. Ask for help. The above paints a picture that I managed everything, and I did it well. That was not always the case. I did my best, with the resources I had, and it worked.
ENCOURAGEMENT: There is a lot of pressure on moms at the best of times. Add in the art of running a business, and expectations and stress can start to surmount. Give yourself grace to do what you can, when you can. Being honest with yourself, as well as those around you, whether it be family, friends and/or clients, is an important part in helping to keep your head on straight.
Pivotal Moments
In 2009 I joined Twitter, my first social media outlet, and I hated it. I felt vulnerable, and as though I was talking to air. As I got more and more comfortable, I ‘virtually’ met an incredible group of designers, creatives and business women. This led to in person connections, support and a wonderful network of like-minded individuals. While I’m not really on Twitter anymore, I have grown to love social media (specifically Instagram at this very moment), and have benefited greatly from it.
Also in 2009 (and keep in mind, eight years after starting my business), I took a Business of Design course, another career changing experience. This course shed light on all the things we didn’t learn in design school, most of which, were about running a business. The 80/20 rule (80% business, 20% creative) was an ah-ha moment. I really started to take my business a lot more seriously after this course, on multiple levels.
In 2013 my business moved out of our house and into a 700sq.ft office space. I also hired a full time team member.
In 2014 I started working with a business coach and I continue to work with her today.
There are many pivotal moments in my career, however these are the standouts, and hone in on specific events that were major building blocks for my business. Notice the timeline in which these happened, the latter two over a decade after starting my business.
TIP: Never stop learning. Whether trade shows, business conferences or networking opportunities, these are all areas for growth outside of the office. There’s no shortage of information out there.
ENCOURAGEMENT: Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask someone for mentorship. Learning from someone who has gone before you, to offer support and encouragement based on their experiences, is a huge benefit to a new business owner.
Work Life Balance
I’m a Libra, and while I don’t follow horoscopes, my sign is the scales. When I think about balancing work and home, one side always tips over on any given day, they’re never at the same level. I prefer to use a pie as an analogy, and I use this with my girls to this day. Imagine you have a whole pie before you at the beginning of each day. Now think of all the things you need to do and accomplish within that day. Each item on your to-do list carries a different weight and amount of time required, resulting in each piece of pie cut to a different size for each task. As well, your list likely varies from one day to the next, meaning each day your pie will be cut differently.
In order to get as much done as possible, I worked on the go. Cell phone and laptop in tow in order to work at and in between kids activities, there was never enough time in the day. This method of working was a choice. I chose to drive my girls to school, pick them up and drive them to their activities before heading home for dinner. While this did limit my day, and the amount of hours I had to physically be in the office, I made this work for me and my family. That being said, this scenario may not work for everyone. As a business owner and a mom, it’s important to figure out what is best for you, and your family based on lifestyle, priorities and resources.
Having my own business meant I could, to a degree, set my own hours. If there was a swim meet or dance competition, I was able to allocate my days accordingly. Some days I bit off more than I could chew, and you could say I had a mess on my hands. Those days were never fun.
TIP: Be honest with yourself about the amount of time you have to work each week. Consider, family, friends, and pure downtime so you can recharge and do your best work.
ENCOURAGEMENT: It’s ok if one day your work piece of pie is larger than your home or family piece, or your friend time a larger amount than your work piece. There won’t be a day where every piece of pie is cut into the exact same size. Recognizing and honouring that will be the best way to find as much wholeness in your day as possible.
If I Knew Then, What I Know Now
I would have taken the time to learn the financials of running a business a lot sooner.
I would have hired an office manager sooner.
I would have documented the process more in order to create systems for my business sooner.
5 Things New Designers/ Entrepreneurs Should Consider
Understand and be clear about your personal core values.
Be willing, and prepared to work hard.
Be transparent and authentic in your business practices.
Humility is important.
The eb and flow of the creative process is hard to navigate sometimes. The ebs are necessary in order to get back to your flow. Embrace this time. Be kind to yourself.
Final Notes:
There is no straight line in moving from point A to point B. Owning your own business has ups, downs, curve balls, u-turns and obstacles. Getting to where you want to be requires going through things you never imagined, or that you’re not super fond of. Sometimes opportunities come when you least expect it, and joy can be found in the simplest of things.
Being a business owner is not a race. Contrary to what the world of social media may suggest, we’re all on a different track. Looking around, you might think some are ahead of you and others are behind, and that’s ok. Everyone is moving at their own pace. As entrepreneurs, we're all in this together. Creating a community of support and encouragement is so important, and celebrating others successes in their time, will come full circle when it's yours.
Whether you’re in design, or an entrepreneur in another industry, I hope this post offers reassurance. Running a business is hard work, but it can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. My girls are now 19 and 14, and they have been with me through the entire life of my business. Now that I am (almost) on the other side of child rearing I am so very thankful to have had the opportunity to build a business, and raise our girls alongside each other. I truly believe I’m better for it.
