Meet Jackie Funkhouser of FMF Compagnie in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Funkhouser.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jackie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am a Midwestern native and transplant to Scottsdale, Arizona nearly 25 years ago. I knew my love for and gifts with Interior Design began early in my professional career when our group of elementary school moms joined in hosting home tours and holiday boutiques as fundraising efforts for the elementary school where our children attended grade school.

Becoming a single mom thrust me into my next career as a Marketing Manager and offered me great insights into business marketing and selling. After 7 years in the corporate world, I knew it was time to start building my own dream.

It’s true………..life is a culmination of our families, our friends, our experiences, our past, our present, our future and ultimately, what we believe. If we allow it, our lives can be a beautiful collection; inspiring love, beauty, and wisdom, and this is precisely the inspiration behind starting my own retail business, FMF Compagnie.

While I thoroughly enjoy being a wife and mother and business professional, it was just 5 years ago that my youngest son turned 21 years old and somehow, I feel that familiar reminiscence of my own early days asking myself questions about who I am and what is important to me in this life I’ve been given. I honestly think that each day answers itself and if we commit to being true to ourselves and true to what we believe; our lives will be an unrippled reflection of who we are supposed to be.

I was raised on a dairy farm in north central Wisconsin; something I consider a true blessing. Life on the farm taught me the value of hard work, responsibility, and commitment…all the while I was watching my mother and grandmother as they modeled for me, their own love of family, heritage, and legacy. They loved antiques, gardening, and sewing; therein lays the seed for my own love of the same.

I love that being part of FMF Compagnie has afforded me the opportunity to fully enjoy the collection of my life experiences in antique imports, sewing, floral design, furniture design, and ultimately Interior Design., as I have just graduated from the American Institute of Interior Design with Honors and subsequently joined my Business Partner in founding the Scottsdale Interior Design Group.

While my specialty and focus began in antiques and vintage elements, my appreciation and love for all types and styles of Design are evident in my work. My expressions in Design are sophisticated, traditional, and transitional; yet with a fresh and somewhat modern twist. I meet my clients’ needs by providing homes and spaces that reflect their individual needs and styles.

I feel fortunate to have been designing for the Independent Women’s Luncheon held annually at the Phoenix Art Museum as well as IFDA’s Charitable Event, Take-A-Seat for several years.

I am forever inspired by the words of the “Dean of Interior Decorators”, Billy Baldwin:
“Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style.”

And so, I believe that I am now living a dream that was budding in me long ago.

Never stop believing……….

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Being an entrepreneur is incredibly rewarding but certainly does not come without its own set of challenges. As a business owner, I am ultimately responsible for each and every detail required to market, sell, grow, manage, and forge through a sea of businesses competing for the same market share. I am required to be certain the market knows what sets me and my businesses apart.

One of the biggest challenges I have faced is trying to grow organically without outside funding sources, managing cash flow, especially in the lean months of summer in Arizona and yet being fully ready for the selling and design season when our winter visitors return to the Valley.

Another challenge has been the “self-employed” working status. It has caused me to obtain health insurance for myself, which can be very costly.

Growing from nothing, forging through the first 4 years to stake my claim on brand knowledge and a solid customer base has been grueling and yet finally very rewarding as my clients now use my retail products to place in the interior designs I complete for their homes and commercial spaces.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with FMF Compagnie – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I have two businesses, FMF Compagnie, which began as an antique import company, offering fine French, English, and European antiques and vintage furniture and home decor.

I have two locations with retail offerings in Scottsdale and now include a nice selection of new gift and home items for my customers.

In August, I started my Interior Design business, Scottsdale Interior Design Group, with my business partner and we are already providing Interior Designs for several happy clients.

My clients often comment that my shop at Scottsdale Marketplace is their favorite of the 38 shops there. They often come to me to ask me to source unique items for them and in turn, to assist them in their home interior designs. I am proud of the fact that my Interior Design degree now offers design services to my current retail customers.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My future plans came to fruition on August 1st, when I incorporated with my business partner, to start Scottsdale Interior Design Group. The big change is now offering Interior Design services for my customers.

Contact Info:

• Address: 6310 N. Scottsdale Road
  Scottsdale, AZ 85254
• Website: www.fmfcompagnie.com
• Phone: 6024184531
• Email: jackie@fmfcompagnie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmf_compagnie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FmfCompagnie/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JNFunkhouser
• Other: www.scottsdaleidg.com

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.