Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Eason.
Hi Heather, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started my design career working for a furniture manufacturer when I was 20 years old. After graduating from design school and working my way up the corporate ladder, I decided this was not my path. Originally, branching out was a way to become my own boss and start a side hustle that was more fulfilling than my day job. The dream became bigger over the last 12 years and we’ve grown into design-build firm with 100s of beautiful renovation and interior design projects under our belt and have an amazing team of talented women. 2022 was a big growth year for us, taking on more commercial projects and larger renovations.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Being a business owner is never easy. Your mind never stops working. Often entrepreneurs joke that they leave their 9-5 jobs to work 24/7 and that is so true! As cheesy as it sounds, loving what you do and who you do it with makes it more than worth it. Early business challenges are usually filled with worrying about how to obtain new business. Our more recent challenges are making sure we’re managing growth in an organized fashion and balancing work with my busy family life. There’s a balance to it all and I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Z and Co Design Group?
Z and Co Design Group is a design-build firm based in Alpharetta, GA. We regularly have projects from south Atlanta all the way up to the North Georgia Mountains. We specialize in large remodels, construction management, full-home furnishing and short-term rental design. This last year we had several commercial projects including retail space, commercial office space and a wedding venue opening Summer of 2023! I love that our company employs a group of amazing designers each with their own individual flair, style, and personality. We find this makes it easy and fun to serve a diverse group of clients with differing styles and tastes of their own. This also keeps us from being too “niche”. People often ask what our style is and I love that we don’t have a specific style to pump out time and time again. We enjoy exploring new styles and making that client’s dream really come to life.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Yes, you must network and find colleagues/mentors in the industry to become friends with! This has been so important for our business over the last 12 years. Get involved in your community, get to know your vendor reps, your wholesale showroom staff, the designers that work at your favorite shops, designers you follow online, etc. I can’t stress how important this is, especially if you are a designer working solo! Share resources, good contractors, bad contractors, get feedback on tough designs, or advice on how to create a profitable business. There is plenty of business to go around and the community around us has been amazing. Supporting our design friends is a joy and I consider them an important part of our business too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zandcodesigngroup.com
- Instagram: @zandcodesigngroup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zandcodesigngroup
Image Credits
Heidi Harris, Photographer
