On the morning of Thursday, November 13, The Shade Store welcomed 40 designers to its recently opened showroom in New Orleans for a breakfast and panel discussion co-hosted by Business of Home. In a conversation moderated by editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen, three of the city’s design leaders—Chad Graci of Graci Interiors, Arianne Bellizaire of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors, and Betsey Hazard of House of Hazard Interiors—shared how they’ve grown their practices, refined their processes and articulated their value. Their candid commentary offered attendees genuine insight into how established firms navigate client onboarding, project execution and continuity in professional relationships.
After the panel, attendees enjoyed breakfast and explored the new showroom, building their own library kits of The Shade Store’s in-stock swatch collection. The moment offered an energizing mix of community celebration and meaningful connection, as guests met The Shade Store’s NOLA team and strengthened ties with fellow design professionals.
“I was honored to be a part of this panel,” said Bellizaire. “I loved learning about how other designers run their firms, and I loved sharing the insights I’ve learned over the years. My biggest takeaway is that there is no perfect way to do this. The key is to develop a process and business model that aligns with your superpowers. Then the right clients and projects will come.”
“I loved seeing the unique ways each of us runs our business—and how many different paths there are to building a successful design firm,” said Hazard.
“We’re so proud to mark our arrival in the New Orleans market with an event like this,” said Kara Marmion, general manager of trade at The Shade Store. “It’s a meaningful way to introduce ourselves in person and strengthen our commitment to the trade. We deeply value our relationships with designers, and bringing together the local community with Business of Home is part of our long-standing belief in building connection through conversation, collaboration and shared inspiration.”
“It’s always so fun to partner with The Shade Store to bring the design community together, and this conversation in New Orleans was no exception!” said Petersen. “As Chad, Arianne and Betsey talked about their experiences with refreshing candor, it was clear just how individual each of their paths were—and proof that there’s no one right way to run a design business. Their insights encouraged everyone in the audience to find, and honor, the approach that’s right for them.”
