March 20, 2017

Meet Geri Sims of Geri Sims DRAPE – ICON in Dunwoody

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Geri Sims.

Geri, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I graduated from The Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida with a degree in graphic design. I then moved to Miami, Florida where I work as an event designer for parties in the private country clubs. I spent a few years as a trouble shooter with Macintosh and PC’s but soon after moved to Atlanta where I married and had a beautiful baby girl. I spent a few years being mommy but soon realized I missed the event business. I moved one more time back to my home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where I worked with the 3 major cities (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville), Harrah’s Casino and business owners decorating the town for major holidays and events. I was beginning to travel to weddings and events out of town and realized I had something only few people were willing or able to do. I have a gift for design and choose to use it to make my entire events one to remember. I feel I am creating a LEGACY for families to cherish. Those pictures will last forever and so will the memories to share with their generations to come. This is what it is all about.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If I said it had been a smooth road, I would be lying. Anything that is worth having takes work. To get to the top of my industry took many sleepless nights, hard work and highly stressful events. Once you take a look at my work you will understand. We have to go sometimes 20′ to 36′ in the ceiling to construct our most elegant designs. The challenges seem to consist of limited time to complete a complicated design, or even dealing with bad weather when working in a tent. I remember one job where the winds were so high the oversize tent was jumping, the bugs were bitting, and the lightning was close. Time was of the essance so we worked all night. That next morning when the sun was coming up it was the most beautiful day. I fell asleep on the beach for a few hours.

I would say my biggest struggle is not having someone with my same talent to bounce ideas around with. No one to tell me how to go to the next level, what the future looks like but instead I am always considering what my industry will look like in 20 years and trying to stay 10 steps ahead of everyone else out there. You have to keep in mind that I created a niche in the event and wedding industry. I am always striving to create the next new look.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Geri Sims DRAPE – ICON story. Tell us more about the business.
What sets me apart from other drape and decor companies is that I have over 100,000 yards of fabrics and 25 plus years of experience. I specialize in 3-D design and work with my clients to determine the look they want to see. I am an artist first and can always read my clients vision.

I am well known as the WOW designs. I can create something out of nothing and my rooms bring tears to the bride’s eye. That is what makes it all worth the hard work. This is what I am most proud of.

People that know my work can walk in a room and know it is my design. It makes a statement.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I am not sure that I believe in luck but instead I think we create who we want to be. We have always been told even as we were growing up that if you want something you must work for it. I have achieved all I want to achieve in being a designer so now I want to make money while I sleep. With a good business plan this will be a mom & pops next step. As the owner of a business we do not like to let go of the creative side of our business but when we do we go to the next level.
I think with the life we live takes us to the next step. Luck seems to only work with the lottery and we all know those odds.

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