Meet Jaylee ~ JDesign Group

July 24, 2023

Based in Inverloch, Victoria, J Design is a female owned building design and construction company founded by Jaylee Fitzpatrick.

Tell us about your business and how it started?

We are a design and construction company based in Inverloch which is by the beach in Gippsland, Victoria. I started out working for myself in building design after I had my daughter back in 2008. It really snowballed from there, and I gradually got bigger as my daughter grew up and I could work more.

I then did a building course with a girlfriend who also worked in the industry, and together we both got registered and created a company building unit developments for clients. This was a great learning curve and it was aimed towards the mum and dad investors which worked great.

We got to a point where we had to go full time in the business or call it a day, and as we both had relocated hours from each other we called it a day, and now we do our own land developments together instead.

I relocated my design business to Inverloch and we have a great team designing new homes, extension and townhouse developments, and along with my plumber husband we build a small number of mid-high end homes each year.

What challenges or hurdles have your faced in business?

Cost escalation. Being a builder in this industry at the moment is unprecedented and slightly out of control. The general business model of building homes really doesn't work anymore, so it will be interesting what new policies come out of this.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of owning your own business?

Flexibility. As much as you never really "switch off", the fact that I can take time off work whenever its needed is unbeatable. I was able to go to all my daughter's sports days, mothers days etc and you really get the best of both worlds. Sure, I had to work that night instead to make up for it, but I had the flexibility to choose that.

What is your next big challenge/project?

We are actually heading to Broome, WA to renovate a property and take some time away from the daily grind.

What do you love about your product/service?

It is really satisfying to go from the initial concept design, to completing the entire build. Delivering the end building product to a client after what is potentially the biggest amount of money they will ever spend is so exciting. I'm so proud of what we can achieve and it really shows the value of having a great team around you.

What is the best piece of business advice you were given?

You have to crawl before you can walk. We were told this in our mid- twenties by an older lady in finance when we planned to take on the world! We were young, and it went in one ear and out the other, but as you get more experienced you realise how true her words actually were (Thanks Gayle!).

What do you love most about where you live?

Inverloch still has that small town feel which is great! It's a great community where you know your neighbours, and people are more than happy to help each other out. Local business' are constantly banding together and it's just a great environment to be in.

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JDesign Group is a female owned building design and construction company in Inverloch, Victoria. With big-city and small-town experience, JDesign has earned the respect of industry peers, clients and tradespeople making them your go-to firm on the Bass Coast.

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