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What's Your Background?

I'm curious to know what you did before you got started in the staging business.

1. Interior Designer

2. Artist

3. Real Estate Agent

4. Home Remodeler

5. Professional Cleaner/Organizer

6. Mom

7. Other (If other, tell me what other, ok?)

And what made you decide to stage instead of what you had been doing before? Inquiring minds want to know.

Posted by Teri B. Clark on 05/31/2007 08:06 AM

Comments (27)

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27 Comments on What's Your Background?

MAY

2007

I was a graphic designer, website designer, target marketing specialist, marketing coordinator, executive director of a fundraising organization, bookkeeper and my most favourite: MOM.

Funny thing is all my past experiences lend itself to running my staging business.

Interior Designer

Oddly enough my first job with the design company I am actually still employeed with was staging a condo. I loved it, it was quick (in terms of most design jobs) and it required a lot of shopping. Not to mention you didn't have to cater to one clients specific wants, it was all around good design and I loved it. I then went on to do many residential and commercial projects and forgot about the home staging until we were asked to do 5 model homes. 3 were vignettes, 1 was a partial furniture and the last was a fully furnished model. I have never had so much fun and it made me think again how much I loved staging. So fast forward about 2 more years, I finished my degree and decided this is what I want so I am going for it.

Hi Teri,

I've been a marketing executive for over 15 years. As part of that, I've relocated 3 times in the last 10 years. As an avid decorator, I found that staging my own home is a total thrill. I even helped friends when they moved, and have done lots of redesign work for others. I can't say I've completely cut the corporate apron strings...but I'm definitely moving that direction. I've finally found what I'm meant to do. And the whole marketing thing will only help!

Susan

ps - Oh yea, and I've got that "MOM" thing going on too. It's a hoot!

Susan: You are a riot! ;)

Visual Display (when I was a young lass)

Retail Management (wanted to be a clothing buyer - never made it)

Meeting Planner for national and international meeting (fun - lot's of travel)

Sell Drugs (for a major pharmaceutical company)

Home Stager (hopefully my last career unless I win the lottery and become a professional socialite)

Hi Teri,

Always wanted to be an architect but became a teacher instead was a teacher-librarian but built and designed houses on the side(14 in all) My husband is a landscaper we work great together. I am the beginner and he is the finisher. Detail you gotta believe it. Then I wrote for newspapers and magazines on interior and landscape design. Had my own bi-monthly column for 6 years. Than I taught renovation at continuing education for three semesters. Than I retired and travelled a bit----- retirement is boring boring boring so have always helped friends with their houses and landscape so I love what I do. I found that over the years, I have a wealth of info to draw on and a wealth of folk, I can draw on for advice-- re running a small business. STAGING has got to be the best life in the whole world. I love the people I meet from all walks of life and nationalities. STAGE IT FORWARD.

Marilynn Currie CSP Abbotsford/ Chilliwack B.C. Canada

My very first job I was a telemarketer for a solar heating company in the early 80's, I was the phone room supervisor at 17. Went on to be a medical assistant and soon learned that I hated working with Dr's as much as I hated going to the Dr. At 22 I started my career collection on defaulted student loans. In doing that I had to learn to skip trace (find debtors), I loved it and I was a natural so after many years of that I ran a skip tracing department and started a asset recovering company, finding missing people, bank accounts etc. We worked on subrogating rental car damage claims. Collected on othorpedic products and negociated contracts for Johnson and Johnson. I became a private investigator. LOVED that, more of the same. I went on to manage a collections department for a sub-prime auto lender. After that I took a VP posistion for a collection agency and it was in a horrible neighborhood. I was sure I was not going to make it home one day so that only lasted 1 month, my shortetst job ever. Then I ended up at StagedHomes. 4 yrs later I am here.

1986-1988 Concession girl at the local cinema

1989-1995 Dental assistant, expanded functions dental assistant, office manager, OSHA standards compliance manager

1995-2005 Full time mom, substitute librarian, part time lunch and recess aide, full time room mother

2005- present Home stager, substitute librarian, substitute school secretary, full time PTO member, member of the JSE PL221 committee, exhausted woman

1994 -1998 Meeting Planner/Director of Development for National Association of State Boards of Education

1998 - 2006 Mom, events planning consultant, real estate agent, Sunday School teacher, pre-school substititue teacher, piano teacher, pre-school admissions rep., room parent, school book fair chair, etc.

2007 - Home stager (plus a ton of other volunteer work!).

Hi Teri,

I graduated from college with plans to go to law school. I worked in a law firm and then changed my mind about that! I worked random jobs, including a short stint as a bird trainer, until I decided I wanted to be a high school teacher. While I went back to school I waitressed and worked for an after school program. I becmae a credentialed teacher and a 1st time mom in the same year. I taught part-time (40 - 60%) for a few years and I loved it. I then had my second baby and stayed home for a about a year and a half. Since teaching high school part-time is almost impossible to do where I live in California, I decided to look for a more flexible job that can be done on evenings and weekends. I then became a stager! Luckily I discovered I have a natural "eye" for staging otherwise I would be looking for another career now. I am having a blast and learning new things all the time. I do miss teaching and I may go back to it some day, but for now I all about staging!

JUN

2007

I was a Flight Attendant (Air Hostess where I come from) for 10 years then for another 6 years I recruited Flight Attendants and Pilots in Hong Kong of all places. We moved to the US 12 years ago and I spent 9 of them as the Placement Manager for a big flight training school. I have just launched my Staging company and feel kind of weird calling myself a Stager but that is what I am hoping to be when I grow up:)

Stephanie

I graduated from college with a Marketing Degree, wanted to do Interior Design, but thought the Marketing was a "safer" route--should have gone with my gut. My dad has his own Interior Design business for 30 years, so guess it's in the blood. However, my husband is an executive for an international big box retailer, so since we moved around quite a bit with no family near by, it made more since for me to be at home with the children. I have waited 12 years for my time alone when everyone is finally off to a full day of school --only 3 children, just 3 1/2 years apart though---so, my partner and I just started our business over 1 year ago since we knew this time was coming. Incredible how things just come together at the perfect time--of course I believe that would be God's timing. I absolutely love what we do. I never really got the saying of do what you love until now. You feel it in your bones, and there's an extra bounce to your step. Nothing quite like it.

Julie

I still have a secret desire to be a weather woman though---- :)

JUN

2007

Hey Terri

Before I got started in the staging business I worked as a real estate paralegal and then switched to a loan processor. I always loved the real estate field. BUT, decorating was always my side hobby. I always did wedding, baby shower, wedding shower themed parties. I always did redesigns for family and friends and my husband and I have always been helping people reconstruct their homes.

I guess it was just a matter of time that we are running our own staging business and loving every minute of it

Phyllis Pafumi

I have a corporate background with GE and Xerox and degrees in marketing and finance and MBA studies. I have had my own antique biz for years, and had a penchant for decorating as long as I can remember. Staging is challenging in this part of the country because it is new and "any new idea around here is an act of aggression." I have done charity fund raising, am an environmental activist, a mom and now a grandmother (FINALLY). Persistance and determination pay off in all areas of what I have done and now staging.

Carol Ellis

I was an administrative assistant for a major Canadian law firm, in the Trademarks & Copyright section, for about 13 years. Then I spent 5 years in the Marketing Department of the same firm (as Coordinator and Project Manager). I was just itching to do something else, something creative and for myself. I'd always had a passion for beautiful rooms so redesign & staging seemed like a natural fit.

I studied business at college. Was an administrative assistant until '91 when I had my first child. Then 3 more every year after that. Managed, and still do, my husbands medical practice. Manage my own rental investment properties. Continually volunteer at the schools and church. And now have added to my list, Homes staging and Interior Decorating and Design. I think though I may have to delegate some work.

I majored in Business Informations Systems and was a Software Devleoper. I had many jobs before that to get me there:) Moved to Europe for several years and got into interior design when I came back to the States. Never had my own business though and I love working for myself. It's a winding path to get me to this point, but I love it!

Artist, teacher, mom, teacher, stager and still a teacher...... :))))))))))))) Not quiting my day job just yet.

JUN

2007

Real estate agent & house flipper
Sales & marketing ~ American Airlines
Bed & Breakfast proprieter ~ Irish countryside
Manager of University of Limerick accommodation ~ Ireland
Manager of Stanford University's Guest House
Professional Stager
And always ~ Mom ~ & Dog Lover!

Hi Teri,

I was Manager of Pier 1 Imports for over 10 years. I've always wanted to own my own business and after doing visual merchandising for 10 years, it seemed like the perfact match for me. I've always had a love for decorating and merchadising so when I heard about staging I knew immediatly that was the business for me! I still work part time at Pier 1 as an Asst. Manager, I just can't seem to give up that discount!

I was an elementary school teacher for twenty years until I retired. My sister had recently taken a course on staging and all she could talk about was how much fun it was. I was very jealous about all the fun she was having and when she asked me to join her, I jumped at the chance. No regrets - love the job. Betty

JUN

2007

I'm glad to hear from all of you! I love how so many different people with different backgrounds have come to love home staging!

Let's keep adding, I was a hair stylist and Master Colorist for 32 years with my own salon. I had had enough hair for one lifetime (had hair balls just like a cat) and while working with my hubby all those years part time in his business of flooring, upholstery and custom blinds, I knew I loved interior design. This came along just at the right time. I am eager to please clients and love the challange of staging anf ReDesign too. This is a dream for me and I am jumping right in to my eyeballs. Did I mention I love it? Smiles

JUN

2007

Teri,

I was/am a real estate agent and a Mom. With Mom being the best job I have ever had - and the hardest! I realized I've been staging most of my life, just didn't know that was hat it was called. I wanted to get into staging because that is where my passion lies. I just love it!

Thanks for the laugh Nicola - when I read about the hair balls I nearly spat my dulce de leche frappuccino all over my keyboard!

Stephanie

JUN

2007

Wonderful comments - anyone else care to join in and let us know how you got started?

JUL

2007

m503k

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