Now is the time to take your ‘leap of faith’ and sign up for this intensive 5 day professional staging and redesign course offered March 22nd in the Vancouver area. A tentative class is scheduled for late April in Victoria BC with instructor Dana J. Smithers.
The prestigious PRES course teaches classroom theory AND hands-on staging and redesign in real client’s homes. This is a must-do to gain your confidence and validate your abilities!
Graduates of the PRES program love what they are doing and loved the course, support and follow up they receive. Here are a few testimonials:
“I have known Dana Smithers for over two years through her Interior Redesign & Home Staging program at PRES Staging Resource Centre. When I first met Dana I was really taken back with the support that I received. Taking this program, I was now entering a new part of my life and it was a little scary, but the support I received from Dana and some of the other students was wonderful. I have continued to get education on Home Staging and Interior Redesigning from PRES with the monthly meetings. Dana has kept me up to date with the new trends and continues to educate me with these monthly programs offered through PRES.
I have found that Dana is a great role model for women, and someone I look up. To say that I received my training from Dana Smithers is quite the honour to me. When someone asks “where did you take your training to be a Interior Redesign Home Stager” I reply with my head held high and a big smile on my face….. “I received my training right here in BC from Dana Smithers of the PRES Resource Centre”.
Dana will always be on my speed dial. I remember when I had to do my first empty Home Staging quote I phoned Dana………”what do I do” she said to me Dianne first of all breathe…..you can do this your a “Great Stager”. Thinking to myself, yeah why panic, I sat back in my chair and thought Dana is right “I am a Great Stager” and thanks to Dana I know I am a “Great Stager” she gave me the confidence I needed to follow my dream.
I AM NOW DOING MY DREAM JOB… and I’m a GREAT INTERIOR REDESIGNER & HOME STAGER Thanks Dana
Dianne Boutilier of Focal Point Redesigns
Want to learn how to do your own home makeovers for living or selling? Or are you interested in a career in home staging and redesign?
Come and join us for the day and get inspired by others just like you and learn from the ‘Home Makeover Expert & Staging Guru’ Dana J. Smithers. She will share her Top 5 Tips for making your home more beautiful for living or for selling. If you are interested in this as a career, this is a good introduction to this work. Dana wants you to LOVE YOUR HOME!
Home Makeovers For Living or Selling Workshops Date: April 17th 2010 Time: 9:30 am – 4:30pm Location: John Braithwaite Community Centre – 145 West 1st Street North Vancouver (just north of Lonsdale Quay) Cost: $57 for one or $97 for both Registration: You must preregister for this event on line or email info@SunOnMyBackRedesigns.com
Every month the PRES Vancouver Chapter Members get together for a fun time to reconnect and gain more knowledge in areas that will expand their business. During the 5 day PRES course students are introduced to PRES staging paint colours. After the course all members are encouraged to continue learning anything and everything they can to have more tools in their tool kits. Having more resources available as strategic alliances is necessary as they grow their business.
Georgina King of Benjamin Moore Richmond presented the latest colour trends for BM. Some we liked and some we didn’t. In Georgina’s usual expressive way we learned a whole lot more than what was planned! She is so incredibly knowledgeable it was hard to say we had to end our meeting!
Kathy van Gogh gracioulsy gave of her time in her studio which is part of this fantastic one-stop Benjamin Moore store. Kathy entertained us with some amazing ‘faux finishes’ and some new products this store location is offering. She offers classes to learn how to do faux finishes. The PRES members were very interested in the resurfacing of cupboards and counter tops – 2 key areas sellers need to update for selling.
What a great and fun filled day thanks to Georgina and Kathy and all the PRES members who were able to make this field trip day!
If you are still unsure about taking that ‘leap of faith’ and living your dream of becoming a Home Stager, then please join me LIVE for the PRES Staging Webinar on Thursday February 18, 2010 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM Pacific Standard Time. I will go through the PRES home staging AND redesign course and answer any questions you may have!
You will also receive a SPECIAL OFFER just by joining the webinar!
All you need is your computer and your phone. Make sure all your programs are closed except your internet and you will get a better connection.
FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. On Thursday night go to your computer and CLICK or Cut and Paste this link in your internet browser:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/575894843
2. Phone in to get on the webinar call and listen to the prompts:
Dial +1 416 900 1165
Access Code: 575-894-843
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the meeting (if you are calling in my phone you just press #the two digit pin number#)
Meeting ID: 575-894-843
On the webinar you will have an opportunity to ask questions and find out answers to any questions you may have. I look forward to talking with you!
You will only receive a SPECIAL OFFER by joining the webinar!
The Designing Spacez team felt the tradeshow went really well! Lots of interest in real estate staging which is great. They received a lot of postive feedback about what they offer for services, booth presentation, etc…
This was Designing Spacez 1st year in the CREB Forecast. Designing Spacez is a Calgary based company and is a one stop shop, offering a varitey of services that include real estate staging, interior design and redesign, color consultation- provided by Janet Voth and her team and full construction Divison which is ran by Mike Voth (owner).
Designing Spacez a local Calgary company. Please check them out at www.designingspacz.com
Throughout the year many of the PRES members are participating in industry related trade shows. Here are a few TIPS for anyone who is participating in a trade show:
Stay tuned throughout the year as we post photos of some of the 2010 trade show successes with our PRES members.
Set up a budget for the trade show which includes the booth cost, advertising in the show directory, your stage set up costs, electrical costs, internet connection costs if you are using this, some shows you need to purchase carpet, some you need to do flooring and walls so make sure you know what is expected of you – read over the contract carefully
Make sure there are at least 2 people in the booth so that you can spell each other off for dinner or other breaks
Wear really comfortable shoes and bring a few pairs to change into – most flooring is concrete so that is not so good to stand on all day
Create a stunning vignette in your booth that represents your ability as a stager to stage this scene – do a cozy living room vignette with 2 chairs, lamp, table, small carpet, cushions, accessories, or try a bedroom look that says WOW!
Stand in front of your booth never inside so people have to come in to you – be very approachable and chat with people as they come by
Have lots of wrapped candies (chocolate seems to be the favourite) to give out
Have plenty of small give-aways like nail files, measuring tapes, pens, etc
Have 1 GRAND PRIZE DRAW and make people fill out your entry form – be sure to ask for their name, phone, address, email and what their biggest challenges are in their homes
You can also add a request for them to check off if they would like to receive your monthly emails – this way when you follow up they will know who you are (privacy issues)
FOLLOW UP is the name of the game here – after all your time, money and energy that you will have put into the show you want to get clients from it – so follow up with a phone call to them (email 2nd but phone first)
FOLLOW UP you can offer specials to people who attended the show in a variety of ways: 20% staging their home, 10% off product if they buy your inventory, Special Show Promotion $200 off their redesign or staging job, etc etc – be creative
HAVE FUN while you are doing this and make notes after about what worked best, what you would do differently next time
Trade shows are a great way to market your business and they provide the opportunity for the public to get to know you and your company. Choose ones that attract your target market.
Flowers are such a terrific accessory to make any home more beautiful whether you are staging it for selling, or decorating for living.
I wanted to let you know about a floral store and school that I just discovered in Surrey BC. With the guidance of a community leader, June Strandberg and her daughter Casey, Just Beginnings Flowers is helping ‘women with barriers’ get back into the workplace by teaching them the craft of flower arranging. They along with Margita’s Flowers in North Vancouver they are the Official florist of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver. That’s quite an accomplishment. The students will be making the bouquets and I’m sure feel very proud.
Just Beginnings Flowers is located in Surrey behind the Surrey Memorial Hospital. Check them out at www.justbeginningsflowers.com. Phone: 604 582 8298
We held our local monthly PRES members only meeting at Just Beginnings Flowers and June taught us some simple arrangements using artificial and real flowers. Love the idea of women supporting women!
This might seem a tad late now that July 1st Canada Day has passed but I just received these photos. I want to put Christine Dempster of www.stagerighthomestaging.ca in the spot light for being so patriotic!
Christine and her partner participated in the Bowen Island Canada Day parade and they won first prize for their outfits. Check out Mrs. Canada!
Recently one of our PRES graduates had the opportunity to stage a “set” for a media event put on for Best Buy/Future Shop by LG Electronics. The client wanted the boardroom to look like a “media” room featuring their newest electronics. SPACELiFT rented furnishings from FLUFF Rentals, set the stage and then…… got to meet Trevor Linden, the star of the show. He was gracious as always and spent 1 1/2 hours signing autographs and hanging out with fans.
CLIENT FEEDBACK: “Lisa and her team were fast, flexible and a pleasure to work with. They were able to meet all our staging needs and her eye for style really helped transform a mundane corporate boardroom into a cozy living area.”
Cam Gordon on behalf of LG Electronics. <
SPACELiFT FEEDBACK: "We love our job!!!!!!!!!"
Preparing your house for selling is more important than ever in this a ‘buyer’s market’. Buyers are taking their time looking at what is on the market and they like those homes that ‘look great’. Getting a home to have that ‘WOW’ appeal takes work on the part of the seller.
Thanks Dana
participated in the Bowen Island Canada Day parade and they won first prize for their outfits. Check out Mrs. Canada!
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