We got The 411 from Margaret and Kevin of Pearl River’s Murphy Wood Art on merging each of their hobbies into owning and operating an art and decor business.

Thank you for giving us a peek inside your creative world! Let’s start with learning a bit about the business and how long you've been in the game.

Margaret: Kevin had started selling some woodworking items here and there to friends and family. I saw an opportunity to join forces with him and apply my art skills in a new way. When my other business was interrupted by COVID restraints, I poured my energy into creating more art and building out the business. Since then, we set up a website and built up our social media following and client base, follower-by-follower and client-by-client. We’ve been in business officially since around March 2020.

In continuing to navigate the progression of Murphy Wood Art, what does a typical day look like for you and Kevin?

Margaret: Our day-to-day varies constantly. Since we are running a business out of our house while raising our kids, we often have to pivot and adjust according to their needs and schedules while juggling projects and a household. We share a workspace and try to alternate who's in the space so we're not on top of each other. Since there's plenty to do, we are usually able to coordinate who's doing computer-based work while the other is in the studio or workshop. Kevin may do supply runs while I handle marketing and social media. We try to keep a healthy balance of interacting with clients face-to-face and extending our reach in our online community. We have formed relationships with so many great clients and vendors as a result of this work.

There are so many obstacles in launching a business, some we expect and some we can’t plan for. What was unexpected about starting Murphy Wood Art?

Margaret: I didn't realize how complicated it was to set up an e-commerce business, and the back-end technology is overwhelming and frustrating at times. We've also had to deal with a down economy and rising material costs, which makes a profit more elusive than expected. The world of social media can be all-consuming, but it's been a good way to get our story out there.

We were pleasantly surprised by how far people will go to support our business, coming out to rainy street fairs, buying multiple gifts from us at a time, traveling to attend exhibits, and sharing our work online and by word of mouth. It's really touching to see people "show up" for us literally and figuratively.

What strategies have worked well in bringing customers, clients, and audiences "through" your front door?

Margaret: Relationships are at the core of our marketing. We started selling to friends and family and then our clients became friends. When we get new clients, they often stay "in our world" for the long term. It's great to build an online community, but it's a challenge to form personal relationships via social media. Therefore, when we get people "through our door," it's our focus to keep them as part of our community. Quality products are also essential to keeping a client base. If they didn't like what they were getting, they wouldn't come back. They have to have a good experience and get a quality product. This is where we try to shine as a small business.

Having gone through the business development process, what's been the most gratifying aspect of creating and owning Murphy Wood Art?

Margaret: There are so many gratifying aspects of this business. For the most part, we can work around our family, which is very important to us. Also, it's gratifying to create something with passion and have someone else reflect that passion when they purchase it. We've also made some great contacts and friends as a result. Finally, it's unreal to build something from scratch and see it grow over time. There are times when it feels like we're spinning our wheels, and then, in another moment, different things will take off at once.

I can imagine how gratifying it must be to experience the growth of a piece from start to finish. With that, what’s the best advice you'd give to someone starting their own business?

Margaret: Time. Give it time. There is so much "noise" out there, especially on social media, featuring people who claim overnight success. Few people talk about the months and years of "no-to-slow growth" and failures sprinkled in along the way. But with patience, resilience, and a community that will cheer you on, things eventually start clicking. I'd also tell people to develop a thick skin for failure and rejection because success does not come without some of that along the way.

Finally, what are your hype songs?

Margaret: Our days are pretty chaotic, so instead of "hype songs," we usually try to create a zen energy in our shop with some Vance Joy, Hozier, or the Lumineers. If we are looking to turn the energy up, we turn to artists like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift.

Listen to Margaret’s, Kevin’s and all previous biz owner interviewees’ hype songs on the Heard It On Main St. playlist on Spotify