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Tell us something interesting about yourself?  
I am distantly related to both the British Royal Family and the Dutch Royal Family.  I am a second-generation native of Los Angeles.      

How did you get started in Purveyors of Time?  

I had always wanted to run my own company.  I finally came up with my “ah-ha” idea about four years ago.  My past work history had included: office managing, executive assisting, and personal assisting CEOs, Presidents, Vice Presidents, and General Managers of major corporations.  I had taken care of every personal-assisting task imaginable and every professional/business-related-assisting task imaginable.  It finally hit me that I should do what I “love” and do what I “know” and create a business from it.  Hence, Purveyors of Time was born.  
 
What was the hardest challenge in starting up your business?
I think our hardest challenge by far was garnering clients.  We opened our doors for business just as the economy was starting to head the opposite direction.  We do not advertise because we want to connect with people on an individual level and we want to earn their confidence.  Because our business is so “trust” oriented, we really felt like we needed to develop relationships with people so they would be comfortable turning over their house or car keys to us.  
 
What surprised you the most in your business experience?
I guess what surprised me most was the fact that we had to work so hard to get clients over the last two years.  When we opened our doors for business, I truly thought that people would beat a path to our door and that our phone would be ringing off the hook.  I now attribute that slow growth to the fact that concierge services are still a fairly unique concept to the West Coast and that the economy had thrown us a curve ball.

What is the biggest lesson you've learned?  
Patience.  I have always been the type of person who appreciates instant gratification.  It has been a learning experience to sit back and wait for the natural progression of growing a business.  

Where do you see the future for your industry?  
Concierge-type services are very, very popular in Europe and back on the East Coast.  I feel that Californians are still learning about our industry.  I think that as the economy starts to recover we will see a corresponding increase in clients utilizing concierge-related services.  I feel that this is a natural progression with the busy lives that today’s busy individuals lead.     

What is your most popular service?  
I would have to say that our most popular service is personal assisting.  We have many clients who have a need for our assistance on a regular basis, so we assist in the home and in the office on a regular basis and when special needs or special events arise.  

What service do you offer is the most over-looked and undervalued?
The service that is most overlooked is our weekend get-away packages.  We have removed them from our website for the time being but all a client has to do is give us a theme or an idea of what they’d like, and we can create a fantasy escape.

Can the average person afford your service?  
I am not sure if the average person could afford our services.  I guess it depends on your definition of “average.”  We charge on an hourly basis (plus mileage, if any).  We offer discounted packages for our members who purchase blocks of time on a monthly basis.  We prefer that our potential clients contact us to discuss our services, rates, and terms of services.  Our services are designed for those who appreciate luxury, have a need for occasional-to-frequent (but not full-time) assistance, and who are of means.  

Being in L.A. you probably have seen a lot of Hollywood stars. Can you recall a few experiences of what you've seen?
Where do I begin?  Most recently I encountered Ben Affleck in line right in front of me at a Subway Sandwich shop.  I literally almost bumped into Jay Leno rounding an aisle corner at a local Home Depot.  I saw Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith at my son’s high school football game. (Their son was playing against our son’s team.)  At another one of our son’s football games, we saw Ashton Kutcher coaching his high school football team.  I have attended numerous Grammy Award shows and can’t even begin to count the number of Hollywood stars that I have seen there. We even work with some A-List celebrities.  It’s not at all uncommon to cross paths with these Hollywood stars being out and about in Los Angeles as much as we --– it is still always kind of cool.  

What's your favorite part of Los Angeles?  
I love that you can go surfing in the morning and then go snow skiing in the afternoon.  I love that there is so much to do in Los Angeles and you can’t ever get bored.  

What's your least favorite part of Los Angeles?  
Without question, the traffic.

We all know that in L.A, your car is as important as your looks, what kind of car do you drive and why?  
I drive a ’05 Mercedes-Benz C230 Kompressor.  I chose this car because I knew that I was going to be driving A LOT.  I wanted something that was deemed to be a “safe” car and that was reliable and comfortable as well -- aside from the fact that I had always wanted a Mercedes-Benz since I was a young girl.    

What's your favorite high-end restaurant that you send clients to in L.A and why?
If our client enjoys dining al fresco, like I do, then I send them to Spago Beverly Hills. Their outdoor patio, which is shaded by olive trees, is a tranquil and relaxing setting.  The wait staff is very attentive, and the Assistant General Manager, Laurent Steunou, is super friendly and accommodating.  The food is always fantastic – I highly recommend the Kaiserschmarren for dessert.  Spago is a Los Angeles institution and is a classic.

How do you like to spend your leisure time?  
I don’t have much leisure time these days, but when I get a little free time, I love to travel.  I think I am an island girl at heart.  I love the Caribbean and Hawaii.  If I don’t have time to actually get away, I always find it relaxing to watch various travel shows on The Travel Channel.  It’s like taking a mini-vacation without leaving home.

What is your favorite quote and why?
My all-time favorite quote is by Mark Twain.  This quote inspires me every time I read it:  “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
- Mark Twain

What do you do for relaxation?  
I don’t really have much time to relax these days, but when I do have a little time, I love to just hang out at home with my family.

What word of advice would you give for women who are looking to start their own business?  
My advice to women who are looking to start their own business would be:  Be sure to have enough operating expenses to carry yourself through the entire start-up phase, and be prepared to wear many hats in the beginning.  As a business owner, most of us are thinking about “what is next.”  Take time to enjoy the process.