A New Byrd in the Nest

There’s a new Byrd in our nest over at James Farmer Incorporated! Stacey Leigh Byrd has flown back home to Perrydise after an internship in the Big Apple. What is the next step after working in New York for almost a year? Why working at James Farmer Inc of course!

One of the many things I love about living and working in a small town is how information is garnered. One day, I was chatting with Mrs. Penny at the bank, asking her how her daughter, Stacey, was enjoying New York. Mrs. Penny informed me that Stacey’s internship was coming to a close and she would probably be returning home soon. I started thinking (a dangerous pastime) and scheming more so. Well, lo and behold, if I did not run into Stacey one day later in downtown Perrydise – right smack on Carroll Street and in front of JFI’s international HQ!

I said “Stacey, what are you doing home?” fully aware that Mrs. Penny had informed me of Stacey’s impending return. Stacey innocently replied that her internship had come to an end and she wanted to be back down South. She said she was “currently looking for a job…” Well, an interview and quick hiring later, Stacey joined the JFI team!

As members of Team JFI, we all wear many hats. Sami is my personal assistant and handles all my speaking and book signing engagements and helps on design installs. Laura Lyn is my office manager and my boss really, and helps on design installs. Jason gets the window treatments and paintings hung as well as finds the best grapevine for wrapping the storefront in the material when needed and of course helps on design installs. Stacey in now on staff a la JFI as my in house marketing guru and PR gal, as well as store manager, and helps with design installs. As you see, it is all hands on deck for install days!

I wanted to formally welcome this Byrd into the nest on the blog! She flocked in this summer and has proven herself quite capable of all the tasks at hand. Thank you Stacey for joining the team – we are all glad you’re on board! As my marketing and PR maven, she would want y’all to follow me and the shop on Instagram @jamestfarmer as well as James Farmer on Facebook and @allthingsfarmer on Twitter.  Tweet tweet tweet… literally for this Byrd!

Merry Christmas from JFI!!!

Rejoice! Rejoice! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Perry! Carroll Street is festooned with greenery and lit up ever so lovingly – home for the holidays is truly a delight. We hope to see y’all downtown this Christmas season!

From all of us at James Farmer Inc, we wish the season’s blessings upon your homes – your homes and thus their stories that you have so graciously allowed us to be a part. 

Merry Christmas, y’all!

 (Jason, Sami, Stacey, James, Laura Lyn)

Hometown boy turned national designer, author opens store in Perry

For original article as seen in the Telegraph click here.

By JENNA MINK — jmink@macon.com

PERRY --

James Farmer could have opened up shop almost anywhere. But he chose to stay close to home in the small town of Perry.

It’s where people know him, not as an acclaimed designer or editor-at-large of Southern Living or a frequent guest on national television shows, but as just James. That is one reason he decided to open his first design and antique store, James Farmer Inc., on Carroll Street.

 

The store, which recently opened for business and will have a grand opening in September, sits in a brick building with large windows and red doors. It’s another step in Farmer’s career and another hat for Farmer himself, who along with shop owner is also a garden and interior designer, an author, a speaker and an editor.

Now he hopes his downtown shop will become a staple in Perry.

“I’ve got big dreams for downtown Perry,” he said.

Inside, a diverse collection of furniture and decorations sits throughout the shop. There are sofas, tables and chairs. There are vases, decorative plates and mirrors. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling near an ornamental whisky jug and a frozen custard sign.

Summertime generally is the slow season for interior design, but Farmer said he has been pleasantly surprised by the steady stream of customer traffic. Lamps and pillows seem to be the most popular so far -- Farmer already feels that he needs more of those items, he said.

“It adds a lot of interior decorating to the area,” said Kaylee McCullough, shop and office assistant. “People come in, and they’re ... just blown away.”

When looking to open his first retail store, Farmer knew he wanted to give back to a community that has given so much to him. Growing up in Perry and Hawkinsville, he always knew what he wanted to do with his life.

“I wanted to make things pretty,” he said.

He was inspired by an architect from Moultrie, who became successful while living in a small town. Farmer believed he could have the same success in the same way. And he did.

After graduating from Auburn University, Farmer established his design career and gained national recognition. At age 31, he has published five design books and is working on publishing his sixth. He has made appearances on national television shows, including “Today,” and he has landed some big design jobs, including the old Governor’s Mansion in Kentucky, parties in New York City and show houses in Atlanta and South Carolina.

But, he always comes back to Perry, which is no longer just his hometown but his retail business headquarters.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” he said, “and this is a good way to repay the village.”
Farmer looked at several spots for his shop, but he was drawn to the corner building on Carroll Street mainly because of its history. Most recently, the building housed a beauty parlor, but it’s also the former location of the Houston Home Journal, which is appropriate because Farmer is a writer, and he sells his books at the store, he said.

It’s not only a boost for Farmer’s career, but he also hopes it benefits downtown Perry. Not only will it hopefully make Perry a destination for a slew of design customers, but it’s also important for young entrepreneurs, such as Farmer, to invest in the area, he said.

“What’s so important for a community is the multi-generational effect,” he said.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/07/07/2548071/hometown-boy-turned-national-designer.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2013/07/07/2548071/hometown-boy-turned-national-designer.html#storylink=cpy