Spring Dilemma: Deal With or Deny the Do-It-Yourselfers?

What are you going  to do this Spring about the do-it-yourselfers?

One thing you can do is explore, rather than ignore the idea of working with them.

So, who are these people?

They’re the ones who don’t just watch home shows, they discuss them.

They don’t just take notes, they make sketches and lists.

They don’t just shop, they surf — the Net.

They’re the “Do-It-Yourselfers.”

How do you handle these HGTV-watching, Box Store-stomping, Web-wise homeowners who are so convinced they can do much of their own designing and decorating?

Well, you can ignore them.

Most design professionals do. They figure that do-it- yourselfers aren’t worth their time and effort.

And that’s fine.

Then again, you could reach out to them.

You could write articles for them, present seminars to them, consult with them and even work for them.

No way, you say.

Given your confidence and connections and credentials, why should you dally with the do-it-yourselfers?

Why stoop to that level when you already have enough high end clients who appreciate fine design in general — and your design services in particular?

Good point.

But consider a few things.

Consider that many of your colleagues throughout North America are getting full service design projects, setting and getting exorbitant fees and earning big money from those do-it-yourselfers.

Why?

Because many do-it-yourselfers don’t. They dip their toes into a project, find themselves in way over their heads, and call on and pay big bucks to a professional to save them from drowning

Consider that you can land big jobs from writing brief do-it-yourself articles and presenting small workshops.

Take the Midwestern designer who did nearly $1 million in design work for a participant in her Do-It-Yourself Remodeling seminar.

In this HGTV-era, there are more do-it-yourselfers out there than ever before.

It’s up to you to decide if that’s a blessing or a curse.

Fred Berns is the world’sleading business trainer and coach for interior design professionals and design industry partners.