6 minute read
October 2022 ~ Partner Spotlight- Valerie Sprague, Owner Blue Moon Estate Sales Jacksonville
VALERIE SPRAGUE ~ LEADING LIFE’S CHANGES WITH KINDNESS
BLUE MOON ESTATE SALES: HELPING OUR CLIENTS TURN THE PAGE SO THEY CAN MOVE ON TO ANOTHER STAGE!
By Maggie Peterson
Valerie Sprague has always been driven when it comes to her career. She started in information technology software development and database management. She spent the last 12 years working from home — long before it became a popular way of conducting business.
But even though she enjoyed the flexibility and independence of working from home, she still craved social interaction with other people. Her favorite weekend hobby was shopping around at estate sales, where she loved finding hidden treasures. It was during one of these weekends that she first found Blue Moon Estate Sales — a franchise that she would come to love.
Valerie always loved watching entrepreneurs make businesses work. So when she decided to make the leap from corporate America to business ownership, franchising with Blue Moon was a perfect fit.
Setting Up Life and Business in Florida
After living in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas, it thrilled her to finally return to Florida and settle down in Jacksonville. Today, Valerie is the proud owner of her very own Blue Moon Estate Sales franchise. She loves sharing her passion for vintage finds with her customers and feels right at home in the close-knit community of Blue Moon shoppers.
The company’s strong reputation as a top franchise significantly influenced her decision to join. The Franchise Times lists the company as a top brand to buy, and Entrepreneur Magazine ranks it as a top 500 franchise in 2022. In addition, Blue Moon is 100th on the worldwide list of fastest-growing franchises. As a customer, Valerie had a great experience with the company and is now excited to be a part of its future.
Blue Moon’s Mission
Valerie loves working with clients to take stress off their shoulders. Many times they come to her needing to downsize. They have a home full of stuff they collected over the years but have no idea what to do with it. Valerie and her team take care of that for them.
She shares that estate sales are one of the most efficient and effective ways to downsize. Not only does it declutter a home, but it also can make owners some cash in the process.
Her team is experienced in handling the event from start to finish, all in one week’s time. They come in on Monday to begin transforming the home into an elevated retail experience. They will help sort through the belongings, determine what’s worth selling, stage everything for success and advertise the sale. They also run the event on that same weekend and provide owners with an itemized list of the results, along with the owner’s profits.
As an added benefit, they can help owners dispose of any remaining belongings that didn’t sell. That way, the owner isn’t left with work to finish. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it when everything runs smoothly, and the homeowners are happy with the results.
Jacksonville’s Blue Moon Estate Sales team (L to R): Leann, Mary Ann, Emily, Karen, Valerie, Matt, Marilyn and Diann
One client, Ruth Harrison, shares: “They made what would have been a very stressful experience and process into a very easy, pleasant experience, and we made some funds that we did not even know was possible to offset the cost of our move.”
When Valerie and her team at Blue Moon get called to help families who recently lost a loved one, they know their compassion and kindness will be appreciated more than ever.
These families are going through a difficult time, and the last thing they need is the added stress of dealing with a house full of memories. Valerie and her team will take care of everything with the estate sale. They treat the family’s home with the utmost respect and do everything possible to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Valerie standing by MoonPie, one of her team vehicles
Another client, J. Capell, says, “My sister and I had such a GREAT experience with Valerie and her team! We knew absolutely NOTHING about estate sales. She came in and took that weight completely off of our shoulders after our father passed away.”
A Grand Opening and Future
Blue Moon of Jacksonville had its grand opening in early 2022. Valerie is already looking to expand her service area further west later this year. She is excited to offer her services to a wider audience and is confident that her business will be a success. She is looking forward to meeting new clients and helping them achieve their goals. Valerie’s goal is to help her clients feel confident as they transition homes.
Valerie has always loved going to estate sales and scouring for hidden treasures. She never imagined that one day she would turn her passion into a
successful business. But that’s exactly what happened. So now, she spends her days rummaging through other people’s possessions.
Valerie, her husband, Jack, and one of their rescues, Watson
Beyond the Sales
When she’s not busy working estate sales, Valerie loves spending time with her husband, Jack, and their four fur babies (three French bulldogs and a pug). She also enjoys cheering on the Florida Gators, reading fictional thrillers or visiting antique malls. Valerie is the perfect example of someone who has turned their hobby into a rewarding career. In her words, “I look at how happy I am, the sense of purpose I feel by being able to help others … that’s what’s made me beyond grateful for this journey.”
Valerie and her husband love cheering on the University of Florida — Valerie’s alma mater.
If you’re interested in contacting Valerie, you can reach her at vsprague@bluemoonestatesales.com or by phone at 904-477-4871. You can also check out her website, www. bluemoonestatesales.com/jacksonville/meet-the-team.html.
