M Group Retail: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Tuesday Chat with Ashlea

Welcome back to Tuesday chat. This week I am really excited to introduce you to the newest member of the McCarthy Designs and Occasion's team.

Ashlea is our new full time staff member and the person you will most likely be dealing with when you shop with us.

I thought it would be a great opportunity for you all to get to know Ashlea and also to let you all know that we are now open Monday through to Friday from 9am until 5.30pm! Yay!!!

Ashlea has also made great headway into updating our online shop so please make sure you check it out and remember to come back as Ashlea still has lots of goodies to load.

www.mccarthydesigns.com.au

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1. Tell us a bit about you.I am Mum to two beautiful children, Ruby 4 and Lochlan 3. I love to read novels and occasionally write stories.

2. What does a normal day look like for you? A normal day starts with a crazy morning getting the children up, breakfast and all getting dressed. Next is the half an hour car trip to day care then off to work. Maybe a quick shop on my lunch break and back to work for the afternoon. After work I pick up Ruby and Lochlan and head back home. Ruby and Lockie both love to help cook dinner, especially if it’s homemade pizza night. Then bath and shower time. After the kids go to bed it’s time for an episode of my favourite show Spicks and Specks. A quick clean up, then a couple of chapters of whatever book I’m lost in and finally bedtime.

3. Most used small appliance in your kitchen?My kettle by far. I love coffee in the mornings and tea before bed.

4. Do you buy things for your house because they look pretty or because they are functional and serve a purpose?I like to have a mix of both and better yet is when I find something not only pretty but also functional. I find with two small children I tend to go for more functional items.

5. What is your dream job?My dream job is to be a published author. I would love to write a book one day and have it sold in bookshops internationally.

6. Do you have a major goal this year and what is it?My major goal this year was to find a full-time position doing something I enjoy and fortunately I have managed to achieve that.

7. Would you consider yourself to be a creative person?I don’t think I’m overly creative but I would like to be especially with decorating my house.

8. If yes, Where do you get your inspiration from?My inspiration with to decorate has come from watching too much House Rules.

9. Are you a homebody or a traveller?I love to travel but coming home is always a good feeling. If I had to choose I would probably say that I’m a traveller.

10. How do you relax?The best way to relax is to sit in front of the fire with a good book and a cup of tea, something I try to do every night before bed.Thanks Ashlea for taking the time to let us all get to know you a bit better. Please drop in and meet Ashlea in person I am sure she'd love to see you :-)

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Tuesday Chat - Nourish & Nurture

Today's Tuesday Chat is with Tabitha from Nourish & Nurture. If you haven't had a look at Tabitha's page I highly recommend you do, it is just gorgeous!

1. Tell us a bit about you and what you sell/make?

I am a bit of an all round creative, who started in the textiles and fashion field, then moved onto graphic design and illustration and am now making natural skin care products. I have always loved to create and make and also learn and try new things. I am currently making and selling my own natural skin care/ beauty product line including scrubs, creams, lip balms and baby skin care. My products are made with all natural ingredients, and I design my own packaging.

2. Why did you start to make and sell your own products?

I had been working as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, but when my son came along, I found it challenging to get much work done at the computer, and was mostly one getting some done while he was sleeping, which isn’t much time really. On the side I had been doing some research into making my own natural cleaning and beauty products, as I had been reading a lot about all the chemicals in regular products, and with a child in the house wanted to reduce the number of chemicals we were using and also save money while I was at it. After getting into it all and creating some great alternatives to our cleaning and beauty products at home, I realised they were all easy to make with a toddler around, as most was quick to make and done in the kitchen rather than at a desk. So having had previous experience with selling handmade goods in the past, I decided to give it a shot, and start my own natural beauty product line.

3. What does a normal day look like for you?

Get woken up by my cheeky toddler, then quickly check emails and notifications on my phone. Get my little man dressed and make us breakfast. After breakfast I do a short workout to help keep fit and give me more energy for the day, than shower and get dressed. My son usually naps around lunch time, so the rest of the morning is spent playing, doing work and cleaning, whatever we can fit in! While he naps, its my time to get on the computer and do some computer work, which includes graphic work, packaging, listing and sorting sales. Then in the afternoons, we often like to go out for a walk (which is a great time to take things in and get inspired), sometimes to the shops or a park or just to the post box to mail off orders. The afternoons fly, as we eat dinner around 5pm, and its bath time at 6:30. Once the little man is in bed around 7, then its back to doing some work for me or relax for a bit!

4. Where are you most creative/what time of the day are you most creative?

I used to be a late night creative, but since having a child, and the day being so busy (therefore be pretty tired by the evening), my prime time now seems to be mid-afternoon, once I am really into the swing of the day and can get down to creating.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I am mostly inspired by the world around me and nature. I love going for walks and taking in all the natural beauty.

6. Do you buy things for your house because they look pretty or because they are functional and serve a purpose?

I love buying pretty things. My husband is a bit more of a ‘functional’ person then me, so we do our best to compromise on this, but my office is my little place full of things that have no purpose other than to look at.

7. What is your dream job?

Working for myself and making things. I don’t think my ‘dream’ is necessarily specific, I just want to create and design in a flexible environment and work on projects I love.

8. Do you have a major goal this year and what is it?

Well since I have started this new venture this year, my goal is to really get the new business of the ground and make it successful.

9. Are you a homebody or a traveller?

I love to travel and see new things, but I think I am a homebody at heart.

10. How do you relax?

Snuggled up on the couch reading a book or magazine.

Thank you Tabitha for taking the time to let us get to know a bit more about you, we wish you all the best with Nourish and Nurture!

Make sure you pop back next week for another Tuesday chat. Have a great week! xx

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Tuesday Chat - Handcraft Heaven

Today's Tuesday Chat is a bit different again, I thought it would be a great idea to list all of our current suppliers here for you in one place.

Please take some time to pop over to each one to see what they make you can click on the suppliers logo or name to take you directly to their face book page.

Don't forget you can find products from all of these in our shop at 15 William St, Orange or visit our Facebook page and if you see anything you like contact us, we are happy to arrange postage.