Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Vargas.
Jessica, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I worked with Anthropologie for a little over ten years. I started as a visual display intern and was the Visual District Manager overseeing seven stores in San Diego, Hawaii, and Palm Springs for the last few years of my Anthro career. The last couple of years of working with Anthropologie, I had started doing interior home jobs on the side. A couple of which were customers who came into the store and asked if I would come to their homes to help them with the styling of their home. Then it became all referral based. I was ready for the next chapter of my career and had a built a good network of clients – so I decided to go full-time freelance within interior design. At first, I thought I would primarily focus on home styling but very quickly, I had more projects with local retailers/commercial jobs. These projects included interior design, floor planning, fixture building, merchandising, etc. Over the past few years, this has become more of my niche. Van de Vort, Rais Case, Shop Good, Moniker General Store, Bowery Barber Shop, & Aloha Beach Club are some of the local businesses I still work with or have worked within the past.
I have been very fortunate that “word of mouth” has given me a pretty successful last three years. This past year I decided I wanted to turn my freelancing jobs into a legitimate business. I am currently working on a website and recently started an Instagram account (I know, eye roll – I am JUST doing this). I have also recently opened a home decor shop called Adobe by Jess Vargas. We currently have a space in The Rising Co, community Co-op, in Oceanside, Calif and an online shop. Adobe is a curated collection of new and found home goods from around the world inspired by texture, travel, and Southern California living. Having my own shop has always been a part of my ultimate dream and goal. I always envisioned I would start it out on a much larger scale, but one year ago, I had my first child, Ziggy, so I had to downsize a bit. Now I know it worked out just as it was supposed to. Our goal is to have our own shop within a year. Adobe by Jess Vargas will essentially encompass my home & retail design business and the home goods shop.
Has it been a smooth road?
Any freelancer or self-employed person will agree that there are many struggles! Going from a corporate job and a steady paycheck to not knowing if when your next project is – is high on the list. I do feel like I have had the universe working in my favor, every time it I questions… what am I doing? Can I make a legitimate business out of this?… a new project comes along or something that makes me feel like I am on the right path happens. My biggest struggle is self-motivation and self-accountability, not when I am working on a project but ding my downtime and in between projects. At Anthropologie, the structure was set up that I always had a partner to my position, someone (in addition to your bosses) to hold you accountable, bounce ideas off of, and collaborate with. Not having that partner or accountability from someone else has been my biggest challenge. I am lucky, though, that I am surrounded by many entrepreneurial business owners who are friends that keep me motivated and inspire me constantly.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I have an Interior Design business that I specialize in retail design and merchandising. I think what sets me apart from other interior designers is my experience in retail. I have 17+ years in retail, in which the majority of that time was in the Visual Departments of the places I worked. In addition, while working with Anthropologie, I was a Store Opening Visual Lead. I opened 20+ stores in the US & internationally. As a visual lead, I would set the floor plan, layout the fixtures, and plan & collaborate on all the store displays. With this experience, I am able to not only create a beautiful space but a functional one as well that creates a true experience for the customer while enhancing their sales.
As for Adobe… I always thought I would have my own store, but I always thought it would be apparel until a couple of years ago when working with my clients on their homes. I have consistently struggled to find the decor pieces that I am looking for without driving to LA or ordering online. My goal for Adobe is to become known within the interior design world as San Diego’s go-to for inspiration and product. I have also made it apart of Adobe’s mission to chose brands and products that are ethically and sustainably made. Many of the vendors we work with create employment with fair wages and so much more for artisans across the globe.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Rising Co, Adobe by Jess Vargas
332 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 Jess Vargas Designs – San Diego, CA - Website: shopadobeinteriors.com
- Phone: 2285964798
- Email: hello@jessvargas.com
- Instagram: adobebyjessvargas.com
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/adobebyjessvargas/?notif_t=aymt_biz_growth_page_admin_guidance_tip¬if_id=1591746937125133&ref=m_notif
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