Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Campbell.
Hi Kristin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In May of 2009, I was laid off from my position as a Meeting & Event Planner. I had been in the travel industry for close to 20 years, and the economy during this time, well, it was termed The Great Recession. There weren’t any jobs available in my field, so I took some time off to do a bit of soul searching. While watching HGTV one day, I saw a commercial about becoming a certified home stager. The lightbulb went off in my head – home staging would be a perfect blend of two of my passions: organizing and decorating. I immediately started to research various resources on how I could get my training and certification. I landed on a “go-at-your-own-pace” online course through Home Staging Resource.
Just as I was about to begin my training, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I had two surgeries at the very beginning of 2010 to remove my entire thyroid. I also encountered complications, including a permanently paralyzed right vocal cord and a re-occurrence of cancer within the first couple of years. My business grew very slowly as I was also needing to deal with my health issues.
In spite of these issues, I completed my training and became a Certified Home Stager/Redesigner within three months. I officially launched Organized Homes & Staging by Kristin in April of 2010.
In the early years of my business, I focused mainly on home staging and organizing. I built relationships with some area realtors who started to use my services; mostly offering a home staging consultation to their sellers, but also doing a bit of vacant staging work.
After almost 10 years in business, things started to shift. I eliminated the organizing and vacant home staging services that I was offering and put my focus into design. Around this time, I also became a Certified E-Designer. E-Design is an easy and affordable way for a home or business owner to bring their dream space to life! Everything is done online!
In June of 2021, I made the decision to re-brand my business to better reflect how I had shifted much more into the design world. This is when Kristin Therese Designs was born! Although I still offer home staging consultations, the majority of my business comes from various design work: large and small projects such as color consultations, a variety of home updates including kitchen and bath remodels, one-room E-Design projects, etc.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at all. The first struggle was being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in December of 2009, just as I had made the decision to go through a Home Staging training program. The second struggle was the economy. So many people were underwater in their homes, the last thing they wanted to do was spend money on a home stager.
Another struggle was adjusting to working from home and needing to be self-motivating. I was used to working at a large corporate company – one that was high energy, high stress, often working with tight deadlines. Now I was working from home and wasn’t swamped with a bunch of client work in the early days. I had also never run my own business, so I was learning new things weekly. I manage every aspect of my business, so I was now responsible for everything: sales, accounting, my website and social media, marketing, networking, doing the actual work, etc.
Being a solopreneur led me to start up a local chapter of the national Real Estate Staging Association (RESA). In July of 2016, I was one of the founders and the first President of the RESA Minneapolis Area Chapter. It has been a wonderful organization and so helpful to have a network of fellow stagers and designers to lean on and learn from. We won chapter of the year in 2021, and I am happy to be back on the board in 2023 as the President-Elect.
We’ve been impressed with Kristin Therese Designs, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My passion is helping people love the space they’re in, which I do through my E-Design and Home Decorating services. My clients love the ease of working with me on E-Design – where I’m able to create beautiful custom room designs to fit all styles and budgets! Many of my Home Decorating projects include helping to select updates such as new paint colors for exteriors and interiors, updated finishes such as flooring, cabinets and countertops, refresh the look of a home by re-styling bookcases, arranging artwork and home decor, outline furniture arrangements that make sense for both the space and how it is utilized and shop for key new décor to create beautiful interiors. In 2019, I also added Airbnb/Rental Property Staging to my list of successful projects!
I also have almost 13 years of experience in conducting successful Home Staging Consultations for people who will be living in their home while it’s on the market. Included in the consultation is a detailed written report that walks the homeowner through exactly how to best prepare their home for selling.
Certified E-Designer, Certified Color Expert, Certified Home Stager/Redesigner.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love to help home and business owners with any of their home updates and decorating needs. I’m well-networked with other small businesses, such as contractors and painters, as well as resources for finding the materials and items to complete your home improvement projects.
I’m always looking for talented, reliable vendors to partner with, such as contractors, builders, painters, handyman services, carpet and floor installers, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kristintheresedesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristintheresedesigns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristintheresedesigns
- Other: https://www.houzz.com/pro/campbell10/__public
Image Credits
OmniSence Digital
Kristin Campbell
Jen Carlson Photography, LLC
Denise Bauer Photography
Spacecrafting
