Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Shaw.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Like a lot of people, I was never on one set career path. In fact, I tell my college-aged son to relax about finding “the job” after graduation – every role brings important life lessons, so embrace wherever you land! In my case, after graduating from college, I fell back into retail, working in stores and building a resume in management. When I got a foot in the door of a retail buying office here in St. Louis, I was thrilled! Learning the business from this side was incredible, and it was a terrific preparation for my next jump into wholesale fashion. In my new role as a coorporate coordinator for a major men’s fashion brand, I managed stores around the Midwest, but travelled all over the country working seasonal markets, attending conferences and installing designer shops within major department stores. I learned so much from this job – how to select the right fixtures and branding, merchandise the shop, train store associates, and how to sell product in a heavily saturated market. It was a lot of travel and hard work, but I loved it. Little did I know, I was learning how to stage homes and eventually design houses.
Travelling two weeks a month was not conducive to raising a family, so I left the retail world and spent time at home with my son. One day, a friend asked me to help her “stage” her house for sale. I had no idea what she meant, but showed up to declutter and move furniture into more pleasing arrangements. Thus, my new career as a home stager was born. When the house sold in a day, the realtor called me up and asked my rates. This was my foot in the door, and I ran with it! I opened a boutique home staging business that day. I read everything I could on the subject, asked friends to let me stage their homes, took loads of photos and ordered business cards. I also asked for advice from other small business owners, and learned from my many, many mistakes. Remember – done is better than perfect! When my clients started asking me to decorate their new homes, I knew that it was time to make the move into a full time interior design career. When you put your passion and dreams out into the universe, amazing things will happen – I got two calls the following day for new design work. Act like you are already living your dream life and it will happen, I promise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge for me was knowing my worth, then setting my prices to reflect this. Also, realizing that the “mistakes” I beat myself up over were in fact the biggest lessons I could possibly ask for. When you start a business, do all the research you can, ask for advice from others in your industry and be prepared to hear some ugly truths. Hire a small business advisor or attorney – this is crucial, and will save you big headaches down the road.
When people tell me that I make the design process seem easy, I remind them that I surround myself with industry experts who are the best in their fields. I can’t possibly know everything – there are thousands of skus, styles, vendors, colors, etc in this space! Therefore, I make sure to attend as many vendor events as possible to constantly educate myself in the latest and greatest products on the market. I also ask loads of questions when working with the trades to learn the best way to install or build out my vision, so I am better informed for my next project.
I don’t know where I read this, but I believe this to be true for both your professional and personal life: when you stop learning, you start dying. A tad grim, but I see it all the time with designers or contractors who do the same look or the same kitchen repeatedly just because it is easy. Where is the fun in that? Always push yourself to learn and grow. Always.
As you know, we’re big fans of Erin Shaw Designs. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What sets me apart? I push my clients to be fearless in design. After working together for even a few hours, my clients pick up my energy and excitement about their project and begin to consider products and styles that before seemed out of their comfort zone. That is my job – to push you past your restrictions and show you all the ways to put your unique stamp on your home. I love it when a client reaches past a safe and predictable fabric for something totally different. So many people think interior design is just another to-do around their home and tend to look at the process as expensive and time consuming. My job is to get people fired up about design!
I work on everything from new construction, additions and home renovations, to simple design like updating a single room in the house. This usually becomes a big, fun project as clients look at their new space, and say let’s keep going.
I think I am known for being very creative and taking risks. I like to give my clients TOO many ideas for their spaces! I love taking fabrics, wallpaper or other products, and using them in places and applications that you would not typically consider. Yes, let’s wallpaper the ceiling in the powder room. And, why not hang this vintage hand woven rug from your travels as art? Too many people care about resale, and live in a sterile house that bores them to tears. I say let’s go for it – we can dial it back when you decide to sell.
I also find that many designers have a “look” that becomes their signature. Too often this includes telling clients to toss everything they own to achieve the designer’s vision. I work for you, so let’s use what you love, or buy all new furnishings, but let’s create the home that says YOU.
I am most proud of the wonderful relationships I have with my clients. This business is all about trust. They know that I will never waste their time or money. When clients recommend me to friends, family and neighbors, this is the ultimate gift. And when they hire me for their beach and lake houses, or pieds-a-terre in a new city, I am the first one on the plane, excited to make another place “home” for my clients.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is trust – there’s that word again. Why? This profession is pretty intimate – I have had discussions with couples while sitting on their bed, selecting new bedding or furniture. I’ve taken meetings with a client while she was taking a bubble bath, so we could determine the best window treatments for this space. Hilarious conversations in a plumbing showroom as we consider the best toilets. Redecorating after a divorce or when the kids have left the nest. As life happens to my clients, I am there to help. Having this deep knowledge about a client and their lives, only makes me a better designer for them.
They also know that when I am out in the world sourcing product for them, I am committed to bringing them carefully edited options so they are not overwhelmed with the many choices that exist. I respect their time, and have my eye on the ultimate look they desire, but also the budget they have created.
So, I do not take this trust for granted – ever. It is the cornerstone of my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erinshawdesigns.com
- Instagram: erinshawdesigns
