Southernite Interiors Celebrates Five Years of BeautyFounded by Ella Murdock and located in historic downtown Canton, Southernite Interiors opened its doors on September 1, 2017, as a home furnishings and decor store. Fast forward five years, and the now 40-year-old entrepreneur’s vision to bring a curated collection of beautiful, quality furnishings to the community through the storefront and in-home interior design services has come to fruition and is still growing. “Being able to do what I love while surrounded by an amazing team, community, and clients has excited me the most during these past five years,” said Ella.Ella and her husband, Jason Murdock, met in 2019. Coincidentally, during that time, she was looking for an operations lead for the store. “Jason stepped in at a time when the business had a lot of moving parts that required oversight. We needed someone with a management background,” said Ella. “I’m very idea-oriented, and he’s very process/completion-minded. I don’t know what Southernite Interiors would look like today if he had not joined the team.”Besides working well together, the secret to their success is keeping the lines of communication open. Despite the popular belief that couples should keep business life detached from home life, Ella disagrees. “I can’t imagine this marriage working by keeping the business separate,” she said. “You must have balance and boundaries, but Southernite Interiors is so integral to who we are and what we do that it is part of our home life, too.” Growth and Progress Initially, Southernite Interiors started with two team members and fewer than 25 vendor accounts for their product selection. Gradually, they expanded both their physical and service footprints. Since 2017, Southernite Interiors has added: An expanded sales floor A full-service interior design studio with services ranging from furniture selection to remodel and ground up new construction design Custom drapery and window coverings A nursery and kids retail section More than 150 vendors to supply products, which ensures a unique showroom selection where customers can find the piece they’re looking for New service options such as a dedicated in-store design specialist, custom upholstery lines with a large fabric selection, custom furniture options, bedding lines, wallpaper, and custom cabinets, beams, mantels, barn doors, and more are showcased on the showroom floor. Today, Southernite Interiors is comprised of 10 full-time core team members and a network of collaborators. “I believe in community and networking. If there is a missed opportunity for us to meet a need, I seek the solution and build a relationship with someone who can bridge the gap,” said Ella. Outside of their core team, Southernite partners with many local providers including custom woodworkers, contractors, builders, artists, white glove delivery service, a custom framer, design specialists, and a custom drapery specialist. “We really aim to be full service in order to take the stress off our customers and clients, so they don’t have to do the work themselves or worry where to find a reliable resource,” said Ella. “Our Southernite family is like a marriage — strong and durable,” added Jason. “In many traditions, wood represents five years of union, which seems fitting since we provide furniture services.”Dedicated to offering outstanding service and maintaining meaningful relationships with clients, Ella worked with a leading industry expert during this past year to overcome some of the service and communication challenges growth can create. “As a team, we’re always learning, investing in continued education, attending trade shows, and looking for ways to offer a curated product selection, execute quality and meaningful design, and make the customer experience a high priority,” Ella said. The Warehouse In addition to all the other progress, Southernite Interiors' biggest advance was obtaining a receiving warehouse in Ball Ground in August 2020. Before acquiring the warehouse, most shipments were received at the store, creating stress and space concerns. The warehouse, which includes office suites, has freed up additional retail space at the store, allowing more merchandise to be showcased. Operated by Jason, the warehouse receives deliveries daily, and he and his team also assemble furniture there. All merchandise (furniture, lights, accessories, etc.) is inspected, organized, and added to Southernite’s inventory or assigned to a client project awaiting install. “Without the help of my team, I could not run our warehouse,” said Jason. “They are incredible, and I’m grateful for their support.” Faith, Family, and the Community During the pandemic, Ella and Jason are grateful that they only had to close Southernite’s doors for one month, and business continued to hold strong.“We have a very loyal following,” said Ella. “Our customers support local and take care of us. I am so thankful for each person who has entered our doors or invited us into their home. They are the heart of our business.”Like other small businesses, the challenges of uncontrollable factors such as shipping delays and inflation through the increased cost of goods, materials, and freight charges have tried slowing down Southernite. But with proper systems in place and established shared team goals, these obstacles have been easier to weather. In addition to their loyal customers, the Murdocks credit their faith in Jesus, their strong family, and hard work for helping them remain resilient. Ella and Jason were overjoyed to welcome their first child on Halloween in 2020. “My family inspires me every day,” said Jason. “Ella and I are opposites in many ways, but that’s what binds us together. Not every husband has the opportunity to not only work alongside his wife but to also love every minute of it.”The Murdocks are also grateful that they have been able to connect with and give back to the community through Southernite Interiors by providing sponsorships and charitable contributions as well as holding Christmas toy drives. What’s Next? Ella and Jason hope to expand Southernite Interiors by launching their e-commerce store and developing a stronger social media presence. “I’d love to see us grow into a brand that is synonymous with positively impacting lives by providing heartfelt beauty and inspiration,” said Ella. The Murdocks are not only proud of Southernite Interiors, but also everyone who has assisted along the way. “Our customers and clients come first, and it has been nice to step back and acknowledge all that has been accomplished,” said Jason.Visit Southernite Interiors on Saturday, September 10, to help celebrate its fifth anniversary! Be sure to visit the newly updated website or call for more information. Southernite Interiors 196 North Street, Canton, GA 30114678-880-6357SoutherniteInteriors.comInstagram @southerniteinteriors
to your business!