Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Humzy.
Jane, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
People often ask me “what inspires you?” or, “where does your inspiration come from?” And I’ve always demurred, never quite knowing how to answer. Because it is not something I explicitly think about; I know what I like when I see it, I know what I want to do and why I want to do it…and I do it.
Over time, I’ve come to recognize certain truths: Life presents us with a collection of choices, each and every day. The choices we make affect the way our lives unfold. Each choice can be an authentic expression of deeply-held values, or an action that brings us simple joy. We all want to live well. We all want happiness. We all want love, friendship and good health. I believe that in order to live well, we must choose well along the way.
In 2005 I started this Company on this premise and for those who, like me, find joy in beauty, who believe in quality, heart-felt craftsmanship and who also appreciate details that serve to elevate above the ordinary. I know that for myself and for many, many others, the surroundings we create are an important expression of ourselves and can be a powerful source of personal fulfillment, respite and rejuvenation.
I just believe that if you’re going to do something, do it well. If you’re going to buy something, buy well. As you live your life, try to live it well. That’s how and why I created my company’s tagline and I really believe in it:
Choose well. Live Well.®
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, I hope those of us who lived through the experience of the 2008 financial crash will never forget it – and I truly hope it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. As traumatic and uncharted as it was – and it really was – I think it also offered for many of us the opportunity to do a fundamental “re-set” and really focus on the people and things most important to us and to stop wasting needless energy on the rest. Although, if we’re speaking of wasting needless energy, that really doesn’t explain the explosive growth in social media use since then! Hmmm, perhaps my premise needs some re-thinking!
I guess my point is that no, it wasn’t a “smooth road;” it was an extremely stressful and bumpy road and it’s a great achievement for any independent business such as this one, to have endured through it.
Jane Hamley Wells – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Since its inception, Jane Hamley Wells has been focused on serving the interior design and architecture community throughout the U.S. We very quickly gained a reputation for bringing fresh and distinctive, yet timeless, modern furniture designs to market, especially in outdoor furniture. We’re very well regarded both for our product designs and also for our high product quality. We mostly serve commercial designers and buyers for projects such as hotels, corporate workspaces, universities and commercial property developments.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I know that competitors watch what we do in the market and I take that as a compliment. And also at a very young age of the company, we were appointed as (one of a small handful of) “preferred outdoor suppliers” to Marriott Hotel Corporation. That was a big feather in the cap for us. My proudest achievement is probably the fact that we’re still here and still going strong.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janehamleywells.com
- Phone: 800 930 1990
- Email: info@janehamleywells.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janehamleywells/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/janehamleywells
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/janehamleywells/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
