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

Megan , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

Title: From Beauty to Resilience: A Journey of Transformation and Discovery

As an account executive in the beauty industry, the onset of Covid in 2020 shattered my world, leading to the loss of my job and witnessing the collapse of my of the beauty industry. Transitioning to the role of an essential worker in commercial pest control marked a stark contrast from my glamorous past. The shift from beauty to bugs was a profound adjustment.

Amidst the global recovery post-Covid, a yearning to reignite my artistic passions and delve into my fashion aspirations ignited within me. Having previously dabbled in styling for renowned French designer Christian Audigier, the opportunity to work as a clothier felt like a beckoning call back to my roots.

Securing a role after a successful interview, my euphoria was short-lived as health issues began to plague me. Overwhelming fatigue, severe abdominal pain, and persistent inflammation filled my days, leaving me feeling like my body was in a state of shutdown. Despite my initial hesitation, confiding in my supervisor yielded no reprieve.

The quest for answers led me to a pivotal moment in the summer of 2023 when a visit to my OB/GYN, armed with crucial insights from my concerned boyfriend, set the stage for a breakthrough. I was sent in for a colonoscopy which gave us the answers we needed and major surgery was set in motion.

As I was heading back from my doctor’s appointment, my then-boyfriend gazed at me and expressed his inability to envision a future together, indicating his desire to end our relationship. Despite sensing this sentiment repeatedly, this instance felt distinct. With little job support, I suddenly found myself feeling utterly isolated and overwhelmed by fear.

Megan , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Growing up, I always admired the beauty industry, paging through glamour magazines and envisioning myself as part of that world, whether as a fashion designer, makeup artist, or photographer. Despite attempting modeling, I lacked the confidence required. However, my knack for fashion advice and makeup artistry led me to a successful career as a makeup artist for renowned brands like Mac, Cover FX, and NARS. In my early twenties, I had a remarkable opportunity to oversee the Ed Hardy store for designer Christian Audigier, where I honed my styling skills. In 2020, amidst industry changes, I transitioned to a new role as a clothier/stylist, crafting bespoke clothing from scratch for clients—a return to my childhood dream of being a fashion designer.

Following some health challenges, I transitioned from working at a prominent custom clothing company to being recruited by a local family-run business to establish their external sales custom clothing division. Despite having a non-compete agreement with my former employer, I pondered if this new opportunity was feasible. Taking a leap of faith, I contacted Carl Emery, the owner of Harris and Howard bespoke in England, to explore launching my own venture. Carl graciously mentored me, and I officially joined Harris and Howard in November 2023. While the beginning has been challenging, I am thrilled with the journey so far.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Many artists are not natural salespeople; we simply aim to express our creativity and share our art. In the sales realm, most companies expect a relentless pursuit of deals with a hunter mentality. When selling your art or services, cold calling and door knocking are often necessary. It can be tough to face rude responses during cold calls. It would be great if society embraced the idea that it’s acceptable to politely decline, listen to the pitch, and even suggest it to someone who might be interested.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

At the time I was having surgery and my boyfriend had just broken up with me, not only did my company not support me in any way but many people even questioned if my surgery was real because I had bounced back so quickly after having major surgery. Because of the lack of support, I found myself accepting a job that didn’t feel right but I was so unhappy with the previous company and the way I was being treated, I took the job. After only few months there I was being harassed and sent legal letters and emails weekly because of a non compete I had not realized I signed. Although the mom and pop company I worked for told me they would protect me no matter what, I quickly realized that was not the case.

What was I going yo do? Start all over in a different industry after pouring so much time and energy into learning how to be a clothier? I was quickly running out of money and didn’t have the resources to start my own business but ultimately I knew I had to work for myself in order to give the amazing customer service I always tried to provide for my clients. I had met Carl at a training. We clicked because we had both worked for the same company and had the same thoughts on how that company was not the best company to work for or work with.

So naturally I reached out to Carl. He was incredibly kind and generous, he bought me a flight to England and sent me on a 10 days training session to visit fabric finishers, and fabric makers, tailoring shops to show how a garment is handmade. I learned more in this 10 days than I had in the time I worked for TJ. I was excited and ready to crush it.

Unfortunately I hit another road block. Finding more threats and personal attacks from my previous company, Many artists are not natural salespeople; we simply aim to express our creativity and share our art. In the sales realm, most companies expect a relentless pursuit of deals with a hunter mentality. When selling your art or services, cold calling and door knocking are often necessary. It can be tough to face rude responses during cold calls. It would be great if society embraced the idea that it’s acceptable to politely decline, listen to the pitch, and even suggest it to someone who might be interested. I found myself wanting to give up.

Carl had spent 12 years building his clients in Houston Texas, where he had several sales reps, all of the sudden he had and opening for me in Houston. It has been a lot of work and I’ve faced many challenges along the way, but my hard work is paying off and I’m incredibly lucky and grateful for people like Carl.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.harrisandhoward.com
• Instagram: Harris and Howard Bespoke
• Facebook: Harris and Howard Bespoke
• Linkedin: Harris and Howard Bespoke Tailors