Kildeer woman turns hobby into growing business

Jill Davis' landscape business stems from a hobby and a passion. Over the past decade, she has slowly grown Jill Davis Design from her Kildeer home.

"I think I had it in my blood," Davis said of her landscaping skills.

Her parents were invested gardeners who instilled the basic tricks of the trade. When she became a stay-at-home mom, it was only natural for Davis to lose herself in the acre of land framing her home in Kildeer.

Davis filled her days with trips to garden centers amassing a decadent collection of plants and shrubs. Before long her eyes became bigger than her garden and she ran out of room to plant, so she expanded her hobby into creating complementary gardens for friends.

When one of those friends suggested she channel her pastime into a business, a light bulb switched on and she was all in.

Prior to marriage and children, Davis was an industrial sales representative for Fortune 500 companies. She sold imaging technologies in the Midwest before expanding sales to Mexico, the Caribbean, West Indies, and Central and South America. She sold polymers, resins and coatings in the ink manufacturing marketplace.

She brought this experience to her business. "I love all aspects of developing a business," Davis said. "Growing it, making it better, considering new markets."

The role of businesswoman came natural. She mapped out a personal business plan.

"I had a meeting with myself and decided how I wanted my business to look and made a set of rules," Davis said. "I told myself, 'these are my policies and I'm going to follow them.'" She added, "this way I had a box to stay in."

Working on her own has given Davis the freedom to create a unique strategy. She has cultivated her business much like she plants a garden.

In the beginning she made mistakes by using insufficient plants with too many variables. Now she designs with plants that will structurally work all year round.

She refers to herself as a coach taking time to understand each customer's personal style - likes and dislikes, desired color palette, maintenance plan.

"I never jam a design down someone's throat," Davis said. "I coach the design out of my customers." She then approves all designs with customers.

Davis designs for all seasons, but takes time off between January and March. During that time she travels to places like California and Arizona to study trends. She turns to artists like Daniel Burnham for design inspiration, and utilizes Twitter and YouTube to network with gardeners and landscapers all over the world.

"I try hard to be inspired by the best designers, but you always have to add your own style," Davis said.

The majority of her business comes through referrals, she says, adding that she has established a social media presence with her Facebook and Houzz pages.

Last year Davis began giving lectures at the Garden Center in Hawthorn Woods and the Garden Club in Long Grove. She speaks about curb appeal, planting bulbs and an array of other topics.

She has served customers in Kildeer, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Hawthorn Woods and Arlington Heights.

During the summer - when business is at its peak - Davis has 3 or 4 employees assisting with the labor, tilling, mulching and installation of a watering system. She also has expert growers on board, as well as an arborist and horticulturist.

This year she has hired a professional landscaper who she says has the potential to take Jill Davis Design to new heights. She believes her custom work sets her apart.

"Every single plant and shrub I put into the design is approved (by the customer)," Davis said. "I like to design with contrast rather than bloom."