We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bridget Green. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bridget below.
Alright, Bridget thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
I started Milagro Collective in 2018 as a solution to a big problem – our spiteful, adopted bulldog who likes to have “accidents” in every room and rug possible. We were cycling through machine-made rugs every few months, and when I began searching for quality, handmade rugs, the options were way out of our budget. I began sourcing vintage rugs straight from Turkey, then later began designing my own rugs to fill the need for odd and custom sizes with the traditional oushak style.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Milagro Collective is an online based retailer that offers carefully curated and designed modern oushak rugs. Founded by Texan, Bridget Green, Milagro Collective seeks to celebrate tradition and family by creating the perfect heirloom and the most grounding piece in a room… the rug! Our rugs are hand woven with 100% wool by third generation artisans in India whose work is an art form and true labor of love!
Milagro, Spanish for “Miracle,” and Collective together form the perfect recipe for design. Bridget’s “collective” style stems from the most prolific Southern design value: mixing the old with the new. Bridget finds balance in loved antiques with fresh, modern design. At Milagro Collective, we believe that a home, full of personalized touches and lots of pattern, color, and texture is one of life’s greatest joys.
Bridget’s inspiration in life comes from all things Southern – from childhood memories of Low Country summer vacations to the day she met the love of her life in Auburn, Alabama.
Since 2018, she operated as a one woman show (with a little help from her husband). That all changed in November 2021 when they welcomed their first baby, Lucy, to the team. She is already great at picking out the perfect wool color poms for the newest design and quickly learning the ins and outs of the rug business.
When Bridget’s not spending time with family, you can usually find her hunting estate sales, rearranging the furniture, or traveling. She looks forward to the opportunity to bring love, “miracles,” and a touch Southern hospitality to your home!
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
As the founder of Milagro Collective, the journey to fund our business was unconventional and rooted in trust and vision. Initially, we began with zero external funding. The idea was sparked by a simple yet profound act: sending $250 via Western Union to a talented weaver overseas. This was a leap of faith, grounded in the belief that this small investment could blossom into something more. The $250 was a personal saving, a sum that might seem modest but was significant for us at the time. It symbolized not just money, but a belief in the talent of the weaver and the potential of what we could create together. This initial investment was the cornerstone of Milagro Collective, laying the foundation for a business built on mutual trust, craftsmanship, and the vision of creating unique, meaningful products. It was a humble beginning, but one that truly encapsulated the essence of our brand and our commitment to authenticity and grassroots growth.
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
As the founder of Milagro Collective, we have chosen to exclusively use Shopify for our e-commerce needs. This decision was driven by a desire for a dedicated, customizable, and brand-centric online platform.
**Pros of Using Shopify:**
1. **Brand Control:** Shopify allows us to create a unique, branded online store that aligns with Milagro Collective’s identity. This autonomy in design and user experience is crucial for establishing and maintaining our brand image.
2. **Customization and Scalability:** The platform offers extensive customization options, allowing us to tailor the shopping experience to our specific needs. As our business grows, Shopify’s scalability ensures that our platform can grow with us.
3. **Integrated Tools and Analytics:** Shopify provides a suite of integrated tools for marketing, SEO, and analytics, which are invaluable for understanding our customer base and tailoring our marketing strategies.
4. **Security and Reliability:** As a hosted solution, Shopify takes care of server maintenance and upgrades, ensuring that our online store is always secure and operational.
**Cons of Using Shopify:**
1. **Costs:** While Shopify offers many benefits, it comes with monthly fees and transaction costs. For a small business, these costs can be significant, especially when starting out.
2. **Less Organic Traffic:** Unlike marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy, which have built-in customer bases, Shopify requires us to drive all traffic to our site. This demands a more robust marketing and SEO strategy.
3. **Learning Curve:** Building and managing a Shopify store requires a certain level of technical know-how, which can be a barrier for those less tech-savvy.
Overall, our choice to use Shopify aligns with our vision for Milagro Collective. It allows us to create a personalized, branded shopping experience and gives us the tools and flexibility needed to grow, albeit with some additional costs and efforts in driving traffic and managing the platform.
Contact Info:
- Website: Milagrocollective.com
- Instagram: @milagrocollective
- Facebook: @milagrocollective