Claire Watkins is the creative entrepreness behind Claire Watkins Interior Design and author of popular interior design blog, High Gloss Blue. After writing her law school entrance essay on the characteristics of design as an argument, then paying for her business license and law school deposit in the same week, Claire made the decision to pursue her real dream. Currently, she’s thrilled she gets to talk about chairs every single day, recession or not.
How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
One. Hot. Mess.
What is your biggest goal for the future of your business?
My biggest goal is the same as every small business owner’s goal to hire people to do all the non design related stuff I do for Claire Watkins Interior Design. More concretely, my biggest goal is to take more design risks and fewer business risks.
When I first started my company, I was nervous about pushing clients in their design choices (would they think I was not listening to them or asserting my personal taste over theirs?). I was nervous about having clients sign contract (would they think their was something in the fine print?). I was nervous to push them to pay me on past due invoices (would I seem rude in following up on a late invoice?). I’ve learned to listen to myself and now it is just a matter of having the discipline to always impart things.
What is one thing you could not live without?
My dogs.
What is your favorite thing about living in Atlanta?
The climate, hands down.
What inspired you to start your business?
After earning a degree in commercial interior design, I worked in textile design for major hotels and then as a photo stylist. I always felt limited working for other people, like I was only using one half of my brain. Looking for a challenging career, I decided to go to law school. When I wrote the check for my tuition deposit, something clicked. I bought my LLC the same week. Design is my passion and I figured I could get this thing going in the three years it would take me to graduate from law school.
What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
It is tremendously rewarding. Every thing from getting to know new clients, to walking into a finished space, to creating relationships with artists, craftspeople and the Atlanta community in general (hello CRAVE and Laura Scholz), all the good stuff that comes with owning your own business really brings a high.
If you could have dinner and talk about business with one person, who would it be?
Let’s be honest, my next big client.
If you could give one piece advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs, what would it be?
You can do it. Keep a day job, prepare to fail, meet all the people you can and start now, no excuses. That is one sentence, so does it count as one piece of advice? Oh and social media, social media, social media.
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