Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Murphy. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jenny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Finding those key vendors can often be make or break for a brand. Can you talk to us about how you found your key vendors?
I have come across my key vendors in a variety of ways. The best way is always when they are recommended to me by a colleague, client, or friend.
Our industry is all built on relationships and trust. It is really important to always be making connections, meeting new people, and staying on top of new vendors. There are so many people out there offering products or services that would suit you perfectly, but you have to be out there to find them or have them find you! Good people know good people — rely on your circle of good people to help connect you with others.
My career consists of me recommending products and services (vendors) to people, so I always like to know that the items or vendors I am recommending have validity… and I prefer for that to be in the form of referral. It’s the most powerful and reliable way, in my opinion.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
J. Reiko Design + Co is a full-service interior design studio that takes a holistic approach to interior design. We strive to always consider the architecture that informed the space, the people that will be living in the space, and how all of that relates to and becomes the spirit of home. We love creating deeper connections between people and their homes by guiding them along the journey of transforming their space to align with their needs + lifestyle.
After nearly a decade of working at design/build firms in Denver and Northern Colorado, it was time. The path wasn’t easy and working in a construction-based industry is always full of new surprises –some good, and some not so good (aka learning experiences). Much of the industry and business cannot be taught in school. It took many years of watching, learning, making mistakes, fixing mistakes, creating spaces, and working with tradespeople and clients from all walks of life to land here, but we are very very glad to be here.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
For me, it was all about side hustle! I worked a full-time day job at a firm as well as a full-time side hustle until I was fully confident that I had a pipeline of work and plenty of savings to cover the costs of a start-up. It wasn’t easy and required a lot of grit, but it definitely made the transition to starting my own business achievable financially.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Money mindset — I grew up in a household that looked at entrepreneurship as selfish or greedy. My parents unknowingly had subtle money mindsets that ultimately formed the foundation for mine. When I decided to start my own business, I was the only one in my family to ever consider taking that path. It took a while for me to unravel my paranoia about feeling selfish or greedy just for simply wanting to own and run my own business. I had to realize that there are so many other reasons why I am starting my own business and most of them had nothing to do with money.
Business and money can definitely be used in evil ways, but I now believe they can just as easily be used as a force for good…a new way of doing business that wants to help people by offering value and improvement to the lives of all those we serve and work alongside (enter the B-Corp movement!). It is all about perspective, but it took me a while to re-write that narrative for myself and my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jreiko.com/
- Instagram: @jreikodesignandco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jreikodesignandco/
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.facebook.com/jreikodesignandco/
Image Credits
Sierra Ann Photography