Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in architecture and design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Amber Bauman, Founder of GREY PEARL Interior Design, located in Landmark, Manitoba, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At GREY PEARL Interior Design, we provide full-scale interior design services in Brandon, Winnipeg, and the surrounding areas for your home, office, or clinical space. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to improve your existing space, we can help you enhance your surroundings and achieve your goals.
No matter the size or budget, our goal is to treat all projects equally. We value honesty and integrity, and we strive to be as transparent with our clients as possible. While understanding the personal nature of our work, we will never push our clients into something they aren't comfortable with. We want our clients to be happy with not only the process and final product but the way they function in their new space.
Tell us about yourself
I'm Amber, the founder and owner of GREY PEARL Interior Design. I was born and raised in Brandon, MB, and headed to beautiful British Columbia to study Interior Design + Fundamentals at The Art Institute of Vancouver in 2006. After graduating with honours, I made my way back to Manitoba and spent over a decade practising Interior Design in Winnipeg at URBANiKZ i.d.s.
In 2019, after giving birth to my first daughter, I took the bold leap to start my own Interior Design firm. Since then, I've had many successes in the areas of high-end residential, corporate offices, and clinical spaces, and I have been featured on CTV and in Mint Magazine.
In 2020, I earned the prestigious NCIDQ Certification (National Council of Interior Design Qualification) that only a handful of designers in Manitoba have obtained. This certification demonstrates a practicing interior designer has the experience, skill, and ability to satisfy a client's needs through health and safety, building code, accessibility, design fundamentals, and professional practice.
What keeps me going? My husband, Mike, and two daughters. Isla, who is 4 going on 14, and Addi, who is already 6 months old. It's never a dull moment around here!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment? Other than simply being able to provide for my family while satisfying the needs of my amazing clients... Would be to have been able to build my business from the ground up with loyal clients who put their faith in my every day.
Owning and building a business is extremely challenging, but there is no greater feeling than seeing an executed project and a happy client. Watching your work go from concepts to drawings to renderings to real life is an amazing feeling, and it keeps me going every day.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Trust your gut and maintain your integrity, no matter what.
- Create space for yourself and for your family. Get yourself a separate work phone and create boundaries.
- Hire a coach!!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.greypearldesign.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greypearldesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greypearldesign/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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