Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Purdom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success doesn’t follow a formula. Over the past 15 years of running one company—and now two—I’ve learned that having a strong core belief system and clearly defined values is essential. These principles serve as a guide for decision-making and keep the business moving forward.

No one will work harder for your company than you. Its success depends on your active involvement in every aspect—without falling into the trap of micromanagement. My core beliefs shape how I lead:

Building the Right Team – Success starts with assembling a team that allows you to focus on what only you, as the CEO, can do. Delegating the right tasks creates space for growth and innovation.

Embracing Discomfort – “If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.” Progress requires pushing beyond the boundaries of comfort, constantly taking that extra step toward new challenges and opportunities.

Encouraging Growth in Others – I believe in challenging and empowering team members to reach beyond what they think they’re capable of. Too often, people operate from fear—lowering the bar to avoid disappointment. I strive to create an environment where individuals feel safe to aim higher, take risks, and achieve more than they thought possible.

When team members feel truly invested in our mission, they take ownership of our success. In many cases, they set even higher goals than I would, driving the company further than I could alone.

One of my guiding principles comes from Martha Stewart: “When you’re through changing, you’re through.” This couldn’t be more true. In business, you can either adapt and evolve or risk being left behind and becoming irrelevant. Challenges are inevitable—valued team members will resign, supply chains will falter, and personal hardships will arise. The way I started my business 15 years ago is not how I run it today. The industry has undergone significant shifts, business relationships have evolved, and the economy continues to change. Staying relevant means staying flexible- because success belongs to those willing to grow with the times.

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?

For over 15 years, I have been shaping spaces and experiences that bring beauty, function, and inspiration to everyday living. As the founder of AsterHouse Design, a full-service interior design firm, and Furnish, a thoughtfully curated home furnishings and décor retail store, I have built businesses that blend creativity, strategy, and a deep understanding of how people live and interact with their surroundings.

At Furnish, I oversee every aspect of the retail experience—from curating an ever-evolving selection of furniture, accessories, and gifts to managing vendor relationships and aligning inventory with market trends. More than just a store, Furnish is a destination where customers can discover pieces that reflect their style and where our team helps bring their vision to life through beautifully styled interiors. I love inspiring people as they walk in the door, whether they are there to make a purchase or not. My goal is to encourage people to love their homes.

Through AsterHouse Design, I lead a talented team of designers who specialize in both residential and commercial projects. Our approach is rooted in creating timeless, personalized spaces that feel real, fresh, inviting, and layered. From initial concepts to final execution, I guide projects with a keen eye for detail, ensuring that every element, from materials to furnishings, serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. Collaboration is at the heart of our process, and we work closely with clients, contractors, and industry professionals to bring spaces to life in a way that is both seamless and inspiring. Our design aesthetic is centered on the client. We determine how they want to live and function and then create a space that feels like home for them. I love giving my clients permission to be themselves – they don’t have to copy the pages of what they see in a magazine. Our greatest compliment is when a client says, “This is exactly what we wanted, but we didn’t know how to achieve it.”

My journey in retail and design began with a role at The Jones Store in Kansas City, where I started in the customer service department and eventually advanced to their corporate offices. That experience deepened my passion for curated retail and customer experience—foundations that continue to shape the businesses I run today.

Whether designing a home, styling a space, or selecting the perfect product for a client, my work is driven by the conviction that interiors should be both visually stunning and deeply personal. I am constantly evolving, staying ahead of trends while honoring timeless design principles. At the core of everything I do is the desire to create environments that feel like home—wherever that may be.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey of resilience began in August 2019, when my business partner and best friend of ten years told me she was moving to Dallas. The news hit me like a tidal wave—completely unexpected and deeply unsettling. Together, we had built more than a business; we had built a brand, a legacy, and a life intertwined. We designed million-dollar homes while raising our children side by side. And just months after launching our brick-and-mortar store, Furnish, she was leaving.

For the first time, I found myself standing alone in uncharted territory. I didn’t have a backup plan. I wasn’t sure how to move forward without her. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was enough.

But with the unwavering support of my incredible husband and my faith, I took a deep breath, paused, prayed, and made a plan.

I made the bold decision to leave our current location—despite the weight of hefty loans—and relocate the businesses downtown. Amid a global pandemic, I purchased a building, remodeled it, and in April 2021, we opened our doors once again. What happened next still amazes me—we grew at a pace that continues to exceed my expectations.

Was it easy? Absolutely not.
Was I stressed and anxious? Yes.
Did I have moments of financial strain? Yes.
Did I question myself? More times than I can count.
Did my business plan have some holes? Without a doubt.

But every day, I showed up. I kept moving forward. And I asked myself a simple yet powerful question: What do I need to do today?

And that’s how I kept going—one step, one decision, one day at a time.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

In April 2021, I reopened Furnish in its new downtown location—a furniture boutique and lifestyle store designed to bring beautifully curated pieces to our community. But reopening after a pandemic came with a challenge I never saw coming: I had a furniture store… with no furniture to sell.

The global supply chain was in shambles. Lead times for furniture that once took 6–8 weeks had stretched to 26–28 weeks. I had to rethink how we operated completely. Instead of ordering what I wanted, I had to order whatever would actually ship. We scrambled, placing orders for anything and everything, just hoping something—anything—would arrive.

Small goods, pillows, blankets, and accessories became our lifeline, keeping us afloat when furniture simply wasn’t an option. Then, by Q4 of 2023, manufacturers finally caught up—all at once. Everything I had been waiting on for months suddenly started shipping, creating a massive cash flow crisis. We survived by the skin of our teeth.

Through that experience, I learned one of the biggest lessons in business: inventory management and cash flow are everything. Today, we’ve refined how and when we purchase to offset financial strains like taxes, insurance, and unpredictable supply chain fluctuations. It’s a constant balancing act, but it’s one of the most critical parts of my role as a business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.asterhousedesign.com www.furnishmhk.com
• Instagram: @asterhousedesign @furnish_by_ahd
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Asterhousedesign https://m.facebook.com/Furnishmhk
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/amanda-purdom-8480803a
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@asterhousedesign449

Image Credits

Sarah Reeves at Reeves Photo Co.

Emma Tuttle at Emma Highfill