Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Mangum.
Lindsay, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My business was born shortly after my baby boy joined this world, but was subconsciously years in the making. My background over the past decade has been in Fashion Merchandising, and I’ve spent my career in corporate buying and planning roles, mostly in the Outdoor Industry. I have a strong passion for design, decor and playing outdoors. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. It just took that perfect idea to be the catalyst to pursue a dream.
The idea was a culmination of my passions and strengths, with just enough unknown and new to make it an exciting and challenging endeavor. This new stage of life I found myself in meant that I needed something that could be done from home, worked on while the baby napped, but have the potential to grow and expand to eventually become something bigger.
So, in April of this year (2018) I launched my wall decal design & production business. I make removable wall decor for your home. Specializing in kid’s rooms and nurseries I make each and every product with love, in my home. Each design has somehow been inspired by nature, my love for adventure, animals or my little one. From family road trips to weekend hikes with the babe on my back, every design has a story. My decals are both unique and one-of-a-kind. Their aesthetics align with those who love a modern and bohemian style.
You’ve caught me six months into launching my business and over a year since the idea was born. I am running a profitable business (start-up costs and monthly overhead add up!), and I am in the process of launching my wholesale platform. Look out for Ash & Olive Co. in your neighborhood boutique, and even bigger things are on the horizon. For now, you can find me enjoying all the facets of running a small business and spending lots and lots of time watching my little boy grow.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never a smooth road, but embrace the bumps, and learn from them. I tend to over plan by nature, and so I believe I paved a smooth (ish) road by anticipating any hiccups I might encounter. I wrote a detailed business plan outlining everything from start-up costs, monthly margin & sales projections, to researching competition and digging into my target market.
Until you take the leap and 100% work for yourself, it’s hard to truly understand how much goes into running a business. In a traditional company with employees, you delegate tasks. You have a marketing team that specializes in getting your product or service out there. You have your IT team, financial gurus, social media savvies and the list goes on. SPOILER alert, when you start an independent business, you have to wear ALL of those hats! I conceptualize my decal designs, physically design them, scale them to size, test them, mock them up to show the customer, price them based on material costs and my margin requirements and then list them online. Once that is complete I promote them on social media and add keywords to get seen via search engines. When orders come rolling in, I also make the decals, pack them, thank you card & ship. I would say the shipping part was my biggest challenge in how to pack differently sized decals and ship them in a cost-effective way.
If you are thinking about starting a business, do your research and write a business plan! Don’t skip the financial side of starting a business it is very important! Arguably THE most important. Do your legal due diligence as well. Whether it sole proprietorship or LLC, make sure you file, check what you need in terms of business licenses and keep track of every penny!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Ash & Olive Co. – what should we know?
I specialize in designs for the little, but a lot of my work can be used in any space in your home or office! I have a modern aesthetic and like to add boho or whimsical touches. I don’t make your traditional Grandma’s peel and stick borders. My designs are on trend and super fun!
My top selling wall decals are my rainbows, and Woodland inspired designs. Think foxes, bears, and all the pine trees in the forest! I have a ‘Desert Vibes’ collection for all the prickly cactus lovers and a ‘Vitamin SEA’ collection for those San Diego surfer babes. Have a thing for llamas?! I got you covered there too.
I make custom designs as well and most proud of the fact that each and every one of my designs had a story and was made by ME.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
To be honest, this is where I am lacking. My goal for the next calendar year is to network more. I plan to sign up for local handmade markets and meet other like-minded women entrepreneurs out there. I have very big plans in the works that involve adding wallpaper to my offerings, and I will need all the support and resources I can get!
What I have taken advantage of thus far are social media outlets. I am in a couple of facebook groups for small shop owners, and the support and advice have been extremely valuable. I have also used a few Influencers I’ve met through Instagram who has helped me get professional images of my wall decals up in real life!! Use social media and reach out when you feel that there is someone who you can collaborate with. I have only come across truly amazing and friendly people (virtually), so don’t be shy of reaching out to someone who might have information helpful to you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AshandOliveCo?ref=profile_shopname
- Phone: 6193796565
- Email: lindsay@ashandolive.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashandoliveco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashandoliveco/
- Other: www.ashandoliveco.com
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
