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How My CAPS Designation Helps My Business — A Testimonial
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Kathy Barry, CAPS
Home Life Interiors
Kentwood, Mich. |
As part of National Designation Month, Nation’s Building News talked with Kathy Barry, CAPS about the value of her professional designation.
Barry is an interior designer who heads Home Life Interiors based in Kentwood, Mich.
She is a member of the Interior Design Society (IDS) and earned her Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation last year.
- What designations do you hold?
I received my CAPS certification in 2005.
- Have you ever won a customer or a job because of your NAHB designation?
Just last month, a new client mentioned they chose me because of my CAPS designation. Her husband has multiple sclerosis — MS.
- How has your designation tangibly benefited your career?
Besides the above mentioned new business, being able to put CAPS in my marketing information increases the perceived and my actual benefit to clients. It helps differentiate me from my competition. And, the class I took to earn my designation was a good review.
- How have you promoted designations among your peers? Your home builders association?
Our local association has advertised who has received their designations to the local media as well as to the membership. I have not yet personally done any more than that.
- Why should consumers ask for designations from their builders?
With a designation, a customer has a baseline with which to begin an evaluation process to determine if the designer/contractor is a good fit for their project.
- Why did you choose to pursue a designation through NAHB?
I thought it would add value to my marketing materials, which it has.
 Lean More About NAHB Designation Courses
NAHB offers more than a dozen professional designations covering industry basics such as business management and marketing, as well as specialized classes, including aging-in-place programs, property management and more. For information about designations, go to www.nahb.org/designations.
For information about participating in or promoting National Designation Month, visit www.nahb.org/NDMTools or National Designation Month on the NAHB Web site.
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