Last year (like the one before) tested small business owners more than any of us could ever have imagined. But these challenging times have also taught us important lessons, many of which pros will be using to adapt their businesses in the future.

In the second of a two-part series, we spoke to a kitchen designer and a building designer to hear how they coped in 2021 and what their plans are for the year ahead.

How was business in 2021?

“Exceptional,” says Anne Ellard, a certified kitchen designer at KBK Kitchens in Brisbane, Queensland. “We have enjoyed working with so many amazing clients who turned their attention and love to the homes they found themselves spending more time in since the start of the pandemic.

“We have an incredible team that adapted effortlessly to the lockdowns and work-from-home orders that impacted us intermittently here in Queensland.”

“2021 was, surprisingly, extremely busy for us,” says Steve Drougas, building designer at Concept Studio based in Melbourne, Victoria. “With so much uncertainty and disruption in peoples’ lives over the past 20 months, we still found there was a huge demand for construction and home improvements.”

What were the biggest changes in your business?
“Last year, we noticed our clients putting even more planning and thought into their new kitchens. They had more time to spend considering their choices and refining the small details,” says Ellard.

“Lockdowns and restrictions meant that at times we haven’t been able to have as much face-to-face time with some of our clients. However, utilising tools such as online sample ordering and video calls have allowed us to move ahead without disruption,” she says.

“Our clients are asking a lot more questions about where the materials that go into their new kitchens come from, how they are made and how sustainable they are, and we are proud to be able to not only answer those questions but also educate our clients so they can make more informed decisions,” says Ellard.

“Homeowners are also choosing to seek out professionally trained and highly experienced designers to work with them on their projects, as they see the value of investing in design expertise as well as quality products,” she says.

“Remote working became the new norm for us in 2021, as it did for many people,” says Drougas.

“People seemed to accept and adapt very well to these changes and so did we. We have taught ourselves to work more efficiently, mainly out of necessity,” he says.

What will you be focusing on in 2022?
Ellard says:

• A new website: This will launch in 2022 and will showcase our diverse range of projects, from exquisitely detailed traditional-style spaces to expertly planned, minimal kitchens. We will also use our new website as an opportunity to introduce our team to potential new clients and give them some insight into the KBK experience and our values.
• Video content: We are also working on creating more video content that we can share with our interstate and international clients.
• Continual learning: This year, as always, we will be increasing our own knowledge and skill set so we can continue to educate our clients on the value of investing in good design and quality materials that are fit for purpose. Good kitchen design is about more than planning where your cutlery should be stored, it’s also about creating a story that fits with the home, evoking a feeling and creating something that will endure.

Staying up-to-date on new products, finishes and manufacturing techniques aids our team greatly – we are always learning.

Drougas says:

• Building on the strength of 2021: Although we have experienced consistent growth year-on-year, 2021 was exceptional and we want our business and clients to benefit from all that last year taught us.
• Exploring how the forced and adapted changes can work even better for our clients: With the tech world ever-evolving, we aim to take advantage of these advances as best as possible to better service our clients.
• Continuing to grow our industry presence: We invested in our marketing and business strategies more in 2021 than any other year and have seen the benefits from these investments.

How will Houzz Pro help?
“Houzz Pro is one of the investments we made in 2021,” says Drougas. “As a direct result, we have certainly seen an improvement in our business. Our aim for 2022 is to get an even better understanding of the platform so we can achieve greater results for us and our clients.”

“We will continue to use Houzz Pro to showcase our diverse range of projects, keep our portfolio up-to-date and reach relevant clients who are invested in and passionate about their kitchen projects,” says Ellard.