If you’ve hired us for your event furnishings during the month of February, or, if you’re based in Palm Beach or Martin Counties, you already know the #bosslady I am about to introduce.
I am thrilled to finally have the opportunity to *officially* announce our partnership with Jade Smith of Unearthed Rental Services of South Florida.
Wait, what? Partnership? Unearthed Rental Services of South Florida? You changed your name? What’s going on? You might be asking yourself. And to answer your question(s): we haven’t changed our name, we didn’t change ownership, rather, we (Unearthed Rentals) are now affiliating ourselves with Unearthed Rental Services of South Florida.
Lots more details are outlined below…
While this is big news, yes, this has been a long time coming, and very serendipitous how the universe brought Jade and I together at what we both consider to be the perfect time. A time when Jade was looking to expand her business a bit further south, taking on a new venture of her own, and a time when Jovan and I were looking to start getting ready to say goodbye to our almost 10 years in the event industry and head north (a whole 1.5 hours to Jupiter) to start our next ventures (think: real estate, vacation rental properties, and a new start up business that most importantly will not have Jovan and I as business partners after 9+ years of the married/business partner life because let me tell you, these past several months of being married without running a fast-paced, growing company with dozens of events every week, that has been incredible and something we didn’t even know we wanted).
In short? We sold our house, moved to Jupiter, I got my real estate license and started with an incredible team (Meyer Lucas Team at Compass), got myself a paddleboard and now spend the majority of my time on the water, practicing yoga, and hanging with the fam enjoying the outdoor life and won’t ever look back to the hustle and bustle of Miami life.
Jade on the other hand comes from a dynamic background in the event world, including 14 years owning Island Party Rentals, with a total of 15 years in event planning, and was looking to take her 15 years experience to the next level by taking on a partnership with a new brand – we were just lucky enough it happened to be Unearthed that was in her horizon.
As of February 1st Jade has taken over the day to day operations of Unearthed (under her new company Unearthed Rental Services of Florida), and she will continue to be the face of Unearthed, from initial inquiries right through to the execution and white glove delivery service at your event (yep, she’s going back to her roots and taking part of deliveries at least for the first few months while she gets to know our clients and the Miami market as well as Jovan and I have come to know them over the past 9 years).
A little more about Jade? She is a born and raised Floridian, from Stuart to be exact, and enjoys boating, beach combing, football, working out, and Sunday cook-outs with the family, which includes some very important men in her life – her 15-year-old son, Chase, her fiancé, Jackson (to be married next month at one of our favorites, The Penthouse at Riverside Wharf), and last but not least, their black lab, Flint.
While of course there will be some changes with a partnership like this, some things will remain the same. For starters, the Unearthed brand will continue to offer the best service, the highest quality furniture, and all the design-forward pieces you’ve come to know and love over the years. Some exciting changes include that the Unearthed headquarters will now be in Stuart. Yes, you read that right. Stuart gives Jade and Unearthed prime opportunityto have a single warehouse to service the entire “bottom half” of the state. To easily hop on 95 and service all of our usual Miami and Broward clients and venues. To practically be a local servicing all of the West Palm Beach gems. To take a quick trip across the state and head to the west coast to design spaces for our Naples, Marco Island, and Tampa friends. And perhaps the biggest area that will be impacted? All of our Orlando clients (or those that were almost but not quite clients in the past due to proximity) who previously had to meet higher minimums for the 4+ hours of one-way travel from our former Miami HQ – now you’re just a 1.5 hour drive north, meaning local minimums for everywhere south of the invisible Orlando “line” across the middle of the state.
I trust Jade wholeheartedly, enough to take care of my first baby as if it was her own. The “baby” (business) that was just an idea we threw around when Jovan and I first got engaged, then formulated an actual business plan while wedding planning, then launched a month before we got married in January of 2012. To take care of the clients who I personally know, and love, and many of which I consider friends. She is the true definition of a badass and has the same strong work ethic that you have come to know and love from the Unearthed team over the years.
The success of this transition and affiliation with Unearthed Rental Services of Florida doesn’t just rely on the trust I have in Jade, rather, it largely involves you, our valued clients, partners, and friends.Because of that Jade (and I) welcome any and all feedback, and truly want to know what you love, or what you don’t, and how we can stay (or perhaps, become) your favorite design-forward brand for all of your furniture and décor for your most important life events, whether a large corporate gathering (too soon?), a branded marketing event, an intimate dinner party, or the most beautiful wedding celebrating the love of two people.
While Jovan and I will still be here (in the shadows of the background, enjoying #juplife to the fullest extent) Jade will be your go-to, your #bosslady, your everything and more when it comes to all-things-Unearthed.
Connect directly with Jade at jade@unearthedrentals.com, or as the new voice behind the @unearthedrentals Instagram account
You can still reach me at katie@unearthedrentals.com, or better yet since I’ll be checking that account less and less, connect with me on my personal Instagram @katieblineau
Still sending those positive vibes,
-Katie
