Expert: John Henry Architect - 8/5/2009

Question
Hello,

I am an Interior Designer. I have been in the design industry for more than 8 years. I have my own business that I launched about a year ago. I am interested in taking my abilities and business to Paris, France.

This goal has been growing in my mind and now it seems like the right time for me. My question is how do I start this process?

I currently live in California and have worked on project across this state but I haven't gone outside of that. Gaining jobs comes from my networking skills, referrals and traffic to my web site. I have no client base in Paris but am hoping to gain one.  Who would I need to get in contact with to start generating clients.

In the up coming months I plan to become fluent in French. Contact an agent that will get me an apartment to rent and I will be researching the vendors and resources in Paris that I will need to get the product from. While I have a large source of contacts here, I am very limited with contacts in Europe. Do you have any contacts that may help as well.

Thank you for your time and help.

Tabatha Chase
www.tabathachasedesigns.com

Answer
This is a tough question for me as I have not attempted opening an office overseas.
My first idea would be to find an 'agent' in France.
These in between people seem to be important and necessary in many countries with whom I have business dealings.  I am not sure how this works in France or where to find these people.
I speak little or no French but I am sure there are directories and if you go to a translation website to find key words you may locate a directory of agents.
I just tried to use some French key words in google: 'francaise agents d'interieur' and a directory for textile importers came up for Germany-- http://www.plusdetudes.com/p07679/Le-marche-du-meuble-de-la-decoration-et-des-te...
Interior design has to do with 'decoration'.  Meuble is furniture I believe, etc.
Europeans and other foreign countries do look up to the U.S. for designers and architects.  Having a California background should also be quite good.  I do not know that competing with the French for their own type of interior design would work as much as pushing your 'american' design sensibility would.
Client generation is a very difficult process, no matter where you base your business.
Moving to France and starting to look for work would be the same as moving to Miami and starting over.
Contractors, architects and tradespeople, manufacturers, etc. all should be contacted and routinely updated as to your progress and projects.  A newsletter in printed or email format would be a good way to constantly keep in touch with the area professionals and related businesses.
Perhaps working in an international French firm would be a good first step for you.
It is tough in this country after eight years to achieve a modicum of success.
I hope this works for you as your idea is something that I have wished to do as well.  My thinking was to simply base an office in Italy or France and have U.S. clients come to me to discuss their projects.  You would naturally find clients in the host country as well and as by employing normal marketing strategies used here.
I do not have any direct contacts in the industry in France though.
Best wishes.