Business Spotlight: The Re-Covery Room

Valerie Shires graduated from Gwinnett Tech with a degree in interior design. In 2001 Shires went into business with a friend when they opened Interior Impressions inside the Five Forks Antique Mall. In 2008 Valerie took over complete control of the upholstery shop and renamed it The Re-Covery Room and has been running it ever since. I recently sat down with Shires to talk about her business.

Patch: What is the best aspect of owning The Re-Covery Room?

Valerie: I like this kind of business because everything is a challenge. I get to see projects from start to finish and I get a lot of satisfaction out of it because it's my own work. I absolutely enjoy being my own boss.

Patch: What is the most challenging aspect of owning an upholstery shop?

Valerie: Having to do everything by myself. I'm the secretary, I'm the accountant, I'm the customer service rep, I'm the laborer. It's completely hands on from answering telephones to filling out the paper work. But it's definitely worth it.

Patch: What makes The Re-Covery Room unique?

Valerie: For one thing, I'm a female. The upholstery business is very male driven. But I love crafts, I'm very creative and I'm extremely maticulous which is why my customers keep coming back. I deal a lot with antiques but I can do modern as well. I'm also not here to just make money, I'm here to make the furniture look right and I take the time to do that.

Patch: What makes the Lilburn community special?

Valerie: Everybody here is wonderful. Everyone in Lilburn is so nice. I don't actually live in the area but I would love to relocate here because everybody is so nice.

Located at 4100 Five Forks-Trickum Rd inside the Five Forks Antique Mall, The Re-Covery Room is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For more information visit their website at http://www.therecoveryroomupholsteryshop.com/