Almost everything about daily life resets in a move. It’s considered one of life’s most stressful experiences. Thousands of people are relocating to Austin each month – that’s about 150 new residents per day who are looking for recommendations about where to live, where to go and what to do. Entrepreneur Xio Goss, a native of Austin, realized the connection between the two and created the business Pearl Street Concierge.
Pearl Street takes the guesswork out of the most important aspects of moving. The tagline “live like a local” is what Xio aims to create for her clients. Pearl Street helps Austin newcomers make the right choices the first time around by providing relocation packages that have been customized to fit the specific needs of a person or family.
“The evolution of this city is happening so fast that it can be easy to get lost in the shuffle,” Xio said. “But it can also be easy to get plugged in if you have the right insider information. Pearl Street provides exactly that for our clients.”
Xio is a true native of Austin. She grew up here, went to high school and college in Austin and has spent most of her adult life in the city. She’s called six different neighborhoods home, ultimately landing in Tarrytown with her husband and three children.
As a result of a life spent in Austin, Xio has built a strong community of people from all stages of life and across a variety of industries. She’s a connector – the kind of person who rarely goes anywhere in Austin without running into someone she knows. If Xio doesn’t know the person you’re looking to connect with, she’ll find you someone who does.
“We build personal relationships with each newcomer in order to get them plugged into the city in a meaningful way – and quickly,” she said.
Xio Goss
Time for anyone can feel elusive. It’s often not the right time, there’s little quality time or not enough time. It’s time that Pearl Street is giving back to their clients, Xio says. The transition into a new community is often framed by trial and error. Trying out new doctors, babysitters, schools, restaurants, activities – the list gets long quickly. And it can take months or even years to get it right.
As a mother of three running a startup business, Xio knows the challenges of managing time between work and family. Her kids know she stays up late to work and that she’s pursuing something of her own.
“I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned [for my kids] especially having a daughter – she can see women are smart and entrepreneurs and they see their dad supporting me and my efforts,” she said.
The idea for Pearl Street came from Xio’s passion for helping others. She has a background in fundraising and philanthropy. Her mother worked for the local organization SafePlace; her father runs Southwest Key Programs, an Austin-based national nonprofit. Connecting people to help one another is what she does best.
“Each cause I was working for had different donors, different needs, people who I would target or work with, and through that I realized that what I enjoyed most with fundraising was the connecting: The networking and supporting people who have a need,” Xio said.
Instead of navigating reviews of services and neighborhoods, Pearl Street will provide a relocation expert to answer the same questions. “I’m trying to bring back personal relationships,” Xio added. It’s something she also shares with her children. “Writing handwritten notes, looking people in the eye, shaking hands…we are all meant to connect with people and that’s getting lost in our society,” she said.
While a focus of Pearl Street is relocating clients, it isn’t the only one. Xio’s business provides weekend packages and recommendations for people who are visiting or already live here.
“Austin is a welcoming and dynamic city, which has invited the world to come in by hosting major events that appeal to people all over the nation and the world,” she explained.
The city’s changing cultural landscape can be hard to follow, even for locals. “I feel incredibly lucky to live in such a dynamic city,” Xio concluded. “My goal is that through my work with Pearl Street Concierge, my clients will experience the same loyal and adoring feelings about their hometown.“
Xio’s Must-do’s in Austin
If you don’t have children, or are on a date without your kids, I would recommend “First Thursday” on South Congress to get lost in the scene. Eat at any of the restaurants down there – you can’t go wrong and end the evening with a nightcap and some live music at the Continental Club. Another perfect Austin date night is seeing Bob Schneider perform on Monday nights at Saxon Pub on South Lamar.
My favorite outdoor activities are walking/running around Ladybird Lake, the views at Mount Bonnell, the Hillside Theatre in Zilker Park and being on Lake Austin in any capacity – boat, barge, or restaurant deck.
