Career Turn Steers Salesman Into Design

As a young man, Don Manfred sold real estate - making the $1 Million Club his first year as a full-time salesman.

Now, instead of selling homes, he’s designing them. And as the new owner of an interior decorating business, he’s hoping for more success.

Last week, Manfred, 43, bought Design Works in the Spokane Valley. Financial backing came from his brother, Rick Manfred, who runs Dollar Rent-A-Car, and his father, Sam Manfred, retired owner of Manfred’s Tavern.

The interior decorating company moved to 10905 E. Montgomery last fall. Design Works, with its eight designers, specializes in new construction.

The previous owners, Marcea Seimears and Janet Phillips, will work for Manfred as interior designers.

A lifelong Valley resident, Manfred bought his first piece of real estate when he was 15 and started in real estate at age 19.

Fourteen years ago, stress drove him out of that business. After briefly working as a counselor, he began selling floor covering for an interior design firm.

After 10 years in the field, Manfred jumped at the opportunity to buy Design Works, which had been his competition.

Manfred knows all too well what caused Seimears and Phillips to want to sell their ever-growing business. (Design Works grew from doing $60,000 in business in 1986 to $2.4 million last year.)

They had to deal with mounting pressures of making sure the company ran smoothly from the inside, while giving their individual clients all the attention they demanded.

Manfred said similar stress pushed him out of real estate.

So what makes Manfred think that running an interior decorating company is easier?

“That’s the big joke,” he said.

“If he thought he was stressed before…” Seimears said, with a laugh.

“You can never start one thing and finish it,” Seimears said. “Problems are out of your control.”

But Manfred hopes that by eventually concentrating on managing, he won’t feel torn between his employees and clients.

Design Works will close its Tri-Cities shop in order to focus on efforts here. Manfred said that plans for improvement include adding a hardwood studio and increasing store space.