Etch Design Group Enhances Efficiency and Client Experience with Houzz Pro

As Etch Design Group expanded from a two-person operation to a team of ten managing 50 to 60 active projects, the firm faced growing complexity. Coordinating vendors, clients, and product details across so many touchpoints put them at risk for disorganization and inefficiency.

“We thought we’d need to piece together five or six different platforms,” says Jessica Nelson, co-founder and Principal Designer.  “It was exhausting—and expensive. We wanted one tool that could do it all.”

Nelson and co-founder and Principal Designer Stephanie Lindsey, RDI, NCIDQ, sought a scalable system to support the firm’s continued growth. “With a larger team, strong processes became essential,” says Stephanie. “We needed structure to stay on top of everything.”

Their goal: implement a single solution that could streamline operations, integrate with QuickBooks, reduce reliance on multiple tools, and help their growing team stay organized and focused.

Ease of use was a critical factor. Jessica emphasizes the importance of fast onboarding: “We needed something user-friendly—so intuitive that anyone off the street could pick it up quickly. Efficient training is vital for a firm like ours.”

Etch Design Group explored multiple software tools to manage different aspects of the business—but the process felt fragmented and costly. They found their solution in Houzz Pro, which consolidates the team’s workflows into a single, customizable platform. “The flexibility to tailor it to our process is huge,” notes Stephanie. “It allows us to work the way we need while gaining structure and visibility.”

The platform elevates the client experience as well. Clients receive professional, branded communications and can easily access project updates or pay invoices online. “Plus, we get real-time notifications when a client opens or pays an invoice, or when funds hit our account,” says Jessica.

“Everyone, based on role uses the Houzz Pro Selections Tracker,” adds Jessica. “We use it every day. We’re able to track every single item there, and anyone can hop in anytime to see the status without needing to check with someone else. It saves a lot of time—and time is money.” 

Their favorite feature? The time tracking tools. “No matter where anyone is or what tasks they’re working on, they can enter their time, and it automatically allows us to pull reports, which help us strategize on our current workload as well as our future pipeline of projects.”

As Etch Design Group scaled, Houzz Pro has become a central pillar in managing both internal operations and client-facing interactions.

“It’s become the hub for our business,” says Stephanie. “We rely on it to systemize not just our internal workflows but also how we communicate with clients. I can log in and instantly access the data I need to plan ahead.”

The platform saves the team 30-35 hours weekly by centralizing lead management and communication tracking. “It’s simple to track everything from lead to client,” says Lindsey.

Houzz Pro software streamlines administrative tasks, such as project and cost tracking, and invoicing, eliminating the need to hire an additional person to manage these details. Result: Estimated 10%-20% annual cost savings

By consolidating their tools into one streamlined platform, Etch Design Group has eliminated unnecessary complexity, improved team efficiency, and enhanced client satisfaction.

“It’s seamless,” says Jessica. “We’re no longer bouncing between systems. Houzz Pro automates our workflow and truly elevates the way we run our business”.