Philly Burbs
phillyBurbs' Woman of the Week: Sandi Young
Owner of Moderne Life Interiors
By MARILYN RUSSELL
phillyBurbs.com
Sandi Young is nominated as Woman of the Week this week, not just for her unique design style, but for her continuing support of local artists. At her design showroom in Jenkintown, you’ll always see a rotating display of “art for sale” and she recently kicked off “First Friday’s” in Jenkintown with an artist reception featuring the works of Leah Macdonald of Waxworks Photo.
WOTW: How did you get started down this career path?
Sandi: I have always been in sales; my husband was a furniture guy. This store occurred as a “mid-life” event. We opened the store we wanted to shop in but could never find outside of New York. A combination of amazing contemporary furniture that was livable with all the art and accessories that go with it. The biggest thing was service, which seems to be a dying art these days.
WOTW: What do you like best?
Sandi: The best thing I do is help my customers pull it all together so they can use what they already have but still add new things so everything is complimentary.
WOTW: What’s most difficult for you?
Sandi: The hardest thing is to compete with the internet. We can spend a lot of time with a customer and they take all the info we provide and try to “shop us” on the web. It’s not easy though because our everyday prices are below retail. We try to match prices but sometimes it’s hard to compete with cyberspace.
WOTW: Of what are you most proud?
Sandi: As a mother I am most proud of the amazing, responsible and compassionate children I have. As a business owner I am proud of the fact that after my husband’s untimely death, I was able to make this business prosper. My customers are happy and keep referring their friends. I also have a lot of designers who come to me instead of going to “The Designers Marketplace.” I have also started a kind of “First Friday” event where I showcase local artists work for an entire month. This helps them showcase their work, and most of the profits go directly back to the artist. I know how hard it is to make a living as an artist.
WOTW: What’s your overall philosophy and how do you utilize it at work?
Sandi: To treat my customers as I would like to be treated. I am also trying to get environmentally friendly furniture and it is not as hard as you would think!
WOTW: If I could change one thing in this world, what would it be?
Sandi: I would be that we all treat everyone with the same respect we would want. We are all so busy trying to become “successful” that we let our lives pass us by trying to perfect the next moment when the one was have now is really the one that counts! And, that people see the humorous side of everything.
WOTW: What’s your guilty pleasure?
Sandi: Ice Cream and really good pizza.
WOTW: What cd or book would you want with you on the “desert island?”
Sandi: I would want Simon and Garfunkle’s Concert in Central Park and I might want to sneak in a little Ella Fitzgerald.
WOTW: What advice can you share with someone starting out in your business?
Sandi: Live each day the best way you know how. Life is an adventure sometimes good, sometimes not. Enjoy your adventure and you will grow as a person.
For the month of May, the featured area artist at Moderne Interiors is Leah Macdonald from Waxworks photo. Leah’s unique process blends photography with the ancient Greek technique of encaustic painting, which transforms pictures into works of fine art. On an aside, Leah just taped a full segment in New York with Martha Stewart on Fine Living (broadcast date - July 18th, 2008). Stop in to Moderne Life Interiors and ask Sandi when the next First Friday in Jenkintown will be and feel free to have a look around while you’re there.
If you’d like to nominate a Woman of the Week, please email me – Marilyn@957benfm.com
May 6, 2008 1:18 PM
