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

Mandy, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about growing your team – how did you recruit the first few people, what was the process like, how’d you go about training and if you were to start over today would you have done anything differently?

I was one of the first few hired on here at Domestic Domestic. At the time I was working solely as a musician and didn’t have a regular 9 to 5. In fact, Heather initially hired me to provide music for the store’s first birthday party- a community picnic-style lunch we used to put on called Catfish Social. I just thought it was a really cool place and liked the people and the energy, so I decided to apply. From the start, I was trained on every aspect of running the shop. From point of sale operations and general shop maintenance to merchandising and managing online orders. I learned how to build new products online and soon took on responsibility for the general upkeep of our site. Everything was super hands-on from the jump, which I loved. Each shift presented this opportunity to become fully invested in my work in a way I hadn’t experienced before and I really embraced that. Heather was a steadfast leader and I was fortunate to train directly under her. She was so genuinely excited about the products we sold- from the history if each company to every aspect of craftsmanship. It was contagious, and I found myself becoming equally excited about the idea of sharing such sustainable and well-made goods with our community here in Little Rock and beyond.

Mandy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Domestic Domestic began in 2013 with aspirations of taking a modern approach to quality, time-tested products. Since its conception, the brand has been committed to the heritage of American-made goods and, most importantly, to fairly employing the artisans and tradespeople who create them. Heather Smith, our fearless leader and the shop’s founder, dedicates countless hours to curating our unique and diverse collection- prioritizing superior craftsmanship, functionality, and design. Every product is chosen for a reason, each with its own story.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I feel like this area can be really tricky for a small business. Social media trends change so rapidly, and it can be tough to keep up. Especially when you’re running a smaller scale operation and wearing ALL the hats. More than anything, I’ve learned to lean into community and authenticity above all else. It doesn’t have to be perfect and we’re not always going to be on top of every new trend. But, at the end of the day, we’re still a really fun crew who believes in what we’re doing here. So our social media has become more of a peek into our everyday, rather than a direct marketing tool.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My greatest tidbits of advice would be – Remember to stay calm under pressure. Retail can be stressful, especially for a small business. But, as a leader, you are setting the tone for your team. Just take a breath, do the next right thing, and try your damnedest to stay out of the weeds! Be authentic and empathetic. And always communicate expectations clearly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.domesticdomestic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/domesticdomestic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/domesticdomestic
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopdomestic