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Recession equals Entrepreneurial Opportunity in Vancouver, BC

Home Stager with Epic Empire Designs

August 10, 2009 12:07 PM

Good Afternoon!

I am pleased to say that my home staging & organizing company, Epic Empire Designs, was officially launched on Tuesday, August 4, 2009. What brought us to life you may be asking? Well, to make a long story short, a lay off from the corporate world turned out to be the best thing that's ever happened to me.

Home staging has been a hobby of mine for more than 10 years. In 2004, I was fortunate enough to move to Florence, Italy where I intended to teach English for one year. I ended up managing a real estate agency and was able to use my staging skills on a professional level. The owner of the agency was shocked at its impact, as were the home owners.

Back to 2009. Upon my return to Canada, I re-entered the corporate world and quickly found myself dreaming of my days in Tuscany where I was able to use my creativity and staging skills. Something I was certainly NOT able to do in my cubicle overlooking Canada Place. My company went through a restructure and I found myself unemployed...but not for long!

I am an accredited Home Stager, a member of RESA and am enthusiastically looking for great realtors to work with to spread the joy home staging provides for all. Check out my website and contact me if you'd like to discuss what Epic Empire Designs can do for you and your clients!

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Donna Schoby

Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Sometimes things happen for a reason. Good luck with your new business!

Aug 11, 2009 12:09 AM

Lanora Campbell

NMLS#232975 - Springfield, MO

Ozarks Home Loan Professional

Lanora Campbell, Senior Loan Officer

Heather, Home staging sounds like a lot of fun. I also wanted to Welcome you to Active Rain.... You will find some of the most helpful people right here in the Network on Active Rain. Have fun at it and if you ever find that you need a Loan Officer in Springfield, MO. give me a call.

Lanora M. Campbell, Senior Loan Officer, Mid Nation Mortgage

Cell: 417-844-4012

Aug 11, 2009 02:16 AM

Heather Kleim

Epic Empire Designs - Vancouver, BC

Thank you for the warm welcome. I am looking forward to getting more involved with ActiveRain and growing my business. Onward and upward!

Aug 11, 2009 11:20 AM

Virginia Tatseos

Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Bad things happen for good reasons. Now you can do what you relly want to do. Good luck and welcome to AR.

Add your website so we don't have to hunt for it

Aug 11, 2009 01:25 PM

Thanks Virginia, I will include my website in all future posts. Here it is for now www.epicempiredesigns.ca

Aug 12, 2009 05:46 AM

Keith Elliott Jr

KEIRE Realty Group - Manassas, VA

Principal Broker/Owner

Hi Heather,

Welcome to Active Rain and congratulations on your first post! Here are 5 quick tips to help you get started...

1. If you haven't done so already...take a look at the different Groups that are available on ActiveRain. Once you have found a few that look interesting to you go ahead and join them...that way it will be easier for you to frequent them more often.

2. Bear in mind that real estate laws vary in each state so what someone might say in one blog may or, may not apply in your state.

3. As you become more familiar with the blog post authors you can add them as Associates. Many in return will add you to their's as well. It's a great way to extend and grow relationships!

4. Read a few blogs each day until you reach the stage as to how you want to present your posts and professional image online.

5. You can accumulate points each day and week by posting 10 comments each day and a total of 10 blogs each week. You can also accumulate additional points by inviting others to sign up...look for the "Invite Others" link from your home page.

At any rate, the opportunities to learn and network here are incredible. Best of luck to you!

-Keith

Aug 16, 2009 03:08 PM

Hi Keith,

Thanks so much for your post and welcome. I am dedicating time each day to explore Active Rain and learn how to best utilize its many tools. I appreciate your words of wisdom and will incorporate them all.

Thanks again!

Heather

Aug 17, 2009 01:00 PM

SHARON CHARBONEAU

UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

Heather,

My story is similar to yours, except for the Tuscany part. I loved visiting that area and am envious of the opportunity you had to stage apartments and homes there. What fun!

I am a new stager on the Sunshine Coast (not Vancouver Island) and I love my new career and you will too. It does take time to get the realtors to use your services; however once they do you will be busy.

Contact Patti @ Fluff Rentals about attending their monthly meetings. They are like a Home Sense store with all of their wonderful furniture & decor for rent; they give great discount to stagers and they have fun meetings where we have a chance to meet each other and learn new things.'

Enjoy!

Aug 20, 2009 10:16 AM

Hi Sharon,

Thank you for your message. I have been meaning to contact Fluff Rentals to go and meet with them, I will definitely contact them next week regarding their meetings, thanks for the referral. I also work with Home Ingredients in Vancouver and they have been wonderful to me - they rent furniture as well as providing staging services.

Perhaps our paths will cross at one of the Fluff Rentals meetings!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Aug 21, 2009 07:17 AM

Tanya Venable

Orlando, FL

SEO, Mobile SEO, and Internet Marketing Consultant

Welcome Heather, isn't it wonderful when you get to do something that you love. I wish you much success!!!

Sep 03, 2009 03:41 AM

Thank you, Tanya!

Sep 10, 2009 07:33 AM

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