Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Lyn Simic.
Jessica Lyn, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was a twenty-something burnt-out social worker when I started working at a local garden center in the city in 2006. I just needed a change. I was eager to learn and absorb as much knowledge as possible so I started taking classes at the botanic garden as well. At the same time, I had recently moved into a new home and I was passionate about making the yard nice. I gained so much experience at the garden center and met excellent and inspiring people there.
While working with customers selling landscape plants, I was frequently asked if I could come over to their yard and plant what works best for their space. Of course, they would pay me! I never really considered being an entrepreneur but those conversations really fueled the fire and started the plan for my future.
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?
Running any type of home improvement project comes with many obstacles and challenges. Seriously, there are so many things to you need to bring, buy or remember. You learn quickly that being prepared is key when you are on a high-rise roof-deck, your vehicle is parked blocks away and you need to go up two different elevators and check-in with a doorman every time you leave.
Also, going through your client’s super clean home with your dirty plants and hands. Hope for good weather too. I have learned to always be prepared and stay as clean as humanly possible.
J Lyn’s Garden & Design – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
J Lyn’s is a boutique style garden design and installation firm. We specialize in urban landscapes whether it is a traditional city yard, a roof-deck or container garden or a mix of landscape and container garden. I meet all potential clients, create a unique design customized to their desires and if they move forward with the project, I manage the execution.
That includes hand selecting plants, ordering materials, organizing the crew and monitoring the project. I prefer to be as hands-on as possible so you can catch me digging, planting, pruning, mulching, etc. I also organize our maintenance jobs and keep in touch seasonally with our entire client roster. I am most proud that I keep most of my client’s long-term and have repeat business.
My clients are very loyal. I am so grateful that they continue to support my business. I think that what sets my business apart from others is that we do provide quality service that homeowners can trust for a competitive price. We aren’t mistaking perennials for weeds, pruning shrubs to an inch or their lives or making poor plant choices. We know what we are doing and we do it well.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
This is a tough question. Every season I have a project that really stresses me out. It just randomly happens and for many reasons. Sometimes its the location, the client’s decisions, plant availability, the weather or all of those things at once.
It makes me so tense that getting through these projects are the proudest of moments for me. When I come home and it’s over I get really happy. I always think it wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be. Then I treat myself to cake.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4549 N Springfield Ave Chicago, IL 60625
- Website: www.jlysgarden.com
- Phone: 773-615-4570
- Email: jessica@jlynsgarden.com
- Instagram: jlynsgardendesign
- Facebook: J Lyn’s Garden & Design, LLC
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