For Jennifer Glaab and Sybil Imel, fall doesn’t have to wait for cooler temperatures. This season, the Chandler entrepreneurs are bringing the feeling of autumn to local doorsteps through their new business, Porches & Pumpkins Co., transforming porches with pumpkins, gourds, and seasonal charm.
The idea began with Glaab, whose background in design made her naturally drawn to the concept.
“I’ve been in design my whole life,” she says. “I just love designing, and I love holidays.”
After seeing businesses in other parts of the country decorating porches with pumpkins, Glaab wondered if the concept could bring some seasonal spirit to the desert. She knew she wanted a partner, and Imel was the natural choice.
The two met through Community on Purpose and bonded while volunteering at local fall festivals. Imel, who grew up in Idaho and moved to Arizona in 2010, had long decorated her own porch for fall.
“It’s really hard to force fall in Arizona,” Imel says. “I always decorate my porch to try to make me feel like I was experiencing the four seasons.”
When Glaab called with her “crazy idea,” Imel was in, and in 2025, they began testing the concept on their own homes. Neighbors stopped to admire Glaab’s display, and Thanksgiving guests were enamored.
The experience confirmed what the women love most about a decorated porch: It creates a connection beyond the front door.
“I like the fact that it puts it out to the neighborhood that you are a festive person,” Imel says.
Glaab agrees. “People can drive by and just see happiness.”
Porches & Pumpkins Co. is taking orders through Oct. 13, offering four packages starting at $400. The packages include designs tailored to each home and homeowner, and customers can even send photos of their porches for recommendations or request custom arrangements.
At its heart, though, the business is about creating a feeling.
“Happy,” came the immediate answer when asked what they hope customers feel, followed by one more word: “Magic.”
For Glaab and Imel, that magic is about sparking memories, encouraging neighbors to gather, and bringing a little more fall to Arizona—one porch at a time.