Marcyne Touchton
of Domaine Staging & Design
Gepubliceerd op:
December 31, 2022
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Articles.
by IAHSP®
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V. Bedankt dat je de tijd hebt genomen om bij ons te zitten om je verhaal met onze lezers te delen. Kun je beginnen met iets over jou en je bedrijf te vertellen?
I started back in 2006, when nobody knew what Home Staging was. I spent all year educating realtors and homeowners about what it was. Now that Home Staging is a household term, I differentiate myself from the others, and educate them on the importance of Accreditation, as Home Staging Industry is not a regulated industry.
V. Iedereen heeft een verhaal over hoe ze zijn begonnen, wat was de inspiratie of de katalysator voor het starten van uw bedrijf?
I told my husband, "I was told that I'd be great at home staging... there's a company out West that started it all, I'd like to train with StagedHomes." We decided to wait til our daughter was a little bit older. It was a God thing,... a few months later, my husband ended up working w/Barb Schwartz! After working and getting to know her better, he summoned the courage to tell her that I was really wanting to take a course, to which she replied, "send her out here, and I'll train her myself!"
V. Welke diensten bieden jullie aan? En waarom heb je ervoor gekozen om die specifieke diensten aan te bieden?
In this market, you really have to diversify services. Introducing Design Services right after the Pandemic, was what not only saved my business, but help it thrive like never before! I'm sure as we are heading toward a tougher real estate market, home staging will be in even more demand. And luxury services, such as design, may shrink. It is important to keep up with what's going on in the real estate sector, as well as the economy.
We do stagings, full service design and consultations. We even started a furniture rental business, in the middle of a pandemic, because the need was so desperate. Now it is two distinct different companies. I use the staging furniture business for all my vacant stagings, and it has revolutionized the way I do stagings. I literally get to be the HGTV designer that points and wave my hand, and I've got a company that delivers and installs it with a white glove service.
V. Heb je ooit een project of klant gehad waarbij alles fout ging of het project uitdagend was? Kun je vertellen over die tijd en hoe heb je een oplossing gevonden of de uitdaging overwonnen?
We had a challenging situation. The client was upside down on his house. He was depending on selling his home to get any money out, but in the meantime, his house was in deplorable conditions. His family left to the West Coast without him, so he could sell the house. He was in poor health, and did not have the funds to do what needed to be done in order to sell for top dollars.
I did a consultation telling him everything that needed to be done, including remodeling his kitchen, which included knocking down a wall. Of course, he couldn't pay for it but I could tell he really believed in my vision, and was convinced that that was the only way he could come out on the other end. We went back and forth, and I was very empathetic to his condition, so much so, I decided to invest and fund the project. I never have done that before. Business is business, and I did make a percentage for the loan in order for us to do all this, and the ending was beautiful. He sold for top dollars, got his money back from the house (and then some), we got paid at closing, realtor was extremely happy, and most importantly, he could move out West to be reunited with his wife and daughter.
merken die elke home stager zou moeten kennen
V. Een bedrijf runnen is niet altijd gemakkelijk. Wat heb je geleerd over jezelf en je bedrijf sinds de lancering van je bedrijf?
I have learned that we think businesses are a reflection of who we are, therefore, we sacrifice everything for it losing ourselves in the process. It is TOUGH to get a healthy work/family balance having your own company. We went through growing pains as a company, as a family. Since then, I put God first, Family Second, and then business. Being a mom entrepreneur, I try to make sure I wake up extra for myself in the am, try to knock out everything in my day and wrap up for evening time. I let it slip last year as it was a very busy year, but that's my New Years resolution.
V. We hebben allemaal wel eens een werknemer of een klant gehad waardoor wat we doen de moeite waard is. Kun je een verhaal met ons delen over een werknemer, verkoper of klant die echt indruk op je heeft gemaakt en je hart heeft geraakt?
I had a client who has had me design for her many times. The last time was for her son. I am not hip, so I don't know what a 14 year old is into, but he educated me on what's in and what he wanted. This was years ago before colored programmable lights were popular. I created a moulding for him so it wouldn't look too bachelor and modern like, mixed in with some basic PB bedding and wood furniture, and it is one of my favorite projects. The best is that his mom videotaped him jumping up and down yelling how much he loves it.
V. Als u terug in de tijd zou kunnen gaan en uzelf advies zou kunnen geven over hoe u uw bedrijf kunt beheren of laten groeien, welk advies zou u uzelf dan geven?
When you are too busy to sleep or eat, get help. It is hard to ask for help because you think you are going to catch up, "one wkend" or "one night" but it turns into a lifestyle. When you are missing out on everyday things, you need to determine where you need help and outsource it or hire someone to do it.
V. Als een potentiële klant dit artikel nu zou lezen, wat zou u hem dan vertellen over u, uw team of uw bedrijf dat hem zou overtuigen om voor uw bedrijf te kiezen?
We love what we do and everyone in our team embodies that and are easy to work with. I used to be at a point in my own company where my one employee made it so miserable to come to the office, I wanted to quit. I found out my clients were treated in the same light, and they didn't like calling on my company in case they'd have to deal with her.
Now my criteria for hiring is, (assuming their talent and skillset is top notch), do I like being w/this person? Are they easy to get along with?
V. Wat is een feit over u of uw bedrijf dat de meeste mensen misschien niet weten?
I was selected as one of the MyKirklands, National Designer. I won that award along w/other designers from all over the country. We had fun, going to their headquarters in TN and did a few design workshops and PR stints.
V. Waar ziet u uw bedrijf de komende 5 of 10 jaar naartoe gaan?
I see the business being a well oiled machine with teams and systems in place, and braced for scaling up. I always dreamed of franchising, but now, I think I would like to just grow it.
V. Het was zo geweldig om bij u te zitten om meer over u en uw bedrijf te weten te komen. Hoe kunnen mensen meer over u en uw bedrijf te weten komen?
They can go to my website to see all that I do. I hate to admit it, I have not regularly kept up with the photos - it is on my list for next year to be more consistent with that.
V. Heel erg bedankt voor het delen van uw verhaal met IASHP Articles!
Thank you for taking the time with me.
