Chris Fisher of StagersLISTWebsites.com

The money raised from this multi-family yard sale will be used to rescue bunnies from local shelters, rescue abandoned bunnies, as well as for medical attention, fostering, and spay/neuters!

Come meet some of the rabbits and hear their stories!

You can shop, donate items, donate money, visit with the rabbits, and of course adopt a rabbit if you are ready for a wonderful new pet.

Where: 141 Murwood Court in Walnut Creek, 94596 (In the Walnut Knolls neighborhood, off San Miguel).

When: Saturday, August 1st, 2009 from 8am - 4pm.

Why: Why not? It's fun to shop, it's fun to pet rabbits, and it's a great cause!

Hope to see you there!

- offering website design, re-design, maintenance, hosting and virtual assistance
- and trying to help the bunnies. : )

My mother, Terrylynn Fisher, was able to sit down and talk to Melissa Marro about her business and expertise. I thought it would be nice to share the information here. I was lucky enough to finally meet Melissa (and her business partner, Bevin Googer) in person at our Orlando Expo. They are wonderful to talk to in person and have so much business knowledge to share.

Melissa founded First Impressions Home Staging & Interior Redesign in 2005 and helped it become one of the premier staging and training companies in the southeast. While still helping clients with their local staging needs, she also helps other stagers begin and grow their businesses. Melissa volunteers her time to help grow the Real Estate Home Staging Industry and holds several organizational leadership positions including IRIS South Carolina Chapter President and RESA/SIF Roundtable Moderator. In 2007/2008 she also held the RESA Southeast Regional Vice President Position and was nominated for the 2007 RESA Staging Innovator of the Year and 2007 RESA Staging Professional of the Year awards. Winner of 2009 RESA Professional Stager of the Year Award and nominee of 2009 RESA Staging Innovator of the Year.

Q: Melissa how many employees do you have?

A: Technically we don't have any employees, however there are five of us on our team. Everyone is an independent contractor for First Impressions Staging & Interior ReDesign.

Q: How large is your warehouse?

A: We have a 2,700 square foot warehouse with office and classroom space and enough inventory to stage approximately 40-45 homes simultaneously.

Q: How many houses do you think you've staged in your career?

A: Wow, tough question! I haven't tracked the actual number of units. We have staged over $90 million in homes actively on the market in the last 3 years. As a company, we average 30+ vacant staged homes at any given time.

Q:In this down economy what are three action items that you recommend a Stager do to ensure that they stay in business and actually continue to grow their business?

A: 1) Stay Focused. Have a written goal plan and daily plan of action. Stick to it.
2) Stay Positive.Nothing will get you further in this business than having a positive attitude. If you are having a bad day, who cares, when you are working this business you need to have your stuff together, a smile on your face and be ready to take on the world!
3) Remember that it's about the Client.Too many sales people (yes, we are in sales) worry about getting the deal. If things are slow, they get desperate and lose focus of the fact that we are providing something of value to the client - something that helps them. Don't worry about the sale. If you do what's best for the client, your business will grow and the money will follow.

Q: Why did you decide to take part in the StagerLIST Expo Series?

A:I think it's a great venue to help stagers. Many stagers haven't been given the tools to grow their business and don't know who to ask, or even what to ask much of the time. Gathering successful companies in the idustry to share their knowledge, answer questions and help offer opportunities is something we definitely felt we needed to be part of. Besides all of that, I'm looking forward to meeting others in the Real Estate Home Staging Industry who I've never me in person, but through online contact feel I'm already friends with.

Q: What workshops will you be teaching at the Indianapolis Expo and why do you think they will be of value to those attending?

A: I'll be teaching about Marketing and Portfolio Presentations. These are perhaps two of our strongest arenas as a company. They are also two components that can determine whether you'll be successful in this industry. In the marketing course, I'll be teaching the primary ways our company markets itself, why and how it works, ideas that work in any area of the country. After working as a manager in one of the largest real estate companies in Charleston, I learned how agents think. These ideas cut to the chase, providing stagers with clear cut timelines, guidelines and farming techniques that agents respond to.In the portfolio class, well discuss photography techniques and learn how to put all their skills together to make a compelling portfolio. This will help overcome objections, show off their staging skills and help make their statistics work for them.

Q: In your opinion what is the most important development in the Real Estate Home Staging Industry today?

A: Lately I've noticed a lot of opportunities for stagers to network with other stagers - StagersLIST Expos inlcuded. StagersLIST, RESA, Roundtables and online forums really help new stagers learn their craft, learn what is acceptable and what isn't and help answer burning questions in ways that weren't previously available. I think these are of tremendous value and stagers need to be taking advantage of them.

Just as I posted my last blog about the new website I'm creating for Gary's Rabbit Rescue, I received an email from the founder, Suzi. One of the hardest things about running a rescue is when an animal you care for is in the shelter. For Trix, his time there is almost up. This means Trix needs to be adopted (or fostered) soon or he will be put to sleep.

Trix is a male NZ white rabbit described as fabulous, social and a bit of a trickster.

If you are able to help foster Trix, please email Suzi and let her know. She will be so relieved. An Adoption to a forever home would be even better for Trix. Please pass on this information if you know of anyone who may be able to help.

You can also click here to adopt Trix through the County Animal Shelter.

When I took my daughter to the shelter to pick out our rabbit, Snowball, she asked me what the dates on the cages meant. I didn't have the heart to tell her what happens after these dates pass. If you can help in any way, please do. Thank you so much!

Okay, so another one of my most brilliant ideas - I am creating a website for Gary's Rabbit Rescue. I'm already undeniably "the crazy cat lady", what is going to happen to me as I look at all of these rabbits?

This is Gary, the inspiration for the rescue group's name

I will share again when the site is finished. If you would like to make a donation, click here.

Here is a pair of bunnies bonding:

This is one of my favorite pictures, Gary with a baby on his head:

I have learned as a rabbit owner that rabbits are every bit as much of a commitment as a cat or dog. Rabbits can live 12+ years and are unique individuals. They can have an ego that rivals any cat's. They can be bossy, funny, sweet, playful, you name it. These are real pets who need real care.

If you are interested in an adoption day in Contra Costa County, email Suzi for the schedule. Suzi raised my adopted rabbit, Snowball, who was born in the shelter. She asked me to help with the website and I instantly agreed. It will be pink in honor of her mother, who lost her battle with breast cancer. I'm honored to be working on this project with Suzi, she does such a great job taking care of these rescued rabbits.

Kids & Rabbits at ARF's Adoption Day:

So, how many rabbits do you think will be living with me by the end of this project?

We have all new topics this year and have added our very popular workshop series. Enjoy our industry expert speakers, networking, goodies from the sponsors, and much more. This year we will have Alyx Flannery presenting Build Your Business with a Strong Web Presence, including Social Networking, SEO, etc. Alyx is able to explain this often complicated (sometimes boring) information in a way that makes sense and is interesting.

Click here to learn more or register.

We also have Christine Rae, author of Home Staging for Dummies and International Staging Trainer presenting how to use Communication Styles to Overcome Objections.

Lunch is included, and our lunch workshop is about Feng Shui and the Laws of Attraction, specifically how Feng Shui relates to Real Estate Home Staging. Alexis Summerfield, who has been featured on HGTV's Sleep On It, will be presenting this workshop.

We then have afternoon workshops about Choosing Color, Green Marketing, and Blogging/Websites/SEO. The end of the day grand prize raffle is over $200 in cash and prizes. Come out for the full day or half day and network with local sponsors, Home Stagers, Designers and Realtors.

All designations, or no designations, welcome, this is for anyone thinking of joining the Real Estate Home Staging Industry and anyone currently involved, as well as Realtors and Design Professionals.

Click here to learn more or register.

This event is being held at the Welcome Home Furniture Warehouse and Design Center
6938 Sierra Court
Dublin, CA
925-828-3463

July 15, 2009 from 8:30am to 5:30pm. We look forwarad to seeing you there!

Call Terrylynn for more information, 925.876.0966

National sponsors include:

Certified Staging Professionals (CSP)
Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)
Bekins
The Interiority Complex

Local sponsors include:

Sphere Effect Printing and Promotional products
Athena Painting & Design
Thomas Lighting
Introducing EcoJoe!
Omni Virtual Tours
The Mirror Gallery Walnut Creek
California Custom Carpets

- offering website design, re-design, maintenance, hosting and virtual assistance.