Check Out Kevin Jackson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Jackson.

Hi Kevin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2016, I was offered a position within the company I was working for as their resident installer. We sold furniture, home goods, window treatments, shelving, mirrors, and other things along that same line of interior decor, and naturally, these things needed to be installed by someone. I jumped on the opportunity to do something more creative than what I had been doing. This was a chance to get out of the store, see more of the city, and meet some new people so it sounded like a good deal to me. I did not know that day in 2016 how this was going to shape my life or in what way, but that was the beginning of what would later become LevelUP Installations.

About a year and a half into the job, I had learned it very well but was struggling with balancing my schedule between the stock room, installs, and ever-revolving rows of inventory. Systematically speaking something had to change for this business to be successful and I knew that it could not be done with our center of command in a far-off city. I knew that if someone from a local level, someone who knew Nashville, and most importantly someone who was not tied to a single retailer, this could be an opportunity for a small business to thrive.

Fast forward to 2018, I had been rebuilding this model in my head for a while but I needed a sounding board. So I did what any smart married guy would do and opened up a conversation with my wife about possibly going into business for myself. My wife has been working in commercial interior design for years so I knew she would have strong opinions based on real-world experience, but even better she would have invaluable advice that would give me the confidence I needed to take this leap. Needless to say, the conversation went well and my wife and I developed a plan for me slowly leaving my job at the store over the next 6 months.

When the time was right I put in my notice at work that I would be starting my own installations business and to my surprise they were mildly supportive. The very next day the world went into covid lockdown and the store shut its doors effectively making that my last day of work there. On my way out I handed them a stack of business cards and told them that when they re-open I would be there to serve their customers. To this day, we have a great professional relationship. That is the story of how LevelUP Installations was conceived and born.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I will say that I have been very fortunate that the road to self-employment was longer than it was a bumpy one.

The biggest hurdle that I have had to overcome so far was starting a business the same day that covid lockdowns went into effect while simultaneously becoming a father for the first time. The first 3 years were very much a learning experience for me and definitely the most exhausting but looking back I can honestly say it was and still is worth it!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
If I had to sum up what I do in a single sentence I would simply say, “I hang things on walls”. To be specific, and to the point of what most people know me for, it is installing window treatments, curtain rods, blinds, and shades. This is really where it all started for me in the beginning but since then this has all blossomed into just about anything interior decor that needs to be installed or assembled.

I’ve always enjoyed walking into a space and vibing with it but I’m not a designer. I’m very much in awe of how designers can see an entire vision in their mind’s eye and somehow manifest that into tangible spaces that we can immerse ourselves in.

It’s kind of in the same vein as music being a universal language because a well-composed space should invoke some kind of a feeling. What I am most proud of is having the opportunity to be a part of that experience and work with designers to bring these visions into the real world.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Wow, there are a million! If I had to choose a single childhood memory to highlight it would be that both of my parents always showed up for me.

No matter what it was, where it was, or how difficult it may have been at times, they always were pillars of strength and support.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/levelupinstallations

Image Credits
Kevin Jackson