Meet Jen Zervas of Pandora’s Box

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Zervas.

Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was always a do-it-yourself kind of person. In college, I would gather broken and used items at salvage stores, drag them home and revitalize them myself. When I came to Chicago I had dreams of opening my own art gallery and using rustic/urban pieces to prop art up… I found a small rental property in the city in 2003 and my store was born. My kids were little and we lived in Wilmette. I found a little house with a commercial zoning and went through the legal hoops to modify it and bring it up to modern codes and relocated my shop.

I never looked back and slowly built up a following. In June of 2017, Pandora’s Box celebrated her 14th year as a business… I still do all refinishing and paint treatments myself. I help people take their older inherited pieces and give them new life. I work with many theater and movie propmasters to fulfill their special orders.

Most recently, the shop has gone national with platforms such as Chairish, Etsy and Apartment Therapy. I am grateful for the continuous flow of work. and yes, throughout the many walls of the shop, original works of art are proudly displayed. Sometimes, dreams do come true…

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?
The struggles of being self-employed have been numerous… The major recession of 2007 and 2008 were particularly difficult. I kept my expenses as low as possible. I knew all would work out as long as I kept working hard every day. I credit the internet for bringing in much needed sales and commissions, on days when not a soul would walk through the door.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pandora’s Box – what should we know?
I have an eclectic collection of goods… I hand pick each and every item that is in the store and listed for sale. I also deliver personally, which always surprises the client. So, in essence, I am alpha and omega. I am proud of the company for many reasons. It is a peaceful place. I have mentored half a dozen entrepreneurs who now have very successful shops much like mine in Chicago and Milwaukee. I have also donated every high school theater set for free since the day I opened my doors, way back when. The secret to a successful business is kindness. People always remember how you make them feel…

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hard work and constant attention to detail. The people I buy from are happy and the people I sell to are happy… I treat each and every person in my life with kindness. Even if I cannot help or serve them, I try to direct them to someone who can fulfill their particular needs.

Contact Info:

• Address: 416 Ridge Rd.,
  Wilmette, Illinois 60091
• Website: JenZervasDecor.com
• Phone: 847.251.4416
• Email: jenzervas@gmail.com
• Instagram: jenzervasdecor
• Facebook: pandora’s box chicago

Image Credit:
Jen Zervas

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