Eden Valley Chamber Business Showcase: Interiors by Cait

Interiors by Cait has been in its current location for four years, but she has been in business for 10 years already, operating the first six years out of her home. Owner Caitlin Schneider became interested in interior design at the age of 10 when her parents built their house. She was intrigued by the decisions that had to be made during that process and, by the age of 14, Cait knew she wanted to be an interior designer. It’s not a surprise that she spent a lot of time re-arranging her own room.

Cait earned a two-year degree in Interior Design at Alexandria Tech and Community College. She did internships in the St. Cloud area after graduating, including eight years at a flooring store. I asked if she would make the same decision if she had to go back and start again, and she said she absolutely would, though now there are four-year degrees available, including getting a contractor’s license, though she prefers to operate as she is now, as a project manager. She started her business with a clear idea of her goals.  

If you watch HGTV, you see most of them working in big cities and tossing around seven-figure dollar amounts like it’s an everyday thing. Caitlin’s mission is to keep it affordable, and to help every-day, average people achieve their design dreams. I was one of the lucky ones that she helped. I’ve never owned a dishwasher (not true, had one when I lived on the farm, but its only real purpose was to store lids). I’ve wanted a dishwasher and couldn’t afford it when I did the original renovation in my kitchen. After Cait became a member of our Chamber, I learned more about what she did. I made an appointment and, after about an hour in my kitchen, she came up with a plan I would have never thought of. I now have increased storage, additional counter space, and my beloved dishwasher!  

Her basic role is as project manager. From the moment I signed our agreement, she handled everything for me. Started out with a tape measure, sketches, lined up contractors, and guided me through making important decisions. She makes it look easy, but you know there has to be some chaos behind the scenes to accomplish everything she does. It’s best to make an appointment if you need to see her. She tries to keep office hours from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays when possible. That’s when she isn’t doing on-site visits, out doing measurements, handling emails, or spending time on the phone with clients, or visiting one of her many local contacts (Schlangen’s Custom Cabinets, Eden Valley Lumber, etc.).

A typical morning for Cait starts off with getting her four children off to daycare or school, checking emails, communicating, heading out to the office or site visits, and handling many of the other commitments she has. In addition to family life, farm life, a full-time business, Vice President of the Eden Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, presenting seminars, speaking at career fairs and high schools, having someone job shadow her – well, you get the picture. This is one busy woman. She said, “between kids, the store, and Chamber, my mind is always working.” 

After six years of operating out of her home, it became apparent that more space was needed for supplies, samples, and client meetings. If you’ve visited Interiors by Cait at 366 Church Street in Eden Valley, you must wonder how she did what she did out of her home all those years. I’ll warn you, every time I visit her store, it makes me want to re-do something again, so be prepared. You should know she also sells giftware and home décor and, surprisingly, during Christmas in the Valley, you will find several vendors and crafters set up in any open space available. Interiors by Cait is also a participant in the EV-W Chamber Saver Cards, with an offer of “$15 off a purchase of $75 or more” (cash or check payment only). She sells Chamber Saver Cards as well. In her roll as EV Chamber Vice President, Cait is currently organizing our first EV-W Home Trade Show, scheduled for March 8 in our High School gym (watch for upcoming details).

I wondered how it was to run a business that is in a mostly male- dominated field. She says it just takes time. Time for everyone she works with to see how capable, professional, knowledgeable, and competent she is. Communication is key, do the job and do it well, and remember that things will occasionally go wrong. Remember that everything is solvable; you just need to be the problem solver!  

Caitlin has built her business with very little advertising, other than a good Facebook presence. 95% of her clients come to her through referrals from previous clients, her contractors, and repeat customers. She never takes the pushy approach to getting new business, and she doesn’t need to because most of her clients come to her. Many of them are already committed to a project (like me and my dishwasher) when they reach out to her. My project was a simple one but, if you visit Interior’s by Cait’s Facebook page, you will quickly see that she does many large projects as well. She builds a relationship with her clients over time, as some projects can run anywhere from one month to one year. The better she knows them, the more efficiently she can design and recommend things that she knows they will like.

Cait does floor plans and both residential and light commercial projects. She has already worked with A maze’n Farmyard on updates to their current building, and is currently working with them on their new event center that is in the plans for the future. 

Like I said, Cait’s goal is to make interior design affordable, and to make home projects fun for her clients. Her suggestion to anyone starting a new business in Eden Valley is simply to be determined to succeed.

Interiors by Cait, 366 Church St. N. Eden Valley MN 55329

Cell: (320) 260-8079

Website: interiorsbycait.com

Email: interiorsbycait@gmail.com