G’day!
Sorry about the website problem y’day, I hope it is now fixed…thanks for all the emails…oh and yep the fridge is a working, second fridge…so that means it has champagne in it mostly…oh and of course, cold beer..
Now, BCer’s have I got a treat for you today…I have a little inside scoop on the very very hard-working lady behind furniture store Russell & Mackenna…the kinda grass roots success story I just lurve to hear…
Oh and best thing is there’s a $400 Giveaway from Russell & Mackenna attached to this post, as ever all ya gotta do is comment to enter…
So here’s my chat with Lauren…and a behind-the-scenes peek at her gorgeous beachy home…
I just love to hear a success story of a good family company built on hard work, craftmanship and all that comes with that…can you describe what it was like in the early days of Russell & Mackenna creating your goods in a one car garage? It reminds me of my garage full of vintage furniture..was it all a bit of a crazy?
It was crazy in the beginning, but fun crazy. We were only three months old when Coastal Living magazine featured our Wave Hall Table. I remember the editor asked if I was sure I wanted them to print my home phone number as contact information. (We didn’t have a toll free number at that point.) When that magazine hit the newsstand the rollercoaster took off. We took dozens of orders for that table, and back then there were just three of us and Kevin was the only one who could actually build furniture! That was a wild month. We had Wave Hall Tables all over our house. Kevin was building from dusk to dawn day after day. We recruited everyone we could to help us paint them. It was a blast, we were giddy the entire time and just so excited that people liked what we were making.
So to answer your question, yes, it was a bit crazy!
Goodness, how wonderful and manic….maybe I should be selling my treasures ;-)
Russell & Mackenna is 6 years old now. We outgrew my one car garage quickly and then outgrew the next space we rented and then the next space. I don’t know that there was one magical ingredient you could say propelled our growth. But I would say the most important thing we have going for us is our team. Get three people together who believe with all there heart that they can do what seems impossible and watch out. I’m just an artist with an undergraduate degree, Russell & Mackenna has taught me how to take a passion for art and turn it into a viable business. We have really grown up into a real company that has Shareholders, a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee. I have a saying that the harder you work the luckier you get…it’s actually printed on the spine of our catalog. So yes, it has been am amazing ride and an emotional one too. I am currently working on our business plan for the next 5 years, so right now I am looking ahead and feel like the ride is just beginning.
Hey I love that saying…working hard makes you luckier…as Mr BC says there ain’t no such thing as luck huh?
Kiddos tied to trees, hmmm, that’s not a bad idea! I am on what seems like an eternal quest for life balance. Finally, in my thirties, I have become pretty good at delegating and asking for help. Early on I tried to do it all myself because I felt like I needed to be Super Woman. The family nearly had to send me to the funny farm because of it.
So I hear you are the creative one at your place…where’d you get your inspiration and how do you translate that to your wares?
Really ! Oh!
Blushing here Lauren, thanks for saying you love my style….too kind!
Hmmm how funny that you’ve been reading my blog…fancy our tatty old beach cottage has inspired you..
oh yeah I’m pretty free for styling & a little trip Stateside in the next few months ;-) I am particularly good at sitting on the back of boats, with beer and rolled-up jeans and flags…and taking photographs…
Alarm goes off at 4:15. I have coffee a bannana and check my email and the Russell & Mackenna sales and web analytics for the previous day. Go to bootcamp at 5:30 where I endure verbal abuse from a trainer for one hour (love you BGood)… running, push-ups, squats and sit ups.
Gosh, now that I think about it, it probably sounds pretty boring. But really it’s not. The people I interact with every day (family included here) are so creative, colorful and fun that it makes the days fly by. The challenges we set for ourselves, the accomplishments we achieve and all the laughing along the way are what make my life and job so wonderful.
It does’t take much. I really like wearing flip flops and sunglasses and just hanging out at our beach with hubby, a pitcher of Malibu and pinapple and a pound of steamed shrimp. I am all about keeping it ultra simple. I live in a small community of cottages north of Annapolis, Maryland just off the Chesapeke Bay. Our neighborhood beach has a great big grassy area where all the neighborhood kids play made up games. There is a beautifiul pier and sailboats everywhere. Like you, I am so fortunate to live near the water. I just love it. Attached a photo of my oldest singing a song at the talent show put on by our community’s co-opperative summer beach camp. So cute.
*giveaway open til close of play 10/09/10, tweet/facebook to double up*
I savored every word of this post ….wow! I love it all! ….and the feeling conveyed is so comfy and soothing. (The man , not so much ….) Thanks for the entry into this wonderful giveaway!
Wow I am in LOVE with that window on the wall! What an awesome idea! Love the story! Especially the quote about working hard and luck! Never heard it before… but it’s so true… I should probably start working harder then! :D
I relax with some me time by taking a hot bath, getting my nails done, and flipping through the pages of my favorite magazines.
I am IN LOVE with this site and furniture-can they please furnish my whole home?! Just so beachy, comfortable, and lovely!!!
It depends on what time of day that I need to chillax.
Mornings are beach walks, evenings a glass of wine and a chatting with Captain Valentine.
Weekends [ = my favourite] hammock time!
x Felicity
I cope- just- cos I only have ONE child! And he’s now 19.
Loved this refreshing,inspiring and beautiful post highlighting how extraordinary,
the ordinary can be and become when we accept the real and everyday
whilst embracing the good and moving forward to the better.
Great post Sarah and so lovely to ‘meet’ other beautiful people.
What a fun and inspiring story!
HHmmm boot camp, what a good idea…… is it extra to have them toss you out of bed, in order to get to boot camp????
The dreaded creep of ‘no longer young’..
Looove visiting your blog. Inspiring.
I really loved reading such a fantastic family success story. It certainly is hard work juggling a full time job in your own business & keeping a balanced family life. Im sure you know Sarah that when the business is your own your mind NEVER switches off. Lovely interview!!!
I like to chill with my blogroll when I get home from work
Love your pom poms and love your blog….it’s all sooooooo gorgeous.
Oooh, yes please! I could really use a little house love right now, and that gift card sure would help! L-U-R-V your pompoms in the next post, btw… And your stinking teenager and husband sound just like my hubby when it comes to my obsessions… erm, crafts.
I can see why you love Russel & MacKenna.
With all those perfectly coloured glassy deco’s and fabulous fabrics to inspire, Katie xx
Thank you so much for doing this interview!! I loved reading, and like you, I LOVE a good success story!!!
To unwind, I like to read or do crafts. I love to make cards and other paper crafts, and I recently started painting. I’m loving all things crafty right now, and it relaxed me.
I’m off to check out the Russel & MacKenna site!!
Thanks so much!
Michele Rice
what gorgeous photos and lovely style, thanks for sharing! I love to relax with friends….good food, wine and gossip tends to be all I need to recharge.
You two gals are PURE INSPIRATION!!!
XOXO,
Tracey
Getting up at 4:15? Crazy but oh so inspiring. She really takes advantage of a day and is talented to boot!
I love that blue dresser–with everything going white right now, the colors are so refreshing!! (Okay, white is fabulous too!)
I love that blue dresser–with everything going white right now, the colors are so refreshing!! (Okay, white is fabulous too!)
Oh, how I would LOVE to win the gift certifcate!
Absolutely love ALL the furniture shown.
Wow! This is such a great giveaway! I am in love with all of the furniture!
Yippee!! Enter me please:)
Wow! What a generous giveaway!!! I love to sew to chill out lately!
Always fun and inspiring to read how other moms do it! get through the day, make life work, relax, etc. Thanks for the giveaway!
Goodness, right now, I just need to sit here at the old computer and soak up inspiring blogs. My best way to escape the everyday!
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for the interview and a giveaway too? So nice to know there are small business owners that are making American Made Furniture in America. Living in North Carolina and privilaged to have a bi-annual furniture Furniture Market in our area has provided me the opportunity to see and know first hand how the industry has changed over the years. Local (NC and VA) companies have either gone Out of business or if they have been fortunate to stay in business have had to send the jobs over seas. This has meant a loss of jobs for families that made furniture for years and were very proud of their work. North Carolina has been severly affected by the loss of the furniture industry. It has also effected the manufacturing of textiles, materials and hardware companies in our region. All of the materials needed to make furniture were made in and around NC. SO, if a family can survive and make beautiful furniture and keep other people working and being creative in their community I say kudos for them.
Quality products are worth what you pay for them! It is each persons individual choice how and where they want to spend their $.
Example: Choose your coffee; store brand, made at home, barista from a national not locally owned chain, or your locally owned coffee house (beans roasted on the premises) and your neighbor works their while their kids are in school. The choice is yours!
To answer the question, I relax by visiting the lovely blogs that creative people have written and are sharing apart of themselves with strangers.
Always, Teresa T.
I am a mom to 3 busy kids and I’m building my dream cottage in a beautiful town. I unwind and relax by taking a long walk with my dogs and am also known to pour myself a drink while making dinner : )
Love love love this giveaway & all things beachy! Being a Marylander myself , I love all the water that surrounds us!
That brother… if I were not getting married in 3 weeks I might just try to snag him myself :)
Yes, the brother is dreamy! Would definitely love a stroll along the beach with him… that would be very relaxing. Then retire to a beachy cottage with loads of dreamy, beachy furnishings and things inspired by my favorite websites and blogs… heavenly!
I love the colors of the furniture, and the family feel. Now, browsing their website . . .
I take my dogs for a walk down to the lake, there’s something relaxing about throwing a toy for fetch over, and over, and over again at sunset!
I am a beach house owner only in my dreams, but I love your blog! The furniture in this post is definitely dreamy!!!
I have died and gone to heaven!! I Luh huv their furniture. Unfortunately it’ s a little out of our budger ( cry ). Maybe one day!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog and this article!!! And yeah, the brother is a hottie :)
Lauren, you rock! And it is so much fun following Russell & MacKenna. What great furniture … and what a great brand.
As for favorite ways to relax? A good walk around the neighborhood with my two dogs always makes the stress of the work day disappear … followed by coming home and curling up in my Russell & MacKenna Libby back chair, with a good beer and book!
Absolutely love this furniture and the family’s story. My favorite way to unwind is a hot bath. Predictable, perhaps, but classic!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful story! I’m not sure whether It makes me feel motivated, or HOPELESS!!! 4:15 AM? Every morning? Boot camp? No wonder I can’t get out of my own way! I have so much admiration for women with this kind of drive and the things they accomplish. The furniture is beautiful, lovely to see a young family make a life from a business and product they create and love.
My therapy? Sunday afternoons with my family Grown children ages 26, 28, and 30, and their significant others. Depending on the season, it’s football games, beer, bocci on the lawn, afternoons at the ocean, barbques, , wine, fires in the mancave’s old woodstove, music, food, lots of cooking by everyone, dogs…everywhere, they all have one, we have one, four dogs in all, usually! Come to think of it, I usually need therapy AFTER Sundays with my family :)
Thanks again for your wonderful blog!
PS: Love the Hinkley! My son captain’s a Hinkley out of Sag Harbor, it’s a beautiful boat!
I relax by – snuggeling up with a good book and my puppy and/ or hubby.