Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in interior design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rima Nasser, Owner of TEW Design Studio, located in Raleigh, NC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
TEW Design Studio is a full-service interior design firm in Raleigh, NC. We are committed to creating functional residential and commercial spaces in North Carolina and beyond. We enjoy working with families and businesses who are looking for uplifting designs from a uniquely diverse team. Our passion is to help you create approachable and livable environments.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Rima Nasser, and I am the owner and principal designer of TEW Design Studio. I founded TEW on the principle that diversity drives creativity and innovation. My passion is to lead our team with a unique cultural insight from my experiences both domestically and abroad. As a Palestinian, my family immigrated to the U.S. when I was 15. After earning my undergraduate degree in Arts & Culture from George Mason University, I continued to work toward a master's in Interior Design from the Florence Design Academy in Italy. I cherish working with families and business owners from various backgrounds and designing spaces for them that have an essential impact on their life and business. That is what drives me each day.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is knowing that our clients trust us with their homes and businesses and that the changes we make will be life-changing for the better. In addition, we are very thankful to have survived the pandemic, and I am proud to have kept all my employees on payroll during that difficult time.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest things that come with being a business owner are taking risks and trusting that you're making the right decision. Anything you do is a risk - starting a business, making a proposal, raising your prices, hiring a new employee, or signing a new lease. But great things never come from comfort zones; I remind myself of this often.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Trust yourself. If you've done all the necessary research, written that business plan, made your connections, etc., then all you have to do is trust that you're making the right moves. When you trust yourself and have a confident voice in what you're selling, other people will trust you too. Trusting yourself is the most empowering decision you will make.
- Find a mentor. It's great to have a vision, but it is so helpful to have someone in your corner with previous experience in the necessary parts of the business. Having that support during the ups and downs of your business is so important.
- Take calculated risks. Do your research, test the market, network, and put yourself out there. Knowing that your entrepreneurship will expose you to a degree of personal and financial risk and making a careful decision by trusting that your risk-taking is counterbalanced by a reasonable possibility of success is the formula for building a stable business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://tewdesignstudio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tewdesignstudio
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tewdesignstudio/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tewdesignstudio/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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