We recently connected with Mary Campbell and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Mary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?
I’ve had some, shall we say, interesting bosses in the past and one of the most important things I have learned is that, above anything else, respect and gratitude are two of the most important things you can show someone who is working with you. And this is across the board…whether it is your most important customer, the lady at the UPS store who takes your deliveries, your accountant, or your business partner, respecting the time, talents and the energy that they put into making your business successful is so important. And showing gratitude. We talk a lot about gratitude these days but it is as simple as saying “thank you” and remembering that being able to run a business that you love and have passion for is truly a gift.
Mary, 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?
I was 12 years old when I encountered the power of horses and their ability to transform our lives. At a time when I was struggling with severe anxiety and nothing else could reach me, my horse did…and I’m not alone. There are countless people who have been transformed by their experiences with horses and it is undeniable the powerful lessons we can learn through horsemanship. Patience,flexibility, perseverance, responsibility, balance and confidence are just a few.
I’d been working in the creative/marketing world for the last 16 years and when I got back into riding horses after taking 20 years off, I was sure there were fun modern brands out there that would reflect my aesthetic—bright, colorful, pattern driven design. I know the equestrian world tends to be very traditional but I assumed it had evolved since I was child. I was surprised not to find much that really spoke to me and was also at a crossroads in my career where I was ready to leave my full time job and transition back to contract work and realized I had an opportunity to create my own brand that would marry my personal passions with my professional talents—so I got to work!
My mission is to create beautiful, well designed products that tell the story of the human-horse connection. I work, every single day, to uplift our community and bring a positive voice to the equestrian world. I believe that everyone who has a desire to, belongs in the equestrian world and I am committed to supporting and showcasing all kinds of riders and horses.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I am very honest about who I am. I am real, approachable, empathetic and a little bit edgy (I do use the F word a lot)! I think people relate to my personal stories and the stories I share about other riders and horses. I’m very much a what you see is what you get kind of person in life and in business and I think–in a world where everyone filters (both literally and figuratively) who they are–I don’t. I’m not perfect, my social media is not perfect but I do my very best and I think that resonates with people. I also am confident enough to offer something new and different which I think people really enjoy and look forward to.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Just be real. There is so much pressure to (over) produce content and I think it just contributes to people feeling poorly about themselves. Be honest about who you are but you also don’t have to over-share–the world does not need to know every single thing about you. And, for godssake, have a sense of humor…if you can’t laugh at yourself and give yourself a little grace, then you’re not living right.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maregoods.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maregoods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maregoods
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mare-modern-goods
Image Credits
DJ Van Cronkhite Kristen Lee Melinda Davidson Anita Buzzy Prentiss Erin Wheeler