When Jennifer Wang, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, left her full-time gig as a buyer in the fashion industry and was contemplating what to do next, she never dreamed her life-long tendency of decluttering and organizing would lead her down the path to entrepreneurship. Recognizing those strengths could be used to help others, she started nest s.o.s., a full-service organizational, staging, and moving company serving Central and Northern New Jersey. With a stellar support staff, Jennifer and her team design and tailor each project to a client’s specific needs and style in mind. That concierge-level of service and attention to every detail has helped her business grow exponentially since its inception, and it’s also why nest s.o.s. is sought after by clients moving and realtors staging a house. We caught up with this Summit mom of Madelyn, 22, and Chloe, 19, to find out how her previous career prepared her for going out on her own, her best advice for keeping clutter at bay, and her go-to local spot for the best craft cocktails.
Please share a bit about your family and background. I grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated with a business degree from Boston University. My husband, Austin, and I were college sweethearts. After graduating, I started as an assistant buyer and worked at Bergdorf Goodman in the city. I eventually moved to San Francisco with Austin and worked for a store there. After a few years, we moved back to the East Coast and lived in Manhattan, where I continued my career as a buyer at Bloomingdale’s and stayed for almost 20 years. We raised our daughters, Madelyn, 22, and Chloe, 19, in Summit, a town we chose in part for the midtown direct train and close enough proximity to the airport because we travel a lot. We also loved that it had a diverse community and great school system, but now that our kids are grown—our oldest lives and works in Manhattan, and our youngest is in college out West—I like it for different reasons. Summit has always had a great downtown with some wonderful shops and restaurants, but now there are so many more upscale home and design stores that are great for my business—it’s become a mecca of interior design.
You’ve been in business for almost 10 years. How has nest s.o.s. changed since you first launched it? When we first launched, it was mostly staging homes and getting them ready for sale, which made us very dependent on the real estate market. It’s still a huge part of my business, but since the market fluctuates throughout the year, I also put a lot of emphasis on the organizational side so that we can stay busy year-round, regardless of the housing market. We also do a lot of moves now, both upsizing and downsizing. It starts with editing our clients’ belongings, organizing everything, and then packing them up for their specific move strategically so we can seamlessly move them into their new home. My team and I also love working with seniors who are downsizing, which can be so emotionally draining for them. They trust us to help them through this stage gently, and we’ve formed many lasting relationships with people this way.
What do you love about owning this particular business? I love almost everything about it! Because we’re full service, I love that our clients trust us completely and can relax knowing we have it covered. I also love the positive impact it has on other small businesses. We work with fully vetted handymen, cleaning companies, painters, movers, estate sale businesses, and more, so we’re helping to support other small businesses. And lastly, we help the community at large through our donation partners. A huge portion of clothing, furniture, and kitchen supplies go to help those in need.
Does your family ever get involved in your business? If so, please elaborate a bit. When you’re a small business owner, you’re the boss, and it can be tricky not to have someone to bounce ideas off of. My husband, Austin, is so supportive and the perfect sounding board—I really value his opinion. When it comes to decluttering, the girls are type A like me—they know how to stay on top of things. Mostly, they’re pretty busy with their own lives, but they both have fantastic social media ideas, and when they’re around and available, they’re always willing to help me stage or de-stage a home and lend a hand with organizing and moves.
Anyone with children knows how easily toys can take over a home. What’s your best advice on how to deal with this type of clutter? Clutter sneaks up on us, so this applies to much more than just children’s toys. There are so many organizational systems out there, but it’s a very personal choice. It’s essential to put one into place that you feel comfortable with and will consistently stick with on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, depending on what your needs are. I also recommend editing often and donating as much as possible. Many of us have so much, yet we continue to bring things into our homes. Take a good look at what you have, and don’t bring in something new unless you get rid of something, too. Also, seasonally, go through your things and go through your children’s things and give away all the things that you no longer need or want. Donate as much as possible, but know that if something is stained or damaged beyond repair, it’s okay to toss it.
What do you like to do in your spare time? As a family, we’ve always been into travel, skiing, and tennis, and now that the girls are older, Austin and I are getting back into golf, which we enjoyed before they were born. And a less traditional hobby we’ve recently discovered is fly fishing. It’s fun to try something new!
Tell us about some of your favorite businesses and Garden State spots. I’m a regular at The Container Store and always go there for my clients. And though I usually shop small because there are so many wonderful local shops, The Mall at Short Hills is very special. I still enjoy shopping at Bloomingdale’s, which I know intimately from my many years as a buyer. Also, Summit has some fantastic restaurants! Roots Steakhouse, a downtown favorite, serves a crab cocktail that is beyond delicious. I love the craft cocktails at Summit House, and I highly recommend Fiorino Ristorante –you can’t go wrong, but I always get the pork chop with a nice glass of chardonnay.
What’s your best practical advice for a mompreneur just starting? Be flexible. While you’ll have a plan when you start your business, it’s important to be flexible and open-ended so you can pivot if necessary. Also, always say yes—you will figure it out.
For more information on Jennifer Wang or Nest SOS, please see their website or Instagram pages.
