< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? Vacation Rental Success Heather Bayer aka @CottageGuru Heather Bayer, author of Renting Your Recreational Property for Profit, CEO of a highly successful cottage rental agency, and a popular blogger, hosts the Vacation Rental Success podcast. With many years experience of owning and managing multiple vacation rental properties, Heather brings her knowledge and views on every aspect of the business, together with interviews with vacation home owners and industry experts. Heather has appeared as a guest on CTV Canada, CBC Radio, Rogers TV, and Chex TV and is frequently interviewed on real estate and travel topics by magazines and daily newspapers. Tags: Business, Short-term Rentals, How To This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? The Modern Manager Mamie Kanfer Stewart Host Mamie Kanfer Stewart shares practical approaches to help you be a great manager. Solo episodes are like mini-courses, providing actionable tips based on experience and research. Guest episodes are engaging conversations that elicit insights and suggestions for how to apply the ideas. Episodes features topics like: effective meeting practices, communication skills, managing conflict, team building, time management, group dynamics, goal setting and accountability, team competencies, productivity and collaboration technologies, organizational culture, and more. Tags: Operations, Business Management, How To, Business, Team Building, Time Management This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? Girlboss Radio Avery Francis Girlboss Radio is back with a brand new season, a new host and a renewed mission to help women achieve success on their own terms. Meet our new host, Avery Francis! Francis is a veteran HR thought leader who specializes in implementing diversity, equity and inclusion practices in as many workplaces as possible through her consultancy, Bloom. Francis has been featured in Forbes and named a Top 40 Woman in Tech by Betakit. Her ethos? Work should work for all of us. The new, 14-episode season of the podcast features weekly chats with inspiring executives, founders and A-listers including filmmaker Domee Shi, mega-influencer Matilda Djerf, Knix founder Joanna Griffiths, and viral truth-teller Drew Afualo, among others. Tags: Business, Business Management, Team Building, Time Management, Women in Leadership, How To, Operations This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? A Well-Designed Business® | Interior Design Business Podcast LuAnn Nigara In today's world being a talented interior designer isn't enough to ensure that you have a profitable and successful interior design business. Design school doesn't always teach you the critical business skills to be sure your interior design business be everything you imagined it would be! A Well Designed Business is here to fill in the gaps and give you real live business skills from some of the top interior designers. Your host, LuAnn Nigara shares her 35 years of success in the interior design industry, and she finds the most successful guests to share their interior design business best practices. Tags: Business, Interior Design, Design & Architecture This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? Stacking Your Team: Growing Teams and Team Building for Female Entrepreneurs Shelli Warren and Natalie Eckdahl of Biz Chix, Inc. A show for women entrepreneurs and small business owners who are ready to step into the CEO role of their business by attracting and retaining key talent. Our clients and BizChix community are rapidly expanding their businesses and need support as they stack their teams. Through On Air Coaching calls, training episodes and interviews, we will share insight on how to hire, fire and inspire team members who will contribute to the long-term success of your business. Your host Shelli Warren leverages her background growing and leading teams in multiple organizations, including a Fortune 50 corporation. Whether you are hiring for the first time or expanding your team locally or virtually. Join us each week so we can set you and your team up for success. If you enjoy this show be sure to tune into our sister podcast BizChix! Tags: Business, Operations, Business Management, Time Management, Team Building, How To, Industry data and predictions, Women in Leadership This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? The Weekly Take from CBRE CBRE What matters most right now in Commercial Real Estate. Business leaders join economic, subject matter and industry experts to share their distinct views and latest thinking. Hosted by Spencer Levy, CBRE’s Chairman of Americas Research. Visit us at CBRE.com/TheWeeklyTake Tags: Business, Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate, Short-term Rentals This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? OpsStars Podcast LeanData Every two weeks, we host authentic conversations with OpsStars at the top of their game…. to empower you to create a great buyer experience, drive growth for your organization and ultimately: succeed in your operations career. Tags: Business, Business Management, Team Building, Time Management, Industry data and predictions, Operations, How To This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? CommUNITY Power Hour Calls - IAHSP Monthly Industry Call IAHSP Exec Leadership Team Business and Success topics shared by industry experts Tags: This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

< Back Listen on your favorite podcast channels: Want to recommend a podcast? Staging Sips Lori Fischer The live-workshop style business podcast helping Real Estate Staging CEO's redefine success and chase big, beautiful dreams. With mini implementation plans, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes of my own business learning curves...you will be able to roll up your sleeves, dive in and stage the heck out of your business! Tags: Business, Home Staging This podcast is accessible for MEMBERS ONLY. These are the recordings of our monthly calls. Anyone can attend the live call, but only members can access it to rehear or after the call is over. Share this podcast on Facebook Previous Next brands that every home stager should know Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link Go to link 1/2

Featuring Nedra Hines Effortless Charm Staging HOME MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SUBMISSION BEST OF HOME STAGING WINNERS IAHSP INDUSTRY AWARDS IAHSP SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE EVERY BUSINESS HAS A STORY Up Effortless Charm Staging Published : Dec 17, 2022 Nedra Hines by IAHSP® About Member Spotlight Every business has a story. We want to share yours. The International Association of Home Staging Professionals is proud to highlight business owners and companies in and around the business of Home Staging, Real Estate, Design, and Short-term Rental, though our IAHSP Member Spotlight. Our goal is to highlight and explore the various business models and services that are offered throughout our ecosystem and community, giving both the public and our membership the ability to learn more about the businesses and services available through our vast network of service providers and businesses. Let's dive right into our latest IAHSP Member Spotlight. < Back Nedra Hines Effortless Charm Staging Follow on social media: https://www.effortlessstaging.com Contact Me Q. Thanks for taking the time to sit with us to share your story with our readers. Can you start out by sharing a little bit about you and your company? I’m Nedra with Effortless Charm Staging and we specialize in staging vacant homes in the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. Originally from a small town located just outside of Houston Texas, I graduated from Sam Houston State University with a degree in Finance and have lived in the Dallas area for over 20 years. In addition to vacant home staging, I offer occupied consultations and paint color consultations. I previously served as the VP of Membership of the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) Dallas Chapter and continue my membership with RESA National. I have my Staging Design Professional and Master Color Consultant certifications with Staging Studio and Occupied Consultation Specialist certification with Bobbie McGrath. The training courses helped me discover what I don’t know I don’t know about Home Staging and what an involved business it is. The thing I love the most about the Home Staging industry is the commitment of the seasoned stagers and their willingness to elevate the profession so that we are respected for what we provide. When starting out, it’s very easy to think that staging homes will be fun and easy. Thankfully, I have my Project Management Professional certification because it’s mostly project management with a bit of flair! Q. Everyone has a story about how they got started, what was the inspiration or the catalyst for you starting your business? The story behind the business started in Corporate America, where I never really progressed the way most people do by getting multiple promotions over time. I was working for a mortgage company 7 years ago where the Senior VP expressed that she didn’t think I was a good fit for the position. I was completely shocked and saddened, and due to the wisdom that I have, I started looking at my blind spots. I had a conversation with someone who I consider to be a sharp and impactful coach. She said to me, “You’ll never be able to give them what they need because that isn’t your self-expression – go be who you are!” I took her advice and ran with it! I learned that trying to fit into a particular mold or follow someone else’s path doesn’t work for me. Q. What services do you offer? And why did you choose to offer those particular services? We offer Occupied Services, which include our Walk & Talk and Paint Color Consultations. We also offer Vacant Home Staging and the clients typically includes Real Estate Investors, Listing Agents and Homeowners who are looking to sell their property. The "why" behind offering these services is first of all, my passion is Vacant Staging and the overhead is expensive. I have a background in Finance and Project Management, so I tend to listen to stagers who have business acumen. An extremely beloved seasoned stager has often recommended to offer low-overhead services because it doesn't cost anything but our time. When times are slower on staging vacant homes, the revenue from consultations cover the overhead just fine. Q. Did you ever have a project or customer, where everything was going wrong or the project was challenging? Can you share about that time, and how did you find a solution, or over-come the challenge? I will admit that growing my business slowly has given me a lot of time to learn from others' experiences. Because of that, I can say that I've had one experience where a miscommunication took place. I was working with an agent who provided details on the staging and in her text she mentioning needing to schedule the cleaning lady. I assumed that she was going to schedule the cleaning lady to clean the property BEFORE staging day - doesn't everyone know to do that?! I have a clause in my contract that if the property isn't stage ready, that we charge a fee. Her client initialed that particular area of the contract, signed and paid for the staging. We arrived on staging day and the home wasn't cleaned. On top of that, there were strong odors present in property. When I called the agent, she confirmed the cleaning would take place AFTER staging day - because that makes sense, right?! In that moment of frustration, I put my certified project manager hat on and knew that I needed to honor the contract as it was written, which I did. I didn't like it and I honored the contract. Afterwards, I charged her client a fee, assuming he truly read the contract and understood it. The agent got upset about it and because I practice being wise, I called a longtime realtor friend who gets an A+ when it comes to professionalism. She said to me, "I don't want you to be out at an event, see this person and not feel good about the situation that's currently going on". I followed her recommendation of refunding the client his money and charging the realtor half of the fee. I then communicated to the realtor that because I'm looking to enhance my relationship-building skills, I will use this as a learning experience and make sure I provide transparency to the agent about the contract beforehand. Her hangup was that my company isn't like the other stagers she's worked with, and I confirmed that I've never had an agreement to be like another staging company. I want to point out that I originally intended to send the contract to her and she declined, confirming that she wanted to be left out of it. Going forward, I send a sample contract to the potential client, verbally confirm the property will be cleaned before staging day and include images to a "stage ready" hyperlink so they can see what we mean by stage ready. I do my best to help them help me. This experience taught me how important it is to have mentor friends in our corner. Life is going to happen and before I react, I take a deep breath and have a conversation with someone who is wiser than me, so they can guide me accordingly. brands that every home stager should know 1/4 Q. Running a business is not always easy. What have you learned about yourself and your business, since launching your company? I have learned that I enjoy project management and the unpredictability of what we do. My "thrill seeking" moments come from staging because I see it as opportunities for development. I've done a lot of personal and professional development over the years and staging gives me a room to practice what I'm learning. I've also learned that it's way more business and project management that I ever thought. Q. We've all had either an employee or a customer that makes what we are doing worth it all. Can you share with us a story about an employee, vendor or customer that really impacted you and touched your heart? I do my best to learn from all experiences and the one that impacted me the most is the situation where the miscommunication happened with the agent. I don't always learn anything when a situation goes well and trust me, I'm very thankful for those situations. It's the ones that challenge me to step out of my comfort zone that expand me as a professional. I will say the majority of my clients are like me - thorough communication, organized etc. Q. If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice on how to manage or grow your business, what advice would you give yourself? My advice would be to take formal training sooner rather than later. I'm analytical, which means someone can recommend that I do something, but unless they tell me WHY I'm doing it or the quantitative impact, I will not understand why I'm doing it. Formal training gave me insight into the business model, pricing, and they "why" behind my decisions. Q. If a potential client were reading this article right now, what would you tell them about you, your team or your business that would convince them to choose your company? I would tell a potential client that if they're looking to gain education, choose my company. The reason is because I've witnessed many stagers saying things because they can and they rarely have the facts and business acumen to back it up. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that and those stagers do get a lot of business. What makes my company valuable is that I'm interested in educating people so they can make the best choice for them, even if they hire another stager. Q. What is one fact about you or your business that most people might not know? I worked as a freelance makeup artist for many years and my first love is makeup! I was known as someone who could "beat a face!" lol Q. Where do you see your business going in the next 5 or 10 years? I see it adding additional services for Investors and staging Short-Term Rentals. Q. It was so great sitting with you to learn more about you and your company. How can people find out more about you and your business? Visit www.effortlessstaging.com to learn more about us and see our work! Q. Thank you so much for sharing your story with IASHP! You're welcome and thank you for asking! Articles. by IAHSP® Share this Article on Facebook Every business has a story. Articles by IAHSP wants to tell your story. With Articles, we highlight the many businesses that make up and surround the business of Home Staging and Real Estate. We feature local businesses to learn how they got started, what makes them unique and where they are heading. Share the stories you read with your social network and help others discover local businesses that are doing amazing things, globally. Every business has a story. We want to share yours. Get featured on Articles Previous Next Partnership Sign Up Now Partnership Get Trained Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Learn More IAHSP Official Shop Now Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Shop Now IAHSP Official Share Your Thoughts Sponsored Shop Now

Featuring Marcyne Touchton Domaine Staging & Design HOME MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SUBMISSION BEST OF HOME STAGING WINNERS IAHSP INDUSTRY AWARDS IAHSP SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE EVERY BUSINESS HAS A STORY Up Domaine Staging & Design Published : Dec 31, 2022 Marcyne Touchton by IAHSP® About Member Spotlight Every business has a story. We want to share yours. The International Association of Home Staging Professionals is proud to highlight business owners and companies in and around the business of Home Staging, Real Estate, Design, and Short-term Rental, though our IAHSP Member Spotlight. Our goal is to highlight and explore the various business models and services that are offered throughout our ecosystem and community, giving both the public and our membership the ability to learn more about the businesses and services available through our vast network of service providers and businesses. Let's dive right into our latest IAHSP Member Spotlight. < Back Marcyne Touchton Domaine Staging & Design Follow on social media: https://www.domainestaging.com Contact Me Q. Thanks for taking the time to sit with us to share your story with our readers. Can you start out by sharing a little bit about you and your company? 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. Q. Everyone has a story about how they got started, what was the inspiration or the catalyst for you starting your business? 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!" Q. What services do you offer? And why did you choose to offer those particular services? 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. Q. Did you ever have a project or customer, where everything was going wrong or the project was challenging? Can you share about that time, and how did you find a solution, or over-come the challenge? 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. brands that every home stager should know 1/4 Q. Running a business is not always easy. What have you learned about yourself and your business, since launching your company? 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. Q. We've all had either an employee or a customer that makes what we are doing worth it all. Can you share with us a story about an employee, vendor or customer that really impacted you and touched your heart? 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. Q. If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice on how to manage or grow your business, what advice would you give yourself? 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. Q. If a potential client were reading this article right now, what would you tell them about you, your team or your business that would convince them to choose your company? 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? Q. What is one fact about you or your business that most people might not know? 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. Q. Where do you see your business going in the next 5 or 10 years? 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. Q. It was so great sitting with you to learn more about you and your company. How can people find out more about you and your business? 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. Q. Thank you so much for sharing your story with IASHP! Thank you for taking the time with me. Articles. by IAHSP® Share this Article on Facebook Every business has a story. Articles by IAHSP wants to tell your story. With Articles, we highlight the many businesses that make up and surround the business of Home Staging and Real Estate. We feature local businesses to learn how they got started, what makes them unique and where they are heading. Share the stories you read with your social network and help others discover local businesses that are doing amazing things, globally. Every business has a story. We want to share yours. Get featured on Articles Previous Next Partnership Sign Up Now Partnership Get Trained Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Learn More IAHSP Official Shop Now Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Shop Now IAHSP Official Share Your Thoughts Sponsored Shop Now

Featuring Layla May Ortega Staging Design Doctor HOME MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SUBMISSION BEST OF HOME STAGING WINNERS IAHSP INDUSTRY AWARDS IAHSP SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE EVERY BUSINESS HAS A STORY Up Staging Design Doctor Published : Jun 21, 2023 Layla May Ortega by IAHSP® About Member Spotlight Every business has a story. We want to share yours. The International Association of Home Staging Professionals is proud to highlight business owners and companies in and around the business of Home Staging, Real Estate, Design, and Short-term Rental, though our IAHSP Member Spotlight. Our goal is to highlight and explore the various business models and services that are offered throughout our ecosystem and community, giving both the public and our membership the ability to learn more about the businesses and services available through our vast network of service providers and businesses. Let's dive right into our latest IAHSP Member Spotlight. < Back Layla May Ortega Staging Design Doctor Follow on social media: https://stagingdesigndoctor.com/ Contact Me Q. Thanks for taking the time to sit with us to share your story with our readers. Can you start out by sharing a little bit about you and your company? Of course! Thank you so much for having me here today. I will begin with a quick background of myself. As far as I can remember approximately 7yrs old I would be visiting my mothers best friend home and saying, “why are those chairs placed over there and why isn’t there a rug on the floor?” Now you might be thinking what 7 year old thinks like this? At an early age I saw space, color, patterns and light different…well you can blame my mom. She knew we couldn’t move every year or buy new stuff so the girl game began. She, my sister and I transformed every room by rearranging furniture, art work, lighting and sometimes my bedroom would be relocated to the other end of the house. So my whole childhood was centered around creative, make believe world and it finally led to entering college studying interior design. So how did I end up being a chiropractor? A major influencer, my interior design professor one day squashed my dream. He told the class we were entering a field that would not provide a livelihood and fear developed. Next semester I was enrolled in the sciences. My main passion is helping people and the healthcare field met that passion. But things changed in the field and my passion wasn’t being met. I didn’t want to live with regret and wanted to show my high school son the importance of recognizing your passion and following it. So I delved deep to find how to help people in another way, use my creativity, be the kid rearranging furniture and transform living spaces like I transformed my life. That’s when Staging Design Doctor began. Q. Everyone has a story about how they got started, what was the inspiration or the catalyst for you starting your business? I began flipping homes and would buy the ugly ducklings and turn them into beautiful swans. I would buy the homes that no one wanted. My own son couldn’t at first understand it until he would see the final product and then would tell me he wanted to live in the “modern house”. I would stage every property and the houses were being sold with all the furnishings. I was meant to do this. I just went in a big circle but that’s ok. I learned so much, took courses, and had an amazing mentor. I did Vacant Staging, Occupied Staging, Yacht Staging, Holiday Staging, faux arrangements, photography, and art work. After doing all of that I decided to do consultations. So now I’am an Occupied Consultation Specialist. What is that? Well, I work with people who live in their homes. Q. What services do you offer? And why did you choose to offer those particular services? I specialize in Staging consultations for people who live in their homes. I realized a great need for it. Many people have lived in their homes for many years and don’t know were to begin. I work differently than other stagers. I’m not here to make your house look pretty but more marketable. I look at each room and give you solutions on how to increase value. I give identity to spaces which in turn means more money in your pocket. My consultations start outside to improve the curb appeal and work my way in. Trust me you will be overwhelmed by all the information but in the end I will give you my top priority list. Clients will do the work but sometimes need the fine tuning for photos and that’s were I offer my next service Photo Prep.That’s were I come in with a team to get the house ready for the photographer and I also offer Redesign Consultations for my clients as well. Q. Did you ever have a project or customer, where everything was going wrong or the project was challenging? Can you share about that time, and how did you find a solution, or over-come the challenge? Oh yes! I was doing a Vacant Staging and an investor wanted to put his two cents in a room he had no idea what to do with. He mentioned how it was the one room he was clueless about but didn’t understand how I was going to make it work. I immediately saw what I can do with it so I told him let me do it and if you don’t like it I will take all of it out. I told him I will let you know when I’m done so you can come back. He couldn’t believe the transformation and told me “ Wow that is now my favorite room in the whole house”. I gave that room an identity which in turn brought up the value. brands that every home stager should know 1/4 Q. Running a business is not always easy. What have you learned about yourself and your business, since launching your company? It’s definitely not easy but definitely doable. I learned not to let fear stop me. I believe that everything I have done in my life has led me here. The dots finally connected. Q. We've all had either an employee or a customer that makes what we are doing worth it all. Can you share with us a story about an employee, vendor or customer that really impacted you and touched your heart? I was working with a high end client that didn’t like her home and wanted to sell it. At the time I was doing occupied Staging. It was a large home with good bones just needed help. I totally transformed her home that she decided not to sell. She was so excited that had her family come over and see her new place. Her mom hugged me and with a huge smile said “ my daughter and my grandkids finally have a beautiful home”. It was such a sweet moment for me. I felt so happy for them. Another happy client. Q. If you could go back in time and give yourself some advice on how to manage or grow your business, what advice would you give yourself? Learn as much as you can, education is key, mentorship is valuable. Meet other people in your trade, choose good content, and learn from each others experiences. Q. If a potential client were reading this article right now, what would you tell them about you, your team or your business that would convince them to choose your company? Hi, I’m a solopreneur when you call me, you get me. No one else! I will give you the best of me. My advice and recommendations to help you achieve your goal. It’s simple as that. Q. What is one fact about you or your business that most people might not know? This is my second year as the president of IAHSP for South Florida. I have a great team with me and I feel blessed to have them by my side. We are all leaders! Q. Where do you see your business going in the next 5 or 10 years? Doing consultations worldwide. Meeting new people, learning and teaching others about our industry through social media. Q. It was so great sitting with you to learn more about you and your company. How can people find out more about you and your business? You can call me at (954) 610-9150 I ask that you please leave a message. I promise to return your call as quickly as possible. My email is drlaylamay@gmail.com www.Stagingdesigndoctor.com Q. Thank you so much for sharing your story with IASHP! Thank you for having me. It was my pleasure. Articles. by IAHSP® Share this Article on Facebook Every business has a story. Articles by IAHSP wants to tell your story. With Articles, we highlight the many businesses that make up and surround the business of Home Staging and Real Estate. We feature local businesses to learn how they got started, what makes them unique and where they are heading. Share the stories you read with your social network and help others discover local businesses that are doing amazing things, globally. Every business has a story. We want to share yours. Get featured on Articles Previous Next Partnership Sign Up Now Partnership Get Trained Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Learn More IAHSP Official Shop Now Sponsored Shop Now Partnership Shop Now IAHSP Official Share Your Thoughts Sponsored Shop Now