Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanie Engelbach.
Hi Jeanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Philly breed, NY-made, is how I identify. I’ve been based in NYC since 1990 and discovered the charms of Charleston in 2013. New York is my ride or die, and Charleston is my side piece, although the more time I spend in South Carolina, the more I pepper my speech with y’all. For the past 23 years, I’ve been the boss lady and founder of apartmentjeanie, an interior styling and professional organization firm. I’ve been organizing since I was 5; however, ‘playdates’ when I was asked to clean my friends’ rooms and their closets does not qualify me as a professional.
apartmentjeanie was birthed in the spring of 2007; however, I have provided professional organization and design services for my photojeanie clients since 2000. photojeanie is an archival photo service that streamlines clients’ image libraries in print and digital. We create albums, scrapbooks, mementos, and photo boxes to organize and maintain our clients’ photo histories. Clients would often request assistance beyond organizing their photos, which I could handle. As I started to tackle more home organization projects, I decided to create a separate service that catered to clutter elimination, home and office organization, interior styling, and move management.
When we expanded the business several years ago to Charleston where I saw a real need for thoughtful and smartly designed short-term rental properties. Often the rentals need better appointed amenities and attractively decorated spaces. Our refresh and styling services cater to the guest experience while creating better reviews, more money, and repeat visits for our clients.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest challenge working in Charleston has been tempering my firstborn, Aries, attitude coupled with my New Yorker drive and ambition to match the flow of the South. Whereas our Charleston clients are quick to commit and rarely require being sold to, they prefer more flexibly in the process. I have always taken great pride in our ‘can-do, get it done efficiently and effectively’ work ethic, which can feel like a tidal wave for some. I have learned to be more patient and fluid while serving our Charleston community. Admittedly, the biggest obstacle is the absence of The Container Store in the area.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
apartmentjeanie is a lifestyle curation company, we offer a bevy of resources to help our clients live better organized and stylishly so.
The range of home services we provide always start with a foundation of exceptional and smart organization:
The range of home services we provide always start with a foundation of exceptional and smart organization:
Home & office organization from clutter elimination, editing and systematization for every space. We create intuitive systems and structures that are sustainable and easy to maintain.
Interior design and decorating that is creative, accessible and budget friendly. We want our clients not just to be surrounded by what they love, but for their space to tell the story of who they are.
Our focus in Charleston is styling for short term rental properties that is durable, inviting and full of design details that are location specific. By making small, but meaningful and thoughtful design tweaks emphasizing the guest experience, our clients are able to make more money on their rental properties, garner better reviews and wider social media exposure.
Our focus in Charleston is styling for short term rental properties that is durable, inviting and full of design details that are location specific. By making small, but meaningful and thoughtful design tweaks emphasizing the guest experience, our clients are able to make more money on their rental properties, garner better reviews and wider social media exposure.
Turn key move management, we prepare, supervise and manage the move, and set up the new space in a matter of days, not weeks or months. Moving, even under the most favorable of situations, is incredibly stressful and overwhelming, we alleviate the stain and pressure by managing the entire process for our clients. Most clients are in awe when they arrive at their new home and everything has been unpacked, put away and they see their prized possession presented in a fresh and energized manner.
Resourcing researching and shopping for home decor, furnishings and organization items. apartmentjeanie is unique as we extend all of our trade discounts to the client directly. This allows us to maximize their budget and truly deliver the best options for the space.
Space planning, both on-site and virtual design consultations to create better flow of the home, making the space a more efficient use of the layout and more effective use of their furnishings. This is ideal for the client who enjoys shopping and decorating, yet feels they need the support and suggestions of a professional designer.
Photo organization, we create photo albums, scrapbooks, image archives for both print & digital image libraries.
Often a client will start with one service and organically continue onto another. We pride ourselves in being partners with our clients and streamlining their lives both in and out of the home.
Often a client will start with one service and organically continue onto another. We pride ourselves in being partners with our clients and streamlining their lives both in and out of the home.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
When the idea for my business was just in development, I sought the counsel of my former boss, a brilliant and successful entrepreneur. He was accommodating and my first client, but he did me a disservice by suggesting a much lower price point for my craft which took me years to overcome, because I respected and trusted his business acumen and assumed he understood the market for this product.
I had been featured in several publications, such as Town + Country and Town + Country Travel, with his recommended rate. Having that national exposure was incredible as it catapulted my side hustle into a full-fledged business, but at the cost of my doing twice the work for half the pay.
Early on, when sharing my business vision, I was often met with skepticism and ‘helpful’ suggestions of what I should do rather than encourage me to blaze my path. The lack of support made me question my ability and skill. Had I not discussed my plan and forged ahead without consulting, I would have been able to enjoy building the business and scaling it more than I did. These lessons solidified the belief that I should always listen to MY gut as it is always right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
apartmentjeanie.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/apartmentjeanie/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/apartmentjeanie - Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/
apartmentjeanie - Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/
pro/apartmentjeanie/__public
Image Credits
Headshot Photo Credit: Andrew Werner Interiors, Photo Credit: Rikki Snyder
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