# TTT-S2E46-Phyllis Harbinger, Real Talk on Pricing Strategies for Designers and Project Ops

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-trade-with-interior-design-community-7139516/ttt-s2e46-phyllis-harbinger-real-talk-on-pricing-strategies-for-designers-and-project-ops
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-trade-with-interior-design-community-7139516/ttt-s2e46-phyllis-harbinger-real-talk-on-pricing-strategies-for-designers-and-project-ops.md
Podcast: [To-The-Trade with Interior Design Community](https://stenobird.com/podcast/to-the-trade-with-interior-design-community-7139516)
Published: 2025-08-25T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/laurie-laizure/episodes/TTT-S2E46-Phyllis-Harbinger--Real-Talk-on-Pricing-Strategies-for-Designers-and-Project-Ops-e378n86
Audio file: https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/a36e93a349eb98368e4de1d9b357d677d5709bcb0b7078d1cc22787e02a3f1e6/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJhYjMxNzYyMy05MzA1LTQ5YzItYjdjMi0zMWEyNGU3YzY3YmEiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiJmMGJhMzhiZi00Yjc4LTQ4YWQtYTQ3NC04MTE5ZWRiOTIzNmYiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2ODc2YTc3ZjY0Nzc5MGE4ZDAwNmViYjYiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvaW1wb3J0cy9wb2RjYXN0cy9mMGJhMzhiZi00Yjc4LTQ4YWQtYTQ3NC04MTE5ZWRiOTIzNmYvZXBpc29kZXMvYWIzMTc2MjMtOTMwNS00OWMyLWI3YzItMzFhMjRlN2M2N2JhLzQwNjIwNjQ2NS00NDEwMC0yLWU2OGNjNmJhNGVjZmMubXAzIn0=.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3627

## Resource

Laurie Laizure , Nile Johnson , and Phyllis Harbinger get practical about the business of interior design. Phyllis outlines her transparent purchasing model, where clients pay vendors directly, while her team manages the logistics. She charges a 35 percent cost-plus purchase management fee over net on everything. Her contract states she is not responsible for vendor malfeasance or damages, and if a replacement is needed, she manages it for the same fee. She avoids the term “retainer,” opting instead to collect a defined design fee at signing, a choice reinforced by legal guidance that “retainer” can require refunds if projects end early. She also protects IP and has clients initial every page. Day-to-day, Phyllis relies on daily team huddles, shared agendas, minutes, and Zoom recordings, which make approvals traceable and keep clients accountable. Design-wise, it is FFF, form follows function, with a deep understanding of how clients actually live and work. Expect mindset gems too, from positive expectation resets to a reality check on TV budgets versus trade economics

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## Transcript

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