Watch the premiere on YouTube May 1st at 7:00 AM PST.
Guest: Tammy Cunningham, Owner of Center Stage Interior Decorating
Host: Felicia Pulley, Creative Director of RESA
“Rental income is what keeps the business stable. When your overhead is covered, everything else becomes opportunity.”
– Tammy Cunningham
“I made every mistake possible along the way, and that is how I learned.”
— Tammy Cunningham
Every successful staging business begins with uncertainty. Tammy shares how her early years were filled with trial and error, learning pricing lessons, and slowly refining her approach. Instead of chasing perfection, she focused on steady improvement and reinvestment.
Over time, those incremental decisions built a foundation that supported long-term growth. Her story reminds staging professionals that progress often comes through persistence rather than speed.
“Sometimes the right people grow with your business, and that makes all the difference.”
— Tammy Cunningham
Hiring was not something Tammy rushed into. Her first team member came into the business through a practicum placement, learning the work alongside her and growing into a long-term role that continues today.
Over time, Tammy learned that building a reliable team requires patience, trust, and clear communication. When her business expanded, having dependable support allowed her to focus on strategy, client relationships, and long-term planning.
Her experience reminds staging professionals that hiring is not just about filling positions. It is about building relationships that strengthen the foundation of the business.
“”Every time I come to RESACON, I learn something that changes how I run my business.”
— Tammy Cunningham
Tammy has been part of the staging community for years, attending RESACON more than ten times and continuing to invest in education and connection. Throughout her journey, learning from other professionals and sharing experiences helped her avoid costly mistakes and refine how she operates her business.
Her story highlights something many stagers discover over time. Growth does not happen in isolation. It happens when business owners stay engaged, ask questions, and learn from those who have already faced similar challenges.
00:00 Intro
02:15 How Tammy Got Started in the Staging Industry
06:40 Early Inventory and Learning Through Mistakes
11:30 The Five-Year Turning Point Toward Profitability
17:20 Marketing Through Relationships and Education
24:10 Understanding the Power of Rental Income
28:45 Managing Multiple Staged Properties
34:30 Expanding Inventory and Building Stability
41:20 Hiring Team Members and Building Trust
48:10 Navigating Business Growth and Risk
54:30 Structuring Rental Fees for Long-Term Profit
1:00:10 How Rental Income Supports Overhead
1:06:45 Lessons Learned From Scaling a Staging Business
1:12:30 Advice for Stagers Navigating Growth
1:18:00 Final Thoughts From Tammy Cunningham
1:20:00 Outro
In this episode of The Staging Insider, Tammy Cunningham walks through the real story behind building a staging business that lasts, not just one that launches quickly.
Tammy shares how her company began with limited resources, early risks, and a willingness to learn through mistakes. She discusses the turning points that shaped her business, including when profitability became non-negotiable and when reinvestment into inventory became the key to long-term growth.
A major focus of this conversation centers on the role rental income plays in sustaining a staging business. Tammy explains how maintaining approximately fifty staged homes created a steady monthly revenue stream that supports overhead and provides stability. That insight alone has the potential to change how many stagers think about pricing and profitability.
Another important theme throughout the episode is understanding when a business has outgrown its original structure. Tammy reflects on decisions around inventory investments, warehouse space, hiring team members, and refining operational systems as her company expanded.
Felicia and Tammy also explore the realities of building a business over time. They discuss the pressure of early financial decisions, the importance of maintaining strong relationships, and the discipline required to grow without losing sight of long-term goals. From early garage storage to managing a large staging inventory, Tammy’s story highlights how consistent effort shapes lasting success.
Tammy Cunningham is the owner of Center Stage Interior Decorating, an award-winning staging and interior decorating company based in Kelowna, British Columbia. Since launching her business in 2006, Tammy has built a reputation for creating polished, market-ready spaces that help properties stand out in competitive markets.
Her path into staging did not begin with a warehouse full of furniture or a detailed business plan. Like many in this industry, Tammy started small, using what she had available, learning through experience, and reinvesting every dollar back into her business. Over time, those early decisions laid the foundation for a company known for reliability, consistency, and long-term relationships with agents and homeowners.
Today, Center Stage Interior Decorating operates with a strong focus on sustainability, smart inventory management, and strategic rental structures that support long-term profitability. Tammy’s approach combines practical financial awareness with creative expertise, making her a respected voice among staging professionals navigating growth and operational decisions.
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Hosted by Felicia Pulley, Creative Director of the Real Estate Staging Association®, The Staging Insider takes you behind the scenes with today’s most influential stagers. From creative strategies to business realities, every episode dives into what it really takes to thrive in the staging industry.