Uprooting & Reorganizing

GRACE ROOT, owner of Southern Magnolia Concierge, did what many wish to do. She left an unfulfilling job to open her own business. It was a decision that changed Root’s life for the better in multiple ways.

“I have fun,” Root says. “Every day is different … I have the flexibility to be a mom and go to school things and take my kids to the park. I own my own schedule.”

Root, who had a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, wanted to own her own business for years. She had even developed a side-hustle concept and brand for an organizing business, but she deferred opening it for the stability of her corporate job.

Then Root nearly lost her life giving birth to her second child. After she healed and her youngest son entered preschool, she decided it was time to resurrect her dream of entrepreneurship.

“When you have a near-death experience, it changes your priorities,” Root says. “I wondered why I was sitting at a computer while other people raised my babies.”

Root and a friend came up with the idea for a concierge service, which performs an array of time-consuming tasks for clients like scheduling appointments, setting up events, pet walking, housekeeping, booking travel arrangements, and more.

It would fit Root’s natural skills as an organizer and, she hoped, be a good fit for the area.

Before leaping into business ownership, Root did everything possible to ensure success. She learned what services concierge businesses throughout the country offered; bounced her ideas off her entrepreneur friends; and scoured the internet to learn about the ins and outs of business ownership, how to develop a business plan, and build a website.

Root also researched the region to learn about the competition and to ensure the area would support her business model.

“We live in an area where there are people with expendable income, and we are a tourist town,” she says. “I felt the business was a good possibility.”

Armed with her data and determination, Root opened Southern Magnolia Concierge last April. The business offers only services that Root likes to do, including helping people organize their home or office space; conducting home watches for part-time residents; preparing vacation homes and lining up events and excursions for vacationers; and providing personal services such as scheduling appointments for area residents.

Southern Magnolia Concierge currently serves Landfall, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, and Figure Eight Island. Root hopes to add Topsail next summer.

With the exception of one slow month, Root says Southern Magnolia Concierge has been amazingly busy. In looking back at her nine months of business ownership, Root admits that striking out on her own was frightening; but she urges anyone who wants to make a major life change to do it.

“Tomorrow isn’t promised,” Root says. “I know new things are scary, but you can do scary things. You will hit roadblocks, but know that you are capable and can work through them. You can get the support and knowledge you need. Life is too short to be miserable every day and miss out on the things that are important to you.”

To view more of photographer Terah Hoobler’s work, go to terahhoobler.com.

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