FAQ

1. What does Mais Oui mean and how is it pronounced?
Mais Oui is a French expression for an emphatic “yes, of course”. The literal translation into English is “but yes”. Mais Oui is pronounced “may we”.

2. Do I need previous training or experience in interior design?
No, you simply need your passion for decorating. We will teach you what you need to know about the redesign and staging processes, as well as cover business start up, marketing and pricing information. There are redesigners and stagers from all walks of life – the central theme is that they have a passion for decorating and decided they wanted to get paid for what they love to do!

3. Do I have to start a business?
No, if you want to take the class for your own enjoyment with no intention of starting a business, that’s fine with us. This is not a franchise or pyramid scheme of any type. You are free to use the information you learn in class any way you wish – for your own enjoyment or for profit. You can do this business part-time or full-time – whatever fits your goals and lifestyle needs.

4. Aren’t you worried about training more “competition”?
No, there are a lot of homes out there and there is no way that we can redesign and stage them all! Interior Redesign and Home Staging are still relatively new industries. Those of us in the field have been doing a lot of educating over the years. There are still a lot of people that are unfamiliar with the services that we provide. As more redesigners and stagers are trained and join the industry, the more the public will be aware of us and demand for our services will rise. It becomes a matter of not “What is redesign?” to becoming “Who is your redesigner?” In several markets where there are multiple redesigners, they have cooperated on joint marketing and hire each other as assistants on larger jobs.

5. Where are your classes held?
Classes are held in Greenville, NC; Huntersville, NC (Charlotte area); Detroit, MI;  Prattville, AL(Montgomery area); and Ashburn, VA (Northern Virginia/DC area).

Greenville (our base) is in eastern North Carolina and is centrally located between Raleigh, NC and the Atlantic Coast (a little over an hour to each). Flights are available to Greenville-Pitt Airport on USAirways, as well as to Raleigh-Durham Airport. Greenville is an easy half-day’s drive to many eastern cities.

6. What are your payment policies?
A $500 deposit holds your seat in class. The balance of the tuition is due two weeks before the start of the class. We accept checks as well as credit card payments via PayPal.

7. How do I dress for the classes?
Dress for the classes is casual. We suggest dressing in layers as the temperature in the classrooms can vary. However, we usually get warm once we start moving furniture in the afternoons! Bring a pair of clean, soft soled shoes (tennis shoes) to change into once we arrive at the client’s home.

8. Tell me about the certifications I will receive.

If you are a member of the The Society of Decorating Professionals (www.TheSDP.com) or join, and then complete our 5-day Professional Redesigner-Stager and 3-Day Professional Home Staging class, you can use the SDP Certified Redesigner and/or SDP Certified Stager seals on your marketing materials.  The SDP is an authorized provider of IACET Continuing Education Units, so you will also receive CEUs from The SDP upon completion of an SDP certified class.