We recently connected with Marissa Foss and have shared our conversation below.

Marissa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

I am happy as a business owner. It has allowed me to make so many amazing connections and friendships with people of all ages and walks of life that I would’ve never met.if I was not doing this business. I have been flown to seven different states to do work for clients which is allowed me to travel, see other places that I would not normally been to . I
Have learned to be creative in finding vendors and installers in other states that I would not have known. I think about what it would be like to have a regular job and work 8 to 5 and be done with my day when I clocked out… But then I would not be able to set my own schedule, take time off When previously needing to pick my daughter up from school or attend a mom and daughters day luncheon, etc. .I like to set my own schedule and work as much for his little as possible… it I has allowed me to exercise my creative genes, establish so many great relationships, as well as travel and a great living

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?

I got into this business as I was a stay at home mom for a couple years and just feeling Squirrley being at home… I’d always previously enjoyed decorating my homes and apartments that I had lived in. I decided I would start taking design classes at the local trade college close to my home. Halfway through my classes, I started getting clients who I had met previously at a fabric store. I enjoyed going to a local fabric shop and always saw customers not knowing which fabric went with others , so I approached the owner and asked him if he ever thought about offering consulting help. He said make me a pitch and I’ll think about it so I went home and wrote it up a little blurb of how I thought I could be helpful… Had some business cards made and presented the idea to him. He said I’ll pass your business cards out when I see a client that is struggling with help and we cannot provide that here in the store. Within days I started getting call after call asking me to do consulting work… I went from being a full-time stay at home mom to a full-time interior decorator within months. I would learn as I went offering different services and learning as much as possible.

I am most proud of my strong communication skills, always getting back to clients in an extremely timely manner. I also am proud of my ability to be a chameleon and meet clients based on their different personalities with the style of work that I do. I am friendly, responsible and hard-working, and that translates through and through to my clientele.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My goal , when going to school was literally to be able to pay back the $7000 tuition that I have paid to attend interior decorating courses. I have never intended this to be a full-time job… Within weeks of getting business cards made, I started getting many calls and for the last 23 years, this has been my full-time job.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

My most effective strategy for growing my business has been word-of-mouth. I provide my clients with the top-notch communication, creativity, and always my best efforts… This is kept my business going for the last 23 years, strictly word-of-mouth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marissafossdesigns.com
• Facebook: HTTP://marissafossdesigns12