Three Minutes Across the Counter with Annette Jaffe

“Three Minutes Across the Counter” is a new feature on Patch in which we chat with local business owners. If you would like to be featured, email adina@patch.com with the name of your business.

Today we chat with Annette Jaffe, the founder of MSM Property Development, a Port Washington company that provides residential and hospitality interior design as well as construction consultation.

Patch: How did you get your first start in business?

Annette Jaffe: After leaving the NYC schools, where I was a high school English teacher, I became a designer, manufacturer and wholesaler of decorative home accessories selling to Sundance, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and really all over the country. Prior to that, I was always interested in design, moving friends furniture when I was really only invited for dinner. In college people used to knock on my dorm room door to see my room. When I sold that business I started purchasing, designing and renovating houses to flip. People started seeing the houses and the phone started to ring.

Patch: How did your parents influence you as a business owner?

Annette Jaffe: My parents have been self employed their entire lives. They both possess a strong business acumen and a lot of nerve. They told me to go rent an office and figure out a way to make the phone ring so you can pay the rent. My parents built an industrial wire forming company over my lifetime. Dinner conversations were filled with client, supplier and manufacturing issues. They were unafraid and stuck together.

Patch: How long have you lived here?

Annette Jaffe: 1986 was the first of three winters I house sat for relatives in Sands Point. I grew up in Jericho and Roslyn and had never really known Port. After those three winters I was already looking for a house. That was over 20 years ago.

Patch: What’s your favorite thing about living here?

Annette Jaffe: Physically it’s the town, marina, train and being off Northern Blvd. Sort of off by ourselves. Socially and emotionally it’s knowing people almost every where I go. Belonging. Walking places. Just the other day my friend came by the office and we walked over to the docks and sat together for awhile and caught up. I enjoy the diversity of the people, seeing the kids on the street, the crossing guards, waving at the mail carrier.

Patch: What’s a business mistake you’ve made that later you were glad you did?

Annette Jaffe: I ordered way too many desks when I first moved the MSM office out of the house to Inspiration Wharf. Now we use them all. Sort of like my parents advice. By creating a problem I was forced to find a solution. We use all the desks.

Patch: Tell us something about yourself that most of your neighbors don’t know.

Annette Jaffe: I don’t play my music as loud as I would like because I don’t want to aggravate them. I also wouldn’t mind having an outdoor shower but I’m refraining.

Patch: What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received?

Annette Jaffe: Don’t chase money. The money will come. Do something you love and are good at. Be grateful for what you have and know the biggest reward you will ever get is in giving and serving others.

Patch: What advice would you give to a small business owner just starting out?

Annette Jaffe: Ninety percent of life is showing up. If you don’t show up nothing will happen. Don’t waste time worrying about what might happen. Something is going to happen and it’s probably not what you would have worried about. Of course there are going to be problems. You can solve them. Show up for life.

Patch: What do you look for when you hire?

Annette Jaffe: The best people I’ve hired have been on gut instinct. So have the worst so not so sure what that’s worth.