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Most interior designers and small business owners believe cybersecurity is something they will deal with later or that their business is simply too small to be of interest to hackers.

That assumption is no longer true.

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jason deCourcy, founder of Xoomler, to uncover the real reason small businesses, solo entrepreneurs, and one-person design firms are now the primary target for cybercriminals.

Hackers have changed their strategy. Instead of going after large corporations with robust security teams, they’re intentionally targeting small businesses that lack dedicated IT resources and ongoing security monitoring. Even more alarming, many attacks are not immediate. Hackers often gain access quietly, stay hidden, learn how your business operates, identify your clients, and wait for the right moment to exploit vulnerabilities.

Jason breaks down what’s really happening behind the scenes and explains why interior designers are especially vulnerable due to the sensitive client information, financial data, and communication systems they manage every day.

This conversation is not about fear. It’s about awareness, prevention, and protecting the business you’ve worked so hard to build.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why small businesses and solo entrepreneurs are the perfect target for cybercrime
• How hackers infiltrate businesses quietly and stay hidden
• What types of data cybercriminals are really after and why your clients’ information matters
• Why basic antivirus software is no longer enough
• The real cost of downtime for a small business
• Practical steps you can take to protect your business and your clients
• How proactive cybersecurity can prevent a much larger and more costly issue

If you’ve ever thought, “There’s nothing in my business a hacker would want,” this episode may completely change how you think about protecting your company.

Connect with Jason

If you’d like to learn more or book a consultation with Jason, you can reach him directly at:

jason@xoomler.com

In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.

This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.

Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with Jamie Young of Jamie Young Co. for a conversation about longevity in business, what it really takes to build a brand that evolves through changing trends, shifting markets, and new seasons of growth while still staying grounded in timeless style and strong values.

Jamie shares how she’s protected the core identity of her brand over decades, how she decides what to embrace and what to ignore, and why longevity isn’t about staying the same, it’s about evolving with intention. They dig into what makes design feel “timeless” in a world that moves fast, the role of consistency in building customer trust, and the mindset shifts that help creative entrepreneurs make smart decisions for the long game.

If you’re an interior designer building a studio you want to last, this episode offers practical insight on developing a signature point of view, creating brand guardrails, and staying relevant without losing what makes your work uniquely yours.

In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.

This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.

Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us Fan Mail

If Q1 felt busy but the profit did not match the effort, this episode is your CEO reset.

In today’s episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura Thornton walks you through a simple, repeatable Q1 business review designed specifically for interior designers who want more profitability, better systems, and a lot less chaos.

You will learn exactly what to review, what the numbers are trying to tell you, where profit leaks hide, and how to set clear goals for next month and the rest of the year.

In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.

This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.

Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us Fan Mail

Laura Thornton sits down with Darilyn Coles, CEO of Selocity, for a practical conversation on how interior designers can adopt AI in a way that actually strengthens their business. Darilyn explains why technology only works when the underlying process is clear first, and she shares how designers can use AI to streamline operations, improve speed-to-lead, and support stronger lead qualification without losing the personal touch clients expect.

Together, they dig into modern lead generation strategies, including LinkedIn and Apollo, and why thought leadership is still one of the fastest ways to build trust and attract warmer prospects. Darilyn also breaks down what a strong proposal system looks like, including the power of video presentations, consistent formatting, and clear calls to action that guide clients to the next step. The episode wraps with actionable ways to use automation to support sales follow-up and client communication, plus how designers can work with Darilyn through Selocity to implement these systems.

https://selocity.ca/

In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.

This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.

Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send us Fan Mail

If you’re running an interior design studio, you’re not “just” the creative you’re also the CEO, the project manager, the salesperson, and the money manager. In this episode, Laura Thornton breaks down why investing in yourself and your business isn’t a luxury… it’s a strategy.

You’ll learn how to spot the hidden costs of trying to do it all alone (like undercharging, scope creep, decision fatigue, and inconsistent cash flow), and how mentorship, continuing education, and community can shorten your learning curve and protect your profit. Laura also shares a simple 3-part filter to help you decide what to invest in next so you can stop guessing and start building a business that pays you like the expert you are.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send a text

If you are booked, busy, and still wondering where the money went, this episode is your roadmap. Laura Thornton breaks down the mid shift every designer must make: moving from creative operator to CEO leader. You’ll learn how to stop guessing, build a profit-first business model, understand the numbers that drive real sustainability, and create capacity without burnout. This is not hustle culture. This is leadership, strategy, and building a design business that funds the life you actually want.

In This Episode, We Cover

• The mid shift from Creative to CEO and why it changes everything
• Why “busy” can look successful but still kill profitability
• A profit-first framework for building a wealth-building design business
• The 3 targets every designer must define: revenue, profit, and capacity
• How to reverse engineer salary goals from the life you want
• Why understanding your expenses and reviewing your P&L is CEO work
• Markup vs margin and the silent way profit leaks in design businesses
• Why profit is planned, not what’s left over
• How wealth is built through systems, not just more hours
• Time tracking as a profitability tool (even with flat fees)
• Capacity planning to eliminate chaos and protect margins
• Why procurement can be a powerful, underutilized profit center
• Practical “baby steps” you can implement this week

Action Steps Mentioned (Your CEO Checklist)

1. Write down the salary you need to support your lifestyle and goals
2. Pull your most recent Profit and Loss statement and review revenue vs profit
3. Identify your top 3 business expenses and one area where profit is leaking
4. Make one decision you’ve been avoiding (minimums, boundaries, scope, or saying no)
5. Track your time for one full week to find inefficiencies
6. Document one repeatable process (discovery call, proposal, client communication cadence)
7. Schedule one monthly CEO meeting with yourself to review numbers, capacity, and priorities

Resources and Ways to Work With Laura

Profit Academy for Interior Designers
Launching next month. Learn the exact framework to stop guessing, price with intention, protect profit, and build a sustainable business that supports your l

In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.

This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.

Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send a text

From scope creep and unrealistic timelines to unlimited revisions and 24/7 availability, this conversation is all about how setting boundaries isn’t about being difficult — it’s about being clear, confident, and professional so your business can truly thrive.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why saying “no” is a leadership skill, not a weakness
• The most common moments designers need to say no — and why they matter
• How over-accommodating leads to burnout, resentment, and lost profitability
• A simple, repeatable framework for saying no with warmth and professionalism
• Scripts for handling out-of-scope requests, rushed timelines, excessive revisions, and after-hours communication
• How strong boundaries actually build trust and elevate your brand
• Tools that help you say no before issues arise (contracts, welcome guides, systems, and templates)
• When the most powerful no is walking away from a misaligned project

Key Takeaway:

Every time you say yes to something misaligned, you’re saying no to your creativity, your energy, your profitability, and your peace. Saying no isn’t negative — it’s protective, clarifying, and essential to building a sustainable, successful design business.

Boundaries aren’t barriers.
They’re what allow you — and your clients — to experience your best work.

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign

Send a text

In this episode of The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Laura sits down with the brilliant Donna Hoffman, multi-award-winning luxury designer, business strategist, and founder of Impeccably Designed Homes, to talk about one of the most important (and often misunderstood) topics in the design industry: how to scale your business sustainably and profitably.

Donna shares the story of how she built her seven-figure firm from the ground up, the systems and mindset shifts that made growth possible, and the key lessons she now teaches through The Interior Design Advocate and Successful Design Biz Academy.

Together, Laura and Donna dive into what it really takes to move from "busy designer" to confident CEO without losing your creativity, your sanity, or your passion for design.

What You’ll Learn

• How to recognize when your design business is ready to scale
• Why growth doesn’t always mean doing more; it means doing things differently
• The mindset shifts every designer needs to move from hustle to healthy profit
• How to build systems and pricing structures that support your next level
• Common scaling mistakes designers make (and how to avoid them)
• Why knowing your numbers is the ultimate creative freedom tool
• Practical ways to grow your team, client base, and revenue without burning out

Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces

Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.

The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign