We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Megan Henderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Megan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
Every morning, I’d swing by a local nutrition club for a shake and a tea. One day, the owner, who somehow knew about my creative streak and decent handwriting, asked if I could write on a couple of her shop signs. I said yes, not realizing that this small favor would soon spark the beginning of something much bigger.
After finishing the signs, it hit me—I could actually turn this into a business. I rushed home, excited, and told my husband about my epiphany. He was all in, and we immediately started brainstorming business names and product ideas. I still remember scribbling down potential names on a small notepad, with two standing out: Chicken Scratch and Southern Scribble. Both were adorable, but Southern Scribble resonated more—it perfectly captured the vibe of southern hospitality blended with hand-lettering and creativity.
And just like that, Southern Scribble was born. March 17, 2020—right in the midst of a national pandemic shutdown. Crazy timing, right? But that’s how my journey into entrepreneurship began.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hey kings and queens! I’m Megan Henderson, the Founder and creative force behind Southern Scribble. If we haven’t met before, let me take you on a little journey through my story, my passion, and the heart behind what I do.
My love for creativity runs deep—it’s something that’s been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I was the girl who would spend hours doodling in the margins of my notebooks, designing MySpace and Xanga layouts for fun, and losing myself in the world of colors, shapes, and letters. Creativity wasn’t just a hobby for me; it was a way of life, a language that I spoke fluently even as a child.
But as life often goes, my journey into this industry wasn’t a straight line. It was more of a scribble—a Southern Scribble, if you will! And like all good stories, mine began with a simple, seemingly small moment that changed everything.
In 2020, when the world felt like it was falling apart, I found a spark of inspiration in the most unexpected place. I was a regular at a local nutrition club, stopping in each morning for my shake and tea. One day, the owner asked me if I could hand-letter a couple of signs for her shop. I agreed, not thinking much of it at the time. But as I was working on those signs, something clicked. I realized that this creative outlet of mine, this thing that brought me so much joy, could actually be something bigger.
That’s when the idea for Southern Scribble was born. With a lot of faith, and just $6 in our bank account, I went home and shared my epiphany with my husband. He was on board 100% and immediately began brainstorming with me. We ended up with a notepad full of business names and product ideas. We tossed around a lot of names—Chicken Scratch was a close contender—but Southern Scribble felt right. It perfectly captured the blend of southern hospitality and hand-lettered creativity that I wanted to bring to the world.
We started small—really small. My husband, bless his heart, took our last $6 and bought six coffee mugs from Dollar General. I remember coming home from work and seeing those mugs on the kitchen table with a note that read, “I support you so much, and I know God is going to care for us. You are going to do great, babe!” That moment brought me to tears, and it was the push I needed to believe that this dream could become a reality. I hand-lettered those mugs and sold them for $10 each, and just like that, Southern Scribble had its first official sales.
As we started to grow, we expanded our product line to include canvases, wood signs, and eventually digital lettering. I saved up and bought an iPad, which opened up a whole new world for me. With Procreate, I created my first real logo, bringing my hand-lettering to life in a digital format. It was a game-changer for Southern Scribble, and it allowed me to offer even more to my clients.
In October 2020, I took a huge step and participated in my first large-scale trade show: Affair of the Heart in Oklahoma City. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but I was determined to make it a success. I ordered two neon signs with my hand-lettered logo on them and set up my booth with all the love and care I could muster. I even created order menus on long canvases so customers could choose exactly what they wanted. The show was a hit! I spent the weekend hand-lettering live for customers, and at one point, I had a line of about 10 people waiting to have something created. It was a whirlwind, but it felt so good to be doing what I loved and seeing others appreciate it.
It was at that trade show that Southern Scribble took another unexpected turn. A bride-to-be stopped by my booth and fell in love with my neon sign. She asked if I could make one for her wedding. At that moment, I hadn’t even considered offering neon signs as part of my services, but something inside me said, “Why not?” I told her yes and immediately got to work figuring out how to make it happen. Two weeks later, her custom neon wedding sign was delivered, and I realized that Southern Scribble could be so much more than I had initially imagined.
But while things were picking up for Southern Scribble, my personal life was about to take a significant turn. In June 2021, I welcomed my beautiful daughter, Memphis, into the world. Becoming a mother was the most incredible experience, but it also came with challenges I hadn’t anticipated. By September, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety. It was a tough time, and I found myself feeling drained and burned out, trying to juggle being a new mom, a wife, still working full time managing seven companies, managing my husband’s company, and being a business owner. *takes a deep breath* Wow. Something had to give.
After much reflection and support from my husband, I made the brave decision to leave my full-time job and fully commit to Southern Scribble. It was terrifying, but I knew it was the right choice for my mental health and my family. With Memphis in full-time childcare, I was able to focus entirely on my business, and on December 3, 2021, I opened the Southern Scribble storefront and studio.
Opening my own storefront was a dream come true, but it also came with unexpected challenges—especially the overhead costs. As I navigated this new chapter, I started to notice that my customers were looking for more than just hand-lettered signs; they wanted logos, business cards, and branding services. So, I leaned into that demand and launched Digiscribble, offering logo and website design for entrepreneurs. It was another big pivot, but it was exactly what Southern Scribble needed to keep growing.
From February to July 2022, I immersed myself in self-education and client projects, learning everything I could about design, branding, and running a design business. I even enrolled in a group coaching program that gave me the strategy I needed to take Southern Scribble to the next level. But by July, the weight of the overhead was too much to bear. After a lot of prayer and the unwavering support of my husband, I made the heartbreaking decision to close my storefront. It felt like a failure, but deep down, I knew it was the right move for my business and my mental health.
Closing the storefront allowed me to refocus on what truly mattered—Southern Scribble’s mission and values. I spent the rest of the summer diving deep into personal development, reading books like Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis, which was a turning point for me. I realized that I loved offering digital services in the marketing space, and that’s when I decided to re-launch Southern Scribble as a marketing agency in November 2022.
Since then, Southern Scribble has been all about creating radiant branding and web designs that help boujee businesswomen radiate online. We specialize in professional branding, custom Squarespace website design, search engine optimization (SEO), and LED neon signs. We specialize in helping female entrepreneurs reach their next level of success. I’m here to make sure your vision becomes a reality—with a whole lot of sparkle and Southern charm.
What sets Southern Scribble apart? For starters, we don’t do cookie-cutter. I’ve seen way too many Canva-made logos and surface-level branding that lacks depth and meaning. At Southern Scribble, I pour my heart into creating designs that are authentic, vibrant, and full of life—just like the women I work with. We don’t just hand over a pretty design and call it a day. I’m all about empowering my clients with the tools and knowledge they need to take control of their brand. Whether it’s teaching you how to make updates to your website or providing you with a brand strategy that aligns with your goals, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a fellow woman entrepreneur light up when she sees her brand come to life. I’m a firm believer in women supporting women, and my mission with Southern Scribble is to help you shine as brightly as possible—whether that’s through a killer website, a standout logo, or a neon piece of art that speaks to your soul.
At the core of everything I do are my values: family, connection, women empowerment, God, authenticity, peace, joy, healing, bright colors, and sparkle. These values guide me in every project, and I bring my whole self to the table, sharing my journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. I believe in creating genuine connections with my clients, understanding their needs, and helping them achieve their goals.
As I look ahead, my vision for Southern Scribble is to continue expanding, hiring more female designers, and reaching even more creative women who are ready to realize their potential. I want to help as many women as possible start their dreams, just as I did. Because when one woman succeeds, we all succeed.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Together, we can create a world where every woman’s brand shines brightly, radiating joy and empowerment.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the most significant pivots in my entrepreneurship journey was the shift from offering physical products to focusing on services. When I first started Southern Scribble, I was all about the tangible—hand-lettered signs, coffee mugs, and other creative items. I loved the process of creating something beautiful that people could hold in their hands. But as time went on, I started noticing a change in what my customers were asking for.
People weren’t just looking for cute signs or custom mugs; they were coming to me for help with their branding, logos, and website designs. It was clear that there was a growing demand for these services, and I realized I had the skills and creativity to meet that need. So, I made the decision to pivot from focusing on products to offering a full suite of branding and digital marketing services.
This shift wasn’t easy. It required me to step out of my comfort zone, invest time in learning new skills, and reimagine what Southern Scribble could be. But it was also incredibly rewarding. By making this pivot, I was able to align my business more closely with my passion for helping women entrepreneurs radiate online. I moved from selling individual products to offering comprehensive services that could make a real impact on my clients’ businesses.
Looking back, this pivot was a turning point that allowed Southern Scribble to evolve into the vibrant, creative agency it is today. It allowed me to scale my business and avoid the burnout I was experiencing. It taught me the importance of listening to my customers, being adaptable, and having the courage to change direction when it’s needed. This experience showed me that sometimes, the best way to grow is to let go of what’s familiar and embrace new opportunities.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
My side hustle definitely turned into my full-time business, but it wasn’t an overnight success story—it was more of a journey filled with twists, turns, and a whole lot of grit. Southern Scribble started as a passion project, something I did on the side while working my full-time job. In the early days, I was creating hand-lettered signs, coffee mugs, and other small products, all from my kitchen table. I would work late into the night after putting in a full day at the office, fueled by the belief that this creative outlet could turn into something more.
The turning point came when I realized that my side hustle had the potential to be more than just a hobby. My first big break was when I attended the Affair of the Heart trade show in Oklahoma City. Setting up a booth with my hand-lettered signs and watching people line up to buy my creations was an eye-opener. It was then that I saw the true potential of what I was building. I knew that if I could connect with people on that level, there was no limit to what Southern Scribble could become.
One of the key milestones in this journey was when I transitioned from offering just physical products to focusing on services. I noticed that my clients were starting to ask for more than just signs—they wanted logos, business cards, and websites. I took a leap of faith, dove into self-education, and expanded my offerings to include digital services. That was a pivotal moment because it allowed me to scale my business in a way that products alone couldn’t.
Another major milestone was the decision to leave my full-time job after the birth of my daughter, Memphis. Balancing motherhood, my job, and Southern Scribble was taking a toll on my mental health. I knew something had to give, and with the support of my husband, I made the bold choice to go all-in on my business. It was terrifying, but it was also the best decision I ever made.
After going full-time, I faced the challenge of managing a physical storefront. It was a huge learning experience, and while the storefront didn’t work out the way I had planned, it taught me valuable lessons about overhead, customer traffic, and market demand. When I closed the store, I felt like I was starting over, but it was actually a fresh start—a chance to refine my business model and focus on what I truly loved.
Since then, Southern Scribble has evolved into a vibrant marketing agency that specializes in branding, web design, SEO, and neon signs. The journey from side hustle to full-time business wasn’t easy, but every challenge along the way has shaped Southern Scribble into what it is today. The milestones were more than just moments of success; they were stepping stones that pushed me to grow, adapt, and ultimately create a business that I’m deeply proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southernscribble.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernscribble
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernscribble
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmichellehenderson/
Image Credits
Paige Rains Photography