HS Staging
Centre
Our Reason For Being
HS Staging Center is a centralized Stager's facility for all Calgary and surrounding area Stagers.
A place where we come together, helping each other with growing our businesses.
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much” Helen Keller
Let me share with you a defining moment that brought me to where I am today.
After taking my CSP training 8 years ago, I was highly motivated to create a successful staging business, finally doing something that I love to do with the freedom of making it my own. It wasn’t until into my second year in business that I started waking up in the middle of the night with the “3 am sweats”. How was I going to get everything done? The more I laid there, the longer the list became and with that, my anxiety grew. I wasn’t about to admit defeat. There must be a better way to work smarter not harder instead of feeling like a hamster on a wheel, trying desperately to get everything done and still have time for my family and myself. One frustrating day, I called my sweet friend and mentor Darcy Anderson to ask her advice. Darcy, now retired, had run a very successful staging business for many years and is known in Calgary as an incredible friend and mentor. Darcy told me she also had the same issues, "Unless you hire someone to do some of the daily tasks for you, you will always be chasing your tail." What Darcy said got me thinking, 'do we all face the same issues?' I began calling other stagers and explained my ongoing dilemma. They all seemed to have the same problem regardless if they have been in staging for 1 year or 10 years, Coming to this realization, the idea of a centre made for Stagers was born. A place that not only saves Stagers money by allowing them to spend their energy on the revenue generating activities, but gives them time back to enjoy the things that mean most to them. The past two years have been spent carefully planning, interviewing many Stagers across Canada and the USA, and talking with warehousing facilities. HS Staging Centre has transformed not only into a place to help Stagers with their business but a Staging Community. It's a place where Stagers can unite together, support one another, where we can lift each other up so we can grow our dreams.
Tricia Stojke
Unite. Support. Grow
Problems all Stager's have
After surveying 65 stagers in Calgary and the surrounding area, I asked two questions "What is getting in your way?" and "What would you love help with?"
And to no surprise, we are all facing the same issues.
Question 1
Name the 3 biggest things getting in your way of success. The most common responses were:
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Warehouse space and cost
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Cost of inventory
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Warehousing the inventory
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Inventory Management
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Time Management
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Delivery and Mover cost
Question 2
What 3 things would you love help with?
The most common responses were
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Getting all the administration done
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Growing the business
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Social Media Management
How much time do Stagers spend weekly on their business activities
When surveying the Stagers, we asked how many hours per week they spend on business activities.
Based on a 40 hour work week, the average Stager spends approximately 10-15 hours per week on activities that cost them money, but spends very little time on the activities that make money (staging, inventory management, networking) and even less time on themselves.
I want you to stop and ask yourself, “If I could have 10-15 hours back per week, what would I do?”
How HS Staging Centre Can Help
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Providing a staging community where Stagers can come together to help achieve your business goals
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Creating powerful supportive partnerships
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Making shared warehousing space available to decrease warehousing costs but still giving you room to grow
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Maximizing the utilization of your inventory through a shared rental pool so that you can expand your inventory together, while generating a 2nd form of income
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Saving you time looking for inventory through Our Online Inventory Catalogue
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Helping you with inventory management
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Helping you find an Staging Assistant through our Assistant’s List
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Helping you save time with destaging
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Partnering up with some of the best Staging Trainers who can help you with all aspects of your business and make you stand out
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Offering job shadowing through some of our best Calgary stagers that have been in the biz for over 7yrs
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Creating networking opportunities to help you set up a referral system
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Keeping up with the trends for home furnishings, HS has partnered up with some wholesalers who you can purchase through at wholesale pricing
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Referring with photographers, house cleaners, flooring companies, movers, general contractors just to name a few
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Being able to spend your time more efficiently so you actually have MORE time to do the things you love
Who We Love To Work With
Imagine never feeling isolated or losing your creativity because you have the inspiration you need to keep going.
When you surround yourself with people who know what you’re going through, you gain the opportunity to learn from a diverse set of opinions and ideas that you would never encounter alone. Just being in proximity of such a whirlwind of knowledge means that you can constantly challenge yourself to think creatively and reconsider what you know.
Although we may be at different stages of our journeys, as a Staging Company we do understand what you’re going through. It takes a lot of mental, emotional and physical energy, but having someone, let alone a whole community of people, to talk to about your journey can be all you need to keep moving ahead.
HS Staging Centre works with Calgary and surrounding area Stagers regardless how many years you have been staging. We love working with Stagers who are absolutely excited and serious about their business. We love working with Stagers who want to end “the 3 am sweats”, not waking up in the middle of the night anymore thinking “how will I ever get everything done?” We love working with Stagers who want to lower their outgoing costs while increasing their profit. And we love working with Stagers who want to work smarter not harder.
The Warehouse
Warehousing space was one of the top 3 business struggles that Stagers stated from the survey we conducted.
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Almost all Stagers voiced that they were quickly running out of room and required a larger space, however due to costs could not afford it. Stagers reported paying approximately between $300 - $2,500.00 per month for storage.
The purpose of the warehouse is to create a holding area for Stagers to store their inventory. We all share the cost of the warehouse helping to decrease warehousing cost while still having room to grow our businesses.
Shared Rental Pool
Imagine just sitting down on your sofa to plan your next job instead of having to run all over town to find the right pieces?
By pooling furnishings and other inventory, Stagers can stage every home appropriately and affordably through our online line catalogue without having to run around purchasing costly inventory.
With a shared rental pool, Stagers can expand their inventory together, maximize the utilization of their inventory by renting to each other. No one wants to see the same furniture moved from home to home! By staging with the right furniture for each style and price-point, we can help each other with exceptional designs. Everyone benefits. Plus it's a whole lot more fun!
But of course if you want to come in to say hello and hand pick your items you are always welcome.
Inventory Management
We surveyed 65 Stagers and only 2 used an inventory management system, but not to its full potential. All surveyed stagers only do quick repairs/cleaning of inventory on the job site.
98% of stagers answered No to the following
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Know what their inventory depreciation is for tax purposes
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What inventory you can use for tax purposes
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Know what inventory costs you vs makes you in revenue
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How to figure out the right rental rate (the rental rate formula)
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How to figure out when inventory is paid for and is earning you money
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Know what items to sell off (the typical answer was items that have been sitting on the shelf for a long time and when they can get around to it).
Your inventory is one of the top things that makes you money. So why do you not have better management over it?
To help you with inventory management HS will do the following
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Track rental items for stagers, where items are and when they are returning
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Manage rental agreements
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Track and collect rental payments for you
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Report on Inventory depreciation (tax time)
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Report on what items make money vs costing money
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Help you to decide what to sell off in yearly warehouse sale
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Ensure all inventory is on delivery truck
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Fix clean and repair inventory
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Ensure inventory is available for rental pool within 48 hours of destage time. This gives us time to properly clean the inventory so it can go back out
Inventory Management Cost
Cost for Inventory management will be at 45-55 split. The Stager will earn 55% of the rental income where 45% of rental income will stay with HS Staging Centre. The 45% will cover: - Staffing: One full time warehouse manager, One part time warehouse employee, and One office manger - Packing materials, accessories bins, furniture wrap -Repair kits, cleanings kits and tools -Inventory Systems fees:Inputting and keeping all inventory current and up to date, Photos and measurements of inventory for system, Relabeling (if needed) as inventory comes back - Administration - Our quarterly networking and marketing events
Inventory Rental Cost Example
These prices are examples only! Set Rental cost will be based on rental formula
Additional Services
Movers
Three smaller moving companies will facilitate deliveries and pick ups. We will have a flat fee with these movers that includes both delivery and pick ups. Deliveries include full delivery and pick up, one time placement and set up of furniture (beds, tables etc.). If you require the movers to move furniture around longer than their scheduled time frame you will be charged the extra time. Self loading is no charge if you choose to bring your own crew of movers. To protect the furniture, it is required to have the proper equipment. ( enclosed vehicle, blankets, straps, ties, etc.) All packing items are available for monthly rental if needed. (i.e., Blankets/$6 - Strap/$12 - Bins/$5) All items must be returned in condition received. You are is responsible for the damages occurred during unloading and returning orders.
Destages
Don't have time or like to destage? Don’t worry, we love this part! We will come pack everything up for you. We will require your presence at the property to let our crew in and we require your signature stating items are now back with HS. We do ask you to email us 7 days in advance for destaging for us to arrange movers and our destage team. Destaging Cost $190.00 for furniture rentals under $2,400.00 (this cost does not include movers) $275.00 for furniture rentals above $2,400.00 (this cost does not include movers)
Staging Trainers
We have partnered up with some of the industry's top staging instructors. These trainers have all been in your shoes with their own staging companies so if you feel stuck on something they have been there. These instructors are truly amazing, transparent and unquestionably helpful when it comes to any aspect of running a Staging Business. They all provide a 15 minute discovery call at no charge to understand how much guidance you want with your business.
Staging Assistants
Sometimes we just need an extra set of hands on a job or maybe we have double booked a couple of jobs and need someone to help out. Any stagers can add their names to the Assistant List for any Stagers to be able to call. Stagers must have the following to be able to put their name on their list -Certified Staging Course -Business Insurance -Operational company to be paid as a sub-contractor
Yearly Warehouse Sale
Once a year, this is an opportunity for stagers to sell off any stock that they don’t want or use anymore. Sales will take place at the warehouse and each stager is responsible for the sale of their own items (pricing, selling, any money exchange). We are planning the Warehouse sale for Mid to Late October as staging projects typically seem to slow down and design projects are picking up.
Job Shadowing Program
Job Shadowing Program is for any new stager who can go along with an experienced stager for a day staging. The experienced stager will instruct the new stager on the how's and whys of staging a property. Cost is $450.00 for the new stager The experienced stager will receive $350.00 for their time of instruction
Inventory Wholesale
Collectively Stagers will be able shop through our preferred wholesale vendors for inventory purchasing. We will be placing orders once a year prior to the Yearly Warehouse Sale to account for shipping times to replenish stock that has been sold off.
Preferred Vendors List
Not sure where to go when you need something for your client’s staging project? HS has partnered up with photographers, house cleaners, flooring companies, movers, general contractors, plumbers, painters and landscaping stagers just to name a few. If you have a company that you love to work with please let us know and we are happy to add them to the list.
FAQs
Why should I choose to come into a staging pool? Choosing to be part of a Shared Rental pool is where you can expand your inventory selection. You are able to maximize the utilization of your inventory by renting to other Stagers instead of it sitting in your warehouse. Also, this way everyone can stage every home appropriately and affordably and aren’t limited by what they can afford. We help each other with exceptional designs. Everyone benefits. Plus it's a whole lot more fun!
Where will the warehouse be located? Current location is TBD. We are looking at a few different warehouses throughout North Calgary between McKinght and 32nd Ave
How big is the facility? We are currently looking at a 5000 square foot warehouse with the possibility of leasing more space if required.
Are there rental minimums? There is no minimum quantity or dollar amount to meet when you rent. You can stage the entire home with the Shared Rental Pool and are more than welcome to rent a single chair, a piece of art, or just a pillow! There is an initial MINIMUM 30-day rental for every item, even if you only need it for a day or week. After the first 30 days, you are only charged in bi-weekly increments for the items that you are renting.
Do I have to pay rent on my own inventory? Yes you will have to pay rent on your own furniture. The rental fee is to cover all inventory management cost
What happens if my inventory is damaged? No different from what you are currently doing. If inventory is damaged the Stager that has rented your inventory is responsible to either pay for the repairs or replace the damaged inventory. There is a clause in the rental agreement. We will inspect all inventory coming back into the warehouse to make sure there is no damages.
When and how do I pay? When you submit your online order, you will provide your credit card at checkout (we only accept VISA or MasterCard). The charge will be for the first 30-day rental. Sales tax, delivery services (if applicable) and a Bin fee of $5 per bin will be included in your total. (The bin fee will be reimbursed back to you once the bins are returned to the warehouse)
How long can I place a hold on an item? You can hold an item 9 days prior to your scheduled delivery date. 3 days prior to your scheduled delivery date you will not be able to change your order.
What if I want to keep rentals longer than 30 days? Renewals are automatically pre-billed for 14 days on day 31 of your rental period if items have not been returned or a destage request has not been made. Destage requests must be submitted at least 7 days in advance of the date requested. Your destage request must be confirmed or you will continue to be charged for pre-billed renewals. If a partial return is made, you will only be billed for the items you are still renting. If you have already received confirmation of your destage, but would like to extend the rental period, you will be charged the pre-billed 7-day amount until your request for a new destage has been confirmed.
Can I keep the rentals and move to another property? Yes. It will be rented out as a new property so new rental agreement must be signed and if you require Movers there will be a new charge.
What if I only want to use the warehouse but do not want to rent to other stagers? You are more than welcome to store your items in the warehouse. You pay for the space you require and we will separate your inventory from the rental pool. You will be responsible for your own inventory management, racking, movers, packing of inventory and putting away. Inventory must be put away within a 2 hour time frame of being brought back to the warehouse. HS is not responsible for any damaged inventory
What if my sofa is out and it's the one the realtor wants me to use? You rent another sofa and why are you letting the realtor dictate what furniture is being used in the property?
I do not want my inventory to be rented to occupied homes. You are in control of where your inventory is going and what type of home it is being put into. For occupied homes we will have furniture available for them however there will be a deep cleaning fee put into the rental cost. Example A sofa rented out for a vacant property would be $125. A sofa rented out for a occupied property will be $150.00
What is stopping Homeowners and Realtors from coming in to rent? We will rent directly to Homeowners or Realtors as we are all currently renting our inventory to them directly now. However, we have a 10% increase on each inventory piece for Homeowners or Realtors if they are not a Certified Staging Company. We will let them know that only Stagers get a discount in hopes that they will go with a Stager instead of doing it themselves. Example Homeowner/Realtor comes in to rent a sofa for their occupied home. Sofa rental for a stager is $150.00 sofa rental for a Homeowner/Realtor will be $165.00
I want to use my own inventory and renting someone else's inventory will cost me $$ Actually you are still making money if your inventory is rented out and you have to rent someone else's Your sofa rented you earn $90.00 Your rent someone's sofa @$150.00 You charge rent to the client @$157.50 (5% markup on rental) Your TOTAL Revenue is $97.50 Also renting someone else's inventory increases your portfolio diversification as you are not using the same items over and over again.
What if I don't want to stage anymore will you still rent out my furniture? Its up to you if you would like to continue with renting out your inventory we are happy to keep it in the Rental Pool
Let's Chat!
OK, You know you want to be part of this extraordinary community but how do you get started?
To start call or email us to arrange a time to chat about next steps and what will work best for you in terms of where you want to take your business. We’ll set up a day and time to go over any questions that you have and view your inventory so we know how much space is required. Then we will set your move-in day.
Did you know that one of the most prominent characteristics of successful people is that successful people take action? You have a vision for your business with big goals and are highly motivated to succeed. Let us help you achieve all of your goals!
Tricia's Direct Line 403-966-3417
Unite. Support. Grow