From Devastation to Transformation: Our 9/11 Story
Funny how work gets in the way of things (and people) we love. The desire to NOT spend our entire lives working elsewhere motivated Jill and I to begin a business together. Today is not only the anniversary of our first ever personal showroom… it is the beginning of our work TOGETHER!
If you’re thinking, “That’s crazy! I would never work with my spouse!” We’ll agree that the “romance” of working together 24/7 does have its challenges. For us, it’s been worth it.
Before we began, Jill already had her own business in California before accepting a position with a home builder here in Las Vegas. My family also had a business – so we both had the experience and the desire to begin our own.
On September 11, 2004, we opened as “Newport Furnishings,” a franchise concept and “partnership” at Valley View and Russell Road. We fashioned the business model off of Pottery Barn, RH, Crate and Barrel and other big box stores. Our focus was to make these beautiful items available to consumers at a fraction of the cost. Just to see how far we’ve come, here’s what our old Newport showroom in 2004 looked like:
Our original idea was a popular concept, but what truly made it successful was Jill’s interior design expertise. She offered her design advice to clients and customers for a nominal fee, we would sell the furniture and decor, and people would come home with a world class design scheme that they loved!
Opening your own business doesn’t always mean leaving everything else behind. I maintained my restaurant job in the evenings until 2007. During the day, I came to the store and did all the nitty gritty behind the scenes work. Accounting, marketing, assembling furniture (by the way… not always a good idea!). I took hammer and nail to many challenging pieces and played warehouse boy whenever I was needed.
The partnership ended in late 2006. The majority partner tried to do a “midnight move” by closing up operations with no notice and they drained the bank account. This was devastating to us.
After a long deliberation, we decided to change our name to Inside Style and get back on the horse. We tease each other now that this was a very expensive education that we are still paying for today, but it has been well worth it. Now it’s ours and ours alone.
In 2011, after renting for years we moved into the arts district. We initially looked at our current building a year earlier but the owner was trying to sell it for more than it was worth and it just didn’t “feel right.” As in love as we were with the building’s potential and location – we decided to re-sign our lease for a year and try again later.
Thank goodness we waited. When we were ready for a new move, the property was in foreclosure to a bank in Miami and they were very excited to unload it at a much better price! Thank you angels! We added the glorious chandelier (Jill is a fixture fanatic) but the vaulted ceilings are in their original state!!! Ahhhmazing!
Here’s where you see the goods!!! Our before and after transformations:
Since moving into the arts district, we have found our home. Not just for our business but for our community.
Up until this point, these have been the mere facts devoid of emotion…here is the emotional part:
We have always loved our professions. I loved the restaurant business for over 20 years and Jill has always been passionate about design.
When we started our journey together, however, we saw nothing but the romance in working together and then… “Ummmm… we realized that being together 24/7 DOES kill romance…!!!” We had our business, we had our time together, and things have a way of falling apart when you least expect it.
Where there is challenge, however, there is opportunity.
A fellow entrepreneur and his wife who also worked together had similar challenges. They recommended a great therapist. We were able to turn this opportunity into a way to “have it all!!”
While Jill wasn’t always vocal about seeing a therapist, she attended a talk by the inspirational NYC designer Vincente Wolf. He talked about HIS therapist and we realized that this experience could set us free!!! And it did.
Starting out, our goal had been to get me out of the restaurant business and coincide schedules with our girls being in school. This would allow Jill to be home during the day and family time together at night. The American dream, yes?
We love traveling, and we especially love the finer things in life. At one point we wanted to open a business with our design firm on one side and a cute wine bar with a retail component on the other side. Great idea, right?!!! Stay tuned, we could still pull that off when the kids are grown 🙂
Years later, time and effort have paid off. Jill does what she loves and I’m part of it all. Through everything, we want our clients, family, and friends to know how great it’s been to grow with them.
Cheers!
Acknowledgements:
A special thanks to the special teachers and support system we’ve had along the way. Thanks to “Bunya” Fran Jodka for investing in us … twice… and always believing in us. Bobbi Leonard – our first interior design business coach. Fellow entrepreneur Brian Theiss (who also happens to be the highest paid fitness trainer in the US) who saw the potential in us to be great business partners before even we did, and “Dr. B” for teaching us to believe in unlimited possibilities… and for helping to prevent us from killing each other at times. LOL.
In all seriousness, thank you to EVERYONE who has contributed to this dream. We are blessed!
