“We are a longevity company,” she says. “Owning a small business has its benefits. We can be flexible and grow quicker.”
A graduate of Louisiana State University’s School of Interior Design, Walker spent the first 10 years of her career working for a contract furniture group. That’s where she learned the basics and the need for a strong foundation in business. She also learned that she wanted to create a positive work environment in her own company.
AT A GLANCE
Top executive: Becky Walker, Owner/Principal Designer
Phone: 225.927.2880
Address: 7575 Jefferson Hwy., Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Website: tdsola.com
When she started TDS in 2003, she knew she wanted to focus on both residential and commercial design, along with growth experiences for her staff members. Kayce Millet has been with the company for 15 years, essentially serving as CFO and recently adding procurement manager to her title. Jessica Virgets started out doing business development and marketing six years ago and has since become a design consultant. Former intern Isabel Oatley is now a junior designer after two years with TDS.
“We have an incredible team right now, and I’ve had only incredible and talented staff members for 20 years,” says Walker. She also gives credit to external team members, from the architects, contractors, electricians and plumbers to the flooring installers, seamstresses, painters and others who work with TDS on a regular basis.
TDS also provides contractors with a handbook of details about the project so that the entire construction team can work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“We get a lot of referrals from contractors and architects who see our processes and then highly refer us,” says Walker.
The company’s new digs at 7575 Jefferson Hwy. will only enhance those turnkey services by offering a design center and office all in one—with STONE’s showroom right next door. TDS’s sister company, TDS Staging Products and Services, will also be housed in the new location, and warehouse space will be about half a mile away.
Walker started TDS Staging seven years ago after noticing a gap in those services. “A non-staged home is better than a badly staged home,” she says. “Everything we do is strategic and thought out. We use neutral colors to let the construction shine and try to lessen the confusion for the buyer with interior staging.”
One of Walker’s business strategies is not to put all her eggs in one basket. That’s why TDS covers the residential, commercial and multi-family markets. The latter has been very successful, and TDS has worked on multi-family projects throughout the southeast. Another area added over the years is working with companies like Level Homes to provide professional interior design services to homeowners.
The newest area of services for TDS is e-design, a remote design service that includes a consultation, inspiration images and floorplan, but allows the client to purchase items on their own time.
“Our e-design services are still in the infancy stage, but they are becoming more popular. We look forward to growing and marketing these services in the coming year,” says Walker.
For now, she and her team are busy planning anniversary events, moving into the new warehouse and getting the office space and design center ready for a planned opening in mid-April.
Walker gives credit to her husband, Len, her parents and her son, Jack, for supporting her through the years. Jack turns 20 this year along with The Design Studio and has started working with TDS Staging when he’s not in school.
“We are client-based, but I put just as much effort into my staff, processes and procedures and my family,” says Walker. “I’m excited to continue evolving the business and see what the next 20 years bring.”
FROM THE OWNER
My business grew out of my work experience after college and some of the challenges I faced. Sometimes in business, you learn what you don’t want. I wanted a healthy and positive work environment for myself and my staff. This has been very important to me over the past 20 years of running The Design Studio. We all wear many hats here and have added and changed hats over the years as employees have grown and acquired different skills. When anybody brings an idea to the table and I feel like it will benefit us globally, I’m always open to listening to their suggestions.
BECKY WALKER, Owner
