We were lucky to catch up with Jen Hosey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? The world needs to hear more realistic, actionable stories about this critical part of the business building journey. Tell us your scaling up story – bring us along so we can understand what it was like making the decisions you had, implementing the strategies/tactics etc.

Scaling Times Ten Design wasn’t an overnight success—it was the result of 2 years of refining my process, building relationships, and making strategic investments. In the beginning, I staged homes with a small amount of inventory and rented the large furniture from outside companies. This limited my bandwidth and control significantly.

Word-of-mouth referrals fueled early growth, but I quickly realized I needed better infrastructure to scale. The first major turning point was investing in a larger furniture inventory, allowing me to stage multiple homes at once. Managing logistics became a challenge, so I streamlined operations, optimized storage solutions, and built a team to support the growing demand. I didn’t think it was possible to delegate but I did it!

Another key moment was recognizing the power of digital marketing and ensuring my online presence reflected the quality of my work. Getting out there and building strong relationships with realtors also proved invaluable. There were challenges—learning how to delegate, managing cash flow, and balancing creativity with operational efficiency—but each obstacle pushed me to refine my approach. Scaling up wasn’t about a single big break; it was about consistent, thoughtful decisions that allowed the business to grow into a thriving, well-respected brand.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Jen, the founder of Times Ten Design, a home staging company serving the Denver area. My journey into this industry has been shaped by years of experience in real estate, a deep passion for design, and a love for transforming spaces to create an emotional connection with buyers.

Before launching Times Ten Design, I spent 11 years selling real estate in Chicago. That experience gave me invaluable insight into buyer psychology and the power of first impressions in home sales. When I relocated to Colorado, I decided to blend that knowledge with my creative eye for design, turning my focus toward home staging—helping sellers maximize their home’s potential and sell faster (and often for more money!).

At Times Ten Design, we provide professional, design-focused home staging services tailored to the Denver market. We specialize in vacant home staging and our goal is to o create a welcoming environment that resonates with buyers. Our design-focused style blends modern, sophisticated aesthetics with inviting, livable elements—ensuring each home feels both stylish and welcoming to potential buyers. We love showcasing our work on Instagram, where we share behind-the-scenes looks, staging transformations, and design inspiration through engaging reels that help market the home.

What sets us apart? Our strong partnership with Realtors. Having been a Realtor myself, I understand the importance of creating an impactful first impression and the role that thoughtful staging plays in a successful marketing strategy. We don’t just stage homes—we collaborate with agents to enhance their listings, attract buyers, and ultimately help sell homes faster and for top dollar.

One of the things I’m most proud of is building a brand that people trust and refer to others. Nothing is more rewarding than hearing, “We’ve heard great things about you from so many people!” It’s a testament to the relationships we’ve built, the results we deliver, and the care we put into every project. Knowing that our work speaks for itself and that past clients, Realtors, and homeowners confidently recommend us is the ultimate compliment

For anyone considering staging, my advice is simple: it’s an investment that pays off. A well-staged home can lead to higher offers and a faster sale!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Our best source of new clients has been Instagram. It’s where we showcase our work, connect with Realtors and homeowners, and share staging transformations through engaging reels. Many clients discover us through our posts, behind-the-scenes content, and word-of-mouth referrals that start with someone seeing our work on Instagram. It’s been an incredible tool for growing our business and building relationships in the Denver real estate market

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Starting Times Ten Design was a leap of faith and a strategic investment. I self-funded the business, using personal savings to purchase our initial inventory and cover startup costs.

Rather than taking on debt, I focused on growing sustainably—reinvesting profits into expanding our inventory and refining our services. I also leveraged relationships from my real estate background, which helped generate early business without the need for heavy upfront marketing costs. It was a calculated risk, but one that paid off as Times Ten Design quickly gained traction through referrals and our presence on Instagram.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://timestendesign.com
• Instagram: @timestendesign
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimesTenDesign/

Image Credits

@Sarah_Cort_photography_re
@Gabrielaphoto_Realestate
@Aspentrailsphotographyllc