In the focus on the idea that our markets are saturated with Stagers - consider this: Staging is not limited to just Staging houses for sale. When supply and demand are talked about, what we tend to focus on is the issue of house sales. What about all the other avenues of business I hear about that Stagers all over are pursuing successfully?
- Staging for Living
- Event Staging
- Personal Shopping & Resourcing Services
- Staging for Work
- Commercial Building Staging
- College Dorm Staging
- Store Window Staging
- Display Staging
- Staging to Rent
- Holiday Staging
- New Homeowner Move-in
And the list could go on . . . but I think we all get the point. None of the bulleted list items have to do with Staging to sell. The categories there are
- Staging to sell - Occupied Homes
- Staging to sell - Vacant Homes
- Inventory Rental
- New Construction Staging
- Model Home Staging
- Model Apartment Staging
- Senior Market Staging
- Relocation Staging
- etc.
The fact is, whether there are 100 or 320 or 20 Stagers trained in an area, there are plenty of work opportunities for those willing to get out of the box and find a way to apply our creative talents. In areas where there are more Stagers, I bet the overall population is a lot higher too, which means many more homeowners with needs we can meet, and many more Realtors.
Before we get discouraged by predictions that we are doomed to failure, take a look at the facts. When someone gives up - was it because there was no work for them or was it because they did not want to put out the work to get it? What I have learned in my 5 years of Staging that still includes the schlepping, planning, preparing proposals, educating sellers and Realtors, and working in 110 degree heat where even my earlobes are dripping with sweat . . . is that the work is there - the need is there - the need is GROWING because the public WANTS their houses to sell for the best price and in a short time - whatever the market conditions are.
Find out how many REALTORS are in your market - in fact, that is a good thing to know at all times. How many homeowners are there where you are? When I shared that the success of Stagers depends on their ability to successfully market - that is true. Yet, there are millions of people that have still not heard about Staging or experienced it first-hand. One by one, we are reaching them. That means success is up to us - and when someone does not succeed, it is NOT because there was not work for them - it's because they did not go and find the work.
Consider this: A fellow Stager came to visit us from Colorado to shadow and learn, and she is in a smaller part of Colorado and has moved 3 times in recent years. To carve out a niche market for herself because the resale home market was not a viable source for business, she is doing "Land Staging" - where she surveys and prepares a summary report on the land to be sold. She plans, coordinates and prepares the land parcel with clearing out debris and brush - and prepares the views for the buyers. She has coordinated helicopter tours of the land, dog-sled rides with a picnic - you know - whatever it takes to entice the buyer and make it memorable. She is charging $1,200 for the reports and then takes 1% of the sales price. When the land is priced at $7M, that gives her a nice profit when it sells. She did not read a book to tell her how to do this - she just told herself, "Self, I need to find a need and fill it." And she did.
We can too. Find a need in your market - and fill it. As Stagers we are not limited by the market or competition or anything of that nature. We are only limited by what we believe we can or cannot do. We are creative and we can Stage anything! Find a need a fill it - and be in charge of your success!
Hi Jennie - I'm not a stager, but this looks like a terrific list you put together of the variety of niches one could develop for themselves. And your advice and title, "Find a Need and Fill It" applies to all of us, no matter the field we're in.
Very nice post with some great ideas!
Ann
This is a topic near & dear to my heart, another blog by Anthea Click talks about the 'target' and hitting it. This is a great resource Jennie thanx for compiling it. You are such a positive source of information and support. Even though you already got the gold one.... here's my version!
WHAT A GREAT LIST OF IDEAS! In fact this post gives me an idea of a future post.
Without me sounding like a Polly Anna Robotic RA RA RA towing the Stagers Party line... I couldn't agree with you more! You are sooooooooo right... this industry is nothing but pure possibility.
All that is possible starts with SEEING possibility! Then with hard work, drive, creativity, knowledge (of the good, bad & the sometime ugly of this biz) and a little luck will all help turn that possibility into real success.
Back to the list.... this is a perfect example of what makes Active Rain a great resource of information for stagers.
Thanks for Staging It Forward....
ME
Love it - LAND Staging!!!!
Thanks for Sharing Jennie.
All the best,
Beth
Thanks, Jennie for the eyes-wide-open blog! Nice to see it in black & white! - Calie
WOW- I guess this blog resonated with a lot of you and that is great!
Ann - thanks for reading and the find a need and fill it DOES apply to anyone in any business!
Teresa - there ARE many niches - and I am sure some others do that I did not even list! Our craft is always evolving!
Phylena - good to research about this business - lots to ponder on this site for sure!
Karen - Thanks for my STAR!! You are the best!
Craig - I had to re-read your post twice - and I am sitting down . .drum roll please . . . Ta Da! We actually AGREE on something (HA HA! - SMILE!) (and truly we do agree on much when you think about it)....Thanks for sharing - and it's OK to be Pollyana-ish once in a while! When you look for the good in people you will certainly find it! Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts. (of course if you've never seen Pollyanna my humor would not make sense - with 4 kids of COURSE we own the video!).
Beth, Calie, & Ed - thanks for sharing!
Roxanne - Staging takes time to gain a foot-hold but it will. Someone in Roxane's area - she needs a Stager - how about that! Find the need and fill it!
Great post Jeanie, as always very informative.
Wow, I have to say land staging, that is out of the box for sure!
this will help me to ay focused today on what I need to do!
Thanks again!
Joelle
Great food for thought Jennie!
I won a "most likely to think outside the box" award at my old job, and I certainly would never have thought of staging land. Very impressive! And wow the dog sled tour with the picnic, makes me want to go see the land :)
Jennie, you make a great point for turning things around. So many people start with things they can do, and look for people who want what they do. How much more successful to look around, really look, and see where there is a need, and then fill it! Land staging is really out of the box, and great!
Another to perhaps add to your list is Staging a Car - for many agents our car is our office. It's certainly the "home" where we spend most of our time with buyer clients. Is our car properly staged? Neat? Clean? Windows clear? Necessities on hand - cold beverages, hot beverages, paper towels, snacks, Kleenex (to say nothing of the real estate necessities).
What does our car tell the world about us?
Jennie,
I love this post, I was really inspired by it!(I bookmarked it) What a great list of option, some of them I've never thought of. The story of the stager in Colorado was really good, way to think out side the box!
This is exactly the kind of information that will help fellow stagers grow their businesses in tough times, instead of going out of business! Thank you!
Jennie,
Thanks for a great reminder on other ways to offer our staging services.....very creative list of ideas. Whenever I'm in a dentist's or doctor's office I notice their waiting rooms usually need staging.....not to mention the CPA's and attorney's offices!
Hey All - Thanks for the comments - nice to see so many embrace the ideas. Love the idea of Staging a vehicle, and in fact one Stager in California is doing Staging to Sail - staging boats - luxury boat, yachts, etc. She bought one and then decided to add this service to her Staging business. The reception areasa of offices are sooo drab and droll in many cases, or terribly outdated! Staging to Work - includes that service, our you could just specialize in Staging Office Reception Areas. . .Find a need and fill it!
And to be true to myself, the list above comes from the ASP Course and Barb Schwarz since she developed it - I added some additional ones that we hear about - but part of what is taught is to realize that there is no shortage of opportunity or income for Stagers. We go over the list - and talk about avenues of business. I am not sharing to debate anything - I just want to give props where they are due. Keep the ideas flowing - I am sure there are other "Staging ____" that we can come up with!!
- Jennie
Hi Jennie, I love how you think- you have to make it happen and not just wait for the business to come to you. We have so many places to fill our little niche. Thanks for your leadership! We all appreciate it.
Kathy
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your positive comments about a very important reminder - we are in charge of how we want to do work! There is no shortage of business - it's all in how we position ourselves for sure!!
- Jennie
Excellent advice and some things I have not thought of yet!! I am relatively new to professional staging and find that many of the realtors are very interested, but not their clients.
As you said, find the need. Thanks for great post.
Connie King
CK Staging & Design