Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Denise Blum Sepos, MA, LMT
A Journey to Health
info@ajthmassage.com
www.ajthmassage.com
847-550-8716
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I’m a licensed massage therapist, as well as a nationally certified massage therapist, specializing in all forms of massage therapy. I opened A Journey to Health in 2000 which provides clients with the simplest modality of the relaxing Swedish massage to deeper, more therapeutic modalities of myofascial release, sports massage, both
pre- and post-natal massage, Aruyvedic head massage, deep tissue work which incorporates trigger point therapy, foot reflexology, and warm stone massage that delivers deep penetrating heat to the soft tissues. So, literally, I offer full-scale therapy options.
MY UNIQUENESS
Outside of my being a nationally certified massage therapist, which is beyond what is required in the state of Illinois, I originally was a dance movement therapist in Massachusetts before coming to Illinois in 1995. Dance movement therapy is one of the creative arts therapies. I saw many parallels between dance therapy and massage therapy, so it was a very smooth change of career paths. I have always worked with people across many populations which I feel was very valuable in my development as a massage therapist.This diverse background has given me a greater depth of practice than many others in the field, today. I’m better able to know how to work with people, how to treat them and how to determine what their problem is and then to easily communicate that information back to the client.
IDEAL CLIENT
The ideal A Journey to Health client is someone who, as he or she ages, is interested in their own health and wellness and wants to prolong their active lifestyles. Other ideal clients are people who have some acute or chronic pain that they’ve been experiencing and want to get back to functioning to their fullest degree. Other clients would be those who want to take responsibility for and control of their health maintenance or want to step away from busy demands to replenish their energy and de-stress their minds and bodies. And, massage therapy is one way to help them reach these goals.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE
With the increased interest in massage, there are many more facilities that are opening with a lot more therapists coming into the field. While the growing awareness has brought massage more into the mainstream, not all the newer practices are necessarily offering high quality massage therapy. The challenge is educating the public on the differences among them. For example, how do you explain the wide range of pricing – from a discount level to one much higher? All massage therapy practices, today, are not equal – not in experience, value or results. Getting that information out to the public is my challenge.
RESOLUTION
To address this challenge, I am engaging in a lot of networking. This has become my number one way of getting my message of high quality message therapy out to my potential clients. In addition, I do presentations to both the public and to professionals. To further my goal of educating people, I’ve made a 2011 resolution to become involved in social media and use these platforms as a means of reaching more potential clients with the value of massage therapy that is offered at experienced and qualified practices such as A Journey to Health.
Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entrepreneur. Show all posts
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Entrepreneur stops future"scope creep" takeovers through careful contract negotiations
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Rose Kostan-Schwartz, owner
Creative Design Solutions
www.creative-dzyne.com
rose@creative-dzyne.com
847-367-9278
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
As a graphic designer, I partner with clients to help them review and evaluate their branding in order to create strong visual solutions that are deliverable to both print and monitor. Often, small businesses begin with no budget or have no training to recognize why they need one. They get their business up and running with some family member or friend creating their identity pieces. Before long, they realize who their competition is and how they need to differentiate themselves from their competitors. This is where I can do my best work for them.
MY UNIQUENESS
My uniqueness lies in my background as creative director for a direct marketing group before the era of digital design. I thoroughly understand the principles of graphic design having successfully moved into the age of electronic web design along with all other aspects of the medium. I realize the need for and have the skills to deliver creative for all communication media. When people talk about the best use of their dollars, most believe a website is all they need. I believe you need a mix of materials to promote your business including print and the electronic medium. A valued graphic designer is able to create promotions that thread image consistency through both media.
MY IDEAL CLIENT
In the small business arena, my ideal client would be those who have been in business at least five years, understand who their competition is, recognize that they need a budget, and will partner with me in determining what elements their long-range marketing programs may require. Beyond that, they must show a desire to work with me in analyzing what we've developed so we can plan future programs accordingly. For those younger start-ups who don’t quite yet fit these criteria, I help connect them with designers who specialize in that new start-up business category.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
One of the most painful, yet helpful, lessons that I’ve learned was about “scope creep.” In my field, the ability to communicate succinctly with potential clients creates a real challenge. This experience came from one particular job that was the poster child for scope creep. I began working with an inventor who had a start-up business. In the beginning, we didn’t talk about every aspect of developing his product invention and my proposal reflected precisely what we did discuss. When I got more into the project, scope creep began taking over big time. I was providing creative four times beyond what was in the original contract and I wasn’t objecting. It had to stop and I needed professional advice as to how to stop it.
RESOLUTION
I took my dilemma to a business women’s round table whose members helped me understand that both parties needed to be happy. They made me realize that just because the full scope became unclear and that I was not asserting myself properly to say as much, there was still time and room to initiate a renegotiation. Feeling confident in taking this action, I contacted the Chicago Artists Coalition that referred me to the Lawyers for the Creative Arts. They reassured me that the steps I was going to take were not out of line. After my renegotiation, we finished the project to everyone’s satisfaction. And, the client was most enthusiastic in saying that he wanted me in on his next project. The experience made me take a hard look at the content of my basic contract and how I needed to put together future contracts so that scope creep won’t ever, again, run rampant.
Rose Kostan-Schwartz, owner
Creative Design Solutions
www.creative-dzyne.com
rose@creative-dzyne.com
847-367-9278
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
As a graphic designer, I partner with clients to help them review and evaluate their branding in order to create strong visual solutions that are deliverable to both print and monitor. Often, small businesses begin with no budget or have no training to recognize why they need one. They get their business up and running with some family member or friend creating their identity pieces. Before long, they realize who their competition is and how they need to differentiate themselves from their competitors. This is where I can do my best work for them.
MY UNIQUENESS
My uniqueness lies in my background as creative director for a direct marketing group before the era of digital design. I thoroughly understand the principles of graphic design having successfully moved into the age of electronic web design along with all other aspects of the medium. I realize the need for and have the skills to deliver creative for all communication media. When people talk about the best use of their dollars, most believe a website is all they need. I believe you need a mix of materials to promote your business including print and the electronic medium. A valued graphic designer is able to create promotions that thread image consistency through both media.
MY IDEAL CLIENT
In the small business arena, my ideal client would be those who have been in business at least five years, understand who their competition is, recognize that they need a budget, and will partner with me in determining what elements their long-range marketing programs may require. Beyond that, they must show a desire to work with me in analyzing what we've developed so we can plan future programs accordingly. For those younger start-ups who don’t quite yet fit these criteria, I help connect them with designers who specialize in that new start-up business category.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
One of the most painful, yet helpful, lessons that I’ve learned was about “scope creep.” In my field, the ability to communicate succinctly with potential clients creates a real challenge. This experience came from one particular job that was the poster child for scope creep. I began working with an inventor who had a start-up business. In the beginning, we didn’t talk about every aspect of developing his product invention and my proposal reflected precisely what we did discuss. When I got more into the project, scope creep began taking over big time. I was providing creative four times beyond what was in the original contract and I wasn’t objecting. It had to stop and I needed professional advice as to how to stop it.
RESOLUTION
I took my dilemma to a business women’s round table whose members helped me understand that both parties needed to be happy. They made me realize that just because the full scope became unclear and that I was not asserting myself properly to say as much, there was still time and room to initiate a renegotiation. Feeling confident in taking this action, I contacted the Chicago Artists Coalition that referred me to the Lawyers for the Creative Arts. They reassured me that the steps I was going to take were not out of line. After my renegotiation, we finished the project to everyone’s satisfaction. And, the client was most enthusiastic in saying that he wanted me in on his next project. The experience made me take a hard look at the content of my basic contract and how I needed to put together future contracts so that scope creep won’t ever, again, run rampant.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Reducing transition stress becomes basis for entrepreneur's new business
Showcasing early entrepreneurs has a twofold purpose. One is to offer an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. The second is to provide a forum through which they can guide other aspiring business owners around avoidable obstacles and toward a path of attainable goals. Sharing insights begins with hearing their stories firsthand beginning with a conversation with
Michael Harrawood, owner
Just Call Mike Home Helpers
michaelharrawood@comcast.net
708-289-4763
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Just Call Mike provides services either for seniors who are downsizing and moving into another home (i.e. condo, assisted living, etc.), or busy professionals who are in the midst of relocating. We help get their homes ready for resale. We'll go in and clean the carpets, patch and paint, clean the windows, pack up belongings and do whatever it takes to make the house move-in ready. This also includes cleaning the basement and/or the garage. Beyond this, we also offer seasonal services such as putting up and taking down exterior holiday lighting and décor as well as general home maintenance and organizing. If all someone needs is a single room painted, some heavy items moved, or their gutters cleaned and are looking for a trustworthy and reliable source, Just Call Mike.
WHY I STARTED
I'd been in the building industry for more than 20 years and saw business steadily decline over recent years to the point where I needed to make a career-changing decision. During my time in building I had seen people taken advantage of because they too often relied on people who weren't trustworthy. I want to be their safe, ethical, reliable resource who understands how stressful moving can be for anyone - seniors in particular who are moving from what they always knew as home into a completely new place. Our tagline is "taking the stress out of transition."
MY UNIQUENESS
Unlike similar companies that offer move-out services, I provide more detailed services that others usually don't cover such as window and carpet cleaning, touch-up painting, and minor repairs. But, what sets us apart the most is that we personally focus on the well-being of all those involved. Again, it's taking the stress and anxiety out of these life-changing events.
CLIENT PROFILE
Our perfect clients are seniors themselves or family members who are responsible for relocating and selling their seniors’ homes. We also work with professionals who are also relocating and need similar help preparing their homes for resale. We strive to get each the best value for their homes by de-cluttering, repairing and refreshing each and every room. This could also include landscape clean-up and on-going maintenance until the vacant property is sold. Secondary client/partners for us would be realtors, stagers, estate lawyers, financial professionals/institutions, senior living community professionals and corporate relocation specialists.
SHARED ADVICE
Because I have a tendency to over-analyze everything, I found that starting my business was easier than I had first thought. If you have the experience, are good at what you do and have a real passion for something, just go ahead and do it. Get involved in a lot of networking and align yourself with mentors who are as passionate about helping you as you are about your business. Pay no attention to your critics and stay close to those who champion your ideals and goals.
Editor's question: How many entrepreneurs connected with one or more mentors at the beginning of starting your businesses and in what ways did that help?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Fine-tuning language skills of international professionals becomes niche business for entrepreneur
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Sandra Wroblewski, MA CCC-SP/L
Communications Specialist
Accent Aware
accentaware@aol.com
www.accentaware.com
630-784-8173
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Accent Aware offers communication training for international professionals whose second language is English. I offer this training to individuals as well as to companies and organizations. It’s not teaching English as a second language, but more in line with the next step which is fine-tuning a person’s American-English language skills. The initial response to my early marketing efforts came not only from corporate professionals, but also from the Catholic Church and the medical field. As a result, I’ve worked a lot with Catholic priests who have carried over their accents from their countries of origin and with medical professionals who understood the critical need for clear verbal communication.
MY UNIQUENESS
When I first started my business, there was little competition. But, now there are others who have recently taken up this type of training. What sets me apart is that I have been a speech pathologist for a long time with years of experience. I continue to pursue educational resources to increase my variety of training methods as opposed to a single type of training fairly common within this field. Also, I have narrowed my area of concentration to where I have now been working primarily on accent modification for the past five or six years. That’s what makes Accent Aware unique.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
On the individual level, my ideal client would be a professional who speaks English well and has a good use and knowledge of the language, but runs into problems in his or her career setting of being understood. Potential clients need to be dedicated, hard-working and wanting to make a change in how they come across in professional conversation and presentations. With regard to groups, the ideal client profile here would be companies that would include me as part of their employee development teams, or to those who offer continuing educational training to their employees.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
The travel time it takes to get from appointment to appointment to meet with individuals is not the most lucrative way for me to conduct business. What would be ideal would be to have individual companies with a good number of clients within each one to work with in succession, or to work with groups of unrelated individuals all at one location. My challenge is to make this happen.
RESOLUTION
I am concentrating on reaching people within corporations through those who are in charge of employee training and development. That includes those who manage a company’s diversity training, as well. Because of their being closer to the need for this type of communication training, I am confident of receiving a positive response. What’s more, I have joined business associations to meet and reach people within large corporations and organizations. And, at the same time, I am increasing my social media presence and pursuing online training opportunities as technology improves and online interaction between client and trainer happens more in ‘real time.’
Editor's question: Is accent modification something you knew existed? And do you personally know a professional to whom you might recommend such training?
Sandra Wroblewski, MA CCC-SP/L
Communications Specialist
Accent Aware
accentaware@aol.com
www.accentaware.com
630-784-8173
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Accent Aware offers communication training for international professionals whose second language is English. I offer this training to individuals as well as to companies and organizations. It’s not teaching English as a second language, but more in line with the next step which is fine-tuning a person’s American-English language skills. The initial response to my early marketing efforts came not only from corporate professionals, but also from the Catholic Church and the medical field. As a result, I’ve worked a lot with Catholic priests who have carried over their accents from their countries of origin and with medical professionals who understood the critical need for clear verbal communication.
MY UNIQUENESS
When I first started my business, there was little competition. But, now there are others who have recently taken up this type of training. What sets me apart is that I have been a speech pathologist for a long time with years of experience. I continue to pursue educational resources to increase my variety of training methods as opposed to a single type of training fairly common within this field. Also, I have narrowed my area of concentration to where I have now been working primarily on accent modification for the past five or six years. That’s what makes Accent Aware unique.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
On the individual level, my ideal client would be a professional who speaks English well and has a good use and knowledge of the language, but runs into problems in his or her career setting of being understood. Potential clients need to be dedicated, hard-working and wanting to make a change in how they come across in professional conversation and presentations. With regard to groups, the ideal client profile here would be companies that would include me as part of their employee development teams, or to those who offer continuing educational training to their employees.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
The travel time it takes to get from appointment to appointment to meet with individuals is not the most lucrative way for me to conduct business. What would be ideal would be to have individual companies with a good number of clients within each one to work with in succession, or to work with groups of unrelated individuals all at one location. My challenge is to make this happen.
RESOLUTION
I am concentrating on reaching people within corporations through those who are in charge of employee training and development. That includes those who manage a company’s diversity training, as well. Because of their being closer to the need for this type of communication training, I am confident of receiving a positive response. What’s more, I have joined business associations to meet and reach people within large corporations and organizations. And, at the same time, I am increasing my social media presence and pursuing online training opportunities as technology improves and online interaction between client and trainer happens more in ‘real time.’
Editor's question: Is accent modification something you knew existed? And do you personally know a professional to whom you might recommend such training?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Mapping out life's memories turns entrepreneur into visual eulogist
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Ronnis Oher, owner
LifeMaps - The Story of a Lifetime
www.lifemaps.biz
info@lifemaps.biz
847-398-0187
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I’ve been called a visual eulogist because I’m in the business of creating customized keepsake treasures called LifeMaps. A LifeMap is a full-color, hand-drawn geographical map that outlines someone’s life. It incorporates their personality traits, their relationships, their major life events and some of their fondest memories. It captures not only the facts of the person’s life, but also who they are/were. The maps are humorous and whimsical featuring mountains, deserts, swamps, rivers, campgrounds, highway and small businesses - all representing a specific story about a person’s life. Yet, at the same time, they can be touching because they not only allow people to see what impact their lives have had on those around them, but also to learn how fondly they are viewed by others in their lives.
MY UNIQUENESS
While I don’t have a great deal of direct competition, what makes my business unique among those who provide a similar product is that I bring great interviewing skills to the project along with a sense of humor and custom creativity which others may not.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client would be anyone looking for a special gift for a special person who may be celebrating an anniversary, birthday, graduation, wedding or retirement. That would include corporations and non-profits that are looking for special retirement gifts and awards or visual mission statements or sales presentation handouts. Since LifeMaps make great memorials or family member keepsakes, some of my perfect clients would also be the families of seniors who wish to capture the lives of their loved ones while they still have the opportunity to do so.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My greatest challenge seems to be how to close the sale. How to get around a prospect’s saying LifeMaps are not within their budgets without realizing just how economical they are and the lifetime value they provide.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
I approached this obstacle head on by offering a traditional lay-away plan to people. If they have an event coming up in six or nine months down the line, I give them the opportunity to start making payments well in advance so that by the time the day arrives, most of the LifeMap will be paid for. This makes the transaction much more manageable. This seems to help people make the commitment which allows me to introduce more LifeMaps into the lives of more people.
Ronnis Oher, owner
LifeMaps - The Story of a Lifetime
www.lifemaps.biz
info@lifemaps.biz
847-398-0187
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
I’ve been called a visual eulogist because I’m in the business of creating customized keepsake treasures called LifeMaps. A LifeMap is a full-color, hand-drawn geographical map that outlines someone’s life. It incorporates their personality traits, their relationships, their major life events and some of their fondest memories. It captures not only the facts of the person’s life, but also who they are/were. The maps are humorous and whimsical featuring mountains, deserts, swamps, rivers, campgrounds, highway and small businesses - all representing a specific story about a person’s life. Yet, at the same time, they can be touching because they not only allow people to see what impact their lives have had on those around them, but also to learn how fondly they are viewed by others in their lives.
MY UNIQUENESS
While I don’t have a great deal of direct competition, what makes my business unique among those who provide a similar product is that I bring great interviewing skills to the project along with a sense of humor and custom creativity which others may not.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
My ideal client would be anyone looking for a special gift for a special person who may be celebrating an anniversary, birthday, graduation, wedding or retirement. That would include corporations and non-profits that are looking for special retirement gifts and awards or visual mission statements or sales presentation handouts. Since LifeMaps make great memorials or family member keepsakes, some of my perfect clients would also be the families of seniors who wish to capture the lives of their loved ones while they still have the opportunity to do so.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My greatest challenge seems to be how to close the sale. How to get around a prospect’s saying LifeMaps are not within their budgets without realizing just how economical they are and the lifetime value they provide.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
I approached this obstacle head on by offering a traditional lay-away plan to people. If they have an event coming up in six or nine months down the line, I give them the opportunity to start making payments well in advance so that by the time the day arrives, most of the LifeMap will be paid for. This makes the transaction much more manageable. This seems to help people make the commitment which allows me to introduce more LifeMaps into the lives of more people.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Entrepreneur sells clients on full-service marketing with accountability workshops
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Claire Slattery, director of client marketing
and business development
Mindful Mix
http://www.mindfulmix.com/
claires@mindfulmix.com
847-284-4404
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Mindful Mix is a full-service marketing agency that helps companies determine the right marketing strategies for their business. Working within the budgets of each client, we specialize in maximizing the reach and ROI of each promotion. We provide business planning, strategies, budgets, branding, corporate communications, sales collateral, website development, seminars and webinars, along with marketing coaching.
MY UNIQUENESS
I bring a wealth of well-rounded marketing experience to the table. Unlike some contemporaries who specialize only in specific marketing disciplines such as graphic design, PR, or research, I offer personal expertise in every aspect of marketing. There are few small agencies of our size that offer this hands-on working relationship. In essence, I serve as the client’s marketing director without its having to incur the expense of hiring a full-time staffer or paying the premium costs of contracting with a large, high-priced marketing firm. In addition, I offer accountability coaching to keep clients on target toward reaching their short and long-term goals – unusual for marketing firms.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
The ideal client for Mindful Mix is any size business that has a genuine commitment to marketing, but is also aware that it may not be in the position to hire its own full-time marketing professional. A secondary client profile would be that of a company that has downsized its staff and is comfortable with outsourcing its marketing projects to professional contractors.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My primary challenge is determining how to get business owners to make that initial investment in marketing in order to take their businesses to the next level. Most understand the value of a marketing program, but shy away from committing the funding necessary to take that first step.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
We have designed coaching and accountability seminars that give business owners a sampling of how marketing can increase their bottom line. As a result of these programs, clients begin to see the measurable results of a concentrated marketing focus. In turn, clients not only readily accept the concept of a more complete, on-going marketing plan, but also choose Mindful Mix as the full-service marketing resource to put their plan in place.
Claire Slattery, director of client marketing
and business development
Mindful Mix
http://www.mindfulmix.com/
claires@mindfulmix.com
847-284-4404
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
Mindful Mix is a full-service marketing agency that helps companies determine the right marketing strategies for their business. Working within the budgets of each client, we specialize in maximizing the reach and ROI of each promotion. We provide business planning, strategies, budgets, branding, corporate communications, sales collateral, website development, seminars and webinars, along with marketing coaching.
MY UNIQUENESS
I bring a wealth of well-rounded marketing experience to the table. Unlike some contemporaries who specialize only in specific marketing disciplines such as graphic design, PR, or research, I offer personal expertise in every aspect of marketing. There are few small agencies of our size that offer this hands-on working relationship. In essence, I serve as the client’s marketing director without its having to incur the expense of hiring a full-time staffer or paying the premium costs of contracting with a large, high-priced marketing firm. In addition, I offer accountability coaching to keep clients on target toward reaching their short and long-term goals – unusual for marketing firms.
IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE
The ideal client for Mindful Mix is any size business that has a genuine commitment to marketing, but is also aware that it may not be in the position to hire its own full-time marketing professional. A secondary client profile would be that of a company that has downsized its staff and is comfortable with outsourcing its marketing projects to professional contractors.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
My primary challenge is determining how to get business owners to make that initial investment in marketing in order to take their businesses to the next level. Most understand the value of a marketing program, but shy away from committing the funding necessary to take that first step.
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION
We have designed coaching and accountability seminars that give business owners a sampling of how marketing can increase their bottom line. As a result of these programs, clients begin to see the measurable results of a concentrated marketing focus. In turn, clients not only readily accept the concept of a more complete, on-going marketing plan, but also choose Mindful Mix as the full-service marketing resource to put their plan in place.
Monday, August 30, 2010
“Visual” testimonials help sell the benefits of interior redesign and staging
Showcasing experienced entrepreneurs offers an added marketing communications or social media element to help promote their businesses. In addition, it provides a forum through which they can share solutions to unique business challenges that might be the answer to a similar challenge with which yet another entrepreneur is struggling. This openness of information flows with the following story offered by
Marianne Yurko, owner
Redesigned With You In Mind
http://www.redesignedwithyouinmind.com/
myurko@sbcglobal.net
630-460-3000
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
The mission of Redesigned With You In Mind is to allow people to “fall in love with their homes all over again.” I’m an interior redesigner and stager who helps people with their home makeovers by simply using everything that they already own. This concept is particularly important in today’s economy for those who are tired of how their houses look, yet can’t afford a totally new interior design that traditionally requires purchasing most things new. Staging, in particular, is perfect for those having difficulty selling their homes often due to the fact that the interiors of their homes are not showing well. Among my specialties is color consultation which is valuable to people intimidated by the overwhelming color options available, today. And, I offer furniture placement that can economically and efficiently optimize the space and function of any room no matter its size or shape.
MY UNIQUENESS
I look at the whole picture, not at a particular niche. Unlike some of my peers who prefer to specialize only in redesign or staging, or just in window treatments or furniture placement, I take it all on so that I can manage the complete project from beginning to end.
IDEAL CLIENT
I have two ideal client profiles - women whose chosen careers are either inside the home caring for their families, or outside the home in the corporate world. Each has their own "house beautiful" vision in mind, but neither has the time to focus on making it come true themselves.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
One challenge is finding the right way to market myself so that people will find out about me. There are so many people who might enjoy having a room or house redone or just a new paint color who don’t know who to call. The second challenge concerns the economy. It is getting people to understand that they can afford my services. The perception is that people can’t afford to make their homes look better. But, they soon learn that through redesign or staging, it really is possible.
SOLUTION
As my marketing solution, I’m looking for different ways to market my business – networking through chamber events as well as giving presentations on redesign and staging to members of these same organizations. I find that for my business, it is much easier to acquire new clients at women’s groups. As a result, I’ve made special efforts to participate in several women’s conferences and symposiums this year as a way of gaining greater exposure. I also am a member of an association of redesigners and stagers, and am maintaining a social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn.
As my affordability solution, I am making it clear to prospective clients that I will work within their budgets no matter what their requests may be. And, as a “visual testimonial’ of sorts, I am now showing clients homes on the market for which I had done staging, pointing out how quickly they have sold. These before and after comparisons - either online or in my portfolio photos - seems to have the greatest impact on helping potential clients understand the affordable value of what Redesigned With You In Mind has to offer.
Marianne Yurko, owner
Redesigned With You In Mind
http://www.redesignedwithyouinmind.com/
myurko@sbcglobal.net
630-460-3000
ABOUT MY BUSINESS
The mission of Redesigned With You In Mind is to allow people to “fall in love with their homes all over again.” I’m an interior redesigner and stager who helps people with their home makeovers by simply using everything that they already own. This concept is particularly important in today’s economy for those who are tired of how their houses look, yet can’t afford a totally new interior design that traditionally requires purchasing most things new. Staging, in particular, is perfect for those having difficulty selling their homes often due to the fact that the interiors of their homes are not showing well. Among my specialties is color consultation which is valuable to people intimidated by the overwhelming color options available, today. And, I offer furniture placement that can economically and efficiently optimize the space and function of any room no matter its size or shape.
MY UNIQUENESS
I look at the whole picture, not at a particular niche. Unlike some of my peers who prefer to specialize only in redesign or staging, or just in window treatments or furniture placement, I take it all on so that I can manage the complete project from beginning to end.
IDEAL CLIENT
I have two ideal client profiles - women whose chosen careers are either inside the home caring for their families, or outside the home in the corporate world. Each has their own "house beautiful" vision in mind, but neither has the time to focus on making it come true themselves.
UNIQUE BUSINESS CHALLENGE
One challenge is finding the right way to market myself so that people will find out about me. There are so many people who might enjoy having a room or house redone or just a new paint color who don’t know who to call. The second challenge concerns the economy. It is getting people to understand that they can afford my services. The perception is that people can’t afford to make their homes look better. But, they soon learn that through redesign or staging, it really is possible.
SOLUTION
As my marketing solution, I’m looking for different ways to market my business – networking through chamber events as well as giving presentations on redesign and staging to members of these same organizations. I find that for my business, it is much easier to acquire new clients at women’s groups. As a result, I’ve made special efforts to participate in several women’s conferences and symposiums this year as a way of gaining greater exposure. I also am a member of an association of redesigners and stagers, and am maintaining a social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn.
As my affordability solution, I am making it clear to prospective clients that I will work within their budgets no matter what their requests may be. And, as a “visual testimonial’ of sorts, I am now showing clients homes on the market for which I had done staging, pointing out how quickly they have sold. These before and after comparisons - either online or in my portfolio photos - seems to have the greatest impact on helping potential clients understand the affordable value of what Redesigned With You In Mind has to offer.
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