We have yet another inspiring interview coming your way. This time I sat down with well established internationally recognized interior designer, the well-known Ann LeConey dressing up the homes of ambassadors, prominent artists, musicians and celebrity A-listers. Ann sat down with me to share what it was like to be in the shoes of someone who had no prior experience or study in design and whom she believed to have no creative bone in her body. Fast forward 25 years today, she looks back proudly on the lucrative brand she has grown in interior design, all while having raised 3 boys as a single mom coupled with the support of an endearing, loyal trusted British nanny (isn’t it interesting how the UK always follows us here?) Enjoy and any questions for Ann LeConey, as always do not hesitate to contact your Shoe Hostess – Marisa@InRShoes.com!
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Before I sat down with Ann LeConey , I considered all of the questions you would want answered to inspire you to continue on in your dream shoes. What I realized shortly into our interview however, was how fortunate I was at this time in my career to have met someone willing to openly share their wisdom in growing a successful business from the ground up, all while raising three boys.
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In Our Shoes:You had no formal study whatsoever in interior design. What was your educational background?
Ann LeConey:
That’s correct. I went to an all girls Catholic college in Washington DC and was actually a history of Economics major. Back then I had made up my mind that I was going to be a Wall Street genius! Out of college I began working at Chemical bank amidst a small boys network of about 150 people. That was where I met my then husband. Women were not allowed to go into real banking then. There was a training program available in retail banking, but I didn’t want to open and close bank accounts for people.
In Our Shoes: When did your love for interior design begin?
Ann LeConey:
At home when I began decorating my apartment and
people would say to me all the time: “You know, you should be a professional decorator!” I didn’t think I had a creative bone in my body.
Being that I couldn’t stand a career in banking, I thought: “Well if everyone thinks I’m that good, then I’ll try it.” I went to work for Mario Buatta – the crown prince of decorating or otherwise known as the “Prince of Chintz” – English chintzes that is. I later worked at McMillen Inc., which was like getting a formal education from design school. They taught you how to run a business, the nitty gritty of decorating, how to make the drapery, every element of decorating as if you were in school. I was learning everything on the job. Later, I quit my job at McMillen and went out on my own when I had my first son.
In Our Shoes: What was it like after having your first child, as a new mumpreneur?
Ann LeConey:
Even though I had help, I still wanted to do everything with my children. I would work from 7pm to 2am! Evening was the only time I could layout the fabrics and get to work.
In Our Shoes: What advice would you share with IOS readers who want to follow a career they are passionate about?
Ann LeConey:
You have to have the ambition, the dedication and love what you do.
The first fifteen years of my career I had only four hours of sleep a night. Not many people know that about me. My siren would go off automatically in the morning and I would get up at 7am to juggle my kids schedule. I worked 7 days a week. I would take ten minute cat naps in taxis. If my clients were tennis players they would pull me into a game which I was obligated to play. I would play tennis, decorate, play some more tennis. If I went out to dinner, I would come home and resume work at my desk; I took on everything every day.
In Our Shoes: Did you ever hire help to run your business?
Ann LeConey:
Yes I did. I brought in three assistants but I still had to manage them. It takes time to train and manage a staff.
In Our Shoes: Without any formal study in interior design, how did you get clients?!
Ann LeConey:
I met people through the course of business in socials. Most of my clients came through referrals, I never advertised my credibility. Once Architectural Digest magazine ran my work and I did get one major established client who called me on a cold call – he was the only one I can think of who did not come through a referral.
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In Our Shoes: Your British nanny played a large role in helping you raise your children. Tell us about her.
Ann LeConey:
Alice was a godsend with a great sense of humor and a strong support system for me; I was divorced at the time and needed that. Today’s there is day care and all kinds of help. That never existed in my time. I could not have travelled when I needed to and rested easy if it weren’t for Alice. I would call her from whatever country I was in and she’d assure me that nothing changed when I was gone. All was well with my boys when I was gone. I was never gone for more than 10 days. They knew I was coming back. Alice gave me such confidence. I couldn’t have done it without her and her laughter. Nothing is so horrible when you have a sense a humor!
In Our Shoes: How did you manage to spend time with your boys?
Ann LeConey:
I did everything with my boys on the weekends. I spent whole weekends with them and made sure we had quality time. There was never any sibling rivalry or jealousy. I never minded working that hard so I can make the time for them.
In Our Shoes: Did you have any role models growing up?
Ann LeConey:
I came from a big Irish family. My mother didn’t work, but my grandmother was the real business woman of the family and true matriarch. Her husband was 25 years older and died when her son (my father) was in college. My grandmother raised my father by herself. They had a family business which she ran. For a woman her age and for that time, this was very unusual. She singled me out and instilled in me her work ethic.
In Our Shoes: Tell us about your friendships with other women as you were growing Ann LeConey designs.
Ann LeConey:
I didn’t realize this, but I was often told that there were women jealous of me. Friends would tell me it was because they felt I had so much more of a life with opportunities to travel and meet new people. I never considered my life glamorous. I was so focused on my children and just doing my job. I never thought of myself as a well known decorator. I was focused on raising my boys and I was divorced, it was all just one big juggle.
In Our Shoes: What advice do you have for entrepreneurs growing a client base?
Ann LeConey:
I always had nice clients. CEOs of Wall street Firms, well-known artists and designers. I learned not to be afraid to say ‘No’. If you don’t think you can work with a client do yourself a favor and fire them. You can’t waste your time on people you know you won’t get along with after the first meet. I have interesting smart clients with fantastic wives whom I always got on well with.
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I also never nickeled and dimed my clients. If the draperies fell down because a clients toddler tugged on them, my motto was: “Fine, I’ll take care of it”. They paid a lot of money for good decorating. I never billed for my time. You will never make as much charging for your time. Clients never think about that. That’s why they come back to you.
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I also have always laid out the prices in black and white. I would sit down with my clients and say “Here, is what the wholesale price is.” I also made sure I returned every phone call that same day no matter what, even if it was a trivial question. Vendors can wait, clients you must call! That’s simple time management 101.
In Our Shoes: Were you always a one-woman show? Had you considered partnering with anyone to grow your business?
Ann LeConey:
I never wanted a business partner, although I had opportunity. The problem was that I wanted my children to be my number one priority, therefore I had to make a decision. If I partnered with someone, I would have to work with someone else’s schedule. Granted, I could have reduced the workload with a partner but at the end of the day, I wanted my own schedule.
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So instead I hired assistants. They did the execution and I kept to the creative end of it. They handled the purchase orders and estimates. I’d do the schemes.
In Our Shoes: How do you handle a client who has a very specific style in mind which differs from your vision when you enter their home?
Ann LeConey:
You don’t, it’s very interesting. I’ll go in and do some schemes. If I would put it in my own home – it’s fine for them. My clients have very good taste and my job is to expose them to different things. Once you expose them 99% of the time they will go for it. You move away from the original idea that wasn’t in such good taste. Anything you bring them is acceptable to them at that point. You never discourage a client from their own tastes. They will see there is a bigger world out there if you show it to them.
In Our Shoes: What advice would you give to those studying interior design?
Ann LeConey:
I always put young women in touch with larger firms to learn the ropes, the source vendors, the descriptions. Get yourself working at a well known decorating firm, learn who the best vendors are, who makes the best sofa, who makes the best sofa at reasonable price and so on. Then break out on your own.
In Our Shoes: Is it any different for an interior designer to grow a business today versus when you started?
Ann LeConey:
Today young interior decorators are having a hard time with their fledging businesses due to the internet. They can’t control what the client sees. They can find 14 lamps that look like the expensive ones and young decorators are fighting everything on the internet. It’s much more difficult today because your client has that option.
Service is the only thing that you can control that will set you apart today – very important.
In Our Shoes: Your boys are grown men now, did any follow in your shoes?
Ann LeConey:
My boys have a feel for decorating and an innate business interest, however none of them followed in my footsteps. Interestingly, they learned that from me over time without me saying a word. I’m very proud of my boys. They’re all good men and today appreciate all the hard work I put in.
In Our Shoes: Looking back, do you have mommy guilt? Would you do anything different?
Ann LeConey:
I never had an outside office because I wanted to be close with my boys. I never missed a school play but I was also never at the park all day. Day to day what did I miss? That’s really all I missed.
In Our Shoes: Tell us a secret.
Ann LeConey:
I don’t believe anyone knows what a night owl I was and that most of the homes of my clients were decorated at 2am when I had peace and quiet! I also don’t like talking to a crowd of 200 ppl. I prefer a small intimate group of a few people at a time.
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You can find Ann here on Facebook. You may have noticed the zebra logo at the top of this piece. After our interview, Ann shared that she chose this as her signature logo for Ann LeConey interiors. She has always had a love for animal prints and it showcased her work as offering a “stripe of a different color” – a word play on the classic phrase thereby moving her clients away from the norm exposing them to different things. We loved learning this about her. Today Ann is still successfully running Ann LeConey Interiors, working seven days a week and loving every minute of it having chosen the career path she is most passionate about.
