Jillian Lidderdale is a native Daltontian and loves her hometown. She’s so friendly and is owner of one of the best businesses, Garmony House, in downtown Dalton. Her staff, as well as Jillian, know your order and your name. That’s excellent customer service and exceeding expectations for your customers.
Learn all about Jillian in our chat and she tells me some fun facts about her, and she was involved with WWE at one time. Keep reading to find out more about that.
Introducing Jillian…
What do you love about your life right now?
As a 32 year old, I have achieved a huge dream that I’ve been chasing since I was 20 years old. It has presented me with so many opportunities and new relationships that have shifted my entire dynamic in life for the better.
I’ve got to tell you how much I love Garmony House. I’ve been going to your business for two years now every Saturday and enjoying that perfect mocha latte you make for me. Was there a business or a person who inspired you to start your own business?
There wasn’t necessarily a business or person who inspired me other than myself. I’m very proud of my work ethic and know what I am capable of, so I always knew I would be best at being my own boss and having complete control. I work very hard to have the best customer service, which always led me to a business that could reflect that skill. I’ve had many people close to me doubt whether or not I was strong enough to be a business owner, but I’ve always exuded great confidence within myself that has allowed me to never doubt what I believe I am capable of.
Can you tell me about the challenges of owning your business?
Some of the greatest challenges of owning my own business have been the lack of control I have with certain variables. For example, hiring and keeping reliable help has been a struggle. On top of that, dealing with distributors and estimated delivery times has made me want to pull my hair out on most occasions.
I imagine, amongst the challenges, there are joys as well. Share with me about the joys too.
The biggest joy I have experienced with this coffee shop has been watching the experience of each customer come to life. Coffee has many aspects to it, the biggest one being the experience it creates for someone. Someone could taste a bad cup of coffee, but if they had wonderful conversation and a cozy ambiance, they may have only kind things to say. Vice versa, if someone had the best cup of coffee ever, but were treated horribly, then it’s most likely they will hate the experience and have a bad taste in their mouth with each sip they take. Making the experience memorable is a beautiful thing that should never be overlooked or undermined.
I’ve seen at Garmony House a drink selection called “Coffee Flight ‘‘. Where did you get the idea to do that? I know it comprises 4 cups of hot or cold brew coffee with a theme like Girl Scouts cookies being one choice. It seems like it would be a tasty way to try coffee with different flavors.
We constantly have people asking for recommendations or for us to choose their drink for them, because they have no idea what they like or want. As a result, I thought it was a fun way for people like that to have the chance to try different options without having to commit to a full version of one specific drink.
Besides coffee, you serve cocktails too. What kind of cocktails like martinis? Please tell me you can make a lemon drop.
We have classic cocktail options, as well as dessert cocktails.
Classic: Dessert:
Cosmopolitan Espresso Martini *best seller*
Gin & Tonic White Chocolate Raspberry Spiked Hot Chocolate
Manhattan Irish Coffee
Margarita Matcha Martini
Mojito Spiked Cider
Moscow Mule Affogato
Old Fashioned Mountain Mama * java moonshine base*
Ranch Water Revolver *bourbon based*
Tom Collins White Russian
With that being said, I’m sure we could make a lemon drop for you!
I’ll have to drop in for one of the lemon martinis for sure. You also have pastries, which include the gluten-free blueberry muffin that is a favorite of mine. You bake all the pastries in house. Do you have a favorite to bake? What’s the most popular with your customers?
There are a few items we outsource, but for the most part we are completely in house. With that being said, our most popular as of late has been the white chocolate raspberry scone paired with a raspberry jam (my personal favorite) or our s’mores peanut butter cookie bars.
If you could have a gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what message would you want to convey to millions? What would it say and why?
At the end of the day, all you have is you. So choose you. Everything else will fall into place after that.
Basically, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish something no matter how big or small it is. Don’t let anyone stand in your way or hold you back if they are not there to encourage you. Don’t put your dreams or beliefs aside in order to please someone else. Make sure you feel happiness, and if you don’t, do everything you can to take your happiness back.
In the last two years, what new belief, behavior or habit has most improved your life?
I have developed a mindset that allows me to step back and assess a situation before automatically making an assumption or judgement. I’m quick to be hot headed in the moment if I feel wronged, but I’ve learned to put myself in someone else’s shoes and try to have the understanding of what they could be going through and give them some grace.
Alright, I want the readers to get to know you a little more. Tell me three fun facts about you. Now, you can share something crazy if you dare or whatever you think would be cool to share.
1.) I wrestled and trained with WWE Hall of Fame Teddy Long under WWE pro wrestler Heath Slater’s wrestling program – with full intent to go professional.
2.) I used to own a chiropractic office in Bluffton, South Carolina, known as Rooted Living Wellness.
3.) My favorite place in the world is on the Isle of Mull in Scotland is one of our family homes known as Garmony House.
Describe yourself in one word.
Strong-minded
I love ending the chat with a quote. Do you have a favorite quote or saying that has inspired and motivated you in your life that you can share with my readers?
“I must create a system, or be enslaved by another man’s. I will not reason and compare; my business is to create.” – William Blake
I understand this as I must always choose myself and create a life/path that doesn’t fall within what others expect or have built for me, but a life/ path that completely fulfills my soul. I can confidently say I have done this time and time again and it has always provided me with an outcome that provides the utmost happiness.
Thank you for reading my very first chat on my redesigned website. I love talking with creatives like Jillian who is inspiring and motivating to me as a woman.
If you’re in downtown Dalton for a visit or live here, go to Garmony House and enjoy a cocktail or mocha latte. You’ll be going back for more.
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