Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Hash.
Julia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Chapel Hill and was always fascinated by the classic southern architecture that spanned the town. It’s amazing to me that I ended up in a career that creates some of the same allure that I was inspired by as a child. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep through my family, as my maternal grandfather, both of my parents, and my brothers were business owners – naturally, I followed suit. I developed a deep love of sewing at an early age through fabricating apparel in 4-H and Girl Scouts. I even crafted my prom dress. I graduated from Appalachian State University with a BS in Art History and a minor in Business Marketing. While I never followed that career path, those skills helped shape my business in their own way. Shortly after having children, I began fabricating window treatments for our home and even friends’ homes. I continued to experiment with this creative outlet for years while working full-time as an Office Manager, and in 2001, I decided to try it full-time. JSH Designs has been my passion ever since, and I’m thrilled to see it blossom into what it is today. I am truly so lucky to love what I do and continue to be successful in it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As with any business, we’ve seen our fair share of ups and downs. One of the most challenging times for me was when I decided to expand my business and move out of my home, where I had been fabricating for years. This was a huge move both financially and emotionally, as I knew we’d have to take on more clients to make ends meet, and we’d either have to sink or swim. In hindsight, that was the best decision I could have made. It truly catapulted our business, and we’ve been lucky to continue to grow year after year since. We’re even moving to a larger space in September of this year, after outgrowing the space we’re in. The fears are still there, but I’m lucky to have an incredible team to work through them with me.
Another notable struggle was deciding to move away from retail and partner exclusively with interior designers. I loved working with friends, family, and retail clients on their projects, but knew my true passion was project management for the design professional. This meant turning down business, which is never easy. I had to work through the guilt of not being able to help those clients anymore, and the financial struggles of losing that part of my business. Ultimately, this was such an important restructure for me, one that allowed me to create even deeper relationships with designers and help turn their visions into reality.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
JSH Designs is a boutique drapery fabrication and design studio that partners with interior designers serving the high-end market to bring custom window treatments and soft furnishings to their residential and commercial luxury design projects. Our services include complete project management of all soft furnishing design, fabrication, and installation. In collaboration with designers, we create custom, high-quality window treatments, including drapery panels, Roman shades, cornices, and valances, for both residential and commercial spaces. Our expertise also extends to soft goods such as coverlets, pillows, headboards, bedskirts, and tableskirts. We are known for our quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and deep industry experience, and are proud of our strong, relationship-driven partnerships with design professionals.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Truly, the most important lesson that I’ve learned is that you cannot grow unless you step out of your comfort zone. You have to take risks even when they’re scary. You’ll never know what is achievable unless you try. I’ve also learned that everyone makes mistakes. We are all human, and as a business owner, the most important thing is how we respond to those mistakes. We respect them, admit them, and do our very best to correct them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jshdesigns.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jshdesignsraleigh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JSHDesigns
Image Credits
Photographs by Anna Routh Barzin, Design by Debra Zinn Interiors
