In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire, I talk with Grant Findlay-Shirras—serial entrepreneur, financial strategist, and co-owner of Dekora, a luxury staging, furnishing, and design company serving Calgary and Kelowna.

Grant’s entrepreneurial track record is remarkable—he built Parkbench into a $37M company without raising outside capital, scaled Canada’s largest mobile fitness franchise, and has led teams of over 80 people. Today, he helps creative entrepreneurs master their numbers so they can scale profitable, sustainable businesses.

As a former national champion tennis player turned business coach, Grant combines a high-performance mindset with deep financial clarity. At Dekora, he’s pioneered scalable systems for inventory, pricing, and profit—transforming design into a truly thriving business.

Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.

In this episode you will learn:

Why Grant and his wife bought Dekora and how they turned the company around

How he increased profits while simplifying systems

His philosophy on pricing (and why raising rates actually led to more sales)

How he ensures every labor fee is accounted for

Why he encourages his team to lose more jobs

The biggest bottleneck in Dekora’s growth—and how he plans to overcome it

Xo Marianne

Complimentary Discovery Session

Do you want to grow your Home Staging Business but feel stuck?
Are your marketing efforts producing crickets?
Would you like to learn simple ways to get Real Estate Agents to refer you over and over again?
If you’re ready to take your business from sporadic staging jobs to a successful staging company that supports the lifestyle you want, let’s talk.

Together we will clarify your goals, uncover challenges that are preventing you from reaching those goals and discuss coaching options to help you create a life and business that is on fire! 🔥🔥🔥

I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on iTunes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

Connect with Grant:

Website – www.dekora.com

Instagram- @grantfindlayshirras

Connect with Marianne:

Set up a coaching discovery session to see if coaching is right for you.

Website: https://coachingbymarianne.com

Instagram: @homestagercoachmarianne

Join my FB Group: Fire Up Your Home Staging Business: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fireupyourhomestagingbusiness/

FB Group: Design for Today Collaborative- https://www.facebook.com/groups/DesignForTodayCollaborative

Visit my FB Coaching Page: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByMarianneCherico/

Join my LinkedIn Group: Interior Redesign, Decorating and Real Estate Staging Professionals here

 

Episode 11: Mindset Hacks For Selling Your Services – Part 1

Episode 11: Mindset Hacks For Selling Your Services – Part 1

In this episode Marianne Cherico discusses mindset hacks that help you “sell” your services without feeling salesy. You will learn how to do a deeper dive into what your clients really want, how to be clear about the benefits that you offer ,how to handle fear and so much more!

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Episode 10: Video Strategies That Rock

Episode 10: Video Strategies That Rock

In this episode Tori Toth discusses specifics about how to use different video platforms to grow your business. Whether your marketing and visibility strategy focuses on You Tube, Facebook, Instagram or Linked In, it is important to be intentional about how to use each of these platforms for optimal results. You will learn best practices for leveraging video in social media and so much more!

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Episode 9: Reno Project Management

Episode 9: Reno Project Management

Join us as we discuss Debbe Daley’s approach to renovation, how she mitigates liability for contractors while overseeing projects, how packages help set up client expectations better, and so much more!

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Episode 8: Secrets to Buying Wholesale

Episode 8: Secrets to Buying Wholesale

If you would like to start buying furniture and accessories for your home staging company, this is the episode for you.

You will learn what to ask yourself before you start investing, what you will need in order to open up accounts, what home stagers should invest in, what inventory and financial management systems Michelle recommends, how to price for rental furniture and so much more!

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Episode 7: Write Cracklin’ Hot Copy

Episode 7: Write Cracklin’ Hot Copy

In this episode Nancy shares her best tips for creating great copy that magnetizes your ideal clients.

Learn how great copy inspires your clients to take action on their own behalf.

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Episode 6: Creating a Thriving Team Culture

Episode 6: Creating a Thriving Team Culture

In this episode Anthea shares her secrets on growing an incredible team by creating a stellar company culture in order to find the best employees for her thriving business.

Learn what hiring mistakes Anthea has made along the way and what she has learned from them.

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Episode 5: How To Monetize Celebrity Status

Episode 5: How To Monetize Celebrity Status

In this episode Rachel Moriarty talks about how she monetizes celebrity status to build her design empire.

Learn how Rachel built her business to attract high quality design clients, brand ambassadorship, licensing agreements and even an HGTV segment.

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Episode 4: Design Files E Design

Episode 4: Design Files E Design

In this episode Sheilah MacSporan, co founder of DesignFiles, discusses how edesign can help you create more business, reach more clients, build better processes, streamline your design jobs and leverage your time better.

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Episode 3: Strategic Social Media Strategies

Episode 3: Strategic Social Media Strategies

In this session Darla Powell will discuss how she uses Strategic Social Media Strategies to build her Interior Design business as well as the businesses of other designers.

Join us as we discuss what is working today in the social media playground and how you, too can leverage these platforms.

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Episode 1: Welcome to this Podcast and Mindset Hacks

Episode 1: Welcome to this Podcast and Mindset Hacks

Welcome to the first episode of Home Stagers and Designers in Fire. I am Marianne Cherico and I am delighted to be your host.

My goal is to bring you lots of valuable information that will help you grow your Home Staging and/or Design Business. This first session is a quick intro to how Mindset effects your success!

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