Jesse Bodine is another 20 Under 40 success story.
As the morning sun gently splashes through the big picture window in your front room, you sit on your new, plush designer couch reading the latest novel on your must-read list. Reaching for your coffee, your gaze fixes on the new table. You stop for a slow and visually satisfying survey of the room.
It’s gorgeous and cozy, and even more refreshing than you’d imagined before the remodel, led by designer Jesse Bodine of Bodine White. You’re elated with the result; now you’re eager to plan your next gathering of friends and family to show off this spectacular space.
A Story of Growth and Adaptation
Jesse Bodine, part of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2018, is co-founder of Scout & Nimble, and creative director and principal designer for its sister brand, Bodine White. In 2013, along with her husband, Sam, Jesse launched Scout & Nimble as a website to make life easier for designers. She wanted to create a place where designers could find all the pieces needed for projects without having to go to multiple vendors for each piece. Each vendor typically has minimum requirements with fees, and for someone just starting to get into her creative groove with smaller projects, it just wasn’t feasible.
Sam and Jesse were in the right place to conceive of and launch the website offering decor and furniture for each room, all in one place with no minimum amount required and no vendor contracts.
“We began with designers in mind as our primary clientele, and being online we could help anyone across the country,” Jesse explains. “After some time, we began to see that we could help consumers as well, and now we help both consumers shopping for their own pieces in addition to designers that may need pieces for design projects they are working on.”
Since 2018 Scout & Nimble has seen steady growth. During COVID, business accelerated because people were at home more, and that shift gave way to building out the sister brand, Bodine White. Through the sister brand, clients can work one on one with Jesse on a remodel of anything from a small space or room all the way to revamping the whole home.
“I love it all too much to focus on just one design style, so both Scout & Nimble and Bodine White have a client-based approach,” Jesse says. “We have styles to fit for all our clients’ preferences, and have increased offerings since COVID, as well.”
The Bodines now have projects across the country from California to Florida, with new builds happening in Indiana, Texas, and Colorado.
“It’s fun,“ she explains, “to see the different styles and needs of clients in the very different parts of the country.”
Within the last year, free design consultations have been added to the Scout & Nimble site as well as the Bodine White site. These can range from small questions that homeowners may have, to big professional design questions and anything in between. There has been an overwhelming response to the addition, and Jesse says it is fun for the team to interact with customers from across the country, and to help fix situations when needed. The businesses have added new suppliers and have started to create new products and pieces to include on their sites. Also increasing since 2018 are the number of team members as well as followers.
Together the team members are thirty strong now, nearly doubling since having a staff of sixteen in 2018 — and all remote since the pandemic.
“We want our team to feel purposeful and enjoy life after work, too, so that there is a good work and life balance,” Jesse adds. Instagram followers of Scout and Nimble and Bodine White have also grown immensely.
Big things to come
Jesse eagerly anticipates the futures for Scout & Nimble and Bodine White. A two-day event, set for the beginning of June 2024, will welcome the community for a warehouse sale. The event will offer a chance to meet some clients in person — she says some have driven six hours for past sales — and to get a reset or refresh on the things her businesses have to offer. Another new project on the horizon is especially intriguing, Jesse says. Scout & Nimble is teaming with a local builder to build the first Scout & Nimble house. They expect to break ground in April.
“Telling a story, the home will be timeless and classic for years to come,” Jesse adds, basing her conclusion on the builder’s and the home’s “character and craftsmanship.” The company plans to launch a new collection based on the new home’s style and in conjunction with the construction.
Jesse will give tips and take clients behind the scenes on the designs, and the “why” behind the style choices. She loves the idea of “functional meets beautiful” to create a space with those features in mind. Current clients and future buyers are encouraged to shop — with their fingertips — on the Scout & Nimble and Bodine White websites.
Scout & Nimble
scoutandnimble.com
Bodine White
bodinewhite.com
