Decorating Den Names Training Director

July 23, 2015  by in Executive Changes, Furniture Retailing, Industry   

Price succeeds Melanie Jakab who has retired after nine years in the position.

“Suzanne has the right experience to continue to grow our expertise in the business of interior design,” said Jim Bugg Jr., president and CEO. “She has the practical combination of having had her own interior design business and having been one of our franchise owners and field managers. She also has been a decorative artist and held sales and management positions for major hospitality companies. She understands both our basic home-based model, but also has the organizational background to help our larger franchises who have teams working out of stand-alone studio/office/receiver locations.”

In the position, Price is responsible for the company’s training center, a program of continuous education through field managers, an ongoing series of sales and design webinars, the Lifestyle University classes and workshops at the company’s annual international conference and supplier market. She also oversees the network’s visits to the High Point Furniture Market, and development of other educational and business management resources.

Price’s designs have won numerous awards internationally and have been published in nine books, as well as national and regional magazines and newspapers.

“This is a great time to take on this position,” Price said. “An increasing number of new owners have had their own design business. Because of my experience, I can credibly show them the advantages of our proven systems and profitability management tools. While I love design, I very much enjoyed the coaching, teaching and mentoring of new franchise partners. I look forward to helping Decorating Den Interiors continue its terrific growth in retail sales and franchise development.”

Jakab, a former Decorating Den franchise owner, helped develop the company’s system for managing communication, leads and customers. 

“It gives our owners a one-stop shop for marketing and business management so they have more time for designing,” Bugg said. “Our owners, particularly those who have come from other design positions, continually tell us how our educational programs are second-to-none. This is in large part due to Melanie. We wish her the very best in her retirement, and we are very pleased that she will continue to assist us in field management on a part-time consulting basis.”