We were lucky to catch up with Marwa Moukhalalati recently and have shared our conversation below.

Marwa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Growing up, I assisted my dad in our festive decoration store in Lebanon. After moving to the US to be with my husband, I missed decorating my home with culturally resonant decor. This led to the creation of Articles USA, whose mission is to make Middle Eastern-focused decor available in the USA.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Marwa Moukhalalati. I am a 28-year-old soon-to-be mother, wife, and owner of Articles USA. I grew up in Lebanon, where my family runs a decoration business named ‘Articles.’ In my mid-twenties, having witnessed how hard my parents worked to raise us and maintain the business, I set myself a goal to participate in the family business and help it grow. I worked in our family business in Lebanon for a few years before moving to the USA to be with my husband. Initially, after moving to the USA, I felt somewhat disoriented. On one hand, I was starting a new life with my partner, far away from my family. On the other hand, I was losing sight of my goal to help in my family’s business. Two years passed after moving to the USA, and with that, two years of holidays passed without my ability to decorate my home with the culturally resonant decor I had grown so accustomed to. That’s when it dawned on me to start Articles here in America. Looking back on when I made this decision, I realized that this was an entrepreneurial endeavor of a different magnitude compared to what I had experienced in my past jobs. I was running a one-woman show. From importing the products, to setting up an online platform, marketing, and participating in conventions, I had to carry the responsibilities of running a small business.
With this effort came achievements I am proud of. My store enabled my clients to decorate their homes with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired decor, allowing them to share their rich cultural heritage with their loved ones.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Back in Lebanon, my family’s business is well-established, having started over 30 years ago. When I first began working with my family, I learned the ins and outs of operating a mature business. However, when I started from scratch in the USA, much of what I had learned in Lebanon had to be unlearned. I found myself without a familiar reputation to present to my clients and without the helping hands I was accustomed to. Additionally, I had to adapt to the American way of building meaningful business relationships and conducting business. This experience significantly contributed to my growth as a businesswoman and as a person. Experiencing how a mature business operates provided me with a vision for what I strive to achieve with my business in the United States. Being exposed to both the Lebanese and American business models provided me with adaptability to different cultural and business settings, translating into flexibility in my business approach.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One year into starting the business, I participated in an out-of-state convention in Chicago. I had high hopes for this event, as it was known for attracting a large crowd that identified with our niche clientele. Unfortunately, my husband couldn’t be with me for most of the convention due to his work commitments. Additionally, the business had to bear significant shipping costs for our products to Chicago. The convention turned out to be a financial loss for the business. During this time, I also suffered a miscarriage, which weighed heavily on us as a family. It was a low point in my career as a business owner and in our lives as a couple. However, I got back up and tried again. Looking back, this experience taught me valuable lessons: to temper my expectations and understand the importance of work-life balance.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.articles-usa.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/articles.us?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==