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Question From a Desperate Stager and My Answer

By
Home Stager with Academy of Staging and Redesign

QUESTION

"First, I'd like to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people through my redesign business. Since starting to work for the State Forestry Division a few weeks into my move to Broken Bow, OK, from East Texas, I haven't had much of an opportunity to meet many ladies outside of church. The majority of the folks who come through my office are guys. So the redesign business has enabled me to make some new acquaintances. I am so thankful for that because I am a very social-kind of woman. It's strange to know so few people where I presently live. I used to have to plan an extra hour in Walmart to compensate for the "visiting" time. ha!

About three months ago I wrote to you via e-mail and stated that I was tirelessly working on the "staging" part for my double certification. Trust me, I have stayed at it on my days off from my part-time job. (I have two and a half days a week to work my new business.) I have gone by all of the real estate offices in the area and on into Arkansas. Although the realtors I have spoken with say that they will actively seek rooms for me to stage, nothing has come of it. I have re-contacted them a couple of times. Somewhere along the line I truly do feel that they will find something for me.

But, at this point, I have to admit that I am beginning to get a wee bit discouraged. In addition to contacting the realtors, I have put out flyers and business cards all around the area. And, I printed out a memo to the teachers in all of the schools in two towns and three communities and presented them personally to each of the principals. In the memo I thanked the staff for another year with our children and described the services that I offer through my business. (As a retired teacher, I know that anything that gets done to a teacher's house generally happens during the summer months.) Accompanying the memo they were given a $10 Off coupon to use toward one of my services--that would give them a complimentary half hour. I also mentioned that I have four "free" stagings that are available to them. Many of the teachers in this area are being laid off due to a lack of funds. Substitutes haven't been used for months now. In short, this area is economically challenged.

Other things I have tried include: Calling homeowners who have houses advertised for sale in the newspaper. And, I have literally knocked on doors and introduced myself to homeowners who have a house "For Sale by Owner" out front. Neither of those have worked thus far. I still l have two or three I want to approach, however. The owner of the furniture store in town is in his eighties and isn't about to try anything new. He said that he'd help me with sending people my way for redesign, but he isn't willing to do the staging because he will have to say yes to others who "might" ask for similar favors.

Barbara, there isn't anyone else in the area doing this same type of business. There are a couple of places that sell decorator items but neither actually do redesign or staging. He is a dear man but he won't budge. He likes me, no doubt, so I guess I will just be thankful that he is willing to work with me on the redesign end of it, which will probably be the bulk of my business in this area, anyway. There is another furniture store here, but their furniture isn't very good quality. However, if she will work with me, I will gladly take her up on it. She has been illusive up to this point. I plan to call her again on Thursday, my day off from OK Forestry. There is a possibility that some of my realtor friends in East Texas and Southeast Texas could come to my rescue. However, until my part-time job ends at the end of June (at least it's supposed to end then--they've kept me a year longer than planned), I can't travel too far from home for any length of time.

So, my question to you is this: Do you have any more ideas that you could share with me as to how I can come up with some houses to stage? Your ideas and encouragement will be deeply appreciated. I so thought I'd be fully certified by now. I won't give up. I want this too badly, Barbara! Thank you for being so patient with me . . ."

ANSWER

Thanks for keeping me apprised of your situation. It seems though you're doing many of the right kinds of things. It's tough out there in some places and you've got to just keep forging ahead. Perhaps some of the list below will be of help: Keep in repetitive touch with the agents and other people you've begun contact with. People are busy even though they mean well. In time, some things will break loose your way but not if you don't keep in touch. Alter your approaches: postcards, letters, phone calls, a newsletter, some free tips. Join the local realtors associations and become an active member: key word is "active".

Join and volunteer in groups where women are: networking groups, hospital volunteers, charity groups. Join groups where more affluent women are members. Not sure $10 off will inspire anyone. Try a bigger incentive or have a drawing for a FREE redesign. Do some free projects just to get your certification complete and for those all important pictures. Contact local media and try to get them to publish some free tips with your tag line. Publicity is free and far more effective than ads and mailings. Join any networking group that has other home tradespeople as members. Start a blog and join Twitter, Facebook, ActiveRain and LinkedIn and other social media sites. Contribute. Join my forum and contribute. Use what you contribute as a free tips page to send to your growing list of contacts.

Take your main center of influence (person who knows everyone) to lunch and get them to introduce you to people they know who have nice homes or are selling etc. You've got to do it all and do it regularly. Evaluate your own presentation skills and ask others to critique you. Perhaps there is something you're saying or doing that is working against you. Maybe you're coming across too aggressive, not aggressive enough, not trustworthy enough. Maybe your appearance isn't professional enough or too casual or doesn't evoke "designer" feeling in others. For some people it starts off fast. For others it is slow. But when you really get polished and you prove to people you there to stay, things start to change.

Comments (1)

Anne Vigneri
CASA VERO Staging & Redesign - Albuquerque, CA
Serving the Mariposa California

Thank you so much for this Barbara..  All of us who have been in this biz ( staging/redesign) for any length of time can surely sympathize with "deperate in Texas".  You have supplied her with many methods for marketing herself and her business.

There are probably very few of us who don't want more business. But not all of us operate by the same methods. What works for one company (person) might not work for me. Unfortunately it can take some time to find your comfort zone with marketing and promotion.  For me personally, this is THE least favorite aspect of my business, so I absolutely sympathize with "Texas".

If "Texas" is coming off as desperate, this sends the very message that she does not want to send! Cool, calm, confindent are the C's that she should keep in mind. Let the world know that YOU are the expert and all you want to do is HELP!..  She really needs to believe that her skills will be of value in helping homes to sell.

May 20, 2010 07:09 AM