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

Hi Alisa, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

Six years ago, I sat on my living room sofa, scouring interior design blogs like I did every afternoon, wishing that I could design beautiful spaces for others. With a background in finance and no interior design degree, I didn’t see this as a possibility. Then it hit me – I could stage houses. No degree was necessary and I could do what I love. This idea launched Linden Creek Home Staging.

My years of reading design magazines, scrolling through Pinterest, studying beautiful spaces, and renovating my own homes equipped me with the tools I needed to design spaces, but the logistics of building a home staging business was an entirely different animal. Hours were spent researching box trucks, learning labor laws, finding storage solutions to keep 500+ pieces of artwork organized. Plenty mistakes were made in our “trial and error” approach. Gradually, with each step of growth we learned how to do things more efficiently, how to deliver consistent quality, and how to manage the logistics behind the scenes in our 7,000 square foot warehouse.

I would do it all again in a heartbeat. One thing I learned is that there is value in having a support system and a resource that has gone ahead of you. There is value in tapping into an industry expert that has already worked out the kinks of operations, maximizing your buying power, and hiring the right team. This is the very reason, I decided to franchise Linden Creek. I love what I do every day. I love the way we get to serve our clients. Now I can take these lessons learned and tools and systems we have built and share them with others so that they can build their dream – and do it even faster than I did!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

We are in the business of highlighting beauty, one house at a time.

Our full-service design achieves this for homeowners that want elevated everyday living. We are for the clients that want to come home to a space that is functional, beautiful, and allows you to end your night cuddled up on the sofa eating popcorn and not worrying about the spills.

Our home staging service is for luxury-level home sellers that want their house to sell faster and for more money. We are in the market of generating return on investments for our clients that surpass their expectations.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Achieving luxury with everyday living is our goal. In the luxury design world it is common for products to be at such a high price point that there is guilt to actually live in the space. You feel committed to your purchase for life because of the sticker price. We believe beauty can be achieved in an environment where real life can continue to happen and when a new trend hits in 10 years, you aren’t afraid of selling your sofa and trying something new.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started Linden Creek, I thought we would be a middle market home staging company. From the beginning, I gravitated toward a more elevated look and in a short amount of time realized that the luxury market was heavily underserved. There was a need in the real estate market for home staging services that fit the million dollar homes. As soon as I recognized this, I pivoted our company to fill this niche.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.linden-creek.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindencreek_/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindencreekhomestaging/
• Other: Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/lindencreek/

Image Credits
Anna Haddock