Meet Darla Powell | Interior Decorator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Darla Powell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Darla, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Without a doubt, social media marketing. 100%. I actually kind of accidentally fell into social as a powerful marketing vehicle for my brand and business when I first launched Darla Powell Interiors as a side-hustle in Nov of 2016. I received almost immediate traction and notoriety and knew I was on to something. I studied everything I could get my hands on about digital marketing and even started my own agency, Wingnut Social. The key is to tell your story and be your authentic self. Warts and all (sometimes).

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are an easy-going design firm with high-end results. When I started my firm, I had 0 clue about the complexities of running a design business. There are a lot of moving parts and there was a STEEP learning curve. I am extremely proud of the DPI team and how well we work together. It has taken some time (and some tears) to find the perfect blend of talent and business mojo and I am very proud of what we have assembled together. “Mistakes, I’ve made a few” … In the beginning, I was undercharging by an embarrassing margin. Looking back, I see it as the cost of a business education and I learned a lot. Now, I have terrific systems and processes in place that allow me to stay in business and provide excellent value to our clients. When I first announced that I was going into the design field, friends told me that I would have to “be all fancy” and “bougie.” I considered it. Was that true? Ultimately, I decided to be true to my character which is just to be me. No pretending. No artifice. I have found that that has made all the difference in attracting clients who are a perfect fit. A winning scenario all around!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The Keys! Natalie and I did just entertain a friend for a long weekend in Islamorada. We fished, we swam we ate tons of good food (and lots of beer!). Morado Bay is to die for – we went there 3 times over the weekend. We did some shopping at Bass Pro (natch) and got to see sharks and Tarpin. This was all capped off by watching the sunset from our boat. It’s the best.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My wife, Natalie Grafe. Without her, this journey would have been nigh impossible. She believed in me and my vision and encouraged me to take the leap from a secure position of 18 years with the Miami Dade PD to launching my design firm.

Website: darlapowell.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlapowellinteriors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarlaPowellInteriors
Other: https://www.wingnutsocial.com

Image Credits
Jannette oliva, Robin Hill