Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Griffo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amanda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard
Yes. I offer an affordable option for people looking to update their space. Whether that be home, office, or commercial properties.
Amanda, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Upon graduating from The University of New Mexico’s business program in 2015, I began receiving job offers, but my original plan was to attend graduate school. However, as I evaluated my options, I realized I didn’t want to work extensive hours solely to build someone else’s vision. I took time to consider my true passions—food and design.
While interior design appealed to me, I recognized the economic challenges of pursuing it in Albuquerque compared to larger cities. At the same time, I saw an opportunity in the city’s limited tearoom scene, where the only option was expensive and traditional. Inspired, I envisioned a unique approach to the classic afternoon tea experience: affordable, modern, and infused with a whimsical touch that would blend my love of food and interior design.
With the money I had saved for grad school, I opened a contemporary and whimsical tearoom in 2015, offering a fresh, accessible take on afternoon tea in Albuquerque.
Designing the tearoom was such an inspiring experience that it ignited my desire to pursue more creative projects. Realizing I was ready for a new chapter, I decided to sell the business. Remarkably, it sold within three days of listing. I used the proceeds to invest in real estate, allowing me to design and decorate my own Airbnb properties. This transition also opened opportunities to work with both residential and commercial clients, offering them affordable design services. By doing this work for the joy it brings, I’m able to provide cost-effective yet high-quality solutions for my clients.
We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.
I sold the tearoom after 8 fun, successful, and hard working years. I used bizbuysell. It was $500 to post the sale on their website. I received three full price offer with a few days. I chose the buyer that I had the best connection with and it has been a great experience. It took 5 months to get the deal closed. There was a lot of paperwork and details to work out. I had a lawyer draw up the contract, which was extremely important.
Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?
Starting the interior decorating business cost me nothing, but my time. Using social media was very helpful and free.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
David Bianca
Mike vihstadt
Sarah Gutierrez