I'm so excited to write this post that I can't wait for Craig to return from the pool... So, I'm going to go ahead and recap what happened at today's AZ Home Staging Round Table.
First off, let me just say - WOW! It's always so amazing to see what happens when a group of talented and intelligent business people get together. I like to use the word "synergy". Ideas just seems to build and grow into something great.
Who was there? Craig Schiller, Yvonne Root, Janice Sutton, Nancy Cummings, Debbie Wheeler, Tracie Martin, Stephanie Heron-Weeber and myself.
We discussed "The 10 Questions" posted earlier by Craig at length. The first question of the day was presented by Maureen Henry of Rockland Home Staging. "Is home staging a viable career choice?" While everyone agreed that it is indeed not an easy choice, but you can make a living at it - sometimes at the expense of everything else. What it comes down to is - what are you willing to sacrifice for the success of your staging business?
An open discussion took place about standardizing our terminology of (Kate Hart of Hart & Associates Staging and Design) "Simple, Standard & Select Staging" and the benefits of such for our clients. Not to be confused with price fixing, but the impact on our clients to be able to compare apples-to-apples and the effectiveness of such. Would such terminology increase potential clients knowledge of staging and help them to make better choices for hiring a home stager?
From Michelle Minch of Moving Mountains Design & Staging, "How will the current volatile and dropping real estate market effect the staging industry?" This one small sentence contains quite a punch when home stagers are together! Michelle adds "Is there a price point in home sales below which staging will no longer be an option for home sellers and REAs?" These questions followed by Tracie Martin's request to discuss overcoming objections, opened up a lively chat! Debbie Wheeler and Nancy Cummings queried why any home seller take a price reduction over staging? Discussion ensued about the out of pocket expense of our service. While the benefits truly outweigh the price tag, we need to realistically acknowledge that sometimes people just don't have the money to pay upfront.
Jessica Hughes of Ambiance Staging asked "Given the same budget, would you rather do several vignette in a few rooms or "full blown" staging in one room?" Craig admitted that all of his stagings are "Select" Stagings and not vignette. Tracie Martin shared that at the request of a client, will stage "vignette" style. Janice Sutton offers a "partial-partial" of kitchen and bath staging. I took that to mean "accessory only" staging as there is no furniture involved.
A fun part of the roundtable came from Bath Patnode of Stylish Transformation. "What are you least favorite aspects of being a Professional Home Stager? Also, what are you favorites?"
The least favorites include:
- Paperwork
- Networking
- Cold-Calls
- Inventory
The Favorites:
- Shopping
- Speaking to Groups
- Actually Staging a Property
Janice Sutton submitted the question about "What are some of the most successful marketing tools used by home stagers?" Of course, fliers, brochures, presentations, impact of business cards, etal were all discussed. The issue of gifts was also discussed. Do you give gifts (whether it's a Starbucks gift card or a book) to your client? Does it matter if it's a home seller or an agent? What kind of gift is appropriate?
Craig shared his vision for "Stage It Forward" and the concept of helping one another build their staging business - without the threat of competition or fear or losing business.
The highlight of the entire Round Table was the energetic discussion about collecting "pure" statistics. Everyone in the group commented on the lack of actual/verifiable stats on staged homes selling faster and for more money. Craig talked about the opportunity to have stagers submit their stats (at a state level or regionally) for compilation. Each stager would need to submit 4 staging statistics (via fax) in order to receive a quarterly report to use in their marketing, etc. Make sense? Craig is working on a easy-to-fill out form for use. I'm sure he'll post a blog about this very soon.
In closing, Craig said "Thinking small, keeps us small." WOW - Together, we can grow the home staging industry and with Craig's vision - I, for one, am expecting great things.
So - who's next?
Calie - Thank you! for the post. I've been checking in non-stop to get a report. If I chant "East Coast" loud enough and long enough, will y'all come here next???
Jackie
Hi Calie - first of all thanks so much for organizing this meeting. It was great to meet Craig and some of our own local stagers and, of course, to meet you again - can you believe Janice drove all the way from California?
We had quite a lively discussion didn't we - and no alcohol involved. I hope we set the ball rolling and other groups will be formed around the country. As always, I learned so much from my fellow Rainers.
I hope to see you later this evening if I can get away.
Stephanie
Calie,
You nailed it when you said "SYNERGY"... and very postive synergy. Considering this was pulled together in such a short time. We really got a LOT accomplished. It is a good "model" for us to have these discussions elsewhere.
Home stagers are VERY fortunate to have Active Rain. It has and is doing great things for the home staging industry as it grows.
I am so motivated to do my part to push this industry to the next level.
Me
Calie, So I forgot to use the new tip Craig taught me for the photo. I still like the picture. It was such a great meeting. We were able to meet people who we only knew by their photo and their writing. How cool is that? Well, add to that the fact that we were able to discuss some very important issues and you come up with time well spent. I agree with you that the highlight was the discussion of collecting "pure" statistics. It seems to me that this one step will help us all to bring the industry forward. What is that, "Stage It Forward"? Yes, we will be able to help one another thereby helping the industry as a whole and our individual businesses in general.
It also seems simple to me that the synergy created by this and the upcoming meetings will result in a speedy construction of an entity designed to take the entire industry to the next and the next and the next level. Who wouldn't want to take that train?
THANK YOU to Craig for getting Calie onto putting this together.
THANK YOU to Calie for (on short notice) finding a meeting place, contacting the participants, posting the blog, pulling this off.
THANK YOU for allowing me to be a part of this meeting and part of what is to follow.
Calie,
Meeting you and your co-horts in the Staging world at the cocktail hour in Scottsdale last night was a memorable experience. Thank you for organizing it!
Mike in Tucson
Hi Calie - This post is a great outline of the AZ Roundtable Meeting. I appreciate all the hard work you and Craig put into this successful meeting. I was glad I was able to be a part of this group. This meeting was more then I expected. I was thrilled at how much was accomplished and I look forward to the next one!
If and when these meeting move to other locations I highly encourage everyone to paticipate. These meetings will help the staging industry move forward and grow BIGGER. You owe it to yourself and the staging industry.
I am fortunate to have met so many wonderful people. I will never forget any of you and look forward to continuing these Roundtable's! Thank you.
How great to get together with other creative people who share the same passion. The Round Table was a wonderful - thanks to Craig & Calie for pulling this off.
I feel the same as Janice...anyone who gets a chance to attend one of these events, please do so. I walked away with great hope for our industry. I would love to do this monthly. It was a pleasure meeting everyone and I look forward to future networking.
Craig - Hope you got a little sun! Sorry I had to miss the cocktail meet and greet. I hope we have another.
Debbie Wheeler
Rooms Rearranged