Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Shirah.
Sherry, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Starting my own business was a second life career. After more than 15 years of a career in the fast-paced technology industry focusing on building and marketing software products, I took a leap of faith to follow my passion for styling interiors. I had always loved making the spaces around me beautiful, not just my own but my friend’s and family too. I reached a crossroads when I was offered ownership and a VP role in the technology company I was working for that would require that I relocate to New England. I had to re-evaluate my path and what I wanted to do next in my life. I chose to stay in Texas and start my own company, totally grassroots. I had a couple of good friends that said they wanted to bemy first clients and that provided me with the boost of confidence I needed, knowing that I had two clients out of the gate! I set up my own LLC, built my website and started my Instagram business page and was off and running in January 2018. Every waking hour I would pour myself into unlocking the creative side of my brain whether it be through podcasts, drawing, painting and researching all of the companies I wanted to connect with for sourcing anything that would be a fit for my client’s homes. It was really important to me that I established the right relationships right away and to focus on making my client’s homes individually tell their story and reflect who they are.
In addition, I had taken some of my savings and bought an old Victorian shotgun house in Uptown New Orleans (and it’s purple!). I am fourth-generation New Orleanian on my mother’s side of my family. I was born there and have always had a sense of longing to spend more time in my birthplace. There is nothing like the culture and inspiration in New Orleans. I treated this home as my showcase and as its’ own residential project. I was really fortunate to have it picked up and featured by Rue Magazine within the first year. In addition, it was recently shot by Emily Henderson’s design team for her next interiors book and also featured in the print edition of InsideOut, the Time-Picayune/the New Orleans Advocate newspaper!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Is anything in life a smooth road?! There may have been small parts that have allowed me to be in a bit of cruise control but for the most part, it’s been straight up hustling for more than a year and a half to ramp up the business. When you set out to help people create beautiful spaces in their homes, you don’t really think about all of the other surrounding aspects that come with the turf. The creative part is the fun part but then you quickly realize you are the accountant, book-keeper, inventory specialist, order taker, and salesperson and that’s a lot for one person to take on! I constantly try to take a learner approach, so I was always in that mode knowing that I can only learn from any mistakes. I maintain a positive attitude and try to surround myself with others that are supportive, encouraging and smart thinkers. This has really helped me in moments when I have struggled the most to grow my business. In addition, I had to learn to put formal business processes in place like creating contracts and payment terms which is something that I wasn’t used to managing on my own.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m an independent residential interiors stylist. I have my Bachelor of Arts in Communications and French from the University of Georgia so I’m not a licensed interior designer and I don’t claim to be. I focus on helping clients look at space differently. I get to know them and how they like to live. It starts with understanding where they are from, where they’ve traveled to, and where they want to travel to, in order to really understand them as an individual. Everyone I work with has a unique story and I strongly believe that no two clients spaces look alike. I specialize in bringing old-world spaces or furniture pieces together to live well with new and modern spaces or furniture pieces. In my experience, all of my clients are bringing some furniture to the start of the project but their style has evolved through the years or they may not even know what their style is. I help them get to know it by getting to know them or help them to optimize what they know they already love.
Hence, my business philosophy… stories that live in spaces.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think I would have told myself a couple of years ago to not be afraid of the unknown. To go after what I believed could be successful and what I was willing to pour my entire self into without as much doubt. I had a vision and that took time so you really dwell on wanting to expedite everything. I kept having to remind myself that I had planted a seed and would need to be patient to watch it grow. I was fortunate to have my supportive partner, Trey, who encouraged me along the way and a few close friends and mentors that were always in the wings cheering me on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sherryshirahdesigns.com
- Phone: 4045360908
- Email: sherryshirahdesign@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Chelsea Davis; Jacqueline Marque
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