We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Madeline Stewart. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Madeline below.

Madeline, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I grew up in High Point, North Carolina, the world’s furniture capital, and always dreamed of working in the furniture and design industry. I graduated high school, attended NC State, and studied at the Wilson College of Textiles in Brand Management and Marketing. My dad was a fabric salesman then, and I knew that my knowledge of textiles, marketing, and business management would be instrumental in my career. Once I graduated, I interviewed with Sherrill Furniture and was given the Southeastern Territory for Hickory White and Lillian August. I was so scared but also so excited. Moving to Atlanta fresh out of college and having the opportunity to represent and sell two well-known furniture lines was a dream come true. I felt a lot of pressure as the youngest sales representative in company history at age 23, and working with retailers, interior designers, and trade showrooms in a five state territory was a big area to manage. However, as a woman in their early twenties, I was nervous about how I would compare when competing against other salesmen and women who had been in his territory and formed relationships for years prior. I gave it a shot, and at age 24, I was the top sales writer at Spring and Fall Furniture Markets. I started to miss home and wanted to be closer to my family in the North Carolina region. I met with Sherrill and secured a position as the first on-site sales representative for all 8 Sherrill Furniture divisions at one of the company’s top 5 customers in North Carolina. During this time, I worked with the VP of Sales on marketing objectives and product launches for Lillian August’s Outdoor collection. I had the opportunity to go to Casual Market in Chicago and help with sales, marketing, and photography during the collection’s launch. This positioned me to move into the corporate marketing side of the industry at age 26 as one of the first female executives on the marketing team for Sherrill Furniture. I helped restructure catalog design and increase social media presence, press relations, and photography capabilities. Under the VP of Marketing, Dax Allen, I worked with shelter publications, growing the company’s digital footprint and working on design and photography under industry leaders; it was an incredible opportunity and the best experience. I was recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today and the 2020 Future Leader Award from Withit, Women In The Home Furnishings.

A few years later, I met my husband Ian, and we were married in 2021. Shortly after, I joined his family’s 30-year-old business, the Mustard Seed, in the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC. This was the hardest decision I had ever made: Should I leave the corporate position and company I had worked for over 6 years and loved and take a risk by joining a small, family business? What if we don’t work well together and our marriage fails? I prayed about this opportunity, and within 24 hours, Ian’s mom called me and let me know that we had the chance to open a home decor and furniture store and had been awarded the lease at a fun and unique building 3 miles from our home. I knew I had made the right decision once we received this information. I began to create an omnichannel marketing structure and establish the second location, Mustard Seed Home, with my retail and manufacturing knowledge of the home furnishings industry. I now specialize in marketing, public relations, merchandising, styling, and buying for the Mustard Seed shops. In the past three years under my leadership, Mustard Seed Home was recognized as the best home decor store in Watauga County in ’23 and ’24, and was a finalist for the East Coast/Atlantic Region 34th and 35th ART Awards. I have also been recognized as a Retail Star in Home Accents Today and am a 2025 Trend Advisor for the magazine.

Taking the risk of changing careers and working with family in my thirties was daunting and scary, but it was one of my life’s most significant opportunities.

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.

Madeline is a High Point native and graduated from the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State University with a BS in Textiles Marketing and Brand Management. She is an Allied ASID member and has her certification in Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art and Design. For eight years, she has worked in marketing, B2B sales, and senior management in furniture manufacturing. In 2022, Madeline joined her husband’s family business, the Mustard Seed Market, to create an omnichannel marketing structure and establish their second location, Mustard Seed Home. Madeline specializes in marketing, public relations, merchandising, styling, and buying for the Mustard Seed shops. Under her leadership, Mustard Seed Home was recognized as the best home decor store in Watauga County in ’23 and ’24, and was a finalist for the 34th and 35th ART Awards. Madeline has been recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today, People To Watch and Retail Star in Home Accents Today and was the recipient of the 2020 Future Leader Award from WITHIT. Madeline is also a dance teacher, student mentor, and the reigning Mrs. North Carolina American. She currently resides with her husband and two dogs in the mountains of North Carolina.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

One of my favorite marketing moves was investing in a canon camera! Having the clarity and photography capabilities has given me the opportunity to grow social media presence and have high quality images to submit to magazines!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Customer service is still the best work of mouth in the home decor and retail industry. Our team goes above and beyond in trying to work with and help all of our customers. We offer special order and interior design and styling capabilities and also have events and workshops throughout the year to engage with and grow our community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mustardseedblowingrock.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinebrownstewart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maddie.brown.73113/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/madelinebrownfurniture/

Image Credits

Headshot by Ashley Olson Photography, Product and Store Photography by Madeline Stewart