In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I interview Marissa Cortese. Marissa is the founder of Vienna Lane Interiors, a New Jersey–based staging and design firm known for its elevated, design-forward approach to preparing homes for market.
A former tech leader turned creative director for high-end listings, she sees staging as a puzzle to solve—crafting curated spaces that resonate with today’s buyers and help listings truly stand out.
Marissa is passionate about building strong business relationships – partnering with agents, artists, and local businesses to create one-of-a-kind spaces that connect and convert.
Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
In this episode you will learn:
How Marissa left a career in tech to start a staging business and all that she has accomplished in a short period of time
How Marissa faced her biggest fears and how she got past them
Why Marissa decided to coach with me after getting a Certification in Home Staging
How Marissa stopped hiding behind the “safe” tasks that hold so many stagers back from gaining any traction
What Marissa did consistently to win the business of Real Estate Agents
What Marissa sees for the future of her business and how she plans on setting her business apart
Xo Marianne
Want More Referrals from Real Estate Agents?
Real Estate Agents are the #1 source of repeat, reliable business for Home Stagers — yet most Stagers struggle to get their attention, let alone earn their trust.
Here’s the truth:
You don’t need to “convince” the right Agents to work with you. You just need to know what matters to them — and how to position yourself as the solution they’ve been looking for.
In this high-impact, live/virtual program, I’ll teach you exactly how top Stagers consistently attract and keep agent partnerships that bring in steady staging work month after month.
This is NOT a generic marketing course. This is the insider strategy playbook for Stagers ready to grow fast and build referral-rich businesses.
🚨 Spots are limited so I can give personalized attention to each participant.
I’m looking for serious, action-oriented Stagers ready to show up, level up, and stand out.
Be the first to know when enrollment opens — and get a special bonus:
A LIVE Q&A coaching session where I’ll answer your questions and show you how to make Agents want to work with you.
I would love your review! If you enjoy what I share in this episode, please leave a review and comment on iTunes. I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Connect with Marissa:
Website – https://www.viennalaneinteriors.com/
Instagram- @viennalane.interiors
Connect with Marianne:
Set up a coaching discovery session to see if coaching is right for you.
Website: https://coachingbymarianne.com
Instagram: @homestagercoachmarianne
Join my FB Group: Fire Up Your Home Staging Business: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fireupyourhomestagingbusiness/
FB Group: Design for Today Collaborative- https://www.facebook.com/groups/DesignForTodayCollaborative
Visit my FB Coaching Page: https://www.facebook.com/CoachingByMarianneCherico/
Join my LinkedIn Group: Interior Redesign, Decorating and Real Estate Staging Professionals here.
Episode 113: Create a Menu of Services You Love
In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Julea Joseph of Reinventing Spaces. Julea is an interior stylist, Home Stager, and educator based in Chicago. She has appeared on HGTV and other media outlets as an expert in her field locally and nationally over the years.
Episode 112: Create a Compelling Brand and Attract Your Ideal Clients
In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Heather Cook of the Social Stager about the importance of creating a compelling brand so that you stand out and attract your Ideal Clients.
Episode 111: The Pricing Conundrum for Home Stagers
Are you questioning your pricing because you are losing jobs to lower priced companies?
Do you struggle with whether or not to waste your time previewing a home because you have been burnt before?
If this is you, this podcast episode is just what you need to hear.
Episode 110: Create an Effective Instagram Strategy
In this episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I interview Heather Cook of Social Stager. Heather is a multi-award-winning Home Stager with over a decade of experience in building and running one of the most successful home staging companies in Canada.
Episode 109: Money Stories that Impact Profitability
Danielle is a reformed corporate CFO (chief financial officer) who is on a mission to help rule-breaking female entrepreneurs understand their numbers so they can gain the confidence needed to create sustainable profits.
Episode 108: How Your Subconscious Mind Effects The Results You Get
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with David Neagle. David is a speaker, best-selling author, founder of the multimillion-dollar global consulting company Life Is Now, Inc, and host of the Business Daily News ranked podcast – The Successful Mind.
Episode 107: Lessons Learned Making Six Figures in the First Year of Home Staging Business
Prior to launching Genesis, Joke was a licensed Real Estate Broker. Joke’s work ethic was shaped by her early years growing up in Lagos, Nigeria where she was surrounded by inspiration and an expectation of excellence.
Episode 106: From Teacher to Investor to Home Stager
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Andrea Bryant of Staged Right in Tampa, Florida. Andrea has been involved with most facets of real estate over the past 20 years from rehabbing to real estate sales and now home staging.
Episode 105: How Yoga Impacts Your Life and Business
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Donna Morrin. Donna is a 500 hour certified yoga instructor trained in the Tantra lineage, and holds additional certifications in meditation instruction and somatic therapeutic techniques. Donna travels around New England teaching people how to get back into their bodies and find peace in the chaos.
Episode 104: How to Run a Staging and Organizing Business
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I talk with Ashley Rapp. Ashley is the Owner of HELLO! Staging+Organizing and an Accredited Staging Professional as well as an Expert Organizer. Ashley helps potential buyers envision themselves living in the home repurposing what the client already has while also removing the excess items that overwhelm the space.
Episode 103: Musings on Marketing and Selling
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I discuss my thoughts and strategies for marketing or “selling” your Home Staging or Design services.
Episode 102: Business is an Inner Game Job
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I discuss why inner game alignment is always the foundation for business success. When you are growing your business you must grow as a person.
Episode 101: Get Great Results with Staging Consultations
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I discuss how I get great results for my Sellers with my staging consultations. Most of my consultations are paid for by Agents who refer me over and over again.
Episode 100: Reflections on The Dance of Life and Business
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I reflect on both the good and bad in life and business since my husband died in March 2022. It’s been a challenging year and yet I have grown personally and professionally in so many ways and I want to share with you what resilience looks like for me.
Episode 99: The Key to Profitability for Interior Designers
In my latest podcast episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire I interview Nancy Ganzekaufer. Nancy is a sought-after Interior Design Coach, Certified Body Language Training Professional, Keynote Speaker and Author.
Episode 98: How I Get Over 95% of my Business from Agent Referrals
In this episode I talk about how I built my staging business, since 2005, by getting over 95% of my business from Real Estate Agent Referrals.
Episode 97: The Social Savvy Stager
Welcome to episode #97 of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire. In this episode I interview Heather Cook, a multi-award-winning Home Stager with over a decade of experience in building and running one of the most successful Home Staging companies in Canada.
Episode 96: Running an LA Home Staging Business
Welcome to episode #96 of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire. In this episode I interview Robin DeCapua,a home staging specialist with over a decade of experience.
Episode 95: Create a Business That is in Alignment with Your Core Values
In this episode I interview Dawn Drew, a successful business owner and entrepreneur in Raleigh, NC. As a Home Stager, Designer, House-Flipper, and NC Real Estate Agent, Dawn’s commitment has always been to personal growth, her own and those around her.
Episode 94: Business Productivity Consultant
Check out my latest episode of Home Stagers and Designers on Fire. In this episode I talk with Shanice Miller, a Business Productivity Consultant with Taskly Group
