The Former Interior Designer Discovers a Path to Creativity and Balance
In a case of right place, right time, Marianne Egbers discovered ShelfGenie. Egbers’ ShelfGenie of Cincinnati franchise lets the designer flex her creative muscle and please clients without sacrificing the fulfillment of a rich family life. She also applauds the franchise’s caring culture and support for contributing to the success of her business.
“When I found ShelfGenie, my two daughters — who are now 7 and 8 — were very young. I was looking for a more flexible schedule where I could still design but also be with my children more. I had been working as an interior designer for about 10 years and was designing remodels for a local kitchen and bath company. I absolutely loved my job and the process of helping a client take a dream to reality. The emotions a client would get when an ordinary space was transformed into a beautiful and functional space gave me so much joy!”
But then she points out the downside: “I did not have the opportunity to work the flexible hours I wanted at the kitchen and bath company.” After months of searching, Egbers saw an online job ad for a designer at ShelfGenie of Cincinnati, which operates in a tri-state area including portions of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. “I met with the owner at the time in 2018 and joined the team. I instantly fell in love with the ShelfGenie product— custom glide-out shelves — and the company’s noble purpose, ‘We help turn frustration and pain into joy and love.’” For nearly a year, she worked part-time for ShelfGenie as well as the kitchen and bath company.
Then she decided to go exclusively with ShelfGenie. “During the pandemic, my husband, Joe, and I decided to explore buying our own franchise, which led us to purchasing the franchise I was already a part of. We took the leap, opened in November 2020, and have never looked back. I love that not one space or client’s needs are the same, and I get to customize a design specific for each client. My goal is to help my clients love where they live by helping them adapt to their changing needs overtime with our customized storage solutions.”
New-Found Flexibility
And ShelfGenie gave Egbers the flexibility she craved. “On a typical day, I am able to get my kiddos to and from school as well as check in with my team.” Her routine ShelfGenie duties include constantly talking with and encouraging her team, stopping by installations to thank clients, and handling a few design appointments each week. “We also do biweekly calls and have a few team-building events each year.”
ShelfGenie meant a great career move, too. “I had always dreamt of owning my own design firm or kitchen and bath company, but the overhead held me back.” ShelfGenie, founded in 2000, conquered that problem by being home-based. It also has a low cost of entry, requiring a cash investment of as little as $50,000.
Continuous Support
Egbers praises the support from the umbrella franchisor Neighborly, which acquired ShelfGenie in October 2020, just before the couple opened their franchise. “With its dedication to improving ShelfGenie’s manufacturing plant, Neighborly has improved the brand. They have invested in state-of-the-art equipment for manufacturing to streamline the process for ShelfGenie’s clients and grow the brand. The other local Neighborly franchisees are like family to us, and I am so grateful for their continuous support.” That support, along with the franchisor’s, provides a big assist in managing the business, says Egbers, whose team consists of four designers (including her), plus four installers. All are 1099 contractors and not employees.
Egbers and her husband say they’re excited to see what the future holds as they learn and gain valuable experience every day, building on their plans for tomorrow. “I hope to grow my business by expanding into our closet program,” she says.
For more information about the ShelfGenie franchise, visit https://www.shelfgenie.com/own-a-shelfgenie-franchise/.
