2022 Staging & Design Publication - November

Publication

FROM THE DESK OF Jana Uselton

JILL JOHNSON

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

THE LITTLE GESTURES COUNT

This year has been an eventful one for us all. For me personally, I experienced a life changing blessing in June. That little blessing has taught me more about giving back and being selfless than anything I have ever experienced. This month we are emphasizing giving back as our challenge to you to finishing off this year strong and starting 2023 off on the right foot. I am sure many of you are able to look back on this past year and recognize all of the ways you were able to give back to your community, your Staging community, your church, your family, your friends, etc

Giving back doesn't always have to be a huge gesture. Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest impact. Here are some ideas of ways you can give back in this final quarter:

Volunteer your time to a local charity or organization.

This can be such a fun time with your staff. Not only is it a great bonding moment, but it also is a moment where you will make some of the greatest memories. A company that volunteers together, stays together!

Donate items you no longer need to a thrift store or shelter

I am sure many of you are currently doing this. The Salvation Army is one of those “you can’t go wrong with this” type of organizations, but also be on the lookout for local shelters that you could donate to as well.

Write a positive review for a local business or service

Whether this is for your vendors or a Realtor you have worked with, positive reviews will always make someone’s day. A lot of the time acknowledgment is all that someone needs!

Send a handwritten note to someone you appreciate

Paper is not dead! Since this type of gesture is not done very much anymore, it makes it even more special to receive a letter in the mail or just writing a sweet note to your coworker and setting it on their desk.

Whatever way you choose to give back, do it from the heart and with the intention of making someone else's life just a little bit better. Sometimes the smallest gestures are all that are needed. I guarantee you'll feel good too!

Remember, when you help another up a mountain, you are alittle closer yourself!

DAWN TUCKER STAGING BUSINESS DEVELOPER

This quote excites me, "Remember, when you help another up a mountain, you are a little closer yourself!" These words ring true more so this time of year as we begin to celebrate being thankful. As you all know, when I was a business owner, and even now, I love to find ways to serve my local community. There are always organizations and people looking for volunteers every day to help in many ways. Giving comes in many forms. You can donate money, your time, or material goods. You can also build connections with people on a personal level.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE, WHAT ARE YOU GIVING?

7. Donated monetarily to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters

8. Taught an exercise class at a Girl's Home

9. Asked local schools to make decorations for homeless shelters and I used those to decorate the shelter

10. Made food for patients with cancer

It's not too late, and I promise that once you do, humility and fulfillment are priceless.

What does it mean to win in the Home Staging Industry?

I think we can all agree that the Home Staging industry has changed over the last few years. Every month we will be highlighting our HSRA Members and how they are winning in life and in business!

Celebrating our Wins

We want to hear your story! If you currently have a win you would like to share, email your story to the address below.

Reach out to info@myhsra.com

LAURIE GRAHAM

VP OF OPERATIONS

SIMPLE WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO YOUR EMPLOYEES

(WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK)

In the business world, we often get so caught up in the day to day grind that we forget to show gratitude to the people who help us achieve our goals. But did you know that showing gratitude to your employees can have a profound impact on their job satisfaction and morale? Not to mention, it's good manners!

There are all sorts of ways to show gratitude, and they don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Here are a few simple ideas to get you started.

1. A handwritten thank you note goes a long way!

Everyone loves getting personalized mail and your employees are no different. A quick note expressing your appreciation for their hard work will make them feel valued. If you have staff in house, I am a big lover of appreciation post it notes!

3. Get the team together for an afternoon of volunteering at a local soup kitchen or animal shelter. Not only will this make them feel good about giving back, but they’ll also appreciate the time you spent together outside of work.

2. Bring in breakfast or lunch for the team! This is a great way to show your appreciation and also give everyone a chance to bond over a meal. If you’re on a tight budget, try potluck style where everyone brings something to share.

e an “Employee of onth” program and someone different onth on your social accounts or in your tter. This is another ay to recognize hard d let your team know eir efforts are being ated.

6. Give small gifts throughout the year instead of one big holiday bonus.This could be anything from movie tickets, sunglasses in the summertime to festive candles or pumpkin spice lattes in the fall. Little gestures like this will show your employees that you care year round, not just during the holidays!

7. Invest in some company swag like t-shirts, hats, or water bottles with your company logo on them. Your employees will love getting free gear and it’s a great way to promote your business while showing your appreciation at the same time!

ake your team out for a ppy hour after work one

! Everyone appreciates ng rewarded with drinks appetizers after a long k. It’s a great opportunity everyone to relax and get now each other outside of k.

9. Give each employee one paid day off per year to use however they wish - no strings attached! This is a great way to show that you trust your employees to use their time wisely and it also shows that you value their work life balance

10. Last but not least, simply take the time to say “thank you” more often! A sincere expression of gratitude goes a long way. Something as simple as expressing thanks for coming in early or staying late when needed can really make someone’s day.

Showing gratitude doesn't have to be expensive there are plenty of simple (and free!) ways to express this. Try incorporating some of these ideas into your workplace culture and see how much of difference it makes!

Lastly, share with us how you are showing your team gratitude this season so we can highlight you!

-Laurie

REBECCA WOOD

EXECUTIVE ADMIN

THE SEASON OF GIVINGMARKETING IN THE 4TH QUARTER

The happiest season is upon us and there's no better time to let our light shine a little brighter

If you're looking for ways to market your business in this last quarter, you've got to get in on the trend of quick, engaging videos. Consider using Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok. These platforms are extremely popular right now and show no signs of slowing down. The holiday season is in full swing now that Halloween is over, and it's time to turn up the heat on showcasing your givebacks!

It feels good to make a difference and make people smile. In reality, we should be depositing these moments without seeking recognition. However, in the spirit of the giving season, it is refreshing to witness kindness being spread. I believe in the power of details and I am always striving to refine the tiniest of them. If you take a moment to notice the things around you, you’ll be amazed at how much we have to be grateful for and how we do not need a grand gesture to make a huge impact. At the end of the day, we are all humans that desire to feel valued and like we are making a difference regardless of our personal or professional goals.

If you are looking for some inspiration on what you can give back, here are a few ideas. Get your team involved in a contest to collect canned goods or basic hygiene items to donate to a local shelter (you could record items being placed in the donation box and delivered by your happy/smiling team).

You could host a charity event. Additionally, this charity event would serve as a way to market your business while showcasing the benevolence of your company. Not only would you be a great blessing to those you are donating to, but you would also be helping others in need.

You and your staff members could serve at a local food kitchen (wearing your company shirts). These ideas are all something that you can showcase online even creating a mini series out of it that will keep viewers checking back on your page for an update.

This is not something to overthink, just get creative and begin. There are free video apps that you or your team members can download to edit your videos. "Videoshop" is my personal go to for creating these videos and uploading them directly to a social media platform.

Most of these platforms (Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have their own video editing software built in if you'd prefer to use this). Next, do some research on what songs are trending. By choosing a song that is popular you are placing your video in front of tons of viewers simply by selecting a viral song.

If you find yourself in need of some pointers, there are many YouTube videos that can walk you through it seamlessly. Of course, you may always reach out to me and I will be happy to help source some information for you as well.