Canvas Rebel
We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jim Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jim, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
When I was in the seventh grade, my mother left her career with Johnston & Murphy as a District Sales Manager to open “Blinds Unlimited”. I was raised in the world of window treatments and interior design. I used to ride around with my mom listening to her talk to designers, watching her measure, and build a business from the ground up. I used to paint and sand plantation shutters, install blinds and shades, and eventually got into sales. I departed my hometown of Hahira, GA to move to Atlanta to pursue a career in the restaurant industry. I managed high end restaurants here in Atlanta. I was about to move to Chicago where I was going to take a GM role for a very established restaurant when I decided to open Jim Davis Designs. I had plenty of contacts during my 10 year stint in the restaurant industry but didnt know where to start. I decided to go online to the Fulton county website and look for people who had filed business permits. I decided to go two to three years out and visited these sites one by one passing out my business cards and leaving them in new construction homes. My very first client was one of the largest homes I had ever been in and was the family of one of the largest architectural firms in the US; I knew then that I had made the correct career decision. The rest was history.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We are a window treatment company who operates from a design perspective. There are a lot of companies in our industry but we have set a standard for the products we carry and the level of service that we provide that is unparalleled. We work with about 60/70 designers in Atlanta though our trade program and the US as well as directly with the homeowner. Designers have found us most beneficial for those tough window situations as well as a resource to help them. There are a lot of room for very costly errors when it comes to custom window coverings; it’s nice to know you have a friend in the industry that can take your worries away from your window coverings, bench seats, betting, pillows, upholstery and wall coverings!
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I am fortunate to say that we really dont advertise. We have build this brand from the ground up and mostly through Instagram and Facebook. You have to post and post often! The great thing about having a company is that if you treat your clients right, they will tell at least one friend. The more clients you have, the more opportunity there is to gain another referral. When I look back at sales my first year, second year, third year and so forth, it’s so nice to see the organic growth. There have definitely been times of struggle and when I wish I had more business but I am comforted in knowing that I am always in the right place and the organic speed of my growth is exactly what I can handle at that time.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
The number one thing about having team members is hiring someone you personally like. I have been in a management position from High School on; I even managed my sister at a restaurant we worked at in Valdosta when I was her service manager at 17 years old. Three of my top team members have been in my life and/or employee for over a decade. I am blessed to have the best team with my best intentions at every beat they take. The key is for you to give someone the freedom they need to do their job while managing from the passenger seat. In any business, there is no role more or less important than the other. The one thing to always remember is that at the end of the day, if anything ever goes wrong, it’s my responsibility. Knowing this will always help you make the correct hiring decisions.
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