Unknown Speaker 0:00
Hey, they're gorgeous. How are you doing this week? So great to have you here. I know I say that every week but it is I love seeing you here seeing hearing being with you so weird. Anyway, if it's your first time then welcome if it's not welcome back. Today I am chatting with a new friend. Don't we love new friends. So when I was at the huddle, I know you're sick of hearing about it, but it was amazing. And if you sign up to the jumbled newsletter, then you will find out about the next huddle because they've already got a weightless going. So one of the other speakers Bridey Stewart, who was the creative director of Merrymakers on Instagram, you can go check her out. It's amazing. She was such an awesome speaker. All of all of the mentors were amazing speakers, I just have to say. And so I said to Bridey come on the podcast, I want to talk to you about all the things that you talked about at the huddle. I want to share your story. And I love the way that she thinks about business and how she actually started her business as well. She's an absolute queen, and I cannot wait for you to hear her today. So let me introduce you. Bridey Stewart is the curious creative behind Merrymakers studio, a visual arts educator and creativity coach with a global following of over 500,000 worldwide Bridey is transforming the face of fiber art, with her innovative practices, exclusive range of bespoke fibers, and sought after educational experiences featured within the pages of country style design junkie, Mind Body green and the financial review. Bridey is on a quest to inspire the nation to get creative. So go check her out Merrymakers studio on Instagram and I do love in the Australia Post ad, which is on TVs now as I'm recording this in June 2022. She's in that ad as well. So every time I see the ad, I'm like this Friday. I love it. So good. So I can't wait to share this with you. So let's dive in.Friday, welcome to the brand builders lab podcast.

Unknown Speaker 2:39
Thank you for having me. It's a pleasure.

Unknown Speaker 2:43
And we met and my audience know this, we were at the huddle. And we were both just joking that when we got home and we had to go back to normal life, we were like, Did you guys know that for the last five days, we've kind of been a big deal. As we've said, the experience was like no other and I came home and tried to describe it to my husband, and my daughters, and even my friends and they were looking at me going, but Mom, no one wants to hear you talk. You're not important. And it was lovely. Because I like to have that grounding. I just didn't want it four days after. I know. And it was so amazing. You and I connected on Instagram just before the event. And it's so interesting because like all of the mentors, okay, so quickly before we start. So the huddle was a three day four day three day event that was run by jumbled online up in orange. That's how Brady and I met. And we had a couple of other mentors. I'm gonna have Steph and Emily on the podcast as well, which I'm very excited about. And I didn't know any of you. And if you're and you've all got these incredible businesses, I did walk away from the huddle go, right, I have to start a product based business. All of these women are just doing incredible things. And I'm sure it's fine just to start, like amazing, product based business. You totally inspired me.

Unknown Speaker 4:16
Oh, thank you. And that's really my job. And that's what I have turned my life into. I was a school teacher. And now I really does lead into inspiring people to follow their dreams, which let's be honest, I wasn't when I was teaching. I know it's so amazing. And so when you shared your story, I was just like I have to have you on the podcast, because there's been so many things that you've been through and so many risks that you've taken so many things that you've done courageously and I just thought I just want to have this juicy conversation with you. So I'm super excited to have you here. And so brandy for my listeners that don't know you. Can you tell us a little bit more about like your business now. So tell

Unknown Speaker 5:00
was a bit about your business. And then what we'll do is that we'll go back in time as to how you got there. So my business is Merrymakers studio. And we are a fiber art supply store. I sort of say it's called spotlight for fibers you actually want to use, designed by me in house and manufactured all over the world, with small artists and families who create magical products that inspire people to create. And we ship globally, but based in Australia, amazing, and how big is your team now? So we run a lean team.

Unknown Speaker 5:39
Lots of freelancers who do lovely things far and wide. But we've got three people in the warehouse. And they are packing orders and getting kits ready and writing cards and doing customer emails. Amazing. Oh, we'll go into we'll go into customer experience in a bit. That's a juicy one I'd like to talk about. But how much are you shipping? Because I think when you told us at the huddle, how much you ship. I was just like, I don't I can't even comprehend how much that is. So how much are you shipping, like on a monthly basis of these? Of what you've got like of the tech? What do you call them? Textiles? Yeah, textile. Yeah, fiber.

Unknown Speaker 6:19
I ship a lot. So I have exclusivity of my product that I designed in three kind of designed from three countries. And no one else can get their hands on these designs. So not only do I ship around Australia, but then I wholesale overseas. So that's a big part of my business as well. I've got suppliers around the world.

Unknown Speaker 6:42
Shipping wise, we look, we do ship a lot. I don't like to say it too loud. Because a lot of my customers, it's not about bigger is better. It's about providing a beautiful service that people connect with and makes them feel good. I was like my customer. And I still am my customer. And I don't like them to think that I've turned into a big, big business.

Unknown Speaker 7:09
But we're doing hundreds of tons a Yeah, I think for me, it wasn't the number on it. Yeah, it wasn't about you being a big business. I just didn't realize that the industry. And this product was that, like popular that in demand. So I was just like, oh my gosh, this is a whole world out there. And I kind of come from a bit of a crafty background. Like I had a, like a baby, where's business where I used to make a lot of the products when I was had my first child and I love cross stitch and like all of these and I've been trying a bit of punch needle not successfully. But I just was like I didn't know that this world was out there. So you as you said before you were a teacher? And so what kind of teacher were you? Where did it all start? So I was a visual arts teacher. I've always being creative, and I wanted to be an artist, but I was literally told by my career advisor, you know, this starving artist you'll never get anywhere. So I was like, Okay, gotta trust these people. Let's become an art teacher. And I loved it. I really did love it. I like igniting that flame. I like having conversations around creativity and just, you know, the curious things that we do. But as I said at the huddle,

Unknown Speaker 8:31
a week before I got married,

Unknown Speaker 8:34
I was pretty unwell. And I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. So this was on Valentine's Day, the week before I got married, because I'd lost feeling in one leg, one arm, I had lost vision in one eye, and I was really unwell. And I knew a diagnosis was coming. But I just I just didn't want to look at it. I was really busy at work, I was getting married, I didn't have time for this. But you know, what you don't make time for makes time for itself. So the diagnosis really was the impetus to change my whole life. And whereas I was going to school as a teacher, you know, telling people to find what they love and follow it and lean into that that brings them joy. I was going home with anxiety and crippling, like, just stagnant energy, and was making myself sick because I wasn't following what I was doing. So whereas the MS diagnosis really could be seen as you know, a negative thing in my life. I think it was the blessing that I needed to get out of my way to move into this creative field. And as you said, you didn't know there was a market out there for this well back then there wasn't when I found McRaney in weaving. There was an

Unknown Speaker 10:00
No one

Unknown Speaker 10:02
bringing or designing good fibers, I was going to spotlight going this all there is like show me there's not? Surely there's more people out there like me who are interested in this stuff. And I thought Hold on a minute, if I want it, and I think it's good, maybe other people will end from there, the business has

Unknown Speaker 10:23
evolved. Amazing. And so I know that you're sort of saying so you've got the MS diagnosis. And so what was the jump between the diagnosis and working as a teacher through to this is an idea. Now what?

Unknown Speaker 10:41
So I got the diagnosis and got married a week later. So we went on our actually didn't go on our honeymoon, on the Monday after our wedding, I was in the hospital having a lumbar puncture, which followed through to grand mal headaches and two weeks in bed with chronic fatigue. And it was it was a lot and it was the time where I was meant to be celebrating life. But I sat there and went imagine, you know, imagine if this was taken away from me. So from that point on, like, how do I get out of teaching? How do I do it fast. But how do I do it in a planned and conscious manner. Because, you know, I've got three degrees, I just don't chuck them in the bin, I need to use my career with a planned exit. So I like most people build my business when I was on maternity leave, I fell pregnant with my first daughter, Lola. And literally when I was breastfeeding her that this is it, I feed her I'd put her down and go to work because I'm not going back to school. And I was working on this whilst luckily getting the maternity leave. I did that for my maternity leave position. And then I went back to work. And I had my second daughter. And that's when I really saw the fatigue set in because the expectations that were placed on me at school were quite large. The Type A personality that I am, that has enabled me to grow business meant that I was everyone's go to girl at work, which was a lot of pressure for me. And with my health and the fatigue that I do suffer. I just needed to get out. So after my second pregnancy, I sat down with my own self and said you're not going back. And that is when I really elevated the business and went into fiber supply, not just fiber design, and created the community of beautiful artisans all around the world that have so beautifully. And you know, with so much kindness, we've grown this business together. Yeah, that's amazing. I want to step back into that moment where you you've got your second child, you had the conversation with yourself, because I talked to my audience a lot about this. Is that a lot we can find all the reasons not to do something.

Unknown Speaker 13:08
It's risky. What if it doesn't work? What if the money doesn't come in? What if what if? What was your thought process at that time? When it came to actually going, you know, something like, I'm going to do this? Did you do it? Gradually? Did you take a big leap? Was there a big investment? Like what was that kind of thought process to leave what you had and go, I'm actually totally believing that this is something that I can do.

Unknown Speaker 13:37
I always would say to my students, if you love something, there are people out there who will love it too. No matter what you are into the world is filled with so many crazy, you know, niche interests, you just need to find those people. I think once I had my daughters and I leant into, you know, if I am unwell, what is the legacy that I'm going to leave? Who will they remember their Mumbai?

Unknown Speaker 14:04
And I thought, what would I be telling them you can do anything you can change the world and what a disservice and what shallow words are they to send to someone if I'm not doing it? And I said, You know what, I've been told that life is short, I had been given these diagnosis is and I'm still like, tiptoeing around this place. No way. And I just leant in I'm like, right, we're gone. This gone, brains gone. Like someone can tell me something. You know, I don't let other people's opinions ideas sit on me because they're not mine. And I think when I had the kids, it was that, who do I want to be for them? But realistically, who am I and how do I express that? Yeah, I love it so good. And another story that you shared at the huddle which I thought

Unknown Speaker 15:00
What was really interesting is that you went, when you were looking for suppliers, you went, and you spoke to people about, you know, creating what your designs etc. And you had people that were like, this is a bad idea. Can you just share a little bit about the day?

Unknown Speaker 15:18
Even now, and quite often I'm dealing with manufacturing. So I'm dealing with males 55, let's say stereotyping, but and they don't have my vision. They don't have the community of people, they're not artists. So when I will come up to them with an idea, they'll think, Oh, that's a silly idea, woman, I'm not going to do that. And as I said, All right, I'll do it. And you won't see me comment, and I'm going to explode onto the market and you won't like

Unknown Speaker 15:49
me trying to keep up. And you know, there's lots of copycats out there now for my product. But I am so far ahead. So I've just released a new product now. And I know that in eight months, there'll be copycats, but in eight months, I'll already have a new product and a new vision. So I often say it's not who you listen to, but it's who you don't listen to. And just because something hasn't been done, doesn't mean you aren't going to do it. Everything in this world we've never done before. Like this podcast we didn't do until today, but we're doing it now.

Unknown Speaker 16:24
Riding a bike, you didn't know how to ride a bike until you did. And now it's second nature, everything that you need to do for yourself. Your business was new at one stage, it's fine.

Unknown Speaker 16:37
I'm so good. It's so good. I've just like, that's the snippet I'm gonna use. That's so good. Because I do think you know, there is all of so much of that fear of what if, and you're so right, like, what, what is easy now was hard at one time, what we thought was impossible, is no longer impossible. Like, I just think there are there were in a time where there is so much opportunity. And so when it comes to when it came to the customer, you know, you were looking for a certain product, and you're like, I can design it, I can create it. Did you do any research into it? Or did you just have that feeling that you knew that that that the community was there, like Were you part of communities where people were looking for more of the products that you've created?

Unknown Speaker 17:21
So initially, I was an artist, and I started off making these designs. And it was only because I wanted to use products that didn't exist, that I went into the textile design. But as an artist, especially in on Instagram, and online, I formed a community with other artists, I would see their works. And in my mind as an art critic, I'll get that work will look better with a little bit of this in it that doesn't exist, how about I go and make it or that artwork would look better if this this and this were available? Let's design that. And through that sense of community. And I will talk to the people and say, Oh, have you thought about doing this? Oh, that doesn't exist.

Unknown Speaker 18:08
And it's that it's that curious creativity of my artistry? You know, I am from the industry that I'm designing for. So I really like to explore and push and manipulate it. So then the people, my customers can go and create these beautiful, magnificent works that weren't possible to create five years ago. Yeah, amazing. And I feel like what came out of what you just said is you were an observer as to what it could be rather than a researcher of what they want. Because it goes back to the whole, you know, Henry Ford's like if I asked people what they wanted, they would have said like a faster horse or something like that, rather than a car. And so I think observing as to what the opportunities are, rather than asking people what they want because they're like, Well, I don't know. I don't know, but you could see the opportunity there which is so great. And so what was the next stage of the journey so you've now quit school you've spoken to some manufacturers who were like that's a silly idea.

Unknown Speaker 19:20
So how did you get it made?

Unknown Speaker 19:23
You just keep asking you just keep emailing you just keep calling people and you know they say the the JK Rowling story what she sent out hundreds and hundreds of manuscripts for

Unknown Speaker 19:37
loads of what she writes

Unknown Speaker 19:43
but just because someone says no doesn't mean it's a no no as a flexible and you know even say okay, we'll do a small batch Okay, I'll I'll pay double meet the people send them ideas you just keep you just keep

Unknown Speaker 20:00
Keep pushing. And no doesn't mean No, it just means not now. So I just found more people. And often finding smaller people to work with is better because big business doesn't want little money. But little business is just so grateful to build a dream. And my manufacturers now that I work with, like their family, and I'm going to visit one in India in October. And because I've got to meet his, they're now pregnant, and I'm waiting, so I can go and meet their daughter, like, it's

Unknown Speaker 20:31
our whole business is based around community and relationships. And that comes into manufacturing and supplies just as much as it does, you know, the product that we send out to our customers. Yeah, amazing. So good. And so how are you managing your health now, variety with the business and family and everything else? Like, how have you found that balance or that juggle? I manage it quite well, actually. But I'm very selfish with my time. And I don't care about that. I know that I come first. And without my help, and with me at you know, the matriarch of all that flows down, nothing runs smoothly. So I do. I love my long walks. And I love my meditation. I love my stoners. But I think, relieving myself from a very stressful work environment, where I couldn't control the pressure. And my value wasn't. I'm gonna say it was appreciated, but it was very much undervalued. When you're working for yourself, it's hard not to overwork, because, you know, there's always things that you can do. But you also need to think about what can be done in a day. And really be proud of that.

Unknown Speaker 21:50
Because I think we don't acknowledge the amazing things that we do when we run our own business, because we're always wanting to do more, be busier. But for myself, I need to alleviate the stress. And

Unknown Speaker 22:07
I think I've created a pretty beautiful world,

Unknown Speaker 22:12
around me with family and beautiful routines and a job that I love. Yeah, that's amazing. And I think something that you said that I, I don't think is

Unknown Speaker 22:25
a given for a lot of women is I come first. And I think that this is something that so many women struggle with, because they do not feel they're like, Well, I obviously can't come first, like my family, like my kids have to come first my family, like my clients, like I have to, I have to make sure that everybody else is alright. Like, I can't have that thought. And was that something that you've always had? Or did you feel like after you had the diagnosis and everything now? Like that's something that you've learned along the way? Or do you feel like that's always been something you've thought, it's something that I've definitely learned along the way. And as I said, I don't feel mum guilt pressure, that I'm going to work and building this empire. You know, I'm not at the pub, I'm not off galavanting, I am creating a beautiful future for my family. And some days if I go to work for 12 hours, well, that's just because I go to work for 12 hours. And I shouldn't feel bad about that women. We shouldn't feel bad about this. No one asks, you know, if if the husband or the partner does similar, and my have my husband runs a company also, but we are very balanced in our, you know, parental responsibilities, because it's not about gender. It's about doing what one needs to do to

Unknown Speaker 23:54
you know, to move forward. And some days, I work a lot, and then some days, I'm on canteen duty. So I really need to be aware, we really need to be aware as women that we do come first and we're allowed to say that out loud and not feel ashamed and feel like oh, no, but everyone. Oh, but they all come before me. Sorry. Because if you aren't leaning into your full, true self and you know yourself as a whole, you're not showing up for anyone. Yeah, totally agree with what you're asking oxygen mask on first. Always and I loved you shared a tip or you shared something at the huddle that I think a lot of people were kind of like, oh my gosh, I really need to think about that was around how much you get done in a certain amount of time.

Unknown Speaker 24:46
I have a little hack

Unknown Speaker 24:49
where we were just like JK girl. So how do you manage your time? What is your day sort of look like? So this is a funny one and because I'm in

Unknown Speaker 25:00
Creative and I guess I can show up online on quite airy fairy at sometimes I'm very structured, very structured to the point it scares people. And my little

Unknown Speaker 25:14
timer hack is an egg timer. So let's just think going back to when we, you know, went into motherhood, when your child sleeps for 45 minutes, I can easily get three hours worth of work done in that 45 minutes, because I know they're going to wake up soon. But once we step out of that we forget it about how productive we can be in such a small amount of time, because we think, Oh, we've got two hours to do those emails. Yeah, but we could probably do them in 20 minutes, why we allow ourselves to take two hours. This is why I can go for walks and do meditation. Because when that 45 minute time is on and I'm allowing myself 45 minutes of creating content, doing emails, whatever it is, I know that I'll get them done in that point of time. I also, one thing that I was offline at the huddle talking about is segmenting emails, which is a big thing for people in business. My emails only come through twice a day, because I don't want to start my day with an email. So I segment my emails to come through at 12 o'clock. And then 4:30pm. So they'll all show up at 12. I have my lunch at 1245. So typically, when they come through and be like write, delete, delete, delete, reply, and I will never reply so fast in my life, because I'm starving. And I've got these emails to get through. So and, and then if someone replies to that email at 12, I wouldn't get the reply until 430. Because I'm busy. I love that, but so good. I do. I mean, that's, that's kind of coming in, I always sheduled my emails to go out at a certain time. But I've not sheduled them to come in at a certain time. I always love me a good productivity and time saving hack for sure. It's another one is it's turn your phone on Bluetooth. Often when I'm filming content, I'll put my phone on Bluetooth. So on airplane mode, why videos will go for half an hour, and I don't want a phone call in that time. And I'll forget to turn it back on and be like, Oh, I just got so much work done. How did that happen? Because my phone's paying. So now when it's the content, Dara worked, I'll just turn my phone off like it that shouldn't really be a part of our days to listen to beings and Diems. And, you know, cuz we like to be distracted. So just turn it off. Yeah. And I have my notifications turned off as well. I don't really say like all check in the morning, and then at lunchtime, and then maybe in the evening for like messages and stuff like that. But yeah, I just it's so funny, because sometimes my phone will vibrate. So that's how I get my messages. And my kids be like, Mom, there's a message and I'm just like, and that's fine. We don't have to, like it's so funny how it's kind of like yeah, my kids like But mom Baba. And I'm like it's and I just want to kind of bring that where we don't have to be like Pavlov's dog, where the minute there's a bell or something, we're like jumping to it. Yeah, totally fine for us to get to things in our own time. And when we're in flow, and we're actually creating good work and in the zone, an email is most probably adding to our to do list of things we don't want to do answering someone else's needs. So I always say those things for always sort of the slump three o'clock, when the stuff you don't want to do I definitely don't do in the morning, the mornings me time. Go for my walk, do my meditation, creativity, designing fibers, filming videos, talking to customers, and then emails boring other people. We give ourselves the worst time of the day and then wonder why we're not enjoying it. Like I give myself the morning? Because I can't first. Absolutely. I'm literally just shared this on a podcast like last week. Why do we give ourselves the crappiest time for when we work? Like when are we most energized? When is the best time for us to you know, invest in ourselves when we're feeling our best? Why do we always kind of do it as an afterthought? So I love I love that we're on the same page as that. So good. So there's a couple of other things I did want to talk about the community as well and building so what have been some of the lessons that you've learned along the way when it comes to building your business, but also really embracing the community and how you've grown that?

Unknown Speaker 29:54
Honesty

Unknown Speaker 29:56
because honesty, honesty and transport

Unknown Speaker 30:00
Aren't see in a business. And then in one like mine, which is community built, is incredibly important. Taking feedback and realizing that it's not actually you they're talking about, it's your business. So if someone says, oh, I don't like this product, well, they're not saying I hate you, Brady as a person. They're saying, I don't like this product. Yeah, not taking it personally. And listening, people want to be seen and heard, valuing their time just as much as I value my time. But it's, it's the whole person, I always say that I build customers who scream it from the roof, my customers create customers. And it's because I nurture them through conversation. I give them advice and tips. I'm always there to help them build businesses or to share ideas. And we need to think that when you are building a community, which is a niche community like mine, you might be a maker in South Australia, who has no one that local to you, that does what you do. So the conversations that they're having online, are the ones that get them through that light them up. And I know that I am that to many people. And I promote engagement through our DMS and through our Facebook group. It's got 15,000 makers in it that just go there to chat. Because their friends don't like what we like.

Unknown Speaker 31:33
But it's just about being heard people with

Unknown Speaker 31:38
people just need to be nurtured through every aspect. And I think the community that we've built around this creative one, does that really well. Awesome. And I know that you, when we kind of got on this call, you're like, it's a content day for me, I'm going to be doing videos and that sort of stuff. And so I'd love to know, when it comes to your personal brand, and the business and the content that you create, what's your thought process around it? Like, what do you have a strategy? Or are you kind of creating from inspiration? Like, how are you positioning yourself? Let's start with that. How do you position yourself in your business, and in this industry, or this niche.

Unknown Speaker 32:26
So I like to say that I it's, it's as a teacher, I'll always be a teacher. And within our community, there's a lot of secrets being kept by people who don't want other people to excel. I'm a teacher, I want everyone to sell work to get better, to evolve to be inspired. So I break my content down into educational videos and content, which shows people how to do different techniques, different styles, then we've got the humor, which creates laughter because I'm a bit of a goose, I was a drama and art teacher. So I do love a bit of performing.

Unknown Speaker 33:08
And then you nurturing the customer you've got. So you just can't, you know, a viral reel won't build your business, you can get 20 million views on a reel for people who will never buy from you. It might be great to get eyes on your page. But then you need to show them what to do, why you're doing it, how you're going to sell it. And like there's so many levels that we need to involve in our strategy if we want to be successful. Yeah. And I saw you the other day, like you launched, you did a live and you're launching, like some new colors and of fibers and things like that, which was gorgeous. And so from a sales perspective, obviously, like what's the time period of a design through to production through this sort of release? How long is that process? So with COVID Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 34:09
So I do my I import in large containers. So I do 40 foot containers couple of times a year. And I normally design huge collection. And each container might have four or five collections in it. But typically four to six months from well, I normally do probably six months of r&d for a single product.

Unknown Speaker 34:33
And then once we've got it perfect, it's probably four to six months before it's on the shelf. And so you're looking at the colors coming into the next season. Like what the trends are that sort of thing. When you're in that planning mode, too. Yeah. What's what season we'll be entering also what I think people need.

Unknown Speaker 34:55
So when we'd COVID I'm very famous for my neutrals and my vintage

Unknown Speaker 35:00
Colors. And after COVID I was like, You know what, we need some fluro around here. We need some bright colors because and so I released a rainbow collection of like fluro crazy, bright colors that literally are just joy. They just make me happy. And so many people have said, They're not my vibe. I'm not sure how they ended up in my cart. But all my goodness, they just inspire me they just so joyful. I think sometimes when we look around at trends and what's happening, like we're too late, we need to look at what's happened in the past from our you know, from our sales and go okay, well, if this is routine, what, what colors that sell?

Unknown Speaker 35:50
What season was that? How can we take last winter and evolve it to next winter? By looking at? We always look at the catwalks in Paris, because they're bit ahead of us. Yeah. But yes, season based, textile based. It's all just just new or like new things. Yeah, my customers they are please don't tell me this is limited edition. And I'm sorry, it is because we need to keep evolving. My first product collection had four colors. And now I've got 180. So some disappear and some come back. But we need to allow a little bit of shift, not just get used to the one color that we love, because that's boring. And we won't have you know, the creative evolution us as makers if we just stay in that lane. Yeah, absolutely. And one of the reasons why I was asking that is because from a sales perspective, so you know, when you're talking about content and what you're creating, and then like your new season colors and launches coming out? What's your process your thought process? Around how you sell it? Like, what are the things that you do? That kind of you're like, if we want to sell this, this is how we need to show up? This is what we need to tell them. This is what we need to do. Like, do you kind of have thoughts around that and how you go about selling because you sell so much, you've got an incredible community, they seriously engage What's your sales process? And what's your, your, your mindset around sales?

Unknown Speaker 37:30
I like to say, I have this little thing in my studio, it's it's more than McCr army, we're not selling cotton, we're selling an emotion, we're selling a story. So why do people make people typically don't make because they want the wall hanging at the end. They make because they like the joy it creates they make because they like the escapism that it provides, they make because they love the happiness it brings when they gift it to a friend. So I need to show people that these products can create that. It's not about red cotton, it's about the joy and the experience that you can have with that. And the happiness you can, you know, the the movie nights sitting in front of the fire waving away. It's I'm selling a feeling and an emotion because that is what it is, like people create because they want to connect.

Unknown Speaker 38:28
It's it's that that I really try to get through when I'm launching products. I love that but so good. And so do you kind of bring that into your content as well. So let's say you've got these new, the new color range, like do you show them all that because I love watching you creating on your reels, and I'm just like, you make it look so easy

Unknown Speaker 38:51
when you're doing it, but I just think actually showing people how to use it, or what they can do with it is is very enticing because then it's like, Oh, I could do that. Yeah. And you can do that. I some of my customers that you know, as they say they're not typical creatives. They're lawyers and doctors, and they'll message me say, I can't believe that I love this. I'm on Pinterest finding patterns.

Unknown Speaker 39:20
I'm a lawyer. And because it's quite often when I do videos, people just I just like to watch you do it. It's so calming. And that is what it creates. So as funny as it is that's a part of the marketing strategy to show people that it's easy to do, too. And as a teacher, you don't show someone the final step. You show them the introduction you warm them up. Even just brushing the cotton, just showing how soothing that is. It's the feeling. I love that but so good. And so

Unknown Speaker 40:00
Are there any other lessons that you've kind of learned along the way where you're like, you know, something that was quite Pivotal, like that was something that made a really big difference with, like, the trajectory of the business? Or how I showed up in the business, like, Are there any kind of key moments within your business where you're like, when I decided to do that, like, everything changed, or there was a big shift?

Unknown Speaker 40:27
I think little things along the way, and for any business, it's not looking at what other people in your industry are doing. Because we cannot do what they do. And we're not them. Especially when your business is a personal brand. It just feels icky to walk in someone else's footsteps. And when you get to the destination, you don't like it there. So I really lean into who I am 1,000%. And some people identify with that, and some people don't. And that's okay, because the world is abundant. And I don't need everyone to align with me and my brand.

Unknown Speaker 41:15
I think not listening to people is just as important as listening to people. Because people come to us with so much negative advice, because they have had failure, or they have seen, you know, a certain trajectory, but that doesn't matter. You know, we can't we don't stop writing pushpot because someone else fell off. We just need to follow our vision because it's ours.

Unknown Speaker 41:46
And I think one thing, which I don't know, it's a little bit

Unknown Speaker 41:52
some people agree with or not. I've never, we can't, we can't.

Unknown Speaker 41:59
Because I have such a niche product. Some of my friends, I remember when I was starting out, I was thinking, Oh, can you like my Facebook page.

Unknown Speaker 42:10
And they didn't want to like my page, they liked me, they loved me, but I don't like McRobbie, just as I don't like their vet business page, you know, I think some of us rely on our friends and family to build our business.

Unknown Speaker 42:27
And that's not how it goes, you need to find your people see where they're hanging out. And and build it in a more and you can, when no one that you know, is watching. You run to the finish line. Sometimes when you think your mom's watching he cousin, your sister, you sort of shy away from what you really want to be expressing as well, because you think they're going to be judgey. But it's just a performance online. So find people go to Facebook groups, go to other pages, find people who you think will align with your business, you're offering your service, rather than relying on the neighbor next door to buy a scarf from you go and find people that like scarves.

Unknown Speaker 43:10
Perfect. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 43:13
Totally agree. That's so good. And so what's next, what's next for the bride Empire for the Merrymakers knows,

Unknown Speaker 43:23
I'm going to India in October, that will be fantastic. After two year delay, we were meant to fly there in May 2020. That didn't happen.

Unknown Speaker 43:33
And I really want to go into the whole creativity space, coming from a teaching background. And having such a loyal customer base, I see gaps in their knowledge and their confidence that I really wish I could bill in a more, you know, in an easier way. In my DMs we have lots of conversations around, you know, different fears they have or, you know, different handbrakes that they place on their business. And, you know, I've built merrymaker to what it is now, designing new products will always be my happy zone. But I really want to move into a space where I can not just show people how to use products, designed products. But I really want people's businesses to explode and show them how to be profitable and just

Unknown Speaker 44:36
have a happy little creative community of

Unknown Speaker 44:40
profitable artists. Amazing. They were told they could never do it. And they are. Yeah, that's so good. I know. We spoke about it when we're out battle as well. And I just think yeah, like why not like there's so many people that need help. And I just think especially when you've been there and you've been through it and you've done it and you

Unknown Speaker 45:00
You know, I just think that there's so much amazing knowledge and experience that you could be sharing with them for sure. So that's exciting.

Unknown Speaker 45:11
Well, it was our oyster. And typically I don't actually, our my brain is a very creative place. And I don't necessarily like to have set goals, because I think they're quite limiting. Because once you reach that, like you're at the top of the mountain, where is there to go down? But I just like to go in that direction. Yeah. So that will be my direction is going back into sort of my teaching area, but leaning into, you know, my creative, peeps. I love that. That's so good. Awesome. And one last question. Where did Mary Meeker come from because it's m a r y. I don't I'm like, I don't think I spoke about this at the heart. Oh, but where did that name come from? So Mary is my nan's name. It's my middle name, and my mom's all of our middle names. And yeah, and typically, when I started, I didn't want to be called Bridey. Something because I always knew I would pivot and transitioning, do lots of things. So marry was a really strong female name for me.

Unknown Speaker 46:22
And that's what this is about, like female strength, like uniting it. That's us. So good. I love it. I probably thank you so much for sharing. I love your story. And I love your attitude. And I love the way that you think so. I knew that when I heard you speak, I was like, oh, we need to have a chat on the podcast because I know my audience are gonna love it. It's been a pleasure. I mean, what you're doing is just, you're elevating so many women to lean into just the glorious world and take their business by the hands and just

Unknown Speaker 47:00
skyrocket. It's incredible to see what you're doing. Thank you lovely. I'm so appreciate it. And I just loved I loved spending so much time with you and the other ladies too. Like I think it was just such a gift, to be able just to kind of have that time and be able to chill out as well. And have all of those really great conversations. Like it was so amazing. We're gonna have all of your links in the show notes. But for those who are walking the dog or in the car, where's the best place to connect with you? So find me on Instagram. It's Mary Mar. Why marry Maker Studio? And that's across all socials. But I hang out in the DMS. I love it's so good. Thanks for hanging Bridey my absolute pleasure.

Unknown Speaker 47:50
Isn't she a powerhouse I absolutely love the way she thinks and the way she shows up and I love her business story and I hope you did too. So make sure that you go and check her out. And if you're a crafty person, you know I started I was a crafty person. I used to do cross stitch when I was a kid and have done so many other things and I just really love watching her Instagram if I'm honest. I find it very interesting and soothing as well. So make sure you go check out Mary Meeker Studio online and go and say hi to Brady and give her some love as well. That's it for another week. Amazing to have you here. Just remember you can always connect with me on Instagram at CES Chadwick. If you've got any questions, I am here for it. Happy to answer them for you. Feel free to share this episode if you got a lot of value out of it and I cannot wait to see you next week back here on the podcast.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai