Catherine Craig set up her business – Simple and Savvy Home Staging and Property Styling – on the Sunshine Coast eight years ago now, and this business is going from strength to strength and is rapidly becoming the ‘go to’ place for stylists, real estate agents and property owners for assistance when they need styling and assistance to make the most of their home. 

I moved to the Sunshine Coast with my husband from Sydney, 11 years ago. We found a perfect block of land and built our dream home.

Our sons were building their own careers and Greg opened his own business. This provided me with the perfect opportunity to study and then open my own business. Simple and Savvy Home Staging and Property Styling opened its doors and I have spent the last eight years working with real estate agents, helping vendors style their properties for sale , to achieve the best possible price in the shortest possible time.

What made you go into Interior Design?

I was helping my husband with renovating a building for his new practice when it occurred to me that I had a smile on my face during the entire process. It was in one of these moments that I remembered that I had a dream of being an Interior Designer in my final year of high school. I had dismissed it at the time and pursued a career in nursing. I decided that this time in my life I was not going to dismiss it and completed a Diploma of Interior Design. I got an ABN, a website and opened my business

You work in an industry that is highly competitive – what makes you different to others and how do you do things differently?

I aligned the values of my business with my own personal core values. That insures that I am able to deliver a service that is of a consistently high standard and professional.
There are so many variations of a business model in my industry. The one I chose enables me to be able to deliver a wide variety of services across many price points to be able to benefit a greater number of people trying to sell their homes.
Not only is the industry competitive, it is constantly changing. I am a professional member of several industry associations as this enables me to regularly update my professional development in accordance with industry standards.

What achievement are you most proud of?

Personally, it would be my 38 year marriage to my childhood sweetheart, our 2 beautiful sons and the family unit we have all created together.
Professionally was winning the Housing Industry Association Award for Property Styling for Sale for the Sunshine Coast in 2017. I was also named as one of three Finalists in the same category for Queensland in 2017.

If you could tell your 18 year old self anything, what would it be?

Self-confidence and self-belief is not arrogance. Don’t ever not try something new because you were afraid of failing. You do not fail, you learn lessons that show you how to achieve a better result the next time you attempt the task. It’s called growth.

Who is your idol and why?

Naomi Findlay. Naomi started a property styling business in regional NSW and built that business to be one of the most highly successful property styling businesses in Australia, all while juggling a young family.
Naomi went on to become the founder of the International Institute of Home Staging. This organisation provides an education stream for property styling in Australia.
What I admire most about Naomi is that she has an insatiable drive to grow the industry and elevate the standards across the entire industry to a professional level.
I always admire anyone from any walk of life with a “lift as you climb” attitude.

What’s next on the Agenda for Catherine Craig?

Our youngest son gets married in November. I love family celebrations.
I am finalising a set of videos for my website and you tube channel that will air shortly.
In the near future I plan to deliver Saturday Styling Sessions in my warehouse to share some of my tips and tricks for styling your home for sale.
I am still harbouring the dream of one day writing a book, but in the meantime I will remain committed to play my part in growing a strong, ethical and professional Property Styling Industry here on the Sunshine Coast.

What are you currently reading?

Live What You Love by  Naomi Simson

How do you Juggle Family and Work Life?

I set boundries. My work hours are between 8.30am and 5.30pm.
The mornings are for me, exercise, meditation and journaling and the evenings are spent with my husband. Eating dinner together, watching television or reading

What is your favourite quote or manifesto?

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive: and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style – Maya Angelou.

To check out more on Catherine & Simple and Savvy head to:
www.simpleandsavvy.com.au

or Facebook –
@SimpleandSavvy