I write this today from a personal note as I feel like I have to defend myself for writing a previous blog that was meant to inspire not criticize. When I posted my piece about the responsibility that training companies have to the staging industry it was originally meant to be a celebration of what we here at Stage it Forward as stagers have accomplished- the first ever joining together of stagers across the nation to discuss issues facing the industry regardless of designation or affiliation.
I thought the response to the blog was actually positive. Two major staging training companies offered to work with other companies in an effort to find some common ground. A discussion was started that hopefully will bear results in the future.
Those of you that take the time to read my work know that I am not anti-designation or anti-education. If anything I have dedicated myself to educating others in the staging industry and continue to do so on the local and national level with my coaching program and seminars. I made the choice not to affiliate myself with a designation because I want people to realize that there is no ONE designation for stagers. There are many that are valuable and that people should be proud to have earned, but I want to remain neutral so I can be a sounding board for others.
The message that was missed in that post was this:
"But the stagers that have joined SIF know that until we are willing to reach across the chasm and share with other stagers, this industry cannot reach the tipping point where it will come main stream. Until we are willing to get over our fear that some other stager will "steal "our secrets we cannot make people take us seriously. "
This is what concerns me the most:
Some people do not understand why stagers would want to meet at the round tables to meet and share a voice. People are concerned about submitting staging stats, scared of who will hold the data and who will have the information. I am not suggesting that asking questions is wrong- I too have some of the same concerns as Michelle Minch about the collection of information and I applaud her for taking the time to write such a thorough and thought provoking post- but what I am asking is for people to change the way that they approach their thinking and consider this:
The staging industry will not exist as an industry unless staging professionals gather together and meet to determine a common voice, a common goal, and some common language. Without unity it will continue to be small staging businesses acting alone. Without meeting together it will still be one designation of stagers opposed to another designation of stagers. Don't we all have the same goals? To have successful business, to services our clients and to make sure that there is a future for our industry?
I am not suggesting that we become "Robo-Stagers" who do everything the same. I am not suggesting that we do not compete for business with other stagers- competition makes us strive to provide better service. I am also not suggesting any sort of national standards for pricing- we as stagers know that each property is a unique project and there is no cookie cutter formula for service.
What I am suggesting is that we trust each other. And listen. And learn. And for 2 hours really talk about what the future of staging will be, should be and CAN be. What I hope is that we can let go of our fear, our egos, our affiliations and stop and think. We are on the brink of something amazing. We have the power to make a change in the way that consumers market and sell their homes. We have the power to change the Real Estate Industry!
It is not all kumbaya. It is not a kool-aid fest. It is a chance to change the culture that we operate in. It is a chance to embrace what is new and what is different. It is a chance to grow a future and let go of the fear.
Today I took that step. And today another stager in my area took that step towards me too. She called me to talk about a client that she bid against me on. She had a problem with him and wanted my advice. We talked for almost an hour. We shared concerns, shared ideas, and shared some laughs. And for a moment I did not feel so alone. For a moment I did not feel so protective. For a moment I did not feel like I was the only one running a small business. For a moment I let go of the fear.
And then I went back to staging . KH
Kate,
It seems your posts are often misunderstood. I don't know why - I think you are very clear with what you are expressing. I don't find you to be a "Negative Nelly". I think you just make some interesting points. I'm behind you 100% - Keep voicing your opinion!
Kate,
WOW, does your conviction come thru in your words.
I share a similar conviction in the words I first wrote over a year ago. At the time is seemed like a revolutionary concept amongst the stagers already assembled on AR who then became the foundation members of Stage It Forward.
This is what I wrote....
They say the "imitation is the best form of flattery" and I have seen other groups adopt similar platforms and I am thrilled.
I could have attacked the others and said that "this was MY idea first." And going on to say something like "How dare you use MY ideas and call them yours." But what would that achieve? I didn't and won't. WHY? Because the more of us that DO sincerely embrace these core foundational ideas, the faster we all move toward it. I hoped others would embrace this and repeat this... in what ever way they wanted.
But as something rises up there will be those that try to tear it down. Some will strike hard and while others will taking small insidious pokes and jabs. We must learn to move along, not to be side tracked.
I wrote this earlier... and I think this is another great place to share the same sentiment:
I sincerely believe this. I also believe that we can do more than just survive... both stagers and the industry can THRIVE. It was this belief that informed me to write those words "yesterday" and these words today.
Me
My dear friend and staging sister, Yvonne Root, summed it up superbly in an email message recently. Here's what she wrote: "When we twist all of our cords together then we will have strength like never before." I couldn't agree more.
Unity is key, regardless of designations, certifications, accreditations or lack thereof. Together we're better.
How simple.
Kathy
Kate,
I totally agree with all you have to say! I have been working locally to unite a group of home stagers to work TOGETHER on marketing, education, etc. Sure, some of these people will be our "competition" but look at all the other industries that band together for the common good of their business - builders, realtors, etc. They are sometimes bidding the same jobs but can stand united and gain much by it!
Kate. I am going to put a whole different twist on this. This happens in other venues too. I have been involved with animal rescue for 12 years now. I have been a volunteer, a coordinator, board member, media person, councillor, etc. There are several National Organizations that claim the best training, the best support and the best mission. For years there has been a grass roots effort to align a common goal with all the organizations. Hurricane Ivan, there were differentiated groups. Sri Lanka, 3 different groups an different sides of the Island. San Bernardino Fires 2003, several different groups who set up close to each other but didn't work together. Hurricane Katrina... we "started" to work together on a common cause. SCal Fires recently... there were several groups working side by side in the trenches, performing rescues, caring for animals as well as their owners. No one cared what color shirt they were wearing, no one cared what training they received, they worked together on a common cause.... and they made huge progress. A new focus and a new goal for National Rescue. What a concept.
We can move forward with respect and integrity for a common cause. To promote staging by professionals regardless of what color "shirt" we wear. I will work in the trenches with anyone who believes in themselves, who truly wants the best for others, and believes the power of Staging on a universal level. Stage it forward everyone!
Kate,
You are so right on. Staging is the piece that has been missing from real estate marketing since the beginning of time. If we are to push this over the tipping point we all have to work together. And there are so many ways to collaborate. Keep it up!
Kate - OK, I'm in. You're right, alone I'm one small tiny island - as a part of a whole, I still get to maintain being an island and yet belong to something much larger.
Lori, you have yourself another blog post there.
Jackie
Lori - I have almost 20 years of experience working on national and international level, I know exactly what you mean.
Jackie
Kate-
RESA backs youo 100% and so do I personally. RESA is about UNITY and so is Stage it Forward. I support the round table discussions 100% and encourage people to get invovled. Join RESA or join a Round Table Discussion or both! Support each other, learn from each other raise the bar!
IN fact from your post on training providers we are getting alot of feedback on our Approved training Provider program, HSR, First Impressions, CSP and Smart are all working together to work on our education committee to determine the standards that should be taught in staging. I think you had a great post and I can't find anything that was negative. Kee up the good work and Stage It Forward
In my day job, I'm an administrator at a University who frequently goes to state, regional, and national conferences. At those conferences we hold sessions and presentations with the INTENT of sharing information so that others may apply it to their respective campuses. We have replication seminars and workshops and do use a common, not standard language regarding our work, all the while acknowledging that not every campus is the same. And though one may say that a university is non-profit, let me assure you that higher education can be just as competitive and political as corporate america. The fight for grants, book deals, promotions, speaking engagements and yes even the development of publications and software that could be individually profitable is enormous! Most institutions hire lobbyist to get a political and financial edge.
When I began my staging business, I thought I would have the same opportunity to network with colleagues, share information and feel free to replicate any interesting ideas. I felt alone and almost wanted to give up. When I wanted to gain a little insight from others about what I was going through, they either wanted money or offered a cold shoulder. I consider myself a competitive person, but also a sharing individual. And I believe that there is enough work out there for all of us. I'm not afraid of competition and I love friendly competition. If I can not do a job or the job is too far from me, I refer them to another stager who may be closer. Usually when I do that, I get a call the next day or within the week for a project in my area. We mustn't be afraid to allow the industry to thrive. Regarding certifications and designations, I believe that one has a right to get any certification or designation available, just be ethical in your practices. I would, however, love to have some ethical standards that everyone can share no matter what the designation or certification may be. In my day job, we call those "Core Values" or "Assumptions and Beliefs" and a good number of institutions include these in their handbooks, professional development materials, conference programs and on their websites or in the form of plaques on the wall.
I am very happy to have found Active Rain. I'm a AR newbie and have mentioned this network to so many people. I have been welcomed by many and I can find so much information here. I'm addicted already! I look forward to see how all of this develops.
Kate, a terrific blog. As someone who does know you a little more than from AR, I do not misunderstand...you simply have a passion that gets people fired up. That is a talent and it brings people together too, as evidenced by these roundtables. I applaud your efforts on this as it will bring us out and give us a voice. We are all over the country, many of us afraid to speak up and let our wishes be known and not realizing that the rest of us have felt out here alone too. The Roundtables are a great way to gather information about what the "industry" wants. We are the industry. Yes, we are. Professional stagers need not fear, we are finding our voice and those who can't compete will go away. Competition makes us hone our craft and ultimately the consumer wins. That is GOOD for the industry and stagers everywhere, regardless of designation.
Lori - so right, we are witnessing the evolution of an organization.
Yvonne - I am proud to "twist our cords" as our numbers will make us stronger.
Nancy - Realtors "get it" we have lived in a competitive atmosphere for many years and it strenghtens us all. Stagers were a rarity in a community so that they didn't have much competition for a while, but this is a good thing as you state.
I sincerely hope that the Roundtables will bring forward issues and take them to RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) and allow RESA to be the member driven vehicle and our lobby for change and enhancement of our status in the real estate realm. I truly believe that a member driven trade association will take us to another level and it's only when we join forces regardless of designation that the public will take us seriously too. Carry on all, you make me proud to be a stager. Terrylynn:-)
Kate,
Can't wait to be at the Round Table! You have taught me so much about the Staging Industry, and I'm anxious to learn and share with others.
Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging
Hey Kate
I think that as this industry grows (and it is growing), so will our businesses and there are just so many days and so many hours in one week, that it will be impossible for just one stager to do it all. What I have noticed is that alot of my competition has been contacting me and they are looking to get together to share ideas and offer help to me or have me help them when they are overbooked. They all have expressed that it is hard to find another stager they could trust with their work
I would LOVE to see this happen where we can have a referral program so as NOT to lose business but to keep staging homes and watching them sell. This will take time because YES we need to be willing to share with and help one another. I am hoping that this will be a HUGE turning point in 2008, I wait with bated breath, as I am sure many do with the Staging It Forward Round Table discussions.
Merry Christmas and to a Properous 2008, God Bless, Phyllis Pafumi
Phyllis, I was thinking this was a new post and see I commented before, but perhaps it is a topic better kept alive so thanks for bringing it back to my attention.
Kate, LOVE the photo with the boys, such a lovely bunch, and I know in person you are lovely in spirit too. Thanks for continuing to speak the controversial things that need to be said to move us forward. I am still 100% behind you. Have a wonderful Holiday. Terrylynn:-)