Business Spotlight: Alan Harp Design

Alan Harp started designing products for people with physical disabilities after graduating from Georgia Tech with an industrial design degree. After 12 years Harp then transitioned into teaching furniture design at Tech. In 2009 Harp was downsized and decided to start his own business building custom furniture for clients. I recently sat down with Alan to talk about his business.

Patch: What is the best aspect of owning Alan Harp Design?

Alan: Being able to set my hours, play with my kids, take vacation when I need or want to and being my own boss. To me those are the greatest things and of course the commute is great. It takes me all of 15 seconds to get to work. I also get to do what I want to do and the people I work with change all of the time.

Patch: What is the most challenging aspect of owning your own business?

Alan: Finding work. Finding the next client to work with.

Patch: What makes your business unique?

Alan: My background is unusual in that I have degrees in industrial design. I know how to do the creative side and I know how to do the finished product. Most people you meet can do one or the other. They are either a craftsman or carpenter or they are a designer but they're not both. I can take it all the way from meeting a client to delivering the final product.

Patch: What makes the Lilburn community special?

Alan: Lilburn is a relatively tight knit community. A lot of people have lived here for quite a number of years. We've been here for 17 years.  The schools are a very important part of the community and the people we know have really rallied around the community.

Alan Harp Design is open by appointment only. For more information check out http://www.alanharpdesign.com/