Today we’d like to introduce you to Elyse Garlock
Hi Elyse, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always dabbled in home / interior design, and was very involved in the building of our last 2 homes. My husband, Andrew, works in the creative industry, and he was constantly setting up video and photo shoots for ad campaigns and brand marketing content. His team used our home for a couple of shoots, and then was on the hunt for new locations. We started reaching out to friends, neighbors, etc., and just organically developed an inventory of possible locations.
Neither of us were looking to do the ‘startup’ thing, this was really just born out of a need we saw and the potential for helping people find unique locations for their media productions.
Bootstrapped and with limited resources, we’ve been able to build a strong client base over the last 6 years facilitated mostly by word-of-mouth referrals and continually iterating on and improving the customer experience. Dualspace now boasts over 60 homes and other locations primarily in Utah. We have gotten to work with big brands like Mazda, producing national TV campaigns, and some of our favorite Utah-based consumer product companies like doTERRA, Purple, Pura, Owlet, and Kizik.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have definitely been some struggles as we’ve grown Dualspace to what it is today. Going into this, Andrew and I only had a basic knowledge of website development, business accounting, etc.–the technical stuff. I knew what I wanted this business to be and how I wanted it to function, but the logistics of getting it to that point have been a challenge. From creating the website and simplifying the submission process, to figuring out the best system for invoicing and documentation, it has been a long road of trial and error. I’m happy with where it’s at–it is a much more efficient process than it used to be–but there is still a lot I want to improve on.
Another challenge I’ve personally faced is finding a good work/life balance; we never intended to start a business, until it just began to happen. At the time of Dualspace’s inception and earliest growth, I was home with our small children and also working as an RN. There were times that I felt stretched between all of my responsibilities, and it was hard to prioritize the business. I’m at a much better place now, still working as an RN and with one kid at home, but the improvements we’ve made to make our processes more efficient have helped make it all much more manageable.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I actually majored in Nursing in college, and got my BSN, as well as a Business Minor. I worked in Labor & Delivery nursing for about 7 years after graduation, and after taking a small break to start our family, I returned to work part-time teaching in the Nursing department at a local college. I’m still there and really enjoy it. Andrew majored in Advertising & Marketing and currently manages a design studio, and at the time of Dualspace’s formation was frequently working on photo/video shoots at his previous company. He was in charge of securing locations for shoots, which is how we got started on this adventure. I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished together, and I think that our mix of business and marketing/design educations has given us a unique advantage. I also believe that my experience working with people as a nurse has helped with my communication and interpersonal skills that have helped create loyal customers.
What matters most to you? Why?
I can speak for myself and my husband when I say that our family matters most to us, as well as our faith in God. We also prioritize time for ourselves to pursue our passions outside of family life. We genuinely value creating meaningful relationships with others, whether that be with family, friends, or clients, and believe that treating people well really matters. We also both appreciate good design, and in terms of our business, we care about providing a curated variety of location options that are unique and stylized, as opposed to a long list that needs to be sifted through.
Pricing:
- Most locations on our site are rented out for $100-$200 per hour. We take a small percentage of that as our fee.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dualspace.co
- Instagram: @dualspace_
