Stacy Hernandez: You Cannot Neglect the Backend of the Business

Episode 241 of Window Treatments for Profit

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241: Stacy Hernandez: You Cannot Neglect the Backend of the Business

Today With Stacy Hernandez:

Welcome to Window Treatments for Profit. My guest today, Stacy Hernandez, is the principal and CEO of Elegant Avenue Interiors. Like so many of us, Stacy has had her fair share of ups and downs in the business and has learned many lessons. Today, she’s here to share with us some of those valuable insights, including one that is near and dear to this podcast—the importance of the backend of the business.

Pick It Apart

[3:20] Stacy shares her early struggles as a business owner and her pivot into furnishings.

[7:50] LuAnn and Stacy discuss the empowerment of understanding the backend of the business.

[17:21] LuAnn shares a story that shows just how important the numbers are in determining where to spend your time and effort.

[27:29] Stacy talks about the importance of focusing on what you do well instead of being a “short-order cook.”

[37:24] Stacy lays out the steps she took to strengthen her business.

LuAnn and Stacy Hernandez’s Ah-Ha Moments

“After many hard lessons, I have forced myself to learn what my husband told me 20 years ago. And that is, the backend of the business is just as important as the front. If you don’t like it or you don’t understand it, then find someone who does and hire them. Then meet with them regularly and watch them like a hawk.” -Stacy

“All the little decisions are based on the business model, and that business model is shaped by the numbers.” -Stacy

Why are you in business for yourself if you don’t like it? What’s the point of all that risk and overhead if you’re not living your life the way you want? I love all of this because it is the combination of where are the revenue generators in our business, and looking at them legitimately as opposed to imagingin what they are.” -LuAnn

More About Stacy Hernandez

Working with Elegant Avenue Interiors offers you a beautiful showroom featuring thousands of fabrics, rugs, wallpaper and interior décor and a design team that focuses directly on your unique needs and goals. We specialize in mid to high end window coverings & interior design services which offer great value and distinct design. Principle designer and owner, Stacy Hernandez, offers her friendly and professional wealth of industry knowledge and experience that will deliver you a beautifully designed project, big or small.

As a designer for over 20 years, Stacy has worked in the premier luxury home furnishings industry in Northern Nevada and California. She has worked on large scale projects such as model homes and estates, as well as single family homes and commercial offices and clubhouses. “Each project is different, with a different personality.” She has experience with every kind of design style and has worked to overcome many challenges that homeowners have been faced with. Whether the job was working with existing pieces the homeowner had or creating an entirely new room, Stacy has a legacy of happy clients.

What makes Stacy unique as a designer is the fact that she has the experience in drawing together the “look” her clients want with the products that fill their need. “I have worked with thousands of customers over the years.” She understands how to evaluate her clients’ needs and has developed a proven process to complete their project on time, on budget and to their specifications. Our store caters to the luxury market, so we focus on carrying high quality products and working with professionals in our field. In addition to window coverings & furnishing the home, we have cultivated relationships with local companies to complete the entire job. That includes faux finishers, flooring installers, painters, contractors, and other professionals. Stacy understands that an experienced project manager is as important to her busy clients as a beautiful, well-designed room.

Stacy believes that it is very important to stay current in our industry, so she makes it a point to attend markets regularly, meet with reps to see what new products are available, and continue learning about new innovations and products in our industry. She has a wealth of information about quality and construction of furniture, accessories and windows and has been buying at the wholesale markets in High Point, New York, Atlanta, San Francisco and Las Vegas for over 20 years. She is also a member of Exciting Windows!, a national network of window treatment specialists and a member of the WCAA (Window Coverings Association of America). Due to her commitment to stay “in the know”, Stacy is familiar with thousands of products in several price points so she and her team can offer their clients the products that will work best for their project.

“I have always enjoyed transforming a space into a place you would like to spend time in, a space that reflects your life and personality. As a designer, I was able to create that outward appearance of your inner self through furniture & décor.” ~ Stacy