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Meet Jill Reichwald of It’s Handled LA Curated Concierge Services in Pacific Palisades

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Reichwald.

Jill, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My professional story began after graduating from UCLA in Sociology. My first job at a marketing company opened my eyes to the possibilities of advertising, which led to entering a graduate marketing program at the University of San Diego.

After receiving my MBA, I worked in marketing positions in the cosmetics industry, the banking industry, strategic planning and for nonprofits, which presented challenging and exciting career opportunities in both product and service marketing. With a lot of experience under my belt, I launched my own strategic marketing business, Reichwald Marketeers. Through my various positions, I was able to identify exactly what I loved most about my career; it was my personal relationships with clients and providing individualized services and creative marketing solutions to help them achieve their goals.

A few years into my thriving business, my husband and I decided to start our family. I slowed down the business and worked for clients on a part-time basis. With the birth of my second daughter, I decided to spend all of my time with my family but had a plan to go back to work at the right time in the future. The years flew by as I was immersed, engaged, and fulfilled by my family life. I was so happy and busy raising my daughters that I didn’t realize I needed other outlets until my kids were in high school, and I began planning to launch a new career after they left home for college.

As a full-time parent, I learned a lot about myself and found it to be the best and hardest job I have ever had. Multitasking became the norm in my everyday life as I ran our household and juggled the needs of my family. I was the family concierge, the problem solver, the strategic planner, the negotiator, the organizer, the shopper/gift giver, the researcher, the party planner, the fundraiser, the chauffer, the laundress, the travel agent, the cook, etc. Even amid the hectic hustle of everyday life, I found that I was very proficient at these tasks and that I really enjoyed doing all of it!

Time went so quickly raising a family. In the blink of an eye, there I was, an “empty nester” with both of my daughters away at college. The house was too quiet and the dog was depressed. My husband was at work, but we were ready to start our post-kids life together. I was ready to reinvent myself, identify who I am without my children and figure out the kind of work that would allow me to achieve my goals in this next stage of life.

At the outset, I had an epiphany that set me on a path to build a creative service-based business. I realized I could base my business model around the skills I had developed raising my family – and the things I most missed doing for a busy household. I had become an expert and it made so much sense for me to utilize my all of my skills and talents to launch a highly specialized, service-oriented and curated concierge business. With the support of my family and friends, launching my business has been an exciting adventure and a dream come true. Everyday is different and filled with client requests that have given me a new purpose. Whether helping a busy mother check off her to-do list or a loving father find that perfect gift, every day allows me to apply my lifetime of concierge skills.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s not easy starting over after being out of the professional market for almost 20 years. After my daughters left for college and my husband and I were true “empty nesters”, I had to figure out who I am and seek out what my next adventure would be. The process of developing and launching a new business has been a chance for self-reflection and an opportunity for me to network and reconnect with business contacts while fostering new business contacts.

When we started our family, it was my ultimate dream to be able to stay at home and raise our daughters. Being a full-time parent was an incredible and yet sometimes very frustrating and challenging experience. It was the most rewarding and hardest job I will ever have. I learned so much about myself as I acquired invaluable skills along the way. My plan was to take off a few years and then re-establish my marketing business when my kids started school. As much as I loved being a full-time parent, I regret that I didn’t somehow stay connected to the business world at least on a part time basis. On the other hand, the skills I learned while raising my children and throwing myself into the parent world were invaluable.

I felt very intimidated about starting over post kids, at times it seemed like a daunting task. My family and friends have been very encouraging and supportive which has made this experience more fun and enjoyable. Launching a new business is an exciting adventure for me, but at the same time challenging. I have quickly learned that this business is all about offering our clients exceptional service and it requires us to problem solve to meet their individual needs. I am a positive and outgoing person with a “can do” attitude, which is truly an asset in this business. I look forward to building my brand, It’s Handled LA, and establishing a thriving business serving our clients’ individual needs in Los Angeles.

Please tell us about It’s Handled LA Curated Concierge Services.
It’s Handled LA enhances our clients’ everyday life with services to get almost anything done so you can stay productive. In today’s fast-paced environment, where demands are high and time is a very valuable commodity, It’s Handled LA takes remarkable pride in an unparalleled commitment to service, turning the impossible into reality. We pride ourselves on personal and customized services, so we never limit what we can do to meet a client’s needs. If you don’t see a specific service, just ask because no matter what your needs may be, It’s Handled LA has a tailored solution for you.

It’s Handled LA provides services that people need to live their best lives. Whether picking out and wrapping a thoughtful gift, planning a dinner party or booking a dream vacation, we help our clients take time for themselves, even when their schedule is packed. After a long day in the office or taking care of a family, it’s hard to devote extra time to planning a special get together, making reservations for date night, or finally organizing the pantry. Every client is different, so our services are anything but one-size-fits all. Life moves fast – don’t let a busy schedule stop you from living it to the fullest. We do the legwork so our clients can enjoy the rewards.

Los Angeles is the perfect city for It’s Handled LA. There are so many ways to enjoy life in our beautiful city, but with the pressure of everyday demands, it can be hard to make time for the good things. That’s why we want to help our clients make the most their time and enjoy their best life in LA.

Starting a business in LA can be challenging – it’s a big city and getting your footing here can take some work. I’m lucky to have deep roots in our city, but I’d advise newcomers to stay open to every wonderful thing our city has to offer. Stay positive, meet our amazing residents, and take in everything from the mountains to the ocean. There’s something for everyone here in LA, and that means there are business opportunities everywhere. Find what motivates you, learn what you love to do, and you’ll find the right customers for your business.

Our services include:

Home and Office Organization
Stop promising to tidy up and get the job done with us! From a few kitchen drawers to an entire office or home, we’ll organize, optimize, and make your space livable and user-friendly. Life is easier when you are organized, but it can be daunting. Don’t worry – we can take care of it.

Planning/Booking
Don’t have time to spend hours researching, planning, and booking? Leave it to us! We can take care of everyday calendar management, bill payments, dinner reservations, concert or theatre tickets, and even planning your next business trip or dream vacation. Looking to create a memory with friends and/or family? We will find you the latest must-see concert, musical or play. Want to dine at the new chic restaurant? We will make it happen for you.

Gifting
Need to find that perfect gift but every shopping trip ends in frustration? Give yourself a present and lose the holiday, birthday, and anniversary stress. Tell us about the recipient, give us a price range, and we’ll find, buy, wrap, and even deliver your thoughtful, personalized gift for any event, big or small. Let us handle the shopping for you. We are the extra hand to help you choose that special, curated gift a loved one or friend will always cherish.

Event Planning
Enjoy a Pinterest-perfect party without the hassle! We plan holiday events, anniversary parties, birthday parties, and intimate dinner parties. While you pop the champagne, leave the invitations, catering/menu planning, grocery shopping, decor, linens, and table settings to us. Planning an event big or small can be overwhelming. Don’t fret… we have your back.

Research
Ever fallen down a rabbit hole of online reviews, only to give up on a big purchase entirely? We can eliminate your decision paralysis by doing the research for you. From a new fridge to a new hairdresser, we’ll chase down the facts so you can make a confident and informed choice. Needing a school tutor, looking for the latest boutique, traveling soon and need to have your furry friends taking care of… contact us

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was a very happy and easygoing child and brought my Midwestern values with me when my family moved from Ohio to Southern California in the 1970s. As the youngest of three children, I looked up to my siblings and always wanted to hang out with them when their friends were at our house. My parents wanted our house to be a welcome and open atmosphere where our friends and family gathered often, so I spent a lot of time baking with my mom and assisting her when we entertained our many guests. When my siblings left home to attend college, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time with my parents, entertaining clients and traveling. My father was a successful attorney and traveled throughout the US regularly to meet with his clients and attend meetings for the large professional legal associations he held high positions in. Traveling with my parents gave me the invaluable opportunity to interact with adults and extensive training to learn how to plan, implement and run large, complicated meetings. I found I loved traveling, spending time with my father’s clients, learning the ins and outs of event planning and getting to know the conference attendees and their families who came from all over the country. These childhood experiences taught me how much I loved cultivating personal relationships with clients and encouraged the skills needed to successfully develop a service-based career.

Pricing:

  • Our rates start at $50.00 per hour for standard business hours and can be performed between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday
  • Basic Services – $50/hour during business hours; $75/hour after-hour rates
  • Mileage will be charged at a rate of $.55 cents per mile from start of service
  • After hour services before 8:00am and after 5:00pm and weekend rates are $75.00 per hour

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Mat Brown, Jill Wellington

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