New Showroom/Workroom Engages Clients in the Process From Beginning to End
Elizabeth Gerdes, CEO and creative director of Stitch Above the Rest, is offering her clients a unique experience when purchasing custom window treatments for their homes. In her new Woodstock workroom/showroom, clients can watch the fabrication process and see their design choices come to life.
This is a new level of personal service provided by Elizabeth, who opened her business in 2003.
“We invite our clients to go through the design process in our new showroom, and if they’d like to see how things are made, they can explore the workroom side as well,” Elizabeth said. “We take pride in the quality and craftsmanship we have become known for, and we want to share this attention to detail with our clients. As far as I know, no other custom window treatment company in the area is offering this level of service.”
Celebrating Two Decades
As one of 12 children growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Elizabeth learned to sew from her mother, who taught her the skills needed for hand stitching. Elizabeth moved to Georgia in 1993 and met her future husband, Glenn Gerdes, at work. By 2003, she found herself with three children under the age of 2 and needed a way to supplement the household income as a stay-at-home mom. Using the sewing talents she had honed since childhood, Elizabeth opened Stitch Above the Rest and started fabricating designer nursery items for friends. Word spread quickly and requests for custom draperies started to come in. By 2011, Elizabeth and Glenn had moved to Woodstock, where they were able to dedicate their entire basement to her growing business.
Elizabeth credits the success of her 20-year-old award-winning business to the concierge-level service that defines Stitch Above the Rest. From start to finish, Elizabeth and her team meet with clients in the comfort of their own homes (or the new showroom, if preferred). The team will review design options, fabric and hardware selections, and take official measurements. Fabrication happens here in Woodstock, and the team returns to install the final product.
The showroom is filled with luxurious fabrics, trims, drapery hardware and more. It is a space that allows clients to meet with a window treatment specialist to create one-of-a-kind, out-of-the-box designer window treatments. The workroom space in the back is where clients can explore the new, modern drapery facilities and see custom window treatments at various stages of production.
Aiming to exceed expectations, Elizabeth said her mission is to bring extraordinary to the ordinary in every service provided by Stitch Above the Rest. In addition to custom drapery projects, clients can select custom cushions, shades, blinds, shutters, top treatments and more.
No challenge is too great for Elizabeth and her team. They often are tasked with tackling oversized and unique projects that other workrooms shy away from. “Bring it to us. Challenge us. Let us show you that nothing is impossible,” Elizabeth said. “We are in the business of making your vision a reality. Just ask.”
Dreams Do Come True!
Being able to call Woodstock home for more than a decade has been rewarding for Elizabeth and Stitch Above the Rest. She has grown her business beyond her wildest expectations to include the opening of a new location and recently has seen a childhood dream come true.
Since high school, Elizabeth has had a fondness for classic Thunderbirds. A 1957 Dusk Rose has always been her unicorn. This year, she purchased her dream car through an online auction, sight unseen.
“Knowing I was the highest bidder was surreal,” Elizabeth said. “Getting her delivered to my driveway was unbelievable. It was literally a dream come true, and I could not stop smiling from ear to ear.”
After some much-needed work from Georgia Classic Fords, the classic Thunderbird is running like new again and is out and about, helping to market Stitch Above the Rest. Elizabeth named the car Rose and created an Instagram page to chronicle Rose’s escapades
(@PinkBird1957).
Elizabeth encourages selfies with Rose and is excited to put her personal signature on these marketing efforts. “Being able to incorporate Rose into the branding of my business helps keep me in the forefront of my clients’ minds,” she said. “I want to be the first one they think of when they need window treatments. Having Rose helps ensure this.”
Elizabeth credits Woodstock and her Cherokee County community with allowing her to achieve her personal and business goals. “From a nontraditional business out of my home to opening up a new location, this community has afforded me more than I could’ve ever hoped for.”
Leave a Reply