In this episode, I’m talking with my former coaching client Amy Nelson, a Home Stager who’s carved out a powerful, profitable niche by getting crystal clear on her messaging, her business model, and the clients she truly wants to serve.
We talk about the most effective strategy she’s used to win business in a rural area, how implementing the Donald Miller Story Brand framework transformed her marketing, and the simple visual tool she uses to show clients real results.
If you’ve ever struggled with visibility, clarity, or growth in a smaller market, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s possible.
Listen to the podcast below or subscribe on Apple, Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
What you’ll learn on this episode:
What Amy found to be the most effective strategy for winning business in her rural area
How Amy implements the Donald Miller Storybrand system in her marketing and messaging and why that is a game changer
Amy’s effective tool for visually demonstrating the results clients get when they work with her
How Amy’s business model evolved
Why Amy loves to do occupied staging
How Amy found clarity about what to say yes to and what to say no to
Xo Marianne
New Hampshire Designer Retreat | June 4–7 ✨
Imagine stepping away from your day-to-day and into a gorgeous mountain retreat in New Hampshire, surrounded by designers and home stagers who get you.
This isn’t just about trends (though you’ll get those, too ).
It’s about deep connection, shared growth, and unforgettable experiences.
Over three inspiring days, you’ll:
🤍 Learn directly from two seasoned coaches—Debbe Daley and Marianne Cherico—who will expand your vision, challenge your thinking, and help you step into what’s next
🤍 Gain just as much insight from the other talented creatives in the room—the conversations, collaborations, and “aha” moments are pure magic
🤍 Explore 2026 interior design & home staging trends, signature style, and what truly sets you apart
🤍 Learn how to leverage your design and staging expertise to invest in real estate, including how to evaluate and purchase investment properties—and combine smart buying with beautiful design
🤍 Experience the beauty of a private, historic NH retreat home, charming towns, antique shopping, and breathtaking mountain views
🤍 Enjoy cocktails, live music, laughter, optional Reiki sessions, hot-seat coaching, and plenty of time to relax and have fun
This is where business breakthroughs happen over coffee, wine, walks, and honest conversations—and where lasting friendships are formed.
Limited spots available
June 4–7 | Sandwich, NH
⏰ Registration closes May 29, 2026
If you’re craving inspiration, clarity, connection, and joy—this is your invitation
Complimentary Discovery Session
Together we will clarify your goals, uncover challenges that are preventing you from reaching those goals and discuss coaching options to help you create a life and business that is on fire! 🔥🔥🔥
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 Amy:
Website –www.hometransformationsstaging.com
Instagram-@hometransformationsstaging
Connect with Marianne:
Set up a coaching discovery session to see if coaching is right for you.
Website: https://coachingbymarianne.com
Instagram: @homestagercoachmarianne
You Tube Channel-https://www.youtube.com/@homestagersanddesignersonfire
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 61: How To Navigate High Point Market
Debbe Daley and Wendy Woloschuk, my Design for Today Collaborative colleagues discuss how to navigate High Point market.
Episode 60: Sell Staging In Any Market
In this episode I share insights on how to “sell” your staging services in any Real Estate market. Whether you are in a hot Sellers market or a Buyer’s market, the way that you position your services is more important than ever. Learn what to say to agents and sellers so that they see the value of staging.
Episode 59: Combining a Staging and Real Estate Business
In this episode I talk with Adrienne Lord of Staged to Sell. Adrienne shares her experience of owning a Real Estate Brokerage that includes a full service Home Staging component
Episode 58: Build Know, Like Trust with Video
In this episode I am talking with Aaron and Angela Bell of Smartphone Video Formula. I met Angela and Aaron in a coaching Program that we are all in and loved how generous they were to other members in the group. And so I set up a time to meet with them in order to get to know them better and we talked about how important video is when marketing your business.
Episode 57: 3 Questions Answered on Getting Business From RE Agents
In this episode I am going to answer 3 questions that I often get from Home Stagers about getting business from Real Estate Agents.
Episode 56: A Soulful Designer Creating Her Life from the Inside/Out
In this episode I talk with Michelle Cortizo of Cortizo Interiors. Michelle began her design career back in the year 2000. Asked by a builder in church if she could help him with paint colors, she quickly became part of his team and learned how to design large projects while collaborating with project managers and architects.
Episode 55: A Step Above Designs in Florida
In this my latest podcast episode I talk with one of my coaching clients, Amie Stepkoski of A Step Above Designs in Florida. Amy is a member of my Home Stagers on Fire Coaching Group and I have watched her go from a struggling beginner stager to a stager who is growing her business by fine tuning her messaging and getting more and more repeat business from Real Estate Agents.
Episode 54: Successful Staging, Design and Retail Business in Maine
In this episode I talk with Elizabeth Polansky of The Styled Home about how she grew her interior decorating business into a full service staging and design business with a 10,000 square foot warehouse and retail store.
Episode 53: Creating an Interior Design Business with Grit and Resolve
In this episode I talk with Beverly Ferguson of The Reflective Designer. Beverly began her Interior Design career in her 50’s. After graduating Cum Laude in The Applied Science of Interior Design in her 20’s, she put her career on hold in order to raise her daughters.
Episode 52: Playing the Business Game to Win
In this session I talk about why it is so important to pay attention to what you are thinking and doing in order to take effective action in your business.
Episode 51: From Early Childhood Specialist to Thriving Home Stager
In this episode I talk with one of my fabulous coaching clients, Nancy Safran. Nancy came to me 5 years ago after being laid off from her position as an early childhood specialist. She was at a turning point and wanted to reinvent her previous career in interior design, but she was unsure where to begin.
Episode 50: Truth Bombs from One of my Clients
In this episode I talk with one of my fabulous coaching clients, Donel Beals. Donel is a designer and home stager on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Join us as we discuss how coaching has impacted Donel’s business and life in very specific ways. Donel hired me 3 years ago when she was re building her design and staging career after devoting the past 14 years to her family.
Episode 49: The Same Circle Method
In this episode I talk with Bobby Tsui. Bobby is an author, speaker, coach, and entrepreneur from Los Angeles, CA. He’s the founder of The Same Circle Method, where he coaches interior designers by helping them make breakthroughs in social media. He also helps them develop influential positioning in their markets so they can grow their businesses profitably while staying in their genius zones.
Episode 48: Organically Growing a Staging Business
In this episode I talk with Helen Bartlett of Refined Interior Staging Solutions. A multi award winning stager, Helen has been featured in the local Newspaper, magazines and even HGTV’s show “Bargain Mansions”. In this episode, Helen takes us on a journey of how she singlehandedly built her thriving business from scratch.
Episode 47: Growing and Scaling a Multi State Staging Business
In this episode I talk with Ryan Marsh of Onstage. As one of three partners in this multi state staging company, Ryan has been instrumental in the financial growth and digitized systems and processes that help this successful company run like a well oiled machine. If you are thinking of expanding your staging business this episode is pure gold!
Episode 46: Strengthen Your Belief Muscle
In this new podcast episode I share why actionable steps are not enough and how your beliefs either empower you to create the results that you want or they sabotage your efforts.
Episode 45: Selling – The Customer Centric Way
In this episode I talk with Nikki Rausch, CEO of Sales Maven, an organization dedicated to authentic selling, Nikki Rausch has the unique ability to transform the misunderstood process of “selling”.
Episode 44: A Multi Faceted Business
In this episode I talk with Pam Tiberia, owner of Spruce Interiors. A seasoned designer and award-winning home stager based in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire, Pam has helped hundreds of homeowners successfully style and stage their homes.
Episode 43: The Client Experience
In this episode I talk with my colleagues from the Design for Today Collaborative. Join Debbe Daley, Wendy Woloshchuk and I as we discuss how to optimize the experience for your clients from beginning to end and how to create clients for life!
Episode 42: The Art of Divine Selfishness
In this episode I talk with Brigitte Van Tuijl. Brigitte is a writer and master coach for women entrepreneurs. In the past two decades she’s helped thousands of women get clear on their true dream and make it real. Her clients have launched businesses globally, published their first books, doubled their incomes, and realized their most important goals and desires.
