On this episode of “Simplifying Life Through Technology,” Mark and Sue sit down with Annie Hanson of The Closet Niche.
What if you could transform an ordinary closet into a functional masterpiece? Join us as we sit down with Annie, the inspiring owner of The Closet Niche, who opens up about her remarkable journey from employee to successful entrepreneur. Annie shares how her faith, community support, and relentless hard work fueled her leap into launching her own business in 2022. From custom closet designs to personalized solutions for every nook and cranny in your home, Annie's passion for tailored, organized spaces shines through in every project.
The Closet Niche specializes in custom closets, pantries, drop zones, mud rooms, laundry rooms, garages, offices, wall beds, and more. With their high-quality custom products, top-notch service, and Best Price Guarantee, they can create a system that's functional, maximizes your space, and is aesthetically pleasing.
Discover the secrets behind Annie's rapid business growth as she dives into the pivotal role of networking. Encouraged by her community, Annie's involvement with the Lake Norman Home Builders Association, including participation in their charity events, led to her winning the prestigious Best of the Lake award for closets. This accolade not only boosted her company's visibility but also highlighted her meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of her business.
We wrap up this episode with an engaging discussion on the importance of customer relationships and the value of a hands-on design process. Annie reveals her strategies for maintaining smooth project timelines and the benefits of having a design studio where clients can interact with products firsthand. Annie's two years of success in the custom closet industry offers invaluable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to start or grow their own business fueled from a passion.
Tune in for a compelling episode that blends practical advice with heartfelt stories of perseverance and achievement. Be sure to listen and discover how Annie and The Closet Niche are revolutionizing the world of custom closets and organizational solutions with unique technologies and personalized solutions.
On this episode of “Simplifying Life Through Technology,” Mark and Sue sit down with Annie Hanson of The Closet Niche.
What if you could transform an ordinary closet into a functional masterpiece? Join us as we sit down with Annie, the inspiring owner of The Closet Niche, who opens up about her remarkable journey from employee to successful entrepreneur. Annie shares how her faith, community support, and relentless hard work fueled her leap into launching her own business in 2022. From custom closet designs to personalized solutions for every nook and cranny in your home, Annie's passion for tailored, organized spaces shines through in every project.
The Closet Niche specializes in custom closets, pantries, drop zones, mud rooms, laundry rooms, garages, offices, wall beds, and more. With their high-quality custom products, top-notch service, and Best Price Guarantee, they can create a system that's functional, maximizes your space, and is aesthetically pleasing.
Discover the secrets behind Annie's rapid business growth as she dives into the pivotal role of networking. Encouraged by her community, Annie's involvement with the Lake Norman Home Builders Association, including participation in their charity events, led to her winning the prestigious Best of the Lake award for closets. This accolade not only boosted her company's visibility but also highlighted her meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of her business.
We wrap up this episode with an engaging discussion on the importance of customer relationships and the value of a hands-on design process. Annie reveals her strategies for maintaining smooth project timelines and the benefits of having a design studio where clients can interact with products firsthand. Annie's two years of success in the custom closet industry offers invaluable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to start or grow their own business fueled from a passion.
Tune in for a compelling episode that blends practical advice with heartfelt stories of perseverance and achievement. Be sure to listen and discover how Annie and The Closet Niche are revolutionizing the world of custom closets and organizational solutions with unique technologies and personalized solutions.
Well, thank you very much for joining us today. We've got Annie Hansen from the closet niche. Much better transition this week, Andrew. Thank you for that, Annie welcome.
Speaker 2:
Thank you. Thanks for having me on.
Speaker 1:
It sounds like we have Dolly Parton in here right now.
Speaker 2:
Yes, I've been told that.
Speaker 1:
Oh my God, it's like.
Speaker 2:
Dolly's daughter, that or Reese Witherspoon's Sweet. Alabama she sounds like me because I'm older than her.
Speaker 1:
Fair enough. Well, tell us a little bit about you. Tell us a little bit about your company and how you got started, where you came from and what do you do.
Speaker 2:
Sure Well, I am the owner of, obviously, the Closet Niche. I have been in the industry for a little over six years now, worked for two other closet companies before I decided to go ahead and start opening my own. I learned a whole lot of do's, a whole lot of don'ts.
Speaker 1:
When did you open? Just, I'm just curious from an entrepreneurial standpoint.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so I opened in 2022. Wow.
Speaker 1:
Yeah so.
Speaker 2:
I just celebrated two years in February.
Speaker 3:
Congratulations.
Speaker 2:
Congratulations, thank you. It was lots of prayer, big leap of faith, and I said, if this is meant to be, then it will be. And I prayed about it and I just said, well, I'm going for it. I had a whole lot of customers that were continuously coming back saying is this your business? And I'd say, no, it's not mine. And then a lot of people that were saying you should totally do this on your own, you know, and a lot of those were people that I had worked with in like the building industry or contractors, and the more I thought about it I thought, well, no, it's not for me. And then, I don't know, I kind of got a gut punch one day that just kind of said, no, I think you really really need to look into this.
Speaker 2:
So, with a lot of prayer, I launched it in February and it has grown. I've been truly blessed and very kind of blown away, actually, and not only blown away, but just I've had to put a lot of work into it. But not only blown away by the growth of it, but blown away by the community and my team that I have now and to see the growth that has happened. A lot of people don't want to grow their business too fast, and I certainly did not want to do that. So I've just kind of like laid it in God's hands and said it's going to grow as it's going to grow and just kind of let it flow. I try not to make big, huge, huge, huge changes, but I try to make them small where you can constantly see that the company's constantly improving, a little at a time.
Speaker 1:
We definitely believe that we're stewarding his stuff. So everything that's here with Sound Vision, I feel like I'm just the steward of that and it's my job to take care of it as best that I can and make the most intelligent decisions with as much help from counselors and stuff, as it says in Proverbs. So it's good to hear that from you. Tell us more. What does your business actually do?
Speaker 2:
Yeah. So when I started the business, I actually started it out of my home and our focus is not just closets. We are so much more than just closets, so we do everything from you know obviously closets, drop zones, laundry rooms, pantries, built-ins, entertainment centers, offices. We tend to stay away from kitchens and baths, that's the only two projects that we don't end up looking into.
Speaker 2:
But we also even do garages. So we even do garages. So we come in and we actually take a look at a person's space and we don't quote, quote. Come in and take their personal things out and put them back together in an organized place for them. We actually build the organizational solutions for them. So the majority of the business is closets, but it's a good share of amount that we end up doing for pantries, laundry rooms.
Speaker 4:
Well, pantries and drop zones are huge. I mean people think, oh, we don't need a nice laundry room or a nice drop zone If you want to keep your house organized and looking neat and tidy. They're huge on keeping things organized. I love a good drop zone, yeah, not only nice but, like you said, organized.
Speaker 1:
I mean, it's incredible what you can do with a small space if there's intention put behind it, and how much usability you can get out of that space. So over the years we have certainly learned the value of your business and I think that a lot of our listeners could definitely benefit from that. So it's cool to see that you're doing it. How do you actually design the systems?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so, um, I go into people's homes and you know a lot of people get worried about I don't want her to come in here. I'm embarrassed of the way that it looks. Well, that's the whole point, if you think that's the whole point.
Speaker 2:
I am coming in because all of us have those. You know things that we can improve on in our lives, myself included. Everybody does and there are certain spaces or areas in your home that you can obviously see there needs to be an improvement there. But maybe you yourself just doesn't have quite the vision of what you're wanting, or maybe you do, you just don't know how to make it happen. So that's where I come in. We do free, complimentary consultations where you call, we come out to your home. Normally try to be out there with at least 24, 48 hours from when you call.
Speaker 2:
We come in, we take laser measurements of everything, and it's our builds are very specific. So a lot of people say, well, can I just send you the measurements? Well, it doesn't really work that way, because we take outlets, baseboards, ceilings, walls, windows, trims, everything into effect. I mean we build all the way down to the 64th. Wow, it's got to be very, very detailed. So come in though I take laser measurements. Ask some simple questions in regards to if you want to look at like some custom colors or decorative door profiles and drawers. There's a slew of options that we obviously have for all of these designs, depending on what people are looking for and it is all custom. There are some competitors that we have out there that I don't really consider, competitors that only sell certain standard sizes. Well, there's nothing standard for us. Everything is 100% custom.
Speaker 4:
Well, anybody can go to a big box store and buy that stuff and attempt to put it in, but chances are it's not going to fit perfectly.
Speaker 2:
Correct, correct. And if you want it to be something that's custom, you want it to fit your space the way that you truly want it to, and it not only needs to look great, but it's all about functionality and organization. So it not only has to look really good, but it has to function and it needs to be cost effective in the most that you can possibly be.
Speaker 2:
So there are competitors out there that are a larger national franchise. I'm 75% less than one of the top ones that was the founders of the industry and 35% less than most of the rest of them. So I do carry a best price guarantee, um that if competitors come in and our designs are apples to apples, I will either price match it or beat it my turnaround time. I do manufacture all my own products, um so my turnaround time is about two and a half to three weeks. Wow, um yeah, that's.
Speaker 1:
That's. That's really quick. Yeah, uh, you, you mentioned we how many folks are on your team.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so I originally believe it or not, started this business myself.
Speaker 1:
No, so just by myself. You're the first entrepreneur ever to do that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I started in the garage of my home, obviously, and it was kind of the coolest thing. I get so excited. I remember I will never forget the day that I got my first order and I had ordered the hardware from a hardware vendor and it came in and I made this little box with the customer's name on the outside of it and I put it on one shelf in the garage and I was like I'm in business, so fantastic. And now we're running out of space in the building we're in. So it's truly been a blessing. But I opened it in my garage a few months. I was even installing myself, so I did everything from the designing to the manufacturing, to the installing, to the billing, everything. So now I have a team, I have an office manager, I have an operations manager, I have two full-time trucks that are running with two installers on each one of those, and then myself and I hired a new designer that joined us last year, the fourth quarter of last year, and she's hit the ground running really well as well. So that's awesome.
Speaker 2:
It's truly been a blessing about. I'll say this when I started in February of 2022, about four months into it I realized it's different for me to come to your home and tell you what I'm going to do for you. We do do a 3D rendering for people, so I don't draw it out on a piece of paper, but I do do a 3D rendering that I present to, and if it's something that they want to make changes with, we do two free rounds of changes as well, and then, when people are ready to move forward, we can book them about. Anywhere. Between three to four weeks is about where we kind of stay standard.
Speaker 1:
Most all installs can be done in a day, so not too many people can say that For our listeners out there, you need to picture Annie as being, uh, shark tank the, the person that comes into shark tank that they're all fighting over like that is so true. The annie is the cons we met like 25 minutes ago. She is the consummate entrepreneur. She's doing it all and passionate about all of it and, as that as a bit of a segue, being passionate, she's also involved in the best of lake norman.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, so tell us a little bit about your role with lake norman home builders. And now you and I both are on the best of lake norman uh committee, so tell us a little bit more how you got involved with them and your role and everything like that yeah.
Speaker 2:
So I started when I had opened up the design studio in talbert business park. Um, I started having a lot working with a lot more contractors, even lenders, and some of these lenders were members of the Lake Norman Home Builders Association. One came to me and he was like you know, annie, you really should get connected with Lake Norman Home Builders Association or some of these committees that are more local industry committees. And so I thought, well, you know, I'll look into it. Well, they had a Lake Norman Home Builders was doing a golf charity event and he said look at being potentially a sponsor for it. So I reached out and met Beth White at the time and just fell in love with her and the organization itself signed up to be a vendor, went out and was set up to be a sponsor, so went out and actually was the sponsor for that first event, met a lot of the builders, a lot of people in the industry, and I thought, well, this is really cool. I really want to, you know, kind of be a part of more of this.
Speaker 4:
Keep networking.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, keep networking. And then it was brought to my attention about the best of the lake and oh, you want to talk about something so nervous being a female and a female owner, a single female owner of the business. And in my mid 40s it's like how do I get into the industry when I'm not part of the good old boy industry that's been around, you know, 30, 40 years building? So I was like, oh, is this going to be one of those things that I don't know that I should, you know, submit my work for what? Just so happens that somebody else came to me and was like that's some really good, you should really consider submitting it.
Speaker 4:
So so what category did you submit it under?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, so Best of the Lake last year opened up a specialties category and part of that specialties category included closets, so I submitted it with hopes. Even, you know, reached out to them and said I want to make sure I'm doing this right. Didn't find it to be too difficult, just had to put your ducks in a row and submit the things that you needed to submit in a timely manner. And I was blown away. I actually won it, and he won and she won.
Speaker 4:
So how has this affected your business?
Speaker 2:
Oh, it's been huge. Obviously, one of our vans that we have, out of the two install vans we have, one of the vans we have the back of it features our Best of the Lake closet that we won on and the that that the best of the lake and late Norman home builders does for those companies who win to feature to feature them after. It's just been great for my business. It's definitely been able to bring more exposure to our company.
Speaker 4:
Well, I know sponsors and also people who are trying to submit for the different awards. Was the process easy for you? I mean, can you explain a little bit about the process of you decided you wanted to, you know, submit your work, how to take it from there, what you needed to do?
Speaker 2:
Oh yeah, it was very easy. I mean, they give you a packet that you fill out. You have to submit some before pictures If you have pictures in progress, that's great and then your after pictures, but then submitting the details of the project to talk a little bit you know about, you know what was the process and what was the customer and what was the end result. Were you able to provide the customer with everything they were looking for? And obviously that's the goal for everyone. But in that you just expand a little bit more in detail. So yeah, it was actually very, very simple, so much simple that I was really shocked that I won.
Speaker 4:
Well, and Chelsea, please chime in here. Who decides like? Who are the judges?
Speaker 3:
for all these different categories. Yeah. Who votes on this stuff? Yeah?
Speaker 4:
who votes on these categories?
Speaker 3:
Yeah, so members from different HBAs around North Carolina, charlotte HBA rally and all that stuff. So we'll get judges from those areas who are interested, because you know we'll do that for them during their events as well. So they like to to pay that favor for us and those are the ones that that make that final decision on who wins each category.
Speaker 1:
So they don't necessarily even know the people company anything, they're not even from around here.
Speaker 3:
Right, and we do that intentionally too. I mean, you never know.
Speaker 4:
Everything's almost confidential.
Speaker 3:
Yes, so when you submit your entries, you don't put the name of your business, you don't put the name of the client. All of it's just simply pictures, details on the project, and it's just an even playing field for everyone that submits yeah, that's very cool well and it's fair.
Speaker 4:
I mean, you know, because people see somebody's name or hear somebody's name, like, oh, this one's going to be really good, but with it being, you know, hush, hush on, you know, not having any of your logos or locations or even addresses. Addresses aren't even on the on them as well.
Speaker 1:
By the way, as an aside, before we started the podcast, sort of off air we were talking about Annie's fans and, just as a what you do, you're really touting how detailed you are and how important that is and how that sets you apart from your competitors, whether that's a big box store or just another competitor in your industry. And if you see Annie's Vans, I would challenge our listeners to look for them and look at what the difference is in that. Forget it. You may not even need a project today, Maybe it's two years from now. But when you look and you see the amount of detail and the amount of time that's taken into wrapping the van the van like imagine what that's going to be in your home, whether that's your drop zone or your closet or whatever space that you would need organization or cleaning up. I think that that's a great testament to what your business is and how you do business.
Speaker 2:
Well, thanks, I appreciate you saying that the details do matter especially in these areas in people's homes.
Speaker 1:
So we would be remiss if we didn't talk about a little technology. So you're in spaces that have technology. As an example, we have a buddy in Houston that did this huge closet for this like super fancy designer and the lighting was unbelievable it lit every single shelf. How does technology play in your business?
Speaker 2:
So lighting's been huge. That just kind of took off probably last year for us was when the lighting part took off, but it's not so much just that you can walk in and flip a light, as much as now. You walk in and it's censored, sure, and it's censored where the point that you can hold your hand up and it's a dimmable light. People even want you know some of the fabulous things that I've seen come into your place here today where there's surround sound music throughout their home and throughout their closets. Entertainment centers are huge for us, so we're constantly trying to figure out how to incorporate some of their other. You know smart, smart technology that's built, also built into our entertainment centers as well, so we're constantly figuring out how to make those all work, and it's something that has to be coordinated as well.
Speaker 1:
That's exactly what I was going to ask it has to be coordinated during the install, not after.
Speaker 2:
Let's do it at the same time where cords is the last thing people want to see. Technology is so advanced now that there's ways around those, ways around those. So we absolutely look at working with guys like yourselves to incorporate them during the install, not after.
Speaker 1:
So you are working I'm asking, of course you are working with interior designers and electricians and then audio video or integrator type companies like us that do all the stuff that we do.
Speaker 2:
That's very common for you, oh yeah, absolutely so, more or less, I come out, I'll take all the measurements, put a 3D rendering together Final line drawings are a part of that and then that's when my final line drawings will go back to either the designer, the contractors, the sound visions, places like that that can actually sit down and say, okay, here's the final line drawings, this is where we're going to place everything. Then we coordinate it together. So, yeah, it's, it's got to work and and I'll be scheduled together at the same time to go smoothly, sure, sure and don't want to call anybody out.
Speaker 1:
Um, I'm interested to know how your communications, how they typically work it. It seems like you're a pretty proactive and very communicative. We typically find that we're hunting people down a lot and we actually have two full-time project managers on staff that their job is details. Their job is making sure that the light switch is the right color, that everything lines up as plum and square, that we're ahead of the game and if anything changes, they know about it. That sort of thing of the game, and if anything changes, they know about it. That sort of thing. Do you find that that's a challenge?
Speaker 2:
I mean, yeah, I mean I think you're going to run across that. I mean not every I can't say everybody's as detailed as I like to be, but at the same time I always want to know that people aren't necessarily have to having to wait on me and really my design, with the final line drawings, is what's going to help the electrician to understand where outlets need to be, the sound visions to understand where they're going to be able to put the lighting, the sound the speakers, all of those things.
Speaker 2:
So I don't want a company ever waiting on me and it's more or less me turning it over to them and then, once they've been able to sort things out, that's when we can start looking at manufacturing aspects for timing. So I know what my turnaround time is, and my turnaround time may not be always effective and as fast as other others are, so I have to work with everybody else's schedules at the same time. So, yeah, I run into that quite often, where you're kind of chasing them down, waiting, saying we're ready.
Speaker 1:
We're not the only ones we're ready. So, before we switch to some fun stuff, how do people that want to get in touch with you, how do people that want to engage with you and your company, what's the best ways to do that?
Speaker 2:
Sure, well, obviously, our website, our social media pages as well. We have Instagram and Facebook, but our website's wwwtheclosetnichecom.
Speaker 1:
N-I-C-H-E.
Speaker 2:
That's right. N-i-c-h-e.
Speaker 1:
And Instagram and.
Speaker 2:
Instagram and Facebook are both the Closet Niche as well. Perfect, um. But then we also have the design studio here in Talbert Business Park in Mooresville. Um and uh, they are welcome to drop in to see the design studio, where we have lots of displays, murphy beds, closet displays entertainment centers.
Speaker 4:
We got a field trip coming up. Yeah, we're going on a field trip I didn't realize.
Speaker 1:
I don't know how I missed that.
Speaker 2:
I did not realize that you had an experience center or show room oh yeah, and that's what I was going to when I originally started at my garage. Within like three, four months, I realized there's such a huge benefit to not me. I can come in your home and tell you what I'm going to give you but it's more important for you to see it touch it and feel it.
Speaker 2:
So when they can see it, touch it and feel it. There's a better piece of confidence and they know what they're getting and we earn their trust that way for them to be able to see it, touch it, feel it and know what they're getting for sure. So it's been huge for my business for people to be able to have that plus. I'm really truly do mean this. I went into this business because I care more about the relationship with the customer than I do the sale. People are going to buy from people they like and if they don't like you and they feel like it's a dirty car salesman type thing, then they're not going to tend to buy from you. So I think it's important they come in. We earn their trust first. I'm in people's homes talking about their undergarments and other things like that, so they've got to feel comfortable with me.
Speaker 1:
We talk a lot about. We steal it from Dave Ramsey. We're our designers and we intentionally use the word design as opposed to salespeople. Our designers are there to be educators. They're there to present options to folks. They're there to tell people how the technology works, how it can help them out, and then kind of sit back and let's see what you know whatever's of interest to them. We feel very, very, very similar Teacher's mentality, right, teacher's mentality, sue. Let's lighten things.
Speaker 4:
Let's lighten things, even though this has been a very interesting and very fun conversation.
Speaker 1:
I can't wait to hear what Annie answers to the first one.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, so one of the things we always ask people is who is your favorite band or artist?
Speaker 2:
Reba McEntire.
Speaker 4:
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:
Oh my God, no way.
Speaker 2:
Do you change that often? No, but I'm going to tell you I had the whole bedroom full of Reba McEntire when I was growing up. But I'm gonna tell you why. I've been singing since I was four. I sing in public. Um I yo, yeah, I grew up. I originally went to school for music education cause I was going to sing. But there is not any type of music that I do not like except heavy metal. So when my installers are listening to it, it makes me angry, so I make them change it, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:
So, but you. So you sing in front of public, but you were scared to go to the Lake Norman home building.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, just because it's in an industry that I'm not quite. You know it's a good old boy industry. I got you For a lot of females. I mean, I've met a whole lot more female builders since I've been in this industry than there ever was that I knew of before. Most of them you think it's a male-dominant industry. And how does a little, you know 115-pound little girl going to get established into?
Speaker 4:
the industry. Is there some place that people can see you sing Like do you perform, or are you just a private performer?
Speaker 2:
No, I mean in my shower.
Speaker 4:
That's what I meant A lot now in my shower.
Speaker 2:
Easy, Annie, I know in my shower.
Speaker 4:
That's what I meant.
Speaker 1:
A lot now in my shower.
Speaker 2:
Easy, Annie, I know, I know, no, I haven't performed. Actually, I mean, I went home and I mean where I'm from, born and raised, that's all most people know me from. There is where I was singing all my life. I sang in church and schools and anybody ever want to hear me sing the national anthem. I sang it for every sport. There was where I grew up. So, uh, but yeah it's, I haven't sang in quite like performed in quite some time. Well, that's pretty cool, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Well, this has been very, very entertaining. You are a natural um between Sean and Annie, like you guys are great in here, thank you very much. Are great in here, thank you very much. Congratulations on two years with your company. We will make sure to put all the links on the show notes. And it was. It was a pleasure having you in.
Speaker 2:
So thank you so much for having me guys no-transcript.
