If you aren't aware of the organization IRIS yet, then you soon will. IRIS has been around since 1999 and has been setting standards and making strides in the industry of redesign and now staging as an International Association of Professional Redesigners and Stagers. The leaders of IRIS are on a mission this year to raise the bar and become a real powerhouse for growing business in the Staging & Redesign Industry. I have seen so many great changes that I feel inspired to help get the word out!
Recently IRIS has redesigned its website to make it more userfriendly and content rich. I think you should take a look when you get a moment. You may find yourself there for some time!
IRIS holds an annual conference with educational breakouts and celebrity speakers! You will learn industry trends, business building skills and get to meet your peers in this exciting and motivating seminar! The costs are extremely reasonable and the benefits of attending are priceless!
Ideas to share --from the Director's Chair: Two Tip Tuesday
On Tuesdays the Director of IRIS (Sandy Dixon) shares two tips that will help grow our business! Who doesn't want to be reminded weekly of the power we have and the great things we have to share? Better yet, who doesn't want someone to give you great and powerful ideas on how to share them and be heard?!
IRIS Inspiration -
Every month the IRIS Inspiration, a public educational newsletter, is emailed to hundreds of potential clients showing the the creative force behind our stagers and redesigners. The newsletter offers tips, and ideas written by our own members and also shows before and after photos of work done well!
IRISource -
This is the monthly members only newsletter (with moi as the Editor) that spotlights the goings on with IRIS including spotlighting Chapter meetings, member and educational events, things you need to know about the industry and the organization as well as feedback from other members on various programs.
Monthly Teleconferences -
Every month IRIS arranges a teleconference with an expert in some part of the field to show you how to grow your business. Best of all, if you miss the teleconference or want to recap something you missed, you can log in to the website and download the MP3 version.
Coming Soon -
Member Mentoring Program, Website Blog and October has been designated as IRIS® Get Redesigned Month
These aren't the only benefits, but they are some of my favorite. Other benefits include discounts with various companies including Williams Sonoma, Sherwin Williams, Belacor, and on and on goes the list..... The cost for membership is very reasonable - $175/yr. In order to become a member you will also need to take an educational class from an approved instructor. (Instructors are added periodically, so check back if you don't find one in your area - we are adding one to the Southeast for Staging very soon - namely ME! I've been approved, but now waiting for my manual to be reviewed)
If you are looking for an organization that is in touch with the industry that has active educational programs in place, consider investing in yourself and your education by involving yourself with this group. You won't be sorry!
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
Hey Melissa,
Thanks for sharing the info on IRIS. . . and yet from what I know (and I could be wrong) they just entered the world of Staging in 2007 if not just shortly before - as far as offering any specific training for our business.
In the past, Staging was considered the "ugly stepchild" of the decorating and design world. My neighbor took an IRIS class a few years ago - she is now a PE Teacher - as her desire to be a Stager did not manifest due to lack of, what she said, was support and specific training. I know this has changed - and there are many opportunites to get information from groups that prior to about 1-2 years ago did not segment out this service.
I think bonafide decorators or designers considered Stagers a blemish on the perfect world of home interiors and hoped we'd go away. I was not met with open arms when I first started - it was more hostility. And yet in a short time, I began to get calls from students from these other groups asking if I had work for them. What we have developed is a business based on need, not want. There is only one group that recognized this from the start (not IRIS or ISID) - that were joined by others that are specific for Staging - and yet I am happy to see others have come alongside, when before they seemed to be pushing away.
In my opinion, I see us as having a parallel purpose - and there are definite cross-overs in prinicple and technique. But the biggest road where we diverge is the idea that Staging is not decorating or design, it is part of the real estate industry - and the goal is to get a house sold, not make it look pretty.
By the same token, if I get a client that wants to redesign their house - I pass them along to a trained IRIS person. I have no problem with that. Same for someone that wants interior design or decorating. I can take them so far with my skills and knowledge, but there is a definite stop in the road for me where I not only don't want to go any further based on my time and interest, but also based on my ability to really deliver what they want. My hope is that this recognition of skills or lack there-of goes both ways.
Congrats on entering the training arena - I am sure you will do a great job at what you share.
- Jennie
Melissa- I took my IRIS course in 2006, my friend took it in 2005, so we are proof that IRIS did not enter the staging world in 2007! I must admit that the IRIS designation is a little confusing because it does sound like an organization for redesign only, but I can assure everyone that staging was 90% of what my five day course consisted of! IRIS and Sandy, in particular, offer so much continued training and support, I am completely blown away! The website looks great, and I know my buddy, Erica, has put hundreds of hours into making it so!
I'm sure you will be a great trainer...just the knowledge you have shared here on AR, has made me a better stager and business person!
Elaine - I stand corrected (smile) but I recall that IRIS started specific Staging courses not too long ago - one of the trainers I worked with that is also IRIS cerrtified sent out an email to this effect when IRIS developed their stager course that was not also re-design. They have a lot to offer so this was not about who is better than whom. I met Sandy Dixon at an IAHSP Convention back in 2003 - the first Staging industry convention (only a short 5 years - but it seems like forever!). That said - the point of my commments were that Staging is no longer in the shadows - it is a mainstream and respected business and other groups are recognizing that fact.
- Jennie
Melissa,
Thanks for the great information. I live in Ohio, and there are no instructors near me. Good news for me is that my family lives in North Myrtle Beach and when I visit them, I sometimes come down to Charleston. I hope at some point to come down to meet you and take one of your classes.
Jennie - I can't speak for what they offered in their early years. I took my training in 2005, but you are correct that it was a redesign course & they are growing their dedicated staging education. I view this as a positive thing for all the organizations - the more education is out there, the more it benefits everyone!
Elaine - Thank you for the kind words. I know Sandy works very hard to make IRIS a great organization and that she also works very hard to help those who take her classes succeed.
Lora - I'm sorry that there is no one in your area just yet, but I will look forward to the opportunity to meet you one day - hopefully in one of my courses or at convention.
I am a member of IRIS too. I trained in 2002 and the course offered staging as well as redesign training. Because staging was not as accepted by realtors in many areas at that time, but redesign was recognized and understood, I didn't "push" the term staging when I marketed my services. There was also the problem with the term staging and the controversy with its use so I am sure that had a lot to do with the early decison by IRIS not to focus as much on that aspect of the redesign field. The decision to offer a separate certification course in staging has as much to do with the growth and acceptance of the specialty but also of the scope and techniques that have evolved over the years. There are many redesigners who prefer to do staging or because of their area, staging ends up being the majority of their business. Staging is a natural extension of what redesigners do, so having a certification program is an extension of IRIS benefits. As the organization grows, we have seen it respond to the needs of the members and its committment to adding to the professionalism of the field.
I feel that all of the staging organizations contribute to the field. Each has its own philosophy and teaching methods but we all have the same focus-showcasing homes to the best advantage.