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Wish List for Santa

By
Home Stager with Rearrange with Style

It's that time of year for me to ask Santa for all the things I need as a stager.  Since 2008 was my first year as a full time stager, I have many requests from Santa.  What's on your list?

1.  MORE CUSTOMERS.  Prior to this year, I staged properties for friends, realtor-friends and referrals.  In 2008, I decided to jump into the waters and dedicate myself to staging full time.  Most of my business this year has been consultations and several "whole house" stagings.  However, I feel that I need to expand my business to make it viable for me to make a living doing what I love.  Santa, I'm asking you to send me more leads.

2.  BETTER MARKETING COLLATERAL.   I've spent an enormous amount of time this year creating brochures, business cards, PowerPoint Presentations, boiler-plate proposals and website.  While these are OK for initial start-up, I need more professional looking collateral.  Santa, please send me a marketing guru that knows our industry - staging.

3.  MORE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.  I'm just learning about blogging and tweetering.  Now that I have my feet wet, I now understand what a wonderful tool this is for building community by sharing ideas.  Santa, I need to learn how to use this technology to reach more customers. 

4.  MORE INVENTORY.  This year I made the commitment to re-invest all my earnings back into the business.  Most of my earnings have been to purchase inventory.  So far, I've been reluctant to buy the larger items, such as sofas, chairs.  I also felt that I did not want to incur the expense of external storage (all of it's in my basement).   I see from other stagers website, that some even own their own trucks!  Santa, help me to grow my business so I can afford to buy and store more inventory.

5.  MORE EDUCATION.  It's wonderful to share this exciting world of staging.  This year, I joined NAWBO (National Association of Women Owned Businesses) and HBA (Home Builders Association).  I also became certified as a stager (ASP).  Santa, please give me the time to join more business related organizations and further my training. 

Teresa Bonlak
Room to Stage - Raleigh, NC

I have the same list but its not to santa. "smile".

I hope you get what you want.. May your next year be WONDERFUL!

Dec 11, 2008 07:44 AM
Allegra Dioguardi
Styled and Sold Home Staging and Staging Training - Westhampton Beach, NY
Home Staging & Training, Suffolk Co. Long Island

I'll ditto your list! I just moved to another state and redid all of my marketing material and that is a full time  job editing and tweaking etc. Now I need all the new clients to go along with it.

 

 

Dec 11, 2008 12:23 PM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Deb: It seems like you are on the right path. You know what needs to be done, which is more than half the battle. Regarding inventory, don't bite off more than you can chew. I would suggest you only purchase inventory when you have a job to use it, not because you"may need it in the future". I purchased a number of items like that when I first started, and now they are gathering dust in my warehouse because they weren't really what I needed after all once I really got into the meat of staging. Good luck and I hope 2009 lives up to your expectations.

Dec 11, 2008 01:47 PM
Michelle Pimentel
Empire Home Staging Solutions - Upland, CA
ASP, IAHSP Empire Home Staging

Deb,

These are all great wishes on your list and definitely items that will help for you to further your career in staging! Best wishes for all your dreams to come true and much success in 2009!  Happy Holidays!

Dec 11, 2008 02:27 PM
Mary Strang
Viroqua, WI

Hey you are never too old to write a list to Santa! Hope you get most of it and I guess with a little effort you will!

Dec 13, 2008 07:43 AM