Julie Jones has gained over 500,000 followers on TikTok and has become one of the most popular interior designers on social media. Her audience enjoys watching her design tips and how she is transforming the landscape of modern design through cutting-edge technology. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Julie Jones to learn more about her business, Julie Jones Designs.
Julie Jones’ Background
What is Julie Jones’ background? Jones said:
“I graduated college in 2008 with a BA in Interior Design. Shortly after I graduated, I moved back to San Diego where I was born and raised and started working freelance for a few contractors that needed help with their clients. That led to working with a design build company exclusively for many years. After I graduated, I never planned to go into residential design, but that’s where work was at the time. I ended up learning so much about the residential design and construction business over the years, it wouldn’t have made sense to switch to commercial design. I found that I truly enjoyed helping individuals and their personal spaces. It kept my job fresh and not one client was ever the same.”
Formation Of Julie Jones Designs
How did the idea for Julie Jones Designs come together? Jones shared:
“In 2021, a friend told me I should share my artwork and interior design on TikTok and maybe get some clients from it. It was right in the midst of covid, and I had no idea what TikTok was. He started a page for me and sent me my password in a text. I had never had a public social media page, so I was so completely unprepared for the world of social media, let alone video format social media. After a few months of sharing different types of content and videos, I had so many client requests that I had to make a hard decision- Either give up the TikTok page or quit my in person interior design job. I was taking on both in person and virtual clients and about to have a nervous breakdown. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made, because I wasn’t sure of the stability of a social media-based business. I ended up quitting my job, and Julie Jones Designs LLC was official at the start of 2022. I started an instagram shortly after TikTok, and then a Facebook page just last year. Our reach has gotten so much farther than I ever expected. All of our business almost exclusively comes from my social media channels.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Jones’ favorite memory so far since starting your company? Jones reflected:
“I was able to go to Spain last year with my husband and 9 of my followers and clients. This is something I never thought I would do. But it was such a good experience that I came back and planned another trip to Greece this September. So far, there are 15 people coming with me! Some are previous clients and some followers of my socials.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Jones and the team faced in building the company? Jones acknowledged:
“I could write a book about the challenges I’ve faced these past 2 years. I had never pictured myself as a boss babe. I am a hard worker, but always part of a team in my other jobs. So to be at the top of my (small) pyramid has been a crazy experience. The most challenging part for me is the icky part of a business that people don’t see. Taxes, lawyers, contracts, damage control emails, former employees stabbing me in the back as they left…twice. Being a boss, not a friend when I really do want to be a friend. I found myself having to suddenly be Julie Jones: businesswoman, not just Julie Jones: Interior Designer. I’ve told my husband, “I want my old life back” on particularly hard days. Life before JJD seems like a decade ago already. So much I have to learn, pick myself up from, and grow from. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Hard days are a necessary part of growth and maturity. I can’t control anyone else, but I can control how I respond and receive challenges…in any form they present themselves as.”
Evolution Of Julie Jones Designs’
How has your company evolved since launching? Jones noted:
“I truly was a one woman show when I started doing virtual interior design. I did absolutely everything for a while working 70-80 hours a week. It was not healthy for myself or my family, and I don’t recommend it. I was building a business and getting it off the ground, so I gave myself grace in that season and my family hung in there. Once I got ahold of my business model, I consistently hired help every few months. We currently have 7 designers, 2 drafters, and my personal assistant. We now have 10 employees who work full time supporting their families. I expect that number to consistently grow with what the past 2 years have looked like.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of Julie Jones Designs most significant milestones? Jones cited:
“I created and launched a Find Your Design Style quiz on my website earlier this year that took me 7 months to create and publish. I truly did create it myself with 27 styles identified and categorized. I included color pallets, a design catalog, and sourcing for each style. It was a labor of love, and more popular than I anticipated it turns out. It crashed my website many times after the launch because of the traffic. But we got it all fixed and beefed up, so it’s doing great now. I am so proud to have accomplished something that could help others for free!”
“We have also expanded the business in March to include Exterior Design services. It has been such a hit, and we are loving helping clients with their curb appeal and backyard design.”
“My most recent expansion that has not officially launched is Julie Jones Home LLC. We will be selling decor goods along with our services very soon. We just moved into our warehouse this week! I am beyond excited for this business endeavor and hope our clients will be too.”
Client Success Stories
When asking Jones about client success stories, she highlighted:
“Since we are a virtual company, it is up to our clients to send us updates if they implemented our design. We have had many, many clients share their outcomes, but one that sticks out in particular was a kitchen space plan I did in 2022. It was a very segmented house with the kitchen walled in with little line of sight to other spaces. There was a main path of travel through the kitchen as well, so it was a struggle to prepare meals. She said everyone just went in, grabbed what they wanted, and then got the heck out of there. The new plan diverted their path of travel out of the kitchen, gave a peninsula with lots of seating, and a large tasking island. It was also opened up to have line of sight to the living and dining room. I truly had no idea if they would go with my space plan and didn’t hear from them for over a year.”
“A few months ago, an email popped in my inbox from this client. She shared photos with me of my design carried out exactly. She then proceeded to tell me how much this plan and layout has changed her life and family’s lives. They now spend more time together as a family in their more open and connected space than ever before. She said their relationships with their children have even improved because of it. They no longer just grab what they need and head to their own separate rooms but stay and spend time together. Many deep conversations have happened at their peninsula, and they love to make homemade pasta together at their island. When I tell you this email brought me to tears, it really did. I knew my plan was good and would function well, but not to the extent and impact for this client’s life. It is the most rewarding part of my job when a design of mine can bring that much joy and change to someone’s life.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates Julie Jones Designs from its competition? Jones affirmed:
“I assume other virtual design companies are my competition, and I only know of a few. I truly don’t keep tabs on them. I just keep doing me, going with the demands of my clients, and evolving the business as it needs. I’ve let my followers and clients tell me what they want, then I listen and adjust. All our services have come about because of clients and followers asking for them. We adjust them often to continually fit our clients’ needs best.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of your future company goals? Jones pointed out:
“My number one goal since starting has been to support my family. And now, support the families of my employees. I never dreamed of impacting this many people’s lives and livelihoods with a TikTok channel. It fills me with joy when an employee takes time off to go on a vacation with their family. A vacation that was financially possible because of their job. If I am able to hire more people, that is more people who can help support their family and hopefully have a better quality of life. We are in the people business. So, my goals are to impact people’s lives for the better with growth in all directions. The sky is the limit in my eyes.”
Additional Thoughts
Is there anything else we should let our readers know about Julie Jones Designs? Jones concluded:
“There is more to come! My brain hardly ever shuts off or doesn’t think of ways to improve something. My family sees it in action more than anyone. So stay tuned for much, much more from Julie Jones Designs.”
