We recently connected with Madeline Stewart and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Madeline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Upon graduating, at age 23 was offered a position as a sales representative for Hickory White & Lillian August Fine Furniture representing these brands across five states. At 24, I was the top sales writer at Spring & Fall Furniture Market for the company. At 25, I became the first on-site sales representative for a top 5 customer representing all 8 brands of the Sherrill Furniture Companies. Then, at 26, I became the first female executive on the corporate marketing team for Sherrill Furniture Brands. Within a year, I was promoted to Senior Marketing Manager and led the company in an omni-channel marketing approach syncing web, social and print promotions across the company. During my time at Sherrill, I was recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today (’20) and received the Future Leader Award from a nonprofit, WithIt, for my focus on giving back to the college students within the WithIt community and my impact on the corporate side of the industry as a young, forward-thinking female professional in a male-dominated industry. I led the Withit community in a virtual student networking event during covid in 2020 to allow students to experience the furniture industry and learn about networking and career options in our industry during a difficult time in their college career. I also was a student mentor in ’20 and ’21 for Withit and ’20 for the Wilson College of Textiles.

In 2021 I got married and had the opportunity to leave my corporate role with the company I loved and join my husband’s family business in the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC. I was super scared to start this new chapter of my professional career in the home and garden industry but knew it was where I was supposed to be. I left Sherrill and joined the Mustard Seed with the hopes of building a marketing sector for the company and launching a design business and home store with my mother-in-law, Danielle Stewart. Within two weeks of me joining the family business, we found out that the offer we placed on a building was approved and we had a location for the new store. I got my Interior Design Certification from the New York Institute of Art & Design and focused on growing the marketing sector for the company as well as merchandising and buying for the new retail location. In our second year of business, the home store was awarded 2023 Best Home Decor & Best Gift Shop in Watauga County, 2023 Retail Star by Home Accents Today, and the finalist for a 34 ART Award for Home Accents Stores on the East Coast. I was also recognized as 1 of 20 top execs in the Home Accents category by Home Accents Today. While I was terrified of leaving my career in corporate marketing and joining a small, family-owned business, I am so glad I had the opportunity to transition into working with my husbands family at the Mustard Seed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Growing up in High Point, NC, with a father in the fabric industry, I knew I wanted to start a furniture-related career. I graduated from NC State with a degree in Textiles, concentration in Brand Management & Marketing, in 2016. I started fresh out of college as an independent sales representative in the Southeastern for Hickory White and Lillian August. I then transitioned into a retail store gallery liaison at one of the company’s largest accounts on the East Coast, representing all 9 of the Sherrill Furniture Company’s brands. I grew a 5-state territory and was one of the top business writers.

During this time, I was critical in the launch of the Outdoor division for Lillian August. I helped structure the sales and marketing for the brand launch along with the VP of sales, Patrick Foster, at Casual Market in Chicago. This success positioned me to move into the corporate side and is the Senior Marketing Manager for all 8 divisions of the Sherrill Furniture Companies. During this role, I increased social presence and activity on multiple platforms, revitalized catalog structure and selling tools, and excelled in press relations for all 8 divisions of the Sherrill Furniture Companies. I was recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today at Sherrill Furniture. In addition, I received the 2020 Future Leader Award from the nonprofit, Withit, the lead supporter of women in the Home furnishings industry. I also was a student mentor for the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State and Withit to help encourage and support students in the home furnishings and textile industry.

I married on New Year’s Eve in 2021 and joined my husband, Ian Stewart’s, family business in the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC, called the Mustard Seed Market. In 2022 we launched the business’s second location, Mustard Seed Home. I am the Marketing Director for the company, a buyer for both locations, merchandising lead, and the Project Manager for the Interior Design business, Mustard Seed Home. During my time in this position, we have been awarded Best Home Decor & Gift Shop in Watauga County (’23), Retail Star by Home Accents Today (’23), and a Finalist for the 34 ART Award for the Home Accents Stores on the East Coast. I personally was recognized as 1 of 20 top home accents industry executives in “People To Watch” by Home Accents Today as well.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

A significant pivot I faced in my career was adjusting from corporate life to a small, family-owned business platform. In corporate, vacation time was set and structured as well as lunch breaks, holidays, work time, etc. Once I transitioned into a family owned business, I was able to make my own schedule. Instead of working 40+ hours in an office with a set schedule, I was now moving between two stores and still working 40+ hours but on my own time frame. This transition was initially difficult for me to adjust to being able to leave or take a day off if I needed to, I felt like I was doing something wrong or doing the company a disservice, however, I realized the importance of work-life balance and how important the freedom of time management was for me during this stage of my life. While I initially craved the structure and rigidness of corporate management, I came to love the freedom of a small business mentality.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is the ability to give back. As a local family owned business in a small town, we have a significant impact on those around us. We have been blessed with a profitable business that allows us to donate and give to not only those around us, but also those across the US. From a creative stand[point, we deliver fresh flower arrangements to local ‘shut-ins’ or women who are unable to leave their homes. We offer a wreath making or floral arrangement class to the widows of ‘Never Alone’ and Hospitality House where all proceeds benefit these charities. We provided container design at the Edgewood Cottage to support the local artists in residence program. We decorate and donate two Christmas trees each year to benefit the Western Youth Network. These donations are centered around our creativity as well as who we are as a business that loves to support our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mustardseedblowingrock.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinebrownstewart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mustardseedmarketandhome/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinebrownfurniture/