Elevator Pitch: Describe your business in a nutshell.
At LUX Design, we believe that good design is forever, whether it be a new condominium, an office, a restaurant or spa. As the founder of LUX, an interior design firm based in Toronto, I lead a team of talented women, who, like me, understand the power of good design. To achieve this, we take the client through from the initial meeting until they see their completed space. Also, as opposed to most design practices, we have packages in every price range. This idea stemmed from the belief that everyone deserves to have a beautiful place to live, work and play.
Why did you start your business? What was the inspiration?
From the very beginning of university (Ryerson University in Toronto), I knew I had something different to offer. Although professors always tried to push me in another direction, I stuck to what I was doing and developed it. By the end, I had won awards and secured job offers. This proved to me that there was a place for my ‘design voice’ in the market.
Alongside that experience, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. My grandfather, back in communist Poland, ran a sawmill. Even then and there, when it was next to impossible to make money, he managed to support himself and his family from his business. I think about him whenever I hit a potential roadblock.
What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part is coming up with ideas to grow the business.
The most challenging part is following through.
Where do you see your business going in five years?
I eventually want to grow LUX to other cities in Canada. We already have a smaller branch in Calgary and I am currently looking into starting another one in Vancouver.
Also, we are a very diverse interior design firm. We work on residential and commercial projects. This is pretty rare in our industry. It has been great for us both creatively and business wise. To continue this, but on a larger scale, I want to work with developers. In five years, I hope this is an established part of our business model.
What does success look like to you?
Time. I see a lot of people confuse success with money. A lot of people I know work 9-8 or longer hours. Sure they are making good money, but when will they have the chance to enjoy it? Having the time to spend with my family is more valuable to me; this is why I have a strict weekend policy. I don’t work on weekends and I stop responding to emails in the evenings.
What is the most memorable millstone in your career?
It was at the very start. I had just graduated and I had multiple job offers from really good firms. On the other hand, I had one potential client. Making those phone calls to turn down the job offers was one of the scariest things I have done to date. This was in 2008 and the economy was down, so few of my classmates were in the same position. This made the decision even harder, but I knew I had to try. I told myself that if no other client comes after that one, I would just call back the firms. The clients never stopped coming.
Having said that, I really have my family and one particular professor to thank. They really supported me with this decision. I might have been too nervous to make it otherwise, but they cheered me onto the path less traveled.
Do you have advice for other young professionals?
Don’t be afraid to be different. Figure out what it is you want to be doing, and then do it. This doesn’t have to be starting your own business. Be honest with your employer about what it is you want to be doing and if it fits with the company, it might be a match made in heaven. Either way, don’t mold to other people’s ideals.
It is also important to get out there! Go to events, watch speeches, be aware about your industry and always learn. At the beginning when I was starting, I would challenge myself to go meet someone new at every event I went to. Eventually, I developed a large network. The support and guidance from everyone along the way has been incredible and I would have totally missed out had I been too shy to say hello.
Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Every year around Christmas we give one of our contractors money as a donation. He’s an opera singer on the side, so he goes to a charity every year and sings for them. I feel like we are supporting a great member of the team in one of his hobbies and helping out a charity at the same time.
How do you keep active, energetic, and vibrant?
I turn off my phone and step away from technology frequently. I think many of us remember to charge our cell phones, but forget about our bodies. Personally, I love golf, skiing, skating, wakeboarding or going on hikes in the fall, enjoying Canada’s beautiful colourful trees.
What is notable to you?
Seeing a challenge, then going for it.
BlackBerry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
I’ve been a BlackBerry supporter for a really long time. It is only recently that I started hearing Android phones whispering to me… there might be a switch coming soon.