We were lucky to catch up with Emily Kirby recently and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Running a small creative business is all about taking a risk. There have been many times that I’ve had to leap without knowing for sure what the result would be. I started the business as a side hustle in 2012, and by 2015 I knew I wanted to quit my job and run with Texture Design Co. full time. It was unbelievably scary to let go of the security of a salary, but I had to consider worse-case scenario. If things were a total flop, I knew I could find other jobs to fill the financial gap. Once I think through worse-case scenarios and the solutions, I decide if the risk is worth it! In 2016 I opened a brick and mortar space, which came with a fair amount of financial risk. The venture was fairly successful, but due to lease agreements, I had to close a year later. For a while, the storefront felt like a failure to me due to the short length of time open. That is the thing about taking risks; it may not go as you planned. The beauty is that I learned so much in the process. Running a retail space gave me great insight for when I would ramp up my wholesale side of the business. It helped me view my own products, packaging and pricing through the eyes of a retailer. My takeaway, risk in business is inevitable, and failure is an option. But failure isn’t bad if you learn from the experience and keep pressing forward. So give yourself a pass to take risks and even fail, but don’t give up!

Emily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At a young age, I knew that I needed to find a career that would allow me to use my creative side. I eventually decided on a degree in interior design at the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!). My studies in the field landed me a job on King Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, and I quickly fell in love not only with the city, but the textures, patterns, and color selection associated with my work.

A few years later, I decided to take my passions in a new direction and study graphic design. That decision led to a whole new world of creative possibilities, and it was amazing! I was fascinated by how the basic principles of interior design (balance, proportion, color theory, and symmetry) were mirrored in graphic design – the foundation was still there, just in a new medium.

After completing my graphic design degree, I took a huge leap and opened my own business, Texture Design Co. For a while, I followed the path of designing logos and branding for companies, and then I found my true passion. I randomly signed up for a farmers market to sell art prints and stationery I had been designing for fun. I didn’t realize how rewarding it would be to see people enjoy the products and art I had spent so much time creating. At that moment, I decided to focus on creating paper goods and gifts that brought people joy.

Texture Design Co. is now a brand known for its recognizable colors, cityscapes, coastal themes, and florals. The collection of products embodies the feel of southern, coastal living. Our mission is to create products that help people live joyfully and love others.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When I first opened my business, I felt like I had to figure everything out on my own. I wish I had known about mentor programs and consulting groups. There are so many sides of my business that I would have learned quicker (and cheaper) if I had been willing to reach out to someone farther along and ask them for mentoring help. I was probably afraid that someone would see I didn’t actually know what I was doing. But that’s okay! Everyone starts somewhere.

Most hard-working business owners love to share what they have learned along the way. This type of mentoring can come in the form of groups, masterclasses, or one-on-one consulting. You do have to pay for their expertise, and I know that can be a hindrance. But in the long run, it saves so much time and money to learn from someone who has already walked the road you are on. You also gain a friend and supporter in the industry by going this route.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I started in the paper goods industry, I offered a lot of custom products. Customers love custom so this felt like a great way to make money. However, I learned two important lessons. One, I don’t personally love designing to the client’s wants and desires. I often felt exhausted trying to fit the art to their expectations. This was a personality trait of mine that I was discovering.

Secondly, I found that if I spent the same amount of time designing products that weren’t custom and could be sold over and over again, I could make a better profit on my time. After recognizing these two important aspects, I decided to pivot away from custom projects. It was interesting how much more I enjoyed my job when I cut the areas that were draining to me. Initially, I was nervous about the decision because I knew custom projects brought in money. But ultimately it gave me more time to design products that sell infinitely and make greater profits for the company. This is not to say that doing custom work is not a good business model. Instead, I suggest looking at the areas of business that drain you, and see if you can cut those areas and niche down to the areas you love. This will prevent burnout and allow your company to actually grow in the spaces you want to be in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://texturedesignco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texturedesignco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TextureDesignCo

Image Credits
Wild Cotton Photography