We recently connected with Jessica Schuffenhauer and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I always enjoy this question because it gives me the chance to share how intentional my journey has been. While Set The Stage itself is a franchise I purchased rather than an original concept I created, the decision to invest in a franchise model was entirely my own.

At the time, I was working for a small business owner who lacked leadership and the ability to truly value and support his team. After experiencing that pattern more than once, I realized I was done searching for a great boss… I wanted to become one. That realization sparked my decision to explore franchise ownership.

I began interviewing various franchise opportunities with only a few “don’ts” in mind, but an open mind toward possibilities. After several months, I found Set The Stage. As a former realtor of 11 years, I was drawn to how it kept me connected to the real estate world without competing directly with agents. It also allowed me to leverage my existing relationships while adding a creative dimension through furniture sales and design.

Since taking the leap, it’s been incredibly rewarding to build a business centered on integrity, respect, and genuine care for people; qualities I felt were missing in much of the small business landscape here in Tulsa. From day one, I’ve been able to create the kind of work environment I always wished I had.

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

At Set The Stage, we don’t just provide furniture, we provide a tailored experience. We are a full white-glove furniture company specializing in complete, floor-to-ceiling furnishing projects. With an in-house Interior Designer, we can assist clients in creating the vision for their space and then bring it fully to life. However, we’re equally comfortable collaborating with outside designers, seamlessly working alongside them to source the perfect furniture and finishes their projects require. Once the design is finalized, our team sources every element from furniture and wall art to rugs, faux plants, and décor so we can truly Set The Stage for each unique home or project.

Our national wholesale partnerships give clients access to a vast selection of styles, price points, and quality levels, while our local vendor relationships add one-of-a-kind touches such as custom artwork, live plants, and outdoor living installations. My favorite part about this business is how collaborative and positive the culture is. It’s incredibly rewarding to work in an environment where everyone can win together.

The two biggest challenges we solve for clients are decision paralysis and the dreaded pushy salesperson. At Set The Stage, no one earns a commission from furniture sales. Instead, we see ourselves as matchmakers, pairing clients with pieces that reflect their style, at their pace. We make it simple and stress-free: clients can shop and design from the comfort of their couch, without walking endless showrooms or dealing with upselling.

To eliminate decision fatigue, we start by learning the client’s true vision and present only a small, curated handful of options. If none resonate, we refine and try again, one focused step at a time. From there, clients can stay involved or hand us the reins entirely. Either way, they can go sip a piña colada in the Bahamas knowing they’ll return to a beautifully furnished, move-in-ready home.

But above all, what I’m most proud of is my team. They’re exceptional people who lead with integrity and share the same mission: to make a difference. Sometimes that means picking up truckloads of donated furniture to give back to the Tulsa community; other times, it’s as simple as the way we treat every person we interact with. No matter how it shows up, the Set The Stage team stands for equality, fairness, and honesty; values that define who we are and how we do business.

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

The entirety of my “why” really lives in this answer.

My story begins when I was just 18, fresh out of high school and suddenly responsible for managing my dad’s rental properties while he took an out-of-state contract job. At the time, there were about 30 homes. But this was 2008, right when the housing market crashed. My dad saw opportunity and began acquiring more properties, and within 90 days, those 30 turned into 100.

I was overwhelmed, terrified, and completely unprepared, but I had no choice but to figure it out. So I did. I taught myself everything I could; reaching out to real estate attorneys, the Section 8 Housing office, and independent property managers. Google became my best friend, and the Oklahoma Landlord-Tenant Act became my bible. Through a lot of trial, error, and late nights, I eventually grew my company’s portfolio from my dad’s 100 doors to 300, representing more than 20 homeowners.

It was during that time that I discovered a passion for helping Section 8 property owners and tenants be treated with dignity and respect, something I realized was sorely missing in that space. In 2014, I learned that I couldn’t legally manage other people’s properties without a licensed broker, so I reached out to a long-time mentor, someone I trusted deeply and who reminded me a lot of my dad. He joined me as the broker, hired a maintenance coordinator, and together we hit the ground running.

Not long after, I took a short break to get married and go on my honeymoon. When I returned, with gifts from the Dominican Republic in hand, I was fired on the spot. No warning, no explanation. That moment taught me something I’ll never forget: feeling safe, respected, and valued doesn’t always mean you are.

After that, I transitioned into a corporate role with a large Tulsa-based company. I poured myself into it… loyal, driven, determined to rise through the ranks and make a difference. I was mentored by a woman who saw potential in me, and I began a two-year training program for a leadership role. Six months in, despite glowing feedback from nearly everyone I worked with, I was abruptly terminated by the very person who had hand-selected me. The reason? “I just don’t think you can do this.” It was bewildering and disheartening, another lesson in misplaced trust and leadership done poorly.

Still, I pushed forward. I moved into an executive-level office management role for a small new construction company. For a while, things went great. But when I asked for a small degree of flexibility as a 1099 contractor (the ability to work remotely for short periods in lieu of PTO) I was met with resistance so sharp that the relationship never fully recovered. I stayed for several more months, doing my best, but eventually realized I was done waiting for someone else to create the kind of leadership I wanted to work under.

That was the moment everything shifted. I stopped searching for the right boss and decided to become one. I wanted to build something where individuality was valued, where integrity mattered, and where people were respected for what they bring to the table. That’s what led me to business ownership, and ultimately to purchasing Set The Stage… a franchise that allowed me to combine my love for real estate, design, and people into something that finally aligned with who I am and what I stand for.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest thing I’ve had to unlearn is the belief that people are inherently untrustworthy and that I’m just a small, replaceable part of a team that could be eliminated at any moment. That mindset came from years of unstable leadership experiences but it’s no longer my reality. Today, I focus on making sure my team never feels that way.

I’ve also had to overcome the instinct to constantly question myself or second-guess my decisions. Over time, I’ve learned that confidence and humility can coexist and that self-doubt doesn’t serve the people who are looking to you for direction.

I’ve unlearned that age equals inability, that gender equals inferiority, and that being strong makes you bossy. None of that is true. Despite having managers who modeled those outdated beliefs, I made a conscious choice to lead differently by trusting people, empowering individuality, and swimming against that current that still exists in many workplaces.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gtt.wesetthestage.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/setthestage_greatertulsa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574064130566

Image Credits

Brent Beck Photography