Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Northrop.
Vanessa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Hialeah, FL to hard-working Cuban parents. As a young girl I went to school and worked most weekends in my family’s businesses in Real Estate, Home Makeovers, Flea Market stands, Fruit stands – they are very entrepreneurial to this day! Growing up I learned all aspects of a business from sales to inventory to painting walls and they build a great foundation to the hardworking woman that I am. I went to college at the University of Florida and then moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1998.
Through the years I held several jobs in administrative fields and then began working at City Furniture in the Marketing department in 2001 when I was 25 years old. I was involved in Product Development, Merchandising, Advertising, Photography, and TV Commercial Production. After 14 years, in December 2015, I left my post as Vice President of Marketing and Brand to start my own business. City Furniture gave me an incredible opportunity and head start to becoming the Home Furnishings Professional I am today and for that experience I am thankful.
For the past couple of years, I have been busy designing furniture and consulting companies in the Home Furnishings business. Two Months Ago, along with my business partner, I opened Sanctuary Home and Gift a Naturally Modern Furniture Store in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. The store is simply the most beautiful store in Fort Lauderdale and we offer a modern vibe at attainable prices. We also offer Home Space Planning and Styling services to help people create the vibe we have in-store in their homes.
Has it been a smooth road?
When I became a mother in 2010, my work/life balance was not healthy. I had been used to working 70 hours per week and traveling non stop to accomplish the company’s goals. Having a child was difficult because my workload did not change but my time did. At that time City Furniture did not have paid Maternity leave, so I had to return to work in 5 weeks. That was extremely difficult and I cried to work for weeks each morning. By the time I had my second child five years later I had learned to better manage home and career. I took a full four months leave when Senia was born! That was wonderful.
As a woman I found many struggles in Home Furnishings because it is a “good old boys” industry, It is much better now then it was 17 years ago when I started. I was not treated with much respect by men in the industry (Thankfully, my direct Supervisors at City Furniture were always amazing at having my back). I found that hard to handle but learned how to gracefully respond to them through the years.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Today I work at Sanctuary five to seven days a week doing a variety of tasks, especially as one of two owners. You can find me on the sales floor, making a delivery, or working on visual Merchandising in store. I specialize in Merchandising, Advertising, & helping customers create the interior vibe of their dreams via Home Design Projects (Space Planning and Styling). You can learn more about the design part of who we are in this article: http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/543797-1220-design-builds-passion-industry
I am most proud of the store that we created out of passion and love of home. When you walk into the space, you can feel the love and energy that was used to create it. That is what makes me most proud.
My creative passion, hard work ethic and enthusiasm for a life well lived set me apart from others.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think there will be a big shift from Big Box Retailers to smaller, specialized shops such as that we created in Sanctuary Home and Gift. There is a sense of Small Business support and having a connection with shop owners that are trending and I truly believe it will grow. There is no doubt online sales will also be a big part of the trend and our store will offer e-commerce by November 1 of this year.
Contact Info:
- Address: 515 N ANDREWS AVE
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 - Website: https://www.sanctuaryhomeandgift.com/
- Phone: 9546843717
- Email: vanessa@sanctuaryhomeandgift.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuaryhomeandgift/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sanctuaryhomeandgift/?ref=bookmarks
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sanctuary-home-and-gift-fort-lauderdale
Image Credit:
All of these images were taken by our team except the White Sectional that photo by Rowe Upholstery
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