We recently connected with Wendy Fulvi and have shared our conversation below.

Wendy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Kenansville, Fl. The nearest shopping centers were approximately 30 miles in each direction, so simple tasks like going to the grocery store or driving to school was an all day affair. My father was a fourth generation cattleman and Vietnam veteran and my mom was a homemaker.
My dad was one of the best cowhands in the industry and my mom was known by all as a fantastic cook and seamstress. I had two brothers and one sister and our family of 6 lived very humbly; to the extent that we never owned anything new. I was blessed to learn to how to create many things with very little resources. Where we lacked in prosperity we made up for in creativity and ingenuity. My parents were strong disciplinarians and had a very strong work ethic. As kids, our feelings and how we felt about our situation was never a consideration. We were always expected just to do what needed to be done. We were taught how to live off of the land and how to value and appreciate the simple things. We received great satisfaction in working with our hands and never seemed to take the easy path. Ranch life quickly reveals that short cuts are never profitable in the end.

I have found that great strength, confidence and courage is derived from hardship. All of which builds the character necessary to run any kind of business, large or small. Being raised in this way of life and idealism has had an enduring impact on my journey as a business owner and entrepreneur.

The gratitude and appreciation gleaned from my childhood extends not only to my immediate family but to our clients as well. We believe in excellence at every level, which produces considerable results over time. My husband, who is also my business partner was raised in a similar fashion, so we are in no way disagreeable where excellence, hard work and customer service is concerned. I will forever be grateful for my parents and the impact that they continue to have in my daily business life.

Wendy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was a college athlete who studied General Business and Macroeconomics before beginning my career as a professional buyer and purchasing manager at a large telecom company. I would procure PBX systems both domestically and internationally. I truly loved my job of 10 years, but after having my son Maverick and later daughter Nyla, I made the very difficult decision to stay at home and raise them as I had been raised. It was a sacrifice that I have never regretted. They are both college athletes as well, and seem to have developed the same entrepreneurial spirit as their parents.

After 10 years of being at home, I was ready to get back into the game once again but only part-time. I became licensed in Life & Health insurance and worked as an independent agent for several years. I loved meeting new people every day and and learned a great deal about running a business but quickly discovered that I did not enjoy the endless paperwork that accompanied.

So, at 45 years old I didn’t want to continue working halfheartedly in a field that I didn’t feel passionately about. Like many people, I had no idea of which path to take. I had a natural affinity for design and gift for visualizing spaces furnished and decorated. Even at a young age I felt like I could take something very ordinary and make into something useful or beautiful. As an athlete I have always loved to compete, especially against myself and was a considerable risk-taker, but unlike my husband James, I have never considered myself the “entrepreneurial” type. So, with ZERO experience with regard to staging or design and lots of prayer, faith and encouragement, Strategic Staging & Design was birthed.

Home Staging is a simple, yet powerful marketing tool used in real estate. The concept is to maximize a properties perceived value by allowing a potential buyer to visualize themselves living in the newly transformed space. The more appealing the staging is, the more value is derived on the sellers behalf.

I feel that Strategic Staging sets itself apart from others because we are more focused on the design aspect as a whole. We spend a great deal of time and consideration to determine what each home demands visually and then deliver exceptional results by integrating our inventory and design choices with the integrity of the home. The end result being more of a model home as opposed to a “staged ” home. Our technique lends great appeal and provokes the desired emotional response from buyers.

We are most proud of the fact that no matter what the condition or list price of the home is, we pour as much thought and attention into the property as necessary to reveal the homes greatest potential. This not only benefits our brand but our clients and their exceptional realtors as well.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Our reputation was certainly not built overnight. Like most small business owners we work insane hours but every hour is filled with integrity and exceptionalism. We never take shortcuts and always go the extra mile to ensure that our clients get the very best outcome possible. Although we are extraordinarily busy, we try to make sure to respond rapidly to every call, text or DM. That is no small task when your business does not typically operate from the office. We are continually offsite or preparing for installations.

Strategic Staging is family owned and operated and we often hear that we are the “fittest and friendliest” staff of any local company. This hospitable crew has boundless energy and makes every day of work a joy. That sinergy is profound and reflects well within our business and we are so incredibly grateful for them!

How’d you meet your business partner?

My husband James is the cofounder of our company. He has owned several other small businesses in the past until the staging side of the business really began take off. It quickly consumed all of his availability and no longer made sense to work separately. He’s a former Army veteran, mechanical draftsman, IT manager and contractor by trade. He has many beneficial skills and talents that are invaluable to our success. If for example, if I need an unusual piece of art or a unique piece of furniture for a home, he can create it! He joking refers that he is the “Jack of all trades and master of none”, but isn’t that exactly what drives the success of many business owners? You have to wear a numerous hats as an entrepreneur, but that is especially true with staging. We have been happily married for almost 25 years and decided that the business would be a true test of our resilience. After almost 10 years, we are still so blessed in both marriage and business and hope that our story encourages others to have the faith and courage to take such risks. The old adage holds true, “you will never know unless you try”!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @strategic_staging
• Facebook: strategic staging & design

Image Credits

Amber Hutchins