Planning area
Open questions, setup checklist, and thinking space for Mel and Marcelo as this idea grows.
Open questions
Who will be the handyman partner? Does Mel have someone in mind, or do we need to find and vet someone local?
Open
How does payment flow? Does Mel collect a deposit upfront? Does she invoice? Who handles money tracking?
Open
Which AI tool will Mel use for room concepts? Options: ChatGPT image generation, Canva AI, Midjourney, or a simpler Pinterest mood board.
Thinking
How does the customer share their room photos? Text message, email, or a form upload? What is easiest for Mel to receive?
Thinking
Who sets up the affiliate accounts (Amazon, Walmart, Target)? Marcelo or Mel? What email and bank account will be linked?
Open
Should Mel have a dedicated social media account for this business? Who helps her post?
Thinking
How do we keep this manageable for Mel day to day? She needs a simple routine, not a full-time business manager role.
Open
Setup checklist
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Define Mel's exact role in a simple 1-page guide she can refer to
So she always knows what her job is and what to hand off
Start here
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Do one free test makeover with a family member or friend
Learn the process before charging anyone
Start here
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Sign up for Amazon Associates affiliate program
Easiest approval, just needs a website or social profile
Phase 2
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Find and meet a local handyman partner
Agree on how referrals work between them
Phase 2
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Sign up for Walmart and Target affiliate programs
Walmart via Rakuten, Target via Impact
Phase 2
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Create an Instagram account for Room Makeovers by Mel
Post before/after photos from the test projects
Phase 2
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Set up a simple payment method (Venmo, Zelle, or Square invoice)
For collecting the design consultation fee
Phase 2
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Add a portfolio section to the public page with before/after photos
Placeholder is live — swap in real photos as projects are completed
Phase 3
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Explore room design AI tools and decide which one Mel uses
Options: ChatGPT, Canva AI, RoomGPT, Reimagine Home
Phase 3
A note on the business model
This is still being figured out. And that's okay.
The full picture of who pays what, when, and how is complex. Mel should not try to figure all of this out at once. The smartest move is to start with one real test: do one room for someone, see what it feels like, and learn. The business model becomes clearer once there is a real experience to reflect on.
The key advantage is that Mel does not have to do this alone. Marcelo and other supporters can help with the heavy setup work: affiliate accounts, payment systems, marketing, while Mel focuses on the part she can genuinely enjoy: talking to people, picking beautiful things, and making a room feel like home.
Notes and thinking space
A free-form area to write ideas, decisions made, things to remember.
Saved
Portfolio note
Placeholder is live on the public page
The public page now has a collapsible "Portfolio examples" section with three before and after placeholders: Living Room, Bedroom, and Home Office. As soon as the first test makeover is done, take real before and after photos from the same angle and in similar light, then swap them in for the placeholders.
Good photos make the biggest difference in whether someone trusts Mel with their room. Worth taking a few extra minutes to get the lighting and angle right.