By Aleese Kopf
Daily News Staff Writer
Palm Beach is full of individual domestic service agencies, from housekeeping and nanny businesses to caterers and chefs. A new business to the area aims at being a one-stop shop for connecting residents with the service workers they need.
Boutique domestic staffing agency Lily Pond Services recently expanded from New York to South Florida to build its Palm Beach client base. The luxury lifestyle management company opened a small office in downtown West Palm Beach in December and serves a handful of clients on the island, according to founder Melissa Psitos.
The company vets all involved to connect families with personal assistants, nannies, chefs, housekeepers, butlers, and “anything you can imagine,” Psitos said. “Really, it’s kind of like matchmaking. No two requests are the same.”
Psitos started the business in New York City in 2013 after working as a personal assistant for high-net worth families for 10 years. She also has an office in the Hamptons. This is her first season in Palm Beach.
“A lot of our clients have multiple residences,” she said. “Due to high demand, we decided to expand here. I think people really enjoy living here. There’s a better quality of life. It’s more laid back living. Lots of parties and socialization.”
Psitos said she has about 100 total clients, including five to 10 in Palm Beach. She said she couldn’t legally reveal her client list.
Designer/decorator Gene Pressman of West Palm Beach said he chose Lily Pond to find a housekeeper because it’s more personal and has a good vetting process.
“I think trust is everything,” he said. “You’re bringing someone into your home so you want to make sure they’re trustworthy, reliable and responsible. I think going to a business like Melissa’s is more of a one-to-one kind of experience vs. going to some kind of big agency.”
The most common requests in this area are for housekeepers servers, medical care, and domestic couples, Psitos said.
“A lot of people like to have couples that live in the estate and manage all day-to-day operations,” she said. “Another popular request is the governess, a teacher-type nanny to work from home and teach manners and etiquette.”
Psitos said requests for mannies, or male nannies, also are growing.
“I think that’s the most interesting part about it, getting to know your clients and their needs,” she said. “I’ve never seen the same request for a nanny. It could be a housekeeper nanny, an educated nanny, a live-in or live-out nanny, you never know.”
Psitos earns a percentage of what a client pays for a job placement, anywhere from a few thousand to $20,000, she said.
Resource: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com
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