In Good Space

Alisa Sparks
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Entrepreneurship

In Good Space explores the business behind home staging and interior design. Hosted by Alisa Sparks, founder of Linden Creek, the show breaks down what it takes to build a profitable, scalable creative company in the home industry. Episodes cover staging strategy, real estate marketing, pricing, systems, team growth, and franchising, grounded in real-world experience. Homeowners, real estate agents, builders, staging professionals, and entrepreneurs exploring franchise opportunities will gain a clearer understanding of how successful staging and design companies are built.

  1. 1d ago

    Where To Splurge And Save When Selling Your Home

    We lay out the pre-listing upgrades that actually change what buyers feel in the first few seconds, plus the common “nice to have” spends that don’t move offers. We share a simple splurge-or-save list across lighting, curb appeal, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, paint, and soft goods so sellers stop overspending in the wrong places.  • prioritizing foyer, dining, and kitchen light fixtures for immediate impact  • saving with simple lighting in hallways and secondary spaces  • boosting curb appeal with a painted front door and solid hardware  • saving on doormats, address numbers, and conservative landscaping  • treating the kitchen as the money room with quartz and upgraded cabinet hardware  • avoiding a full kitchen gut by painting existing cabinets  • focusing on the primary bathroom and cleaning grout lines with grout pens  • saving on secondary bathrooms because the decision is often made downstairs  • refinishing hardwoods for a clean, updated look  • using LVP strategically while keeping flooring consistent  • splurging on quality paint and refreshing trim and ceilings  • keeping paint colors simple with universal neutrals  • making windows look larger with high, wide curtain placement  • sizing rugs correctly to make rooms feel finished  • creating a hotel bed look with layers and a fuller duvet  If you're ready to leave your nine to five and want to do something that's buildable and scalable, check out linden-creek.com/franchise and see if Linden Creek is the right fit for you.  If you did, check out the next episode for more staging tips! Support the show

  2. Jul 7

    How To Integrate Business With Family And Faith

    We stop chasing “balance” and start building a beautiful life where business supports what matters most. We share how family, health, faith, and a strong team create real flexibility, plus the boundaries that keep our minds and marriage steady.  • building a life first and integrating business into it  • prioritizing family experiences, travel, and making memories  • treating health as a longevity strategy, including quarterly bloodwork and habit competition  • letting faith shape leadership through grace, compassion, and service  • embracing business and personal life overlap while still naming limits  • the real-world test of flexibility during our son’s serious surgery and recovery  • designing boundaries that match personality differences, including Sundays off and Saturday processing  • redefining unplugging, from quiet time to problem-solving rituals  If this was impactful to you in some way, if this made your life even a little bit better, please share this with somebody else that you think could learn and grow from this as well. Support the show

  3. Jun 30

    Choosing Between A Franchise And Building Your Own Business

    We unpack the real tradeoffs between buying into a franchise and building an independent business from scratch, without pretending one path is “the answer.” We share the hidden setup work, the cost of early mistakes, and the mindset shifts that matter most when you want to scale.  • the franchise vs independent decision coming down to personal wiring and values  • startup setup realities like LLCs, websites, email, inventory, and warehouse efficiency  • the “tuition tax” of early mistakes, including a painful SEO vendor story  • creative control in the real world, including what happens once you hire a team  • vendor relationships, wholesale access, and how buying power changes margins  • support as an accelerant, from coaching to emergency problem solving  • brand recognition, marketing collateral, and getting those first key clients  • scalability through metrics, projections, systems, roles, onboarding, and KPIs  Want to have more conversations like this? Subscribe! Support the show

  4. Jun 23

    Hiring Your First Team Member As A Force Multiplier

    We break down why your first hire can either multiply your growth or quietly create a second job you did not plan for. We share the shift from hiring “extra hands” to hiring a heavy hitter partner who brings speed, judgment, and real relief to the owner.  • the real cost of hiring for affordability instead of impact  • hiring down versus hiring up for a first role  • why training and oversight can erase the time you hoped to save  • what a partner-style first hire looks like in practice  • speed as an early-stage business advantage  • problem solving and critical thinking as non-negotiables  • the “handled it” phone call as the litmus test  • using simple tasks to vet execution and focus  • hiring to complement our strengths and cover our weaknesses  • when it finally makes sense to hire a trainable team member  Love design, but think like a business owner? If you're ready to leave your nine to five and want to do something that's buildable and scalable, check out linden-creek.com/franchise and see if Linden Creek is the right fit for you.  To stay up to date with more conversations like this one, subscribe.  Support the show

  5. Jun 16

    Working Mom Guilt and Entrepreneurship: Finding Balance

    We get honest about working mom guilt, why it shows up so loudly, and how silence can let kids write the wrong story about what our work means. We share practical ways to give kids context, create certainty, and build deeper connection with intentional one-on-one time.  • the difference between caring and failing  • how kids handle uncertainty more than busy schedules  • why “fill in the gaps” stories can backfire  • simple language that reframes work as purposeful and bounded  • weekly one-on-one date nights with no devices  • letting go of the belief that every business task is urgent  • how our kids may see strength and impact in our work  Love design, but think like a business owner? If you're ready to leave your nine to five and want to do something that's buildable and scalable, check out linden-creek.com/franchise and see if Linden Creek is the right fit for you.  If this resonated with you or you think it's something valuable for another business owner to hear, share the episode! We'd love to continue the conversations.  Support the show

  6. Jun 9

    What If Your Biggest Business Headache Is Your Next Product?

    We share the behind-the-scenes story of how we turned a constant home staging pain point into an exclusive, large-scale art line that finally meets our standards for weight, durability, and timeless style. We walk through the real manufacturing learning curve, the moment we chose quality over sunk costs, and why the problems you keep bumping into might be pointing you toward your next big opportunity. • the real constraints of sourcing large-scale staging art for MLS-ready homes • why retail options create sameness and weaken brand differentiation • deciding to manufacture our own art with zero prior experience • partnering with artist Megan Mahaney to keep the work original and versatile • traveling to inspect production and finding quality issues in the first run • choosing to scrap finished inventory and rebuild for better materials and hardware • treating mistakes as tuition and planning for longer timelines • reframing ongoing business friction as a product and growth opportunity Love design, but think like a business owner? If you're ready to leave your nine to five and want to do something that's buildable and scalable, check out linden-creek.com/franchise and see if Linden Creek is the right fit for you. If you found value in this episode, share it with someone else who's in the building phase. Support the show

  7. Jun 2

    When a Spouse Joins the Business: Making Partnership Work

    We share the real story behind bringing my husband into Linden Creek and why it only works when it’s a strategic move. We break down how we split CEO and COO responsibilities, protect alignment, and keep impact as the reason we push through the hard days.  • spotting leadership and people-development skills that belong inside the business  • joining the mission instead of joining for romance or convenience  • defining COO ownership of operations and corporate staff leadership  • clarifying CEO ownership of vision and high-level direction  • narrowing priorities so great ideas do not kill traction  • choosing impact over money as the core driver  • handling how working together changes marriage, communication, and intensity  • keeping CEO and COO unified so culture stays strong  If you are one of those crazy people like we are that decided to work with your spouse and build a business, comment below. We'd love to hear your stories on this too.  Support the show

  8. May 26

    What Buyers Decide in 60 Seconds (And How to Make Sure It Goes Your Way)

    We break down what a trained stager sees in the first 60 seconds of walking into a home and how that split-second read shapes the whole staging strategy. I share how I spot the wow moment, manage imperfections without pretending they’re not there, and stage for the buyer we actually need to attract. • spotting the single biggest moment of impact and building the plan around it • choosing the most compelling story for the target buyer instead of designing for personal taste • addressing scuffs, scratches, and awkward rooms so they don’t become buyer objections • using natural light and layered lamps to improve showings and photos • prioritizing simple updates like fresh paint and modern light fixtures • knowing what staging cannot fix and reframing attention with smarter furniture placement • balancing modern architecture with transitional pieces to appeal to the masses • trying the 60 second pause at the front door during a listing walkthrough Love design, but think like a business owner? If you're ready to leave your nine to five and want to do something that's buildable and scalable, check out linden-creek.com/franchise and see if Linden Creek is the right fit for you. If you found this conversation useful, please subscribe! Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

In Good Space explores the business behind home staging and interior design. Hosted by Alisa Sparks, founder of Linden Creek, the show breaks down what it takes to build a profitable, scalable creative company in the home industry. Episodes cover staging strategy, real estate marketing, pricing, systems, team growth, and franchising, grounded in real-world experience. Homeowners, real estate agents, builders, staging professionals, and entrepreneurs exploring franchise opportunities will gain a clearer understanding of how successful staging and design companies are built.

Information

  • Creator
    Alisa Sparks
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 In Good Space
  • Show Website
    In Good Space