Chances are you already follow @TheHomeEdit on Instagram -- you come for the organizational masterpieces and stay for the laughs. Clea and Joanna’s business started taking shape within hours of their first meeting, so we checked in to find out a little more about how they make it work -- and how they kept things running through quarantine.
Joanna wears the 2 carat solitaire studs in pink, Clea wears the 2 carat solitaire studs in white. Meet all our perfect pairs here.
HOW LONG DID YOU KNOW EACH OTHER BEFORE GOING INTO BUSINESS?
Clea: Oh, you know....four hours. We were both new to Nashville and a mutual friend set us up on a “blind date” because she thought we had a lot in common (Jewish, husbands both in the music industry, kids of the same age, wanting to start an organizing business). That same night, we came up with our company name, designed our logo, bought our domain, and registered our LLC. Organizers are nothing if not efficient. Looking back, it’s probably ill-advised to essentially [start a business] together after a matter of hours, but when it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WORKING APART THROUGH THE QUARANTINE?
Joanna: We are so used to being around each other, so it's definitely been an adjustment. It helps that we know how the other person operates and can set realistic expectations without the guilt.
WHEN IT COMES TO DECISION MAKING, IS ONE OF YOU MORE LIKELY TO TAKE THE LEAD?
Joanna: Honestly, it’s a team effort. Analyzing things until we are blue in the face usually leads to one of us crying in a corner. We tend to trust our instincts and just do. To this day, you can still find us making huge life-altering business decisions over lunch. If something didn’t turn out the way we planned, there’s usually a reason for that. We’re all for moving forward in a different direction and taking the knowledge we’ve learned from what didn’t work to help us find what will.
DO YOUR WORKDAY ROUTINES DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER?
Clea: Joanna is definitely more of a morning person. She wakes up around 5 am to do Pilates and catch up on emails. She doesn't even need caffeine! Me on the other hand? I'm like the human version of one of those "Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee" mugs. I prefer catching up on things in the evening. We balance each other and it works.
THEY’RE HERE! THE 2CT STUDS
HOW DO YOUR SKILL SETS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE DIFFER TO ONE ANOTHER?
Clea: I bring more of the form whereas Joanna brings the function. Like clockwork, we fall into our distinct and separate roles every time. Understanding our own motivations, what we each do best, and why we gravitate to certain aspects of a project is enormously helpful. It allows us to complete a project without ego, frustration, or even a question when I start color-sorting a shoe wall and Joanna spends five hours sorting jewelry into drawers.
HOW DO YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN WORK HOURS AND SOCIAL HOURS? DO THEY TEND TO BLEND?
Joanna: They definitely blend, but we prefer it that way. We aren’t just business partners, we’ve become family at this point. Seriously, we choose to share a hotel room after spending all day sitting side by side folding clothes in a client’s closet. That’s saying something.
DOES THE REALITY OF BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR ALIGN WITH THE EXPECTATIONS YOU BOTH HAD FOR THE ROLE?
Clea: Building a successful business doesn’t happen overnight, so we were prepared for everything that comes with that. The problem is that you can't be prepared for everything. We're better off surrendering to the highs and lows and trusting our instincts.
Want to keep the inspiration coming? Meet our other Perfect Pairs with Q&A’s from the co-founders of Coco & Breezy and Coolhaus, then shop the new 2ct solitaire studs here!
