Meet Pauline Thomas | Principlal Designer & Owner at Studio Artise

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pauline Thomas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pauline, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is an element in nearly every decision a small business owner makes. It is solely the action of taking calculated risks that transitioned me from being an employee to being an employer. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs so it was a natural progression for me to start my own business. I took my first leap into entrepreneurship when I was just 25, but that doesn’t mean I went in recklessly. I had years of working experience and passion to navigate my first venture. There’s a reason why the phrase “high risk, high reward” exists. My advice to individuals who want to take risks but are too afraid would be: 1. Make sure you have enough financial cushion to get you through at least 6 months of living expenses.
2. Dip your toe in and learn from others in your field before you make the permanent leap.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My story is not linear. I was born into the restaurant business and currently own Perk Eatery in Scottsdale, but my education is in architecture and interior design so the two didn’t exactly converge. My passion is everything design related but I also love food; the creative part of me found an outlet in both directions. I swore off restaurants after my son was born but then the recession hit in 2008 and nothing was happing in the design world for a very long time. I fell back into restaurants but I always stayed active in design. Once the restaurant was well established I was able to transition back to my passion and dive head first into design full time. My journey took a lot of sacrifice, a tremendous amount of hard work and a deep belief that my passion and talent would carry me through. The most distinguishing element of my business/service is that my clients are not just a number. We forge long lasting relationships built on trust and mutual respect with our clients, vendors, and trades. We offer a full range of services that are all touched by me personally. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of making your employees feel like an integral part of the business. They are not just employees, they are the fabric of our brand. We love what we do, we love the people we get to meet and most importantly we love the relationships we carry after our job is done.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Arizona so much! There is so much to see and do in our beautiful state. I’d naturally take any visitors to Sedona to absorb the breathtaking beauty of the Red Rocks, Oak Creek and a hike at Boynton Canyon. In the Valley my weekly go to is Tutti Santi for an authentic and elevated Italian dining experience. You must try the handmade gnocchi and ravioli-literally the best I’ve ever had! The next stop would be Thai food at Glai Baan-it’s incredibly delicious, quaint, and the staff is amazing! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu and the drinks are sublime. Say hi to Cat and Dan, tell them Pauline sent you! Breakfast at Perk Eatery in Scottsdale is a must, even Guy Fieri says so! Voted best pancakes in the Valley year after year, the classic breakfast fare is amazing and the specialty items, cocktails, and service are top notch! A hike at Piestewa Peak or Pinnacle Peak is a must to take in all our glorious views. A visit to Salt River to experience the wild horses is an absolute must!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shout out is to my son who made me strive to be a better person everyday. Everything I have and am is reflected in the beautiful person he is becoming; he is my true legacy. I also want to thank my parents for always standing by me and supporting my dreams. Last but not least I want to thank Sheryl McCaleb at Northern Arizona University for always believing in me, never allowing me to give up, and for being the most dedicated educator I’ve encounter. I owe my success to your mentorship!

Website: www.StudioArtise.com and www.PerkEatery.com

Instagram: studioartise and perk_eatery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudioArtise and https://www.facebook.com/PerkEatery