Meet Jacqui of Knapp House Mgmt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqui.

Hi Jacqui, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Early 1970 – Born and raised in Los Angeles, My family started a humble junior fashion line out of our garage in Cheviot Hills.
That business turned into a groundbreaking niche, and we were off to the races. While studying marketing at FIDM,
I joined the family business. I started at the bottom – in the warehouse punching a timecard. I had to learn every aspect before I was deemed sufficient to run the fabric dept. By 1994, the company had exploded with different divisions with over 300 employees. It was all consuming – nature of the beast. It was not an easy gig, and it was assumed that I was there only because of nepotism. I had to prove myself over and over. I learned that working my way up from the bottom was the biggest asset. I acquired a work ethic that serves me to this day.

Something was missing. I took the show on the road and launched my hand painted clothing line. I hustled. I did fashion shows, styled music videos. Life was different before social media – I’m not saying it was easier – just different. The hustle was being out ALL THE TIME. I was 24 and had NO IDEA how to run my own business yet the only person who is going to make anything happen for me is ME! It was important for me to establish myself aside from The Knapp family business.

I took the risk and shifted my talents to show business, where I started painting sets and worked my way up to producing for TV & Film. My last name meant NOTHING in the entertainment business – it was perfect.
I learned very quickly, although I was attending a film extension program at UCLA, on the job training was where it was at and threw myself in the middle of the heard. Again, at the bottom. The universe has a great sense of humor.

In 2005, my mom was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer. I had some feelings about it. I grew up in a family where business came first. As much as I loved my Mom I was also carrying childhood resentments. I knew this was an opportunity to show up and establish a different relationship.I put my career on hold handling every aspect of her life.
People would ask me what I was working on, and I would tell them I was producing Judy. My mother was my project.
I didn’t know it at the time, but I was incorporating all my skills to establish a new life’s purpose.

Judy went into remission in 2007, I went back to my day job, but the spark was gone. I soon realized there was a real need for a concierge-type service that offers expertise and support to people relocating under any circumstances. My Organizing side hustle was born. I learned the trade, joined an organization, connected with other professional organizers who had years of experience and kept an open mind to the possibilities. I established relationships with Real Estate professionals, Estate Attorneys, Escrow Companies, Business Managers, Senior Living Communities, I was everywhere.

In 2011, I decided to take take a risk and reinvent myself. I needed to help people, and I knew I could take my artistic eye and pragmatic approach to curate a service built on trust and professionalism. It wasn’t just putting things in baskets and posting beautiful photos, it was setting up functional systems where the client could maintain based on their needs. I always say – I like to crawl into their minds and extract what they cannot express. I had to be very clear about how to navigate in various delicate situations. I was walking into scenarios where there were all types of stressors out of my control and out of my comfort zone. In true fashion, I took my computer skills to the next level creating home inventories, digitizing memorabilia, handling fine art, whole home setup.

During covid, the home service industry exploded and our industry was on fire.
There was a huge push on creating content. I had been creating “content” since 1994 and had to come up with another way to keep my business alive. I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and own “the best kept secret” persona, regrouped, and upped my game. I learned all about Estate Planning, Home Maintenance, Project Management.

The feedback has been incredible. My clients say things like, “You’ve saved my life.” I really haven’t — but I know they feel a huge sense of relief when they have me to coordinate all the moving parts with attention to detail and follow-through. I do not do this alone. The important ingredient is. fostering relationships. Not just with the clients, but the vendors who know I mean business when I call. Mutual respect is the name of the game.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I had to believe in myself no matter how many No’s I heard. Every No is closer to a Yes.
I grew very quickly – it was exciting and scary. I didn’t want to let people down.
It pulled me away from the creative and more on managing numerous projects –
the challenge was taking a step back and looking at big picture – and regrouped and consolidate staying true to my purpose while finding a way to keep my business up and running.
I’m never to proud to ask for help especially from associates who have more experience.
I have learned how to have a work-life home-life balance. I haven’t mastered it but I’m getting better.

Understanding that there are my expectations, the clients’ expectations and how to find a middle ground to come up with another solution when we are not on the same page without taking things personally has been one of the biggest challenges. I care and sometimes to a fault. I am my own worst enemy and continue to work on my perfectionism. I review my work and keep learning where I can improve Setting boundaries and sticking to my word is imperative. had to exercise a new muscle hearing the subtext and interpretation. Learning to meet the client where they are at and not just where I think they should be.

I went through many assistants and part time workers and through the years I have curated an amazing crew.
The Knapp House team has grown with me and I never forget I wold be nothing without them.

As a small business owner, I must stay on top of my game.
Consultations, presentations, proposals, bookkeeping and
Working for other companies with an infrastructure already in place
As a small business owner, I needed to understand I am the face of my business and first impressions are everything.
I continue to master having my clients best interest when I walk in the door no matter what is going on in my personal
life. Not every client is going to for a lifetime. Exiting with grace is the goal. The trick is to do my best and walk in the world with integrity.

As you know, we’re big fans of Knapp House Mgmt. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Knapp House is the one stop shop for all your custom functional designs, professional organizing & total home management with a deep passion for making a difference.

The approach:

The KNAPP team is the “think outside the box” puzzle solver. We specialize in creative and curated space design for optimum functionality with added beauty. We cater to residential, commercial, private yacht and private aviation industries. Our Philosophy: When your space is well appointed, the easier it is to keep it that way. We at KNAPP HOUSE take pride in catering to our clients’ needs with efficiency and attention to detail.

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How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy:
I am a huge fan of the arts and stay very connected.
A sense of purpose keeps me so content. A well rounded life of helping others.

Ultimately, I love providing a service where two jobs are not the same. I love seeing the relief on clients’ faces when their most precious items have a home. Our home should be a sanctuary – I’m so blessed to help people obtain that goal!

I’m a firm believer in “build it and they will come” and “there is no race to the finish line.
Each year I reassess and refine the services we offer under the umbrella of “House Mafia” where confidentiality is of the utmost importance.

I love being in the mix – having a creative outlet – connected to the arts and carving out time for my amazing family and friends!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.knapp.house
• Instagram: @knapphousemafia
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-knapp-9b68881
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/knapp-house-santa-monica-2?osq=Knapp+House