Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Norris.
Hi Haley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was unconventional. I went back to college in my late thirties. Had a professor ask me what I wanted to do with my degree – at my age. I really couldn’t answer. (It seemed discouraging at the time.) The more I thought, I couldn’t give an answer. My response was close to… well, I feel my degree path is ultimately too narrow for my dream. Then, post Covid, it was hard to get trades to show up for/to jobs. I began to think, “I should try to meet the need(s), and work THAT demand to my schedule. (I have four children.) So, I was looking for flexibility as well. I started researching trades on different social media platforms. Within the search option. Wallpaper kept popping up. I saw this as a luxury, but one with a need. I began to reach out to names of the current trade and one woman kept surfacing. I took to my business course at the time and used my assignments as a means to practice with her. She allowed me to begin training under/with her. She told me one day something I won’t ever forget, and to this day… I install wallpaper professionally.
And yes, I did graduate with a bachelor degree.
Still growing my initial dream from college days… and have greater belief I it now, then back then.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I initially had another person I brought under me to train and grow the business with. This individual ended up taking what I started. That was a hard lesson. I didn’t stop my drive, but my momentum definitely slowed. I had to re-set. I reached out to many mentors. Had new clients along the re-growth that instilled a new spirit. Gradually, renamed and established my LLC.
Humility, vulnerability, integrity, and compassion.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am known for being a traveling wallpaper installer. What sets me apart from others in the trade is probably my eye for detail.
My job is to hang paper better than the one who hired me. The joy to my job is the clients not feeling tasked with their choice of picking me, or having a regret. I take a lot of pride in leaving a job with the client feeling they indeed made a great decision to invest in the paper, as well as their installer.
Communication would be next. I try to be as efficient and personable through text as I can be. It’s a challenge, but it’s the most efficient means for many of us. Allowing for other’s ideas to come true and their schedules to be first. I try to be flexible. Often, there’s many variables leading up to an install. Being able to stay in communications, be trustworthy/dependable, and then efficient, is the “job.”
I show up. Follow up. And I warranty my installs; my work. While it’s a luxury service, it’s also “just paper” and I really just want other’s spaces to come to fruition. With the interior design background, it’s nice to collaborate here and there and see all the layers come together too.
I’m most proud that my business is based on referrals. I don’t have business cards out and about. It’s word of mouth from my previous jobs and the best clients!! I’m beyond grateful from this aspect. It’s ultimately relationship building and networking.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The people!!!
Why… well, because they tell the story to my time. Every paper; could be the same or different. But every space is certainly different by design of the individual who has the vision and heartbeat within it.
Countless jobs/humans have stolen my heart for the time being within their walls. It’s wild how similar one’s experience or story has paralleled with mine – at a poignant time.
Quite beautiful. Both young and old. Male or female. Commercial or residential. I’ve worked with some of the best contracting crews too!!
Rejuvenating.
Very few finished projects… do I swipe through on my photo reels and not smile at the person and/or our conversations of my time with them.
Now… It’s my luxury; and investment.
Pricing:
- Average powder bath $1200
- Accent walls generally $400-1200
- Ceilings cost more than walls!
- Scaffolding cost more than ladders!
- It’s by square footage, not my time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleyjoco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16Tgk9GWkw/
- Other: https://dot.cards/haleyjoco
Image Credits
None
