We’ve all heard the old adage, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Sharon MacDonald, a former realtor and sales professional, has built a successful business on it.

“After spending a career in sales, in 2005, I decided that I wanted a new career and became a real estate agent. I did some staging with many of the million dollar properties I listed and learned about the importance of having high-quality furniture in place to attract buyers.”

Carving out a niche.

MacDonald also recognized that in the competitive real estate market, home sellers and builders needed a competitive edge. In her mind, having access to high-quality luxury rental furniture would give it to them. MacDonald didn’t wait to make it happen. “I funded the purchase for furniture for one of my listings and my business, Interim Furnishings, which provides exquisite rental furniture, was born. “

Furnishing the needs of builders, realtors, and home sellers.

In 2006, MacDonald had experienced such success that she incorporated, invested money to build inventory, and opened a showroom in Natick. To assist her with the financial end of her business, she tapped the resources of SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small business start, grow and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For more information, visit score.org.

“I had never owned a business, so I needed some assistance with putting together a financial forecast. My SCORE Counselor, Bob Woods helped me make sales projections and determine where I needed to cut costs and increase sales.”

Woods and SCORE were impressed from the beginning. “When Sharon and I first met, it was clear that she had the business and educational background to make her business successful. Initially, she needed help with financial planning and forecasting. She caught on very quickly and now has a sophisticated model in place,” added Woods.

MacDonald met her numbers and with growth projected, needed financing to gear up for a busy spring season. She turned to Middlesex. “They extended a line of credit for us to buy furnishings when the company was just two years old. They really understood that our business was capital intensive.”

Building business – and momentum.

Before long, the company had grown to serve a wide range of customers. “We serve everyone – home sellers, home builders, stagers, and real estate professionals. In addition to offering leasing services to builders, we also do corporate work helping provide furniture for assisted living models.”

The company also provides access to the general public. “Twice a year, we have a clearance sale, which provides an opportunity for people to purchase high-quality furniture at reduced prices.”

SCORING success and recognition.

The company has been so successful that in 2010, Woods nominated it for SCORE’s Business of the Year award. “I was thrilled when Bob told me that we had actually won.” Woods wasn’t surprised. “In my 17 years of counseling businesses, this is the most successful business I’ve been involved with.”

MacDonald credits her success to her dedicated team. “I didn’t create this alone. We’re dealing with very high-end properties and it’s essential that we provide a high level of service. Our jobs can run anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000, so it’s essential that we deliver what our clients need. Our staff has been exceptional.”

While MacDonald is honored by the recognition, she knows that her success lies in the results she gets for her customers.. “It works, our clients are selling homes in 94 days.”

For more information on Interim Furnishings, visit interimfurnishings.com. If you have a business challenge or opportunity you need assistance with, you can tap the expertise of a SCORE professional simply by calling 617-565-5591 or visiting scoreboston.org.