I am about as excited as it gets right now. Tomorrow morning my husband and I are leaving for a 7 day cruise to the Bahamas (Yes, I do know there is a hurricane bearing down on the island right now, but oh well..... hopefully all will be well anyway). We are both in sales so we spend a lot of time attached to our phones and computers. Tomorrow we leave it all behind for a week. That means no technology... no customers, no team emails and NO ACTIVE RAIN.....
Today I flew home from New Jersey where I had a wonderfully full week with some of the best stagers in the country and I didn't want to leave tomorrow without letting them know how I felt....
Juliet Johnson - You put on quite the show! I knew you would, but WOW! I am amazed at how organized things were. The topics were fabulous. The questions for the panel were well thought out and even though I was on it, loved hearing from the other panel members. I also want to thank you for picking me up from the airport, bringing me into your home and family for a lovely afternoon and such great working communication and sharing!
Phyllis Pafumi - You were charming, warm and friendly. I loved our conversation after the expo. It was clear that you worked very hard for this event and really know your stuff. You are quite amazing. I will say that you are much more beautiful in person. I think you should change your AR photo. It doesn't do you justice!!
Shell Brodnax - I feel like we have become such good friends between the IRIS conference and now the Stagers List Expo, not to mention our time together with RESA. It was great to share a room with you, spend time just hanging out, going to dinner, etc. I was amazed at your wheeling and dealing skills - always looking for ways to increase the validity and value of RESA and the staging industry as a whole. Watch out world - Shell is moving us places!
Kate Hart - Finally we meet face to face!! It was so wonderful spending time with you, seeing how your wheels turn and what's going on. It is clear why you are so successful. I for one thank you for all of your insight this week. I hope people were listening!
Kym Hough - Wow do you have your stuff together! I think you were absolutely amazing. Your presentation on growing a profitable business was such good information. I took a ton of notes and think I made some great distinctions. While my business is profitable, you still provided a lot of great info that anyone could use, new or established. Thank you for taking your time and energy. It was a huge value to all of us!! Thank you also for allowing me to participate. I look forward to working with you at other expos!
Terrylynn Fisher - BIG HUG!! Your speach on demystifying the realtor.... wow. I think that the audience was spellbound and fervently writing their notes. I'm sure they are looking forward to being able to get the printable version on StagersLIst.com. You gave fantastic information that will certainly make people come back to the next expo. You were also warm and friendly. Thank you for inviting me to the show, I wish I could have been able to spend more time with you. Next time we'll sit closer together at dinner!
Christine Rae - For such a big name in the Staging Industry I was amazed at how personable and friendly you are. You are someone who we should all be watching. The things you offer your CSPs are definately amazing. Thank you for always giving to the industry!
Nairn Freimann - It was great meeting you face to face after working together in RESA. I think the information you gave on the panel was priceless. It is important for stagers to know that there are multiple ways of making money - we aren't all the same. It sounds like your business has got a strong future. Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
If there is anyone I've missed then I apologize. There were so many awesome stagers at this expo that I think my head was going to explode! Now.... I'm off to bead after travelling all day. I still have to pack in the morning!
If anyone is even thinking about going to one of the other StagersList Expos around the country. Don't think... just DO! If you aren't thinking about it.... you better start!
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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. She now operates as the CEO of First Impressions Home Staging & Interior ReDesign as well as an instructor for Staging And Resign and regularly speaks at the StagerList Expos 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 843.822.2622 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
If you would like Marro's team to provide information on staging a property in the state of South Carolina, or the Greater Charleston Area, please visit www.WeStageSC.com, email marro.melissa@gmail.com or call 843.822.2622.
Wow! Melissa, 4 am to 4 pm and we're home...but feeling much the same as you do about the terrific people who attended our expo as well as those of you who made it so successful!!! We enjoyed meeting you so much as your reputation preceeded you and you are just as friendly, personable and so generous with your sharing of wisdom for the good of the industry. THANK you for participating and being such a huge presence for all of us. YES, next time, I've got the spot reserved for us next to each other at dinner. You are just amazing. I do agree by the way about Phyllis' photo and thought the same about you. You are so genuinely adorable in person, this photo does not do you justice either.
OHHH have fun on the cruise and get your much needed rest.
Melissa, all of us from New York, New Jersey, CT and PA who attended this week's Expo, can't thank YOU enough for coming to join us. Everything you wrote about the others is true and then some! There are some true heroes in our industry and the majority were there on Wednesday this week.
I, however, am not one of them. It is American Furniture Rental who made me look good this week. Claire Andia is a whiz at event planning. She got immediately my concept and beautifully empowered the mission of Stagers List, while tempering AFR's corporate agenda and mine for the staging industry in this region.
We do not HAVE to be the battered, beleaguered region,buffeted by every Wall Street whim and New England cynicism that staging is just another scam coming at them. But more on my conclusions over the weekend, when my husband can take my son and I can think quietly to share the very many lessons there were!
Terrylynn - you are too kind!! I'll look forward to that dinner and guess I'll see you when StagersList is in Tampa next year if not before..
Juliet - I think you are being overly modest. You did an amaxing job and we all know it!!! I do agree that Claire and Andia did a great job as well. Again, from both a personal and professional level - thank you so much!
Ok, that's it.... I have a 10am appointment (and it is 9am now) then I'm gone..... no AR for a week. How weird that will be!!!
Sounds like it was a success, I'm so glad all of you were able to get together. Have a safe, fun trip!
Melissa - I agree all the way around. Thank you for taking the time to fly up and join us. Your input was amazing. Your business model is exactly what stagers need to hear and that you were so open and giving about it just says it all. The audience was spellbound when you talked about your numbers and newsletters. AND you are a delight to talk to.
We have SEVEN more StagersLIST.com Expos in the works and and you have an open invitiation to all of them and participation would be fantastic! Having Kate there to share her wisdom was an added bonus!
I would say more but I am crafted my own blog to reach out and share the love.
Safe travels and enjoy...I a so jealous. We need StagersLIST.com Expo on a CRUISE SHIP!! WHEW!!!! Terrylynn we need to get working on that :)
Melissa,
WOW WOW and WOW. I don't think I can ever put into words on amazing these EXPOS have been!!! I too agree friends for life!!! You are an AMAZING, PERSON, MOM, BUSINESS WOMEN, ENTREPRENEUR, STAGER, FRIEND, ETC You have IT together!!!
I am exhausted after only getting 7hours of sleep since Monday with 36 and 38 hours of binging on no sleep. But I am still so jazzed. I will post more later and talk about some of the "wheelin and dealin". Good no, GREAT things are coming!!
Shell
After meeting Melissa at the recent IRIS conference and getting huge information and inspiriation at her seminar, I was sooo jealous that this expo was all the way on the East Coast! And Shell too is such an inspiring dynamo!
I hope one of the Stager's List Expos that are in the works is in my neck of the woods! But you wouldn't have to twist my arm too hard to attend a cruise. What a blast that would be!
Melissa, have a wonderful trip and savor the time you will be "disconnected"!
sounds like a great time was had by all! Enjoy your time away Melissa. You know you'll miss us, we already miss you!!
Can't add much to these comments, it was in a word phenomenal. Way over 100 stagers and good learning by all. Fun and games Melissa, connect when you get back. We'll miss your smile on AR
I echo all the sentiments - it was a fabulous evnet - everyone was wonderful how they shared information and worked to gether to make not only this event great but collaboration of movers and shakers of the industry working together to build a better tomorrow for all:) amazing and priceless
Have fun and enjoy yourself!!!!!
Bon Voyage, enjoy your time away and recharge your batteries.
It's always hard for me to break away from the phone and computer, but it's a must to renew and reenergize. I hope you have an awesome vacation!
I'm baaaacccckkkk...... thanks for the great comments by everyone. I just thought I would pop my head in here tonight. I had plenty of time to re-energize, get my thoughts in order and have some awesome plans ahead. Thanks for the support!
Hey you, welcome back... Hope you had a really good time on your trip.
Melissa - Hope you have a safe and memorable get-a-way.