If you’ve ever felt like the only way to make more money in your design business is to raise your rates or take on more clients, this episode might stop you in your tracks—in the best way.

Because what if that’s not actually the smartest path to more profit?

In this conversation, I sit down with Heather McManus, founder of The Designers Collaborative, to unpack a side of the design industry that most people aren’t talking about openly—but every designer has felt.

It starts with a story that might hit a little too close to home. A client. A beautiful selection. A carefully priced piece. And then… they find it online for less. Not just a little less—less than what the designer could even purchase it for.

And just like that, it’s not just about losing a sale. It’s about losing trust.

That single moment is what led Heather to rethink everything about sourcing, pricing, and how designers actually make money. What she built out of that frustration has grown into something much bigger than a workaround—it’s become a completely different way of approaching profitability in this industry.

And if you’re relying on traditional sourcing methods, there’s a good chance you’re leaving more money on the table than you realize.

Here’s what I love about this conversation—it’s not about working harder. It’s not about cramming more into your schedule or constantly pushing your prices higher and hoping your clients keep up. It’s about looking at the structure behind your business and asking a much smarter question:

Are you actually set up to be as profitable as you could be?

Because the truth is, most designers aren’t.

We talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes with pricing tiers, why designers often don’t have a true “seat at the table,” and how that impacts your margins on every single project. It’s one of those things that, once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

And that’s where Heather’s work comes in.

The Designers Collaborative isn’t just about getting better pricing (although yes, that’s a huge part of it). It’s about access, leverage, and creating a structure where designers can actually compete—and win—without constantly being undercut or shopped by their own clients.

It’s also about something we don’t talk about enough: running your business like a business.

Not a “joby.” Not something you do because you love it and hope it pays off eventually. But something that is built to be profitable, sustainable, and scalable.

This episode goes deeper into:

• Why pricing alone won’t fix your profit problem

• What most designers misunderstand about sourcing

• How small structural shifts can create big financial impact

• And what it really looks like to work smarter in this industry

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by clients questioning your pricing, struggled to maintain your margins, or wondered how to grow without burning out… this is a conversation you need to hear.

Because increasing your profit might not require more work at all.

It might just require a different way of thinking.

Listen to the full episode to hear Heather’s story, the behind-the-scenes realities of the design industry, and the shifts that could completely change how you approach your business.