Cindy Answers: What Staging Course Should I Take?

photo: DoBeRaGi
From: Ms. D

Subject: Advice for budding stager

Hi Cindy,

My name is [Ms. D] and I am what you would call a budding stager who has a flair for design and is passionate about interior design.
I’ve been reading your blogs and have been inspired by your beliefs and accomplishments. I wonder if you can share some of your wisdom with this newbie. Which home staging course would you recommend? There are so many! Did the course have practical training? Would you recommend specific videos or book?
I am not interested in pursuing a home staging business right now. Instead I would like to work with a group of home stagers and learn by experience. I really believe you learn by doing.
Thank you in advance for your time and help! I sincerely appreciate your advice.Sincerely,
[Ms. D]*** *** ***

Hi Ms. D

I would recommend a nationally recognized staging course, because the bigger the company is, the more liability and responsibility they must have to answer to their students and consumers. I am about to take CSP as continue education this weekend, and so far I have heard wonderful things about it.

I also think it’s all depending on what you want your niche to be and how strong you are in terms of business skills. A lot of staging courses really focus more on the business side, which ASP was when I took it in early 2006. I think they have since added more design elements into their course, but frankly you learn best from working in the fields. I personally took ASP first, the strong alumni network and industry connections really helped me to get started.

I then took IRIS course because I felt that ASP course then didn’t cover as much design stuff as I wanted to learn. But my local teachers were total ASP-haters and have repeatedly put me on the spot in front of the class to talk about the course while criticizing Barb Schwarz, founder of ASP, Staged Homes Inc. critically. It was a very uncomfortable situation since I am very grateful to Barb for introducing me to staging when I was working as a very unsuccessful agent. I have since met many wonderful IRIS stagers in my blogger career.

Last year I took ASPM training from Barb and that was interesting. I got to know Barb a little bit more and took away some ideas. But it mainly strengthened my network within the organization. I am very excited to go to convention this year to see all the familiar faces again and to network with other ASPMs.

I chose CSP class (which I am taking this weekend) largely because I believe in continue education and I want to learn from other teachers and learn some new tricks to freshen my staging. This particular course I am taking this weekend is taught by the founder of CSP and it is only for people who have been in the business for awhile. So I am very excited about that! I have heard from others that it is very vigorous and intense, WHICH I LOVE OF COURSE!

I must also say that how successful you will be as a home stager largely depends on your business skills and the strength of your network, just like any other small businesses. ASP & IRIS got me started, but it is really working in the fields that teach me the most, such as my personal limits, my strength and weakness (physically and mentally ) and just learning how to be a human being juggling life and business. I have enjoyed having multiple letters hanging behind my name despite the controversies surrounding the different staging courses, I enjoy meeting stagers from different lettering backgrounds, and stagers who no longer wear their designations on their sleeves. I TRULY believe that your business is your business, all the other drama and fighting words amongst the staging schools really have nothing to do with you. As long as you treat people right, you can sleep tight at the end of the night, and you can support yourself & your family with your business in honest and open ways, then THAT’S ALL IT MATTERS. I came from 3 generations of small business owners, having strong ethics are very important to me.

I also strongly believe that EVERYONE I MEET, EVEN CLIENTS, INTERNS, MY ASSISTANTS, VENDORS, WHOEVER, IS MY TEACHER. I learn something new everyday in my journey as a small business owner.

Overall I feel very blessed with my life and my journeys so far. I also feel very honored of you thinking of me when you have questions. I definitely recommend to start under someone else when you first begin to build portfolio and experiences. I wish I had that kind of experiences! Additionally it will help you to see the industry in your area, and learn the ropes of the business. Then you can decide if you still want to work under someone or open up your own shop.

I do have to throw word of cautions to you: it looks very easy and glamorous when you are not the boss. The overheads, stress, financial issues, taxes, IRS, funding, worker’s comp and all the other pressure you face as a small business owner can be daunting and depressing. I am moving into a 3600 square feet warehouse in a month, it’s all very exciting, but rent is also high (!). Those are the things you need to think about when you feel that you are ready to make that leap.

Lastly, BEING NICE PAYS. Never be mean to someone (unless you have to ). Apologize when you need to. And ALWAYS HAVE FUN.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Cheers,
Cindy

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