Carlissa Montoya shares her transition from retail to becoming a leading closet design professional on this episode. She highlights the critical role of client relationships, how closet design has evolved from luxury to necessity, and the realities of entrepreneurship. Carlissa discusses her signature approach that blends retail merchandising with organizational expertise, the strategic value of networking, and the growing demand for premium storage solutions. She also reflects on how personal values and life experiences shape her business vision in the storage design industry.

Key Takeaways

• Successfully pivoted to closet design after retail store closure
• Built a client-centric business focused on customized solutions
• Developed a unique retail-merchandising approach to the organization
• Prioritizes meaningful industry connections over quantity
• Recognizes strong market growth as storage becomes essential

Chapters

00:00 Carlissa's Career Transformation

02:48 Client Relationship Philosophy

05:57 The Audit-to-Design Process

09:02 Industry Evolution Insights

11:51 Entrepreneurial Challenges & Rewards

14:57 Strategic Networking Approach

17:52 Market Expansion Trends

21:11 Balancing Business & Life

23:51 Future of Storage Design

27:03 Personal & Professional Growth

29:49 Industry Economic Outlook

Connect with Carlissa at:

https://www.instagram.com/cm.closetdesign/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlissamontoya