Y 2000 – : With a business degree and a successful business career spanning thirty two years Christine Rae decided it was time to start her own business.

“My dedication, loyalty, innovation, results-oriented background in business building & development, sales & training, human resources, financial & general management provided a solid foundation for my future enterprise. Throughout those years I demonstrated the ability to build markets, enhance revenues, control costs, and consistently achieve profitability targets by developing strong working relationships with the business community, co-workers and employees alike.”

At a time in her life when it would have been easier for her business initiative to follow her work experience, Christine decided to follow a childhood dream of decorating. Possessing a natural talent for decor and having been the “Go-To” person in her circle of influence whenever anyone needed decor help; she decided to use that creative side to develop a business providing Decorating Solutions to the public. A firm believer in education she travelled to New York City to learn and train from a prominent interior designer. The new business concept which was poised to revolutionize the decorating industry by working with the existing furniture a client owned and showing the client how to reuse the pieces in different ways creating a new look and feel to the house. Over the next ten years Christine’s business acumen increased, she attended a minimum of three learning, training and certification sessions a year; her business developed, morphed and grew from a part time decorating business to a full time staging business and then a training business and in 2009 to the first sustainable business staging training school – The CSP International™ Business Training Academy. Her quest for excellence has always led her to build her own knowledge and skills through “in-classroom” courses. Her belief in peer review, classroom stimulation and interaction is the impetus for the CSP® program remaining a solidly interactive class experience. She is renowned in the real estate staging industry as an innovator, trend setter, big picture thinker and market stratification expert.

“My strong entrepreneurial, analytical, problem-solving, planning, coordinating and organizational skills have contributed to my excellent reputation for developing markets, people & programs while nurturing trust relationships with the business community. Proven leadership, team building, training, coaching, and supervisory skills, are complemented by effective interpersonal communication, presentation, and facilitation abilities. I consistently focus on the delivery of excellent customer service, while maintaining emphasis on the bottom line. These skills sets are clearly visible when someone attends the CSP® Core Foundation program. We want people to be successful; many people refer to the training session as “bootcamp” I like to think of it as a microcosm of the industry -real experience in real time.

 

We are proud our program is tough, being in business is tough – it’s the mark of a great business person to have pride in achievement and we know our CSP® grads feel that every time they leave the classroom. The opportunity to revisit the classroom time and again to increase learning and refresh motivation is a gift I am happy to provide. I’m also incredibly proud of the only Staging mentor/apprenticeship program available for no cost. Our Mentors are incredible giving caring individuals. CSP International™ is like a family; we stick together, help each other out, hire each other and support each other – it just wouldn’t work otherwise. Our history is written every day by the CSP®’s who stage property daily and helps a family move on with their lives”

CSP® International™ Time Lines:

2005

• :
  • Sept: Launch Canadian Staging Professional®: the only staging BUSINESS training program in the world with worthwhile content and certification.

Industry Differential:

• • Business
  • Sales,
  • Marketing,
  • Design,
  • Color
  • Examination
  • and Code of Conduct

Product launch:

• • Room Ready Handbook™
  • Staging Safe Color™ Palette
  • Student Resource Centre™ for after market support
  • Oct: Development and launch of the only Mentor/Apprenticeship program
  • Started training the second CSP® Instructor
  • Finalist for St Catharines “Women of the Year 2005”
  • Nov: Developed the Canadian Staging & Redesign Directory to network and service the people who work in the industry with people who need the services
  • Dec: Completed coast to coast training to be first network with a National network of staging professionals

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2006:

• • Launch of USA version of CSP®® training program for home staging professionals; Certified Staging Professional®
  • Secured 4 senior trainers with exceptional staging and training experience
  • Launched Bi Monthly Unique Staging Standard Magazine; only industry magazine in world
  • Secured a third party celebrity endorsement from Ann Maurice TV “House Doctor” supporting CSP® program as the best in North America
  • Planned, organized and hosted first Annual CSP International™ convention – secured senior platform speakers – highly successful event
  • Secured multiple exclusive national account vendors and developed unique marketing products and services in support of the graduates of this program; EasyHome Furniture; ICI Paints; 1 800 JUNK; Sherwin Williams
  • Sourced & secured licensing rights to deliver the well respected Martha Webb training program specifically for Real Estate agents: “The Certified Home Marketing Specialist” Delivery for the program included developing a team of qualified workshop leaders (from CSP® alumni) to moderate the program throughout Canada
  • Created & developed & launched a highly acclaimed turn- key business solution program for the entrepreneur who wants to work with homeowners & real estate agents
  • Developed over 50 products in support of the marketing side of staging business during 2006-09

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2007:

• • Selected as staging experts and featured in a TV program “HouseCapades” – 26 week season
  • Licensed to teach new program in Canada: 2 day Dewey Color Confidence Program www.wemakecoloreasy.com
  • Director of Canada for WeMakeColorEasy.com and member of the Advisory Board
  • May: Accepted Volunteer position Regional Director Canada for the newly formed Real Estate Staging Association
  • August: Secured contract to write a book for Wiley Press
  • September: At convention launch of CSP® Continuing Education Program
  • Commissioned author of an online real estate staging program for agents – delivered through CE Network
  • Selected Habitat For Humanity as the CSP® Charity of choice; raised money to pour a foundation

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2008:

• • Jan: Recipient of award from the Real Estate Staging Association RESA “Innovator of the Year” for my work in EcoStaging, Continuing Education, and for professionalism & credibility to the industry
  • Launched the CSP® Business Awards Program
  • Feb: CSP® Featured on HGTV “Decorating Adventures of Ambrose Price”
  • April: CSP® Convention and Habitat For Humanity Build project
  • Awarded CSP® Business Awards
  • May:Book Launch of “Home Staging for Dummies” by Wiley Press www.homestagingbook.com
  • August: Secured license and status as Global Training Partner of a credible certification program “Green” program with the Live Green Live Smart Institute
  • CSP® recognized as their partner in Green Education Worldwide
  • Secured & trained 20 people as instructors of GBS class: 16 in USA and 4 in Canada www.greenbuildscience.net
  • Trained two people from Australia as CSP®:
  • September: Selected as Key Note Speaker for one year tour with Stagers Expo for 12 venues across North America
  • Partnered with EeSsmart online Programs to provide online training for Senior Move Management
  • Began licensing process with Australian company to open a division of CSP®®
  • Began registration for a Certification Mark for training – Canadian division will be CCSP®®
  • Wrote, developed and launched pilot for the CSP® Elite Real Estate Professional program and website

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2009:

• • January: Relocation and Official opening of CSPI™ Business Training Academy; location St Catharines. The First Sustainable training facility of its kind
  • Launched partnership arrangement with AeroPlan/AeroMove
  • Secured Subject Matter Experts for continuing education programs including Diversity
  • Re-launched CSP® Elite™ Securing Your Clients Equity program – began recruiting instructors across USA & Canada
  • February:Travelled to Australia to deliver the first CSP®® certification program and signed agreement with licensee for CSP®® Australia
  • June went back to Australia to teach again
  • April:Home Staging for Dummies approved by RESA
  • May: Selected as the Canadian exclusive partner and co partner for USA for a webinar based program for Real Estate agents, home inspectors and stagers titled Divorce This House (RSD-S RSD-A RSD-H) produced and presented by Harvard lawyer
  • Appointed an Executive Director for North American Operations to build stability and succession foundation to company
  • Aug: Selected and approved vendor to Keller Williams
  • Sept: Appointed International Sales Director
  • Signed Partnership Agreement with Robert Allan Fabrics
  • Agreed to Partnership with Shaklee Corp representing green product line for stagers, real estate agents and clients
  • October: Speaker for California Association of Realtors San Jose Ca
  • November: as a supporter of Women To Women International we were matched to a woman in Congo Republic (sponsoring her education) and will provide Microloan when she completes program

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2010:

• January: Speaker at Real Estate Staging Association Convention
• CSP® Staging Standard Magazine Selected as Product of the Year by Real Estate Staging Association
• Launched Luxury Bedding line for Stagers
• February:Invited to be guest blogger for REALTOR.org
• March:Carbon Neutral certification achieved for Global HQ
• Taught first CSP® class at community college in New Jersey
• April:Invited to deliver webinar to 1000 real estate agents for REALTOR.org
• Interviewed by Globe and Mail newspaper as an expert in staging
• Relocated the USA office to larger facility in Minneapolis
• Hosted CSP® International™ hosted first annual EARTH DAY Open House with speakers hourly
• May: Selected by Kimberly Seldon to be Stager Expert for their new online magazine launching in Fall
• June: Selected, approved & begin trainer for CSP® Instructor for Paris France
• July: Partnered with Holly Hill Inc to bring affordable slipcovers and breakdown furniture to stagers in Canada