Today we’d like to introduce you to Juli Schafer
Hi Juli, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Schafer and Co. Creative Services started off with my custom Christmas design decorations. I have always been an over the top Christmas decor person and it always brings me so much joy. My husband Martin and I had to walk the unfortunate path of infertility and IVF treatments and decorating for myself and others truly became an escape for me during that difficult time. I had started figuring out how to do balloon art along the way and that’s how I would be involved in my loved ones baby celebrations.
You see, when you’re facing infertility it really is hard to attend the baby showers, the first birthday parties, and all of the other celebrations that come with having a child. I would do the balloon decor the day before and bring a gift and not attend the actual shower or party, because after a while you find that other people have great intentions in asking you about your journey but it’s just not the time or the place.
I decided to take back control of my joy for all of those things and that’s when I turned Schafer and Co. from just a seasonal decor business to including my balloon art. I’m happy to report that we had our son, Gentry, via IVF in March of 2021 and he truly is the definition of that joy I was always seeking to give to others in my creations.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not! In addition to my creative services, I am also a hairstylist of twelve years, a coaches wife, a mother, and everything else in between! My husbands schedule is crazy during the school year and my schedule fluctuates a lot because of that and juggling our little guy to make sure he has a somewhat consistent schedule. A lot of the time I am working on balloons during nap time or late at night.
I don’t think it is a shock to anyone that a lot of the world and economy shifted so much after 2020 and with that so did the beauty industry.
In hindsight that shift came at a great time because I used to be a behind the chair stylist 12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week…as you can imagine that schedule with a child is near impossible. So shifting to being able to also have a business I run out of my house definitely helped with transitioning to this new season in my life but finding that balance between all the different hats I wear can be stressful at times and I feel guilt when I wear one hat more than the other but just like any other working wife and mom…I’m just trying to do my best!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think it can be really hard to hone in on one specific thing but I would say I’m known for going big or going home. My slogan for Schafer and Co. is “let’s get creative!” and when I say that I really mean it.
I love to do balloon design consultations in person so I can look at every single opportunity we can find to really take the event to the next level. If you’ve ever thrown a party, you know that sometimes you truly do have to get creative and make things work whether that’s within a budget, a time crunch, or venue obstacles to get the look that you want. I try my hardest to never duplicate the same install twice and to give everyone that little extra something that makes their event and experience with me feel unique to them!
I’ve taken on all kinds of installs from birthday parties, wedding events, baby showers, a NASCAR drivers retirement at Texas Motor Speedway, Texas Christian University’s 150th homecoming and I’ve treated them all the same in finding ways to make the install personalized with their own special touches and treating my clients like family!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Getting involved in the community and remembering why I started this business to begin with; joy. I try to find ways to give back locally with my creations as much as I can. Whether that be the local town events, a child needing a smile in the hospital, a new small business having a grand opening or being involved with the school’s. I’ll never be above donating my time or my skills to different organization’s.
If anything I’ve learned you “always have to give in order to get”. As a small business owner you always have to remember where you started and what your values are, as long as you don’t lose sight of that your success will grow in the right ways!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thecreativeschafer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085735996776&mibextid=LQQJ4d
