Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Jackson.
Hi Lisa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am the Owner/CEO and face behind Distinctive Designs by Lisa B, LLC. Event planning and decorating has always been a part of my life! I was exposed to the field at an early age. I owe this exposure ALL to my mother! As a child, she had a gift and an eye for decorating, party planning and cooking. She was involved in many events and was always cooking for everyone.
In reality, it was an activity of daily living in our household. I had no choice but to get on board and get involved by assisting her in any way I could, I learned the trade and gained a profound love and passion for designing, decorating and cooking. I am a nurse by profession. Once in the workforce, I began to take charge any way I could, being a part of whatever planning was taking place on the job. If there was a planning committee, I was on it. Whenever there was a staff member’s birthday, retirement, baby shower, etc. If there was a celebration to be planned count me in. I became more and more fascinated of wanting to learn and do more after each event. At that time in my life, I could not have imagined going on to the next level until one of my staff members approached me with nothing but praises for my work and said to me “You are going to do my personal baby shower”. I immediately jumped into denial mode in attempts to turn her down, and she would not take no for an answer. She told me I had a gift from God and I needed to use it.
So, my very first official paid event was February 2016 “A Little Slugger Baseball Theme!” The event & decorations was a hit and a home run, everything turned out absolutely beautiful, and my very first client was completely satisfied. This was the start of a new beginning. The calls for events began to roll in. The next thing I knew, I was the go to person for my family and close friend’s events. Then unfortunately to my dismay, I had a setback due to my mother my idle, my queen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Everything I was doing in the industry was to make her proud of me. The week she passed away the day before she slipped into a comatose state she made me promise her I would continue striving for excellence and continue to make her proud! She said I was gifted and I needed to take the business to the level she could not due to failing health. I promised her! My mother passed away three days later. I have been determined to keep her dream and legacy alive by not giving up and to continue climbing the ladder to bigger and better things. I began to advertise like crazy, then the referrals began to come in, which was phenomenal. As the business began to grow, so did the inventory and lack of workspace working from out of my home. Distinctive Designs had taken over our home to the point of no return. My husband Bristol told me enough was enough and I needed to find a location to house my inventory and get back to making our house a home.
Within a week of this conversation, I received a phone call from my rental vendor stating he was going out of business and he and his wife had decided to bless me with the business if I wanted it, all I had to do was take over the lease!!! Look at GOD!! Within a month, I was moved out of our home and an official Small Business location Owner, in a prime location in Gardena, CA where we are still in operation today. I am eternally grateful. As the business continued to grow, I knew I had to step up my game to keep up with the growing industry. I began taking classes, watching tutorials, doing hands on designs and balloons. I had a desire to want to do more and more. I did not turn any events down. My weekend events grew to having 2-3 events in one day. Distinctive Designs has grown tremendously to the point of doing events out of state. We have traveled to do events in Birmingham, Alabama and New York, and as of July 2020 in the middle of a global pandemic we have expanded the business to Dallas, Texas as well as continuing our business in Gardena, California.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes, there have been many obstacles and challenges during this journey. There has been many ups and downs, but I consider myself to be recession-proof of one who is moving forward to continue to develop my dream. The most current obstacle has been The Global Coronavirus Pandemic. The year 2020 was an event planner’s nightmare and has been the most trying year ever for Small Business Owners. My plan was to seriously hit the ground running with my business being at an all time high. There were bookings scheduled practically every weekend. Once the pandemic was out of control and everything began to shut down, all of my events came to a screeching halt. Due to restrictions imposed by the government made it difficult to get things done so my events were either canceled or postponed until the following year. I was determined to not give up. I had worked so hard tireless hours getting my business to where it is today. Yes, it was not easy, this was considered to be my full-time job. This put a major financial burden and impact on the business due to having a business location. I had to really think outside of the box to find ways to do whatever I could to keep my business doors open with practically no pertinent lines of business coming in.
Due to pandemic restrictions in regards to restaurants only having take-out orders and no dine-in seating, I decided to join the club and focused on my gift of cooking by selling dinners, and advertising catering orders, which was very successful. Then I became even more creative by offering my clients drive-by celebration set-ups for any occasion and elegant dinner set-ups. I have always been a strong person, and by any means necessary was going to stay positive believing everything would be alright and I would not be forced to close our door. The challenges I have encountered have been dealing with clients who love and desire to use me as their preferred vender but are hesitant or resistant to pay me for what I am worth. Then there are those clients who hesitate to just simply answer the famous question “WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET?” This has been a struggle which at times, I have gone in the red with trying to please my clients or adding additional non-paid for items or ideas to make their event fabulous to even over the top. I learn something from every event I do. People love your work until they have to pay for it! I was able to overcome every adversity faced through three simple words: Prayer, Preparation, and Patience. God selected me for this role because I possess certain knowledge, skills, and character traits that will enable me to lead others on a journey of continuous improvement and success.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Distinctive Designs by Lisa B. LLC is a family-owned all occasion event planning business that specializes in all events and catering to include the following: Weddings, Birthdays, Retirements, Funeral Repass Homegoings, Baby Showers, Children’s Parties, Anniversaries, Corporate Events, Reunions, Proms, Quinceneras, and Catering. I am known for bringing your vision to life and making your dream a reality. I am 100% committed to planning, designing, decorating, coordinating, and executing your event assuring your event will be one to remember. I am confident and proud of all of my accomplishments thus far. My clients are AWESOME. I have some clients I have done a minimum of 3-4 major events for their family in one year, which I am eternally grateful for. Not to mention the many referrals I have received. I could not have done this alone. I have an awesome family support from my husband Bristol, family and close friends. I have also built strong, long-lasting relationships with my vendors who are like family to me, we are FAMILY! What sets my business apart from others is I am unique! I make a lot of my designs myself that are displayed with my setups. The name Distinctive Designs was thought of from my mother in law, Norma Jackson. She said the name was perfect because of the thought, time and energy I put into my designs made them Distinctive and that name would be befitting for the business name and I was a designer extraordinaire. Our brand stands out among others due to the color purple. You will know when Distinctive Designs in on the premises when you see the big purple van, which stands out above the rest. Our Motto is when you hire Distinctive Designs you will definitely experience a new taste to event planning, we do not do tacky, and there is no need to stress because you have hired the BEST!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I have been a Nurse since 1986. I was laid off in February 2019 working as a Clinical Nursing Administrator. I was laid off due to the company I was working for went out of business. The day I was laid off, I received calls for three major events. I was convinced at that time God had another plan for me. There was no turning back, this was when Distinctive Designs exploded. I will always be a nurse by profession. I love helping and taking care of people, but Event Planning is my passion!! Early in my entrepreneurial career, I made the decision to uphold high standards of performance, dedication, and loyalty to the people I serve. I also welcomed new challenges which allowed me to be proactive and use my resources wisely. I was not afraid to fail. Along the way, I’ve learned some quite interesting lessons, but 2020 taught me the most valuable. It taught me to continuously seek God’s direction and seek opportunities despite whatever circumstances I am in. By stepping out on FAITH and having resilience and determination by keeping my business dreams alive as of July 2020 Distinctive Designs has expanded the business to Dallas, Texas. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to have a business in 2 states. Los Angeles, California and Dallas, Texas!!! God is so awesome and is continuously blessing me. My next stop will be to have a Groundbreaking Ceremony for The Distinctive Designs by Lisa B. LLC Event Center in Dallas, Texas!!!! Be on the look out for more to come because God is NOT through with me yet!!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Distinctive Designs By Lisa B
- Facebook:@distinctivedesignsbylisab
