Interview - Douglas Schwartz of Endurance House

I recently went into Endurance House to speak with Doug about bike organization for a client's garage, but I also learned a lot of cool things about what they do there. 

Why is the store called Endurance House?

We have 16 stores nationwide. While I did not come up with the name myself I love the name.  Endurance is about training longer and a House is a welcoming place for everyone. We focus on runners, tri-athletes, swimmers, bikers and walkers.

What is the process for people who want to try on shoes?

The process is called PMP, performance - mobility - profile. We give the client a pair of socks and minimalistic sneaker.  They then walk or run on our treadmill as we film a 15-second video.  After review, we can see their impact zones where they hit the treadmill and we get three pairs of ideal sneakers that will fit them. Finally, we redo the 15-second test process until we find the right sneaker.  The PMP evaluation is always FREE!

How are you involved in the community?

We try as much as we can.  We offer free Runs and Walks on Tuesday nights, a Wednesday night pub run, a Thursday night run, plus Thursday & Saturday bike rides. We support local charities and try to give as much as we can to our community.  We are happy to donate time or a product to your fundraising event, just let us know.

In terms of organization, bikes always present a challenge, what is new in the world of bike racks?

Our KUAT racks offer the latest in bike rack technology.  They are functional, easy to use and feature a lot of cool bells and whistles such as locks, bike stands, and easy quick release.  We also have an easy bike storage rack from Velo Grip that hangs bikes with Velcro and makes them easy to swivel in any storage area so nothing gets scratched, dented, damaged or broken.

If I am intimated by physical activities where should I start?

At Endurance House we cater to everyone from “your never haves to seasoned pros”. Our free walks, runs and bike rides are for all abilities and are conducted as NO DROP! So everyone stays together and no one is left behind.  We welcome anyone who is into a Healthy Active Lifestyle!

Interview - Bethany Armstrong

Often people aren’t sure exactly what a Professional Organizer does sometimes they even confuse us with interior designers. Bethany Armstrong of Hue Designs helped us shed some light on the differences.

Most people may think they know what an interior designer does, what exactly do they do? Interior design has a wide scope that goes far beyond paint colors and throw pillows! It actually is rooted in a mood, feel, and emotion of a space. Combine that with technical aspects that are extremely important like balance, scale, flow and function, interior design is an art form that takes skill and patience.  Without one of these aspects falling into the perfect harmony, a room will feel off. Even worse, it won’t be functioning properly. It’s a discipline that involves listening to a client’s wants and needs then interpreting those artistically for the result that will accomplish those important goals within a budget. Last but not least, interior design involves working with various trades and sourcing materials in the best interest of the clients while providing excellent management of the overall project, time constraints, budget requirements, and installation issues.  And yes, sometimes there can be a bit of marriage counseling involved when there are different design aesthetics that need to come together for a happy mix that the family can enjoy!

For you, what does it mean to be an interior designer? For me, to be a designer is a humbling and important role. People invite me into their homes and lives to help them solve design dilemmas that will ultimately improve their environment. This isn’t something I take lightly. It’s an obligation to keep the client’s best interests at the forefront so the best quality products are installed by highly qualified tradespeople. There’s a tremendous trust that comes with being an interior designer because clients are looking to you for advice, education, guidance, and knowledge. I find that it’s extremely important to be upfront with my clients and manage expectations throughout the entire process. It’s inevitable there will be hiccups along the way in a renovation project but I always communicate options that are available. I also work with an amazing team of experts and professionals in various areas.

What project or projects have you worked on that was the most fun? That’s a tough one! Every project is fun because I get the opportunity to work with great people bringing beauty into their lives in ways they weren’t expecting. Yes, everyone can buy furniture but my value comes from kicking it up a notch! Every project should be unique and truly tailored to the client. Fun for me is hearing, “wow I didn’t know I was going to like that!” It’s important to let your designer expose you to new ideas you might not have been open to previously. It just might surprise you what transforms when you come out of your comfort zone a bit!  

If clients ever have a vision that may not make sense in the real world, how do you steer them back on track? I’m a huge believer in being upfront and honest even if it’s not the news that’s easy to give. My promise to my clients is that I will always keep your best interest at heart so if I tell them something isn’t going to work it’s for a reason that I will explain. I will give options and provide information for decisions. There are times where I will take a version of the client’s vision to adapt it into a workable solution whenever possible. That’s a challenge I enjoy!

Is it hard to keep up with changing styles or are some looks timeless? With social media, it’s definitely easier to see more of what’s happening in design worldwide but it can be overwhelming. I find you can never go wrong with a strong foundation rooted in good design and layer that with styles that might be trendy. Those layers are accents that can easily be transitioned out when tastes change but the overall design concept remains. It’s hard to resist what’s trending at times but if it’s the only aspect that’s holding up the design, it will look out of date quite fast. My design style is one that is inspired by the client’s needs and then layered for added interest.

Check out the Hue Designs Instagram feed.

Interview - Lisa Goldman, One Hope Cause Entrepreneur

We recently met Lisa at an event and found her story interesting especially since we are always advising clients to move towards experiences instead of aquiring stuff.

Can you describe what One Hope is and how the charity works?

OneHope was founded in 2007.  The vineyard is in Napa Valley California and out wine is created in collaboration with Robert Mondavi Jr. All orders are shipped via UPS and take approximately 1 week to deliver. We have a collection of award winning wines, gifts, and other gourmet products, with every item providing a built-in donation to very meaningful cause partners. Each wine varietal is linked to a charity that is carefully vetted and then supports. Some examples of our causes are Autism, childhood hunger, veteran support, pet adoptions, LGBTQ crisis lines, cancer treatment clinical trials etc.  

When someone makes a purchase they are giving back. In addition to selling directly from my business page, I also hold in-home or in-office wine tasting events. The host or hostess of the event can choose a charity that is close to them. 50% of the profits are donated to the partner causes and 15% of half and full case sales from wine tasting events go to the host/hostess' choice.  These events are a fun way to try new wines, learn about the different varietals, and raise money for local charities. To date the OneHope foundation has given over $1.7 million to nonprofits.

OneHope wine also has corporate gifting options we can have your company's name or logo branded onto a beautiful wood gift box.

How did you first get involved with One Hope?

I am a special education teacher working for birth to three. I was just looking for something to do where I can meet some new people and maybe make some extra money. I heard about a direct sales wine company, I researched it and found out about OneHope.  Once I heard about the fundraising aspect of the company I was hooked. 

What are some of the tastings events you have run?

I have done several in- home wine tasting events, happy hour events at realtor offices, online events, bridal shows and networking events.

As Organizers we are always striving to move from stuff to experiences, how have people responded to your business?

People absolutely love the idea of getting their friends or coworkers together for a fun night of wine tasting. Once they hear about the fundraising aspect of it they are blown away.

Which wine is your favorite?

My personal favorite wine is our Sparkling Brut and our Pinot Noir.  And I'm in love with all of our glitter bottles. They are very special. They make fantastic gifts!