Latest / Loud & Lifted / From Teacher to Founder: Building a Brand and Community with Margaret Miller

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From Teacher to Founder: Building a Brand and Community with Margaret Miller · Loud & Lifted

0:00
Welcome to loud and lifted the podcast where
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we go beyond hashtags and high fives to talk
0:05
about what women supporting women really looks
0:07
like Today's guest is someone I absolutely love
0:10
spending time with not just because she finds
0:12
me amazing clothes to rock and Definitely not
0:15
because you told me to stop wearing so much black,
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but because she's the real deal Meet Margaret
0:19
Miller, the founder, owner, and face of Three
0:22
Little Birds Boutique, a thriving three -location
0:25
fashion boutique in central Pennsylvania with
0:27
a fiercely loyal following and a whole lot of
0:29
heart. Margaret left a steady career in teaching
0:32
to chase a big dream, creating a space for women
0:34
to shop locally for clothing that helps them
0:36
look amazing and feel confident while providing
0:39
an exceptional customer experience. And it doesn't
0:42
stop there. Margaret has created her own clothing
0:45
line, Joe Flower, a house designer label exclusive
0:47
to TLB. But let's be honest, it hasn't always
0:51
been easy. In this episode, we're talking about
0:53
what it's like to be a woman, building something
0:55
bold, navigating judgment, and sometimes feeling
0:58
like you're not fully embraced by the community
1:00
you aim to uplift. We're getting real about how
1:03
to build genuine support. how to find your circle,
1:05
or create your own and how we can stop shrinking
1:08
ourselves just to keep things comfortable. Let's
1:10
get loud and lifted with the bold and brilliant
1:13
Margaret Miller. Welcome Margaret, or should
1:23
I say thank you for having us to your location.
1:26
We are actually on site at Three Little Birds
1:28
in Mechanicsburg and this beautiful room is actually
1:31
the dressing room. So this just gives you an
1:33
idea of this beautiful location here in Mechanicsburg.
1:35
So thank you so much for hosting us and allowing
1:38
us to be the first time we are on site, which
1:39
is a little sketchy. Yeah, this is going to be
1:42
a great run through. At least we have like a
1:44
great background to work with. But thank you
1:47
so much for having me. Absolutely. All right,
1:49
so let's go back to the beginning. I mentioned
1:50
in the intro that you actually started off as
1:53
a teacher, and now you are a fashionista. So
1:56
just walk us through how you went from teaching
1:58
to owning three boutiques. When I was younger,
2:01
I was often interested in fashion, doing my own
2:04
thing. I did my own hair. I was one of those
2:08
high schoolers that was a little creative. My
2:13
early days, I definitely thrifted. My parents
2:17
were working class. My mom was not into fashion,
2:23
so she wasn't going to spend any money on fashion
2:26
in that sense, but I loved doing hair and whatnot.
2:31
When I was making the decision to go to college
2:32
and what I wanted to do, I knew if I did do hair
2:35
though, the one thing she did value is education.
2:39
She said, if you're going to do this, I want
2:41
to send you to New York. At that time, family
2:44
was also really important to me and I was worried
2:46
that if I was in New York and work became my
2:49
life because I never how I am, that I would wait
2:53
on a family or it might not happen. So I decided
2:56
to go with teaching instead. Not that I was settling,
3:00
it was something else that I really enjoyed.
3:03
Obviously yapping, as my son says, I'm very good
3:06
at. So teaching about reading, I always enjoyed
3:09
English. I went that route and I kind of made
3:12
a deal with God and I was like just give me a
3:14
girl and I can do her hair and dress her up and
3:18
I'll get my like little fix which I did get my
3:20
girl. I, in fact, I was taking out her braids
3:25
this morning because she wanted crimped hair
3:26
today. Oh, nice. So I was braiding, but that
3:30
kind of propelled me into teaching and then I
3:33
had three under three. I had a set of twins and
3:36
then I had a baby pretty quick after not realizing
3:40
that it would happen that soon. So I left teaching
3:43
because my paycheck was daycare. And from there,
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I hopped into a direct sales called LuLaRoe.
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I discovered it. Oh my gosh, the legging error.
3:51
Can we just pause for that really great time?
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Yes, yes, yes. There will be people who kind
3:58
of casually, I don't want to say if they're digging
4:01
or they kind of make a comment like, oh, you
4:03
did LuLaRoe, how was that? And I kind of look
4:06
around and I'm like, well, it gave me this. Right,
4:09
and the confidence to sell. It was a great stepping
4:11
stone and it gave me the… financial gain I needed
4:15
to open this because sometimes it's cute when
4:18
people walk in and they're like, when's the next
4:20
store opening? There's a lot of money to open
4:24
a store. It's a lot of money and there's no bank,
4:27
even how cute I can be, that's going to be like,
4:30
oh my gosh, here, you can give it a try. It can
4:33
be tough in that. That's kind of how I... essentially
4:39
got back into fashion was Lula Rowe. When I turned
4:43
30, my husband took me to Vegas and he had dinner
4:45
and he was like, listen, I think you should do
4:47
this on your own. You're so successful with Lula
4:50
Rowe and they pick what they give you. And he
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was like, imagine if you got to pick. all the
4:58
clothes in your store, how much more successful
5:00
you would be because you're styling. The girls
5:03
really like how you run your business. So he
5:06
gave me the financial blessing. Basically, he's
5:08
like, I'll carry the family. Shout out to Tom.
5:10
Yeah. I'll carry the family and I want you to
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try this because I really think it's going to
5:15
work. So that's when I opened Mechanicsburg.
5:18
And what year was that when your first location
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opened? First location opened in two thousand
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eighteen however i started in two thousand seventeen
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one thing about building stores is whenever construction
5:30
tells you you add three to six months i'm learned
5:33
that fast so i redid our basement at a previous
5:38
home that had an outdoor access that people could
5:41
come in and shop until my doors were open because
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one thing. that some people don't know is like
5:47
we have to buy our inventory ahead of seasons.
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So I bought my inventory anticipating opening
5:52
2017 in an actual store. Well, the clothes still
5:57
come even though the doors aren't open. So I
6:00
have to figure out what to do. And then also
6:02
online. I was very lucky that a lot of my LuLaRoe
6:06
girls transitioned with me and were rooting for
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me and supporting me. That's amazing. You almost
6:11
had to start with a customer base, which is unusual.
6:12
Yeah, when I jumped into a different type of
6:15
clothing style. Did you have that like, oh shit
6:17
moments when the doors actually opened up the
6:20
location where you're like, well, like, this
6:21
is amazing. What have I done? Or, oh my God,
6:23
I can't believe I'm doing this. No, I was happy
6:25
to get all that stuff out of my house. True,
6:26
true. That's fair. No, I finally felt official.
6:31
I think with small businesses, There's some moments
6:35
where you're like, oh my gosh, I look legit.
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It could be something that you printed off of
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Canva that actually looks very professional to
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getting our signs done. I was like, wow, that
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actually looks like a sign that can compete with
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national brands. Oh, okay. I think it's little
6:56
stuff like that that I was... Kind of like it's
7:00
more of like it's real. It's real. I feel official
7:02
not that I'm trying like it's not a side gig
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It's not a hobby. It's not casual Well when you
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place your first inventory order, you probably
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realized it was real too when you had to send
7:09
that check I'm sure that was part of the fun
7:13
too. So what I love about you is you have not
7:16
just built this clothing brand, which is amazing.
7:18
I love that you sell brands that you can't find
7:20
in other parts of Central PA or are hard to find.
7:23
And the fact that you create your own clothing
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line is amazing. My shirt that I have on is a
7:27
Joe Flower shirt, one of many in my closet that
7:30
I love. But you also have become part of the
7:33
brand. Like this is your brand, this is your
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baby, but you're the face of the brand and your
7:36
social media really accentuates that. So was
7:40
that sort of intentional from the beginning or
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that just kind of happened naturally that your
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brand and the Three Little Birds brand is so
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closely aligned? I think, again, it stems back
7:49
to small business and your every part. When I
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first started, it was just me. And then I had
7:57
one employee and we've been growing since there.
8:00
And I'm sure for those who have followed, have
8:04
seen, I'm trying to bring in more faces, faces,
8:07
faces. My goal is when you walk in, not for people
8:10
to look for me. My goal, I love when people walk
8:14
in and they're like, oh my God, Maddie. Maddie's
8:16
here. I mean, secretly I roll my eyes. I'm like,
8:20
I get it. But I want girls to be comfortable
8:26
with. a whole group of us. When I envision women,
8:30
when they think of Margaret Miller, three little
8:33
birds, I want them to be like, man, I want to
8:35
hang out with them. They look fun. I'm sure everybody
8:40
has this friend. I want them to think of the
8:42
friend that they just go out with and are lifted
8:45
in the sense of just good energy and fun, and
8:48
you leave happier than when you came. Right.
8:51
what I would like us to be and that's kind of
8:54
our image and Instagram and that's why we do
8:57
the song and dance and stuff because we like
9:00
entertaining and we want people to laugh and
9:02
smile and have that jovial spirit. Absolutely.
9:06
It's a fun environment and you've done a great
9:07
job with that. And I remember before I actually
9:09
met you in real life watching you on social media,
9:13
I thought I'd be friends with her. I'd totally
9:14
be friends with her. So then when I did actually
9:16
see you at an event, we were in a women's group
9:18
at the time. I remember being like, oh, I need
9:19
to go talk to her because I knew that you would
9:21
be somebody that I would connect with and we'd
9:23
have stuff in common. Hopefully with the instagram
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alleviates the i don't think tensions the right
9:31
word but this stiffness that like business owners
9:35
bring like when i know the owner. Like, no, I
9:40
am a shit show just like everybody else. So people
9:43
who don't know me or haven't come in or haven't
9:46
experienced me in person can hopefully get across
9:49
that I'm not someone to be threatened by. Sure.
9:54
Yeah. You should not be. As I'm shaking hands,
9:57
I'm wondering, is my hand too strong? Oh my God,
9:59
I'm sweating. Like I'm in the insecurities of
10:04
impressing you as much as you think that you're
10:08
impressing me. Like, I mean, it's just. Well,
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and you guys, you do keep it real. You keep it
10:12
real with, you know, you are all the ones trying
10:14
the clothing on that are in different sizes.
10:15
I love when you do your, you know, extra small
10:17
to extra large sizes. This is what this dress
10:19
looks on me. Like, I love all that. And, you
10:22
know, you show up on camera in front of your
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10 ,000 followers without makeup on and a big
10:26
zit or whatever. And you just, you keep it very
10:28
authentic and real, which is your brand. That
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is true to who you are. Yes. I think when it
10:34
comes to, and this is where my eighth grade teacher
10:36
comes Fully out is just embracing that it is
10:41
nothing is perfect. Right? Your body is not going
10:44
to be perfect of what you see in your eyes However,
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somebody is out there looking at something you
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don't you have that that they don't have and
10:51
they think it is um, perfect and beautiful. So
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it's just kind of embracing that not everything
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it's going to be messy. And it's just learning
10:58
how to handle it is I think what's beautiful
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about it and learning how to embrace it and work
11:03
with it. And it is what it is. Like that acceptance.
11:06
Um, there's so much beauty in that, like this
11:09
is who I am. So what kind of feedback do you
11:11
get from your followers? Do you, do people embrace
11:13
that or sometimes do you get pushed back? Like,
11:14
why are you, why are you being so real? Um, I,
11:18
I mean, I, I've had some people tell me I need
11:20
to get a personal account. This is my personal
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account. I was like, guys, I don't have enough
11:26
time. I don't have time for that. I can only
11:28
do Instagram. I can't even get on Snapchat. I
11:31
don't even know where to start there. So at times,
11:36
yes, but it is what it is. I think the biggest
11:40
thing with posting is I try my hardest not to...
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I don't want to piss anybody off. I don't want
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to create a polarizing... That's very challenging
11:47
nowadays. Yes. I think the biggest thing is I
11:52
wonder when are people getting the shits of me?
11:55
Because if I get the shits, like Amanda, I'm
11:58
like, Amanda, I'm tired of seeing my, like we
12:00
need to get some other people in pictures. Like
12:02
we got to get some other people on video. Like
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I'm getting the shits. That means people are
12:05
getting the shits. It's like we get it, Margaret.
12:09
So it's understanding that too. Like I'm okay.
12:12
And I understand where it's like I'm putting
12:14
out too much content of my quote unquote like
12:17
self. Yeah, I can see that. It's just like, eye
12:22
roll. So we're aware. I mean, I've never felt
12:25
that, but if you do, then keep scrolling. It's
12:28
okay. Yeah, it's like, what's it? Fish and visitors
12:30
stink in three days, like kick them out. It's
12:33
the same thing when you love people, but you're
12:34
getting a little too much of them or your favorite
12:36
song on the radio. When they play it too much,
12:39
then you start being like, and you change the
12:41
station. I want to make sure that I'm not like
12:44
that for people. That makes sense. Okay, so we're
12:47
in the dressing room, which again, this is amazing,
12:49
huge dressing room, which is interesting because
12:52
part of your job is you get this front row seat
12:54
of women coming in here and trying clothes on
12:57
in sort of the main area outside the dressing
12:59
room. And, you know, as women, a lot of times
13:01
we are vulnerable to trying on clothes and we're
13:04
not confident and we think everything makes us
13:06
look fat or whatever, too tight, too small, whatever
13:08
it is. So, you know, how do you deal with that
13:11
as the business owner? How do your girls deal
13:12
with that? Because they're amazing of trying
13:14
to build that confidence in women. versus just
13:18
having people not want to try on clothes. You
13:21
talk about pissing people off. Don't put a mirror
13:24
in your dressing room. Correct. You need to force
13:27
them to come out. one dressing room that has
13:33
a mirror. However, the way that we designed Lancaster
13:37
and Mechanicsburg is that it's semi -private.
13:41
So you can stay in your dressing room, open the
13:43
curtain and still see yourself in a mirror and
13:45
you don't have to step out. However, it also
13:50
allows you to open up. the curtain. Um, so a
13:54
lot of times to dressing rooms can be very small.
13:57
You're up against the mirror, horrible, like
14:00
lighting. I mean, everybody's trying, but it's
14:02
still very shadowing stuff. So when you step
14:04
out in more natural light and a bigger space,
14:06
I feel like you see things better. Um, the other
14:09
reason we have you step out is literally for
14:12
sizing. So many people are wearing the wrong
14:14
size. So I see When women are stepping out over
14:21
the years They don't like this or they don't
14:26
like that They nitpick at themselves the details
14:30
that nobody else sees So what I try to explain
14:33
it is I want to make sure they're validated in
14:35
their feelings. They can have those feelings
14:36
I get exactly what you're talking about. I'm
14:38
telling you as a person outside of you, right?
14:41
I can't see it. You know, it's there you see
14:44
it. That's something that's always going to be
14:45
mentally there. However this print or this cut,
14:50
I cannot see it. So the biggest thing too is
14:52
like, we're very honest. Sure. We're not… I don't
14:57
think you're fake though. It's not like you're
14:59
like, oh, you look perfect. And you're like,
15:01
oh, actually you need to slice up down. No, never.
15:02
Never. It's always very authentic feedback. Yes,
15:05
but we also want to be cautious too and skirt
15:08
around. Feelings of you have to be careful where
15:13
it's like you telling women like I think you
15:15
should size up For the way that it hangs on you.
15:18
So oftentimes I Self is the word self -deprecate.
15:23
Oh, yeah, actually I use myself in this example
15:25
Yeah, so like I have a button thighs in a small
15:27
waist. So I usually have to go up for it to fit
15:30
my thighs And oftentimes, too, if we have new
15:34
mothers in, I can be an example. Like I will
15:37
pull up my shirt and show them like I have all
15:39
these stretch marks. So like I have to loop.
15:41
So I find sometimes where I talk about my body
15:45
issues and what I have to work with. It makes
15:48
them feel more comfortable. Because sometimes
15:51
they'll walk in and we quote unquote look like,
15:54
Oh, your hair is done or this like you caught
15:56
me on a good day. I think that's sometimes to
15:58
why when I am in here. There's days that I look
16:02
great, but I also like looking normal, no makeup,
16:05
my hair isn't done because it's a reminder that
16:07
it's like these, we aren't perfect. And a lot
16:10
of times women are vulnerable here and a lot
16:13
of them come in without makeup and they're in
16:16
between errands. And so I always tell them, I'm
16:18
like, listen, if you're vibing with yourself
16:20
now, it's only gonna get better. Like your hair
16:22
is done, your makeup is done, it's gonna be a
16:23
look. So that's kind of… Oh, that makes sense.
16:27
How about that feeling though when you have found
16:29
the perfect outfit for somebody, right? And they
16:31
walk out of here so confident and excited that
16:33
they have something that's going to make them
16:35
feel good. Yes. I get excited, but it's not for
16:41
me finding the perfect outfit for them. It's
16:44
more I get excited because of their facial expressions
16:47
and like they truly… feel good. So it's not so
16:52
much what I did. It's more about how they feel.
16:55
Yeah. Yeah. Leaving. And the best is when you
16:59
see pictures of them posted. I love when people
17:02
pick dresses for significant moments in their
17:06
life or outfits or when they're feeling most
17:09
vulnerable, they come here and we get to help
17:13
them. I love that. And that's a... such a compliment
17:17
that we take very, very seriously and a lot of
17:20
pride in. No, I love that. You're helping to
17:21
build confidence and a lot of people don't have
17:23
that opportunity in their life. So the fact that
17:25
you help people build confidence that they go
17:27
out and hopefully, you know, have a better day
17:29
or more supportive of women, that's awesome.
17:31
That's quite the responsibility. Alright, let's
17:34
switch gears a little bit. Let's talk about circles.
17:36
So I like talk about circles because I feel like
17:38
it's really important for women to have circles
17:40
around them that are supportive. So professional,
17:42
personal, social, family, you know, there's all
17:44
these different circles. So talk to me about
17:45
your circles as it relates to your business because
17:48
as a small business owner, I think it's very
17:50
challenging probably to build your circles because
17:52
you're kind of on this island by yourself. You're
17:54
the owner. You have a great team. That's awesome.
17:56
But how do you build those circles within the
17:59
community with other small business owners? I
18:02
think it's very hard because you are very busy
18:07
and involved with what you have to do with a
18:10
lot of responsibility. Having a partner who supports,
18:14
and I've said this since the beginning, my husband,
18:18
who gets it, who understands and who supports
18:22
and who doesn't guilt me. into having to work
18:27
late, or I got caught up with a client, but it's
18:30
more understanding. I'll have ladies that came
18:33
into Hershey and they're like, we were having
18:34
lunch the other day and I think it was your husband
18:37
who came over and said that we had to come in
18:40
here. How about the fact that he also wore your
18:42
jeans? Can we also - Yes, yes. That's how supportive
18:45
he is. Applaud Tom. I mean, he's helping my Instagram
18:48
grow. Right. Him and a lot of females who are
18:51
enjoying his thighs. But I will say it starts
18:55
with having a supportive partner in that sense.
19:00
And family always helps. My mom retired and she
19:03
works here and it's wonderful when she's here
19:06
because I know she's doing great things because
19:08
she wants this to succeed and she sees how much
19:11
time and effort I put into it. But I have limited
19:16
friends. I don't have a lot of friends. I have
19:20
one like best friend and it's super funny and
19:24
other businesses do comment on this on Instagram.
19:26
But when somebody comes in and they're like,
19:28
I'm friends with the owner, our girls like laugh
19:30
because I only have like one friend. Shout out
19:36
Martha. Shout out Martha. I only have like one
19:39
friend essentially who I get to, you know, have
19:42
lunch with once a month and she's like, spill
19:45
your beans, like what's going on, which has been
19:48
such a blessing for me. But it's hard entering
19:51
circles and trying, you know, I told my eighth
19:55
graders when I'm like, this is where it ends.
20:00
This is where social kind of standings and relationships
20:06
and all of it. Like this is where it ends. Everybody
20:08
just gets a little bit taller. But it can feel
20:12
kind of clicky like high school. And it's hard
20:16
to break into different barriers, whether it
20:19
be industry, whether it be if you're a transplant,
20:22
like I'm a transplant here in Cumberland Valley.
20:27
whether you've come from, you know, I came from
20:30
teaching, so if I have connections to teachers,
20:32
and again, I'm a transplant, so there's not a
20:36
community of teachers where I came from in that
20:39
sense. So I think my circle, I'm trying. I think
20:45
sometimes too. If six if this is where success
20:48
stands in where you know, I have three boutiques
20:51
I'm working on number four as long as the economy
20:55
doesn't go crazy right now where it's like in
20:59
my Are people put off by that? I don't know.
21:05
We try to do what we can to Break barriers and
21:10
make connections So if you could if you could
21:15
wave your magic wand and fix that right like
21:17
what would that look like? What would your ideal
21:19
professional community circle look like? How
21:22
would you guys support each other? Text text
21:25
message random text messages. Okay. Okay, and
21:27
I try to I try to do that myself For other business
21:31
owners just sending them like a reminder of how
21:35
hard it is Not many people sure to do this. Yeah,
21:38
what they are doing makes a difference obviously,
21:42
like just meetings and you don't want to have
21:44
like vent or like rant meetings, but almost like
21:48
a validation where there's things that we can't
21:51
publicly talk about. And it's good to know you're
21:54
not alone, right? You're all going through the
21:55
same thing. Exactly. The same challenges. And
21:58
again, because of teaching, sometimes it's hard
22:02
to not take things personally when you're a teacher
22:05
because you're so invested and so closely. tied
22:09
to what you are doing. And the same thing is
22:11
with your business. Like you're trying every
22:13
day to make the right decisions for what you
22:16
feel is for, not, it's right decisions for the
22:20
business, but it's like, I always say, don't
22:23
think about the goose, think about the gander.
22:25
It's not what's good for the goose. It's what's
22:27
good for the gander. So oftentimes decision on
22:29
making aren't even good for me. And there are
22:32
times where it's still not good enough. you know,
22:36
it's never enough. And unfortunately, with big
22:40
corporations, this whole type of shopping environment
22:44
and understanding, you know, I made the comment,
22:47
which got a lot of responses from boutiques,
22:50
don't place corporate expectations on small business,
22:54
just as when you walk into a Target, when you
22:57
walk into a Nordstrom, you don't expect them
22:59
to know your name. True. But when you walk in
23:02
here, you expect us to know your name because
23:05
it's you've been in here and it's just us and
23:07
we're small and we know you. So unfortunately,
23:11
I think there's business owners in each industry
23:14
that feel that the environment of the economy
23:19
and just expectations of the consumer has changed
23:23
and it's making it harder and harder for small
23:25
business to compete with that. And that's why
23:31
you guys all need to be connected in some kind
23:32
of way. Exactly. Exactly. And that's where, I
23:36
mean, you hear it all the time, community over
23:39
competition, you hear it and hear it. However,
23:43
there's still this sense it's quiet. this sense
23:46
of like, if somebody else is getting a client
23:50
or has or you saw somebody there, right? You
23:52
get this like, oh my God, they're not shopping
23:54
with us. And then that's that lost essential
23:58
finances. And you feel like, oh my gosh, like,
24:00
are we losing clients in that sense? But it's
24:04
also the understanding is there's so many people
24:06
and it's I want people to be able to find clothing
24:09
all around central PA. No one's going to shop
24:12
only at one location. No. It's the same of like
24:16
eating out. You're not going to eat out. You're
24:17
not going to only shop or eat at one restaurant.
24:19
The same restaurant every time. So it's kind
24:22
of like pushing out that fear of because somebody
24:25
else is shopping with somebody else, it doesn't
24:26
mean they hate you. Like take it out of your
24:28
mind. And that's where, so for example, I'm going
24:34
to use some boutiques, if that's okay. So for
24:37
example, like if I have somebody coming in and
24:39
they're a little bit older and they want a conservative,
24:42
say they're going to the baptism, they want more
24:44
of a conservative dress, right? And we don't
24:46
really have anything. I'm sending them to Little
24:48
Black Dress. We have a girl coming in, she's
24:50
headed to Nashville, Bachelorette party, like
24:52
yee -haw, sparkles and blah, blah, blah. And
24:53
I'm like, oh, I don't really have anything. Right.
24:55
Okay. I'm sending her to Apricot Lane. I had
25:00
clients in here and they love frame. They love
25:02
frame denim. And I'm like, don't go to King of
25:04
Prussia. Go to Maggie Adams. She carries frame.
25:06
Go there first. Lulu Lemon. A lot of people don't
25:09
know this. Shout out. Fleet Feet, which is where
25:12
I get my sneakers and stuff. Oh. Fleet Feet carries
25:15
Lululemon. Oh, I didn't even know that. I said,
25:17
nobody knows that. Yeah. And I'm like screaming,
25:19
like, don't order online. It's the same price.
25:21
Right. Same price. Right. Get it from them. Just
25:23
support them. Yes. And they're nice. And they're
25:28
people that we see every, you know, not every
25:30
day, obviously, you're not going in. Sure. But
25:31
they're in our community. Absolutely. So it's
25:34
kind of like in that sense to wear. You know
25:38
trying to make it go and going back to circles
25:40
and stuff as I'm trying Success I think is also
25:43
like part of it and like opening yourself up
25:46
To those connections and I think it starts to
25:49
like in your actual industry Starting there because
25:52
you're gonna have the most in common, right?
25:54
Absolutely. If we alleviate that kind of tension,
25:57
I Think that's gonna build a stronger community.
26:01
I think it's something to be said if women see
26:04
us United, as a group of shopping options, I
26:10
think they would be more inclined to be like,
26:13
we have great stuff here, instead of thinking,
26:17
oh, I need to go somewhere far to find something
26:20
special. Sure. Makes sense. Yeah, no, and you're
26:22
right. Sometimes I think it's a tension piece
26:23
that people just don't want to take the first
26:25
step. So, you know, if it's trying to reach out
26:27
first and be, you know, seeing people in person
26:30
or going into their shops, I hope maybe it'll
26:31
help to sort of start to facilitate those. Yeah,
26:34
and just even like a working understanding of
26:39
even how we can provide better shopping for,
26:43
you know, our community, you know, better environments,
26:47
essentially, for our community. So what's something
26:50
you wish Mormon knew about what it takes to run
26:52
a business like this? Words are very strong.
26:59
And the impact that they, customers have a lot
27:04
of power and financial power, yes, obviously,
27:10
but words have a lot of power in them. And I,
27:13
again, going back to the business, you try so
27:16
hard. and try to do the right thing and the best
27:19
thing of like what you can. And there are often
27:22
times when you run a business, you give everything
27:24
you can and it's never enough. It's never enough.
27:28
So it's trying to figure out that balance of
27:32
trying to make everybody, I mean... literally
27:35
people are like, you can't make everybody happy.
27:37
That's, that's literally my business is trying
27:39
to make everybody happy. Right. Right. Right.
27:41
Um, so sometimes when I hear phrases like that
27:43
and, um, you know, you don't want to be a people
27:46
pleaser again, I'm in the business of pleasing
27:49
people. Right. Um, so I think the biggest thing
27:52
is, um, like words are very powerful and actions.
27:58
Are very powerful like the little things that
28:01
you do are so impactful whether you're a client
28:05
you know just shooting a text to a business owner
28:09
saying oh my gosh i was in today and you know.
28:13
Brooke was absolutely amazing she did this is
28:15
this like that little thing is what keeps me
28:18
saying okay i am okay i am. we're doing okay,
28:23
like we're making people happy. So words and
28:26
actions are powerful. And it's the little things
28:30
that you might not think. And I don't know if
28:34
this is a call to action, but I challenge anybody
28:37
like on a drive, anytime you drive somewhere,
28:39
like you don't drive, don't drive and text. That's
28:41
not what I'm saying. Anytime you drive somewhere,
28:43
think of somebody. And whenever, right before
28:46
you walk in your house, the restaurant, whatever,
28:48
whoever you were thinking of, just text them.
28:51
Hope you're having a great day. That's so powerful
28:55
because it lets somebody know that they're thinking
28:57
about you. Absolutely. And support. People, no
29:00
matter what business trend, they want to feel
29:02
supported. You want to feel like you're doing
29:03
a good job. You want people to be happy. And
29:05
yes, them coming back is part of it, but it's
29:07
just feeling that support and saying thank you
29:09
or reposting something on social. It's just those
29:11
little things that go a long way. Even as a boss
29:14
and as a leader here, I try to be very, very
29:19
aware of the little things like texting. And
29:23
it's not even after a hard situation. It's like,
29:26
and not patting my back, but just giving an example.
29:29
I just wanted to remind my three managers and
29:32
I sent them a text message and I say, I woke
29:34
up thankful today that I have the three of you.
29:37
I love that. But that's literally what I thought,
29:40
right? That was what I was thinking, but I put
29:42
those words and I wanted to make them powerful
29:44
and make sure they know that I appreciate them.
29:48
So I love that. That's great. Okay. We're going
29:50
to mix it up with a lightning round. So quick
29:52
answers. The first thing that comes to your head,
29:54
you don't have to think about this. What is your
29:56
go -to power outfit when you need to feel unstoppable?
29:59
Okay. So I know it's like a power outfit, but
30:02
I'd rather do power hair. If you follow me on
30:07
Instagram, you obviously know that I finally
30:09
found like my hair and my like my look, essentially.
30:13
I'm 37. It took 37 years and probably like 37
30:16
colors. But I finally, I ran from red for my
30:20
whole life. I finally embraced putting that red
30:24
undertone in my hair. And I've never gotten so
30:26
many compliments in my life. Not only compliments,
30:29
but like compliments by cool people. Like when
30:32
you look at them and you're like, dude, they're
30:33
cool. And they just like my hair. So I would
30:36
say like a really good hair day. I love that.
30:38
Okay. What's one guilty pleasure you're not even
30:41
feeling guilty about? Okay. Work. Work. I'm addicted
30:47
to work. I enjoy working. I enjoy production.
30:51
So you will not catch me just sitting there watching
30:54
a movie. If I'm watching a movie, I will be crocheting.
30:57
I will be working on our schedule. Okay. Like
31:00
I will be doing something productive. You're
31:01
just always productive. Yes. I understand that.
31:05
Favorite book? Unreasonable Hospitality. Get
31:09
it. It's yellow and black. If you are in business,
31:11
get it. I bought quite a few books to hand out.
31:15
You talk about connecting with other businesses.
31:18
That's great. My favorite non -educational book
31:22
will always be Tried and True, The Nightingale
31:25
by Kristin Hannah. I can't wait if they make
31:29
that a movie. It was written so well. I love
31:32
historic fiction. Nice. All right. Good. All
31:36
right. Last question. One thing women should
31:37
stop apologizing for. Everything. Everything.
31:44
Um, I'm sorry is used so as a, like, as a anxious
31:50
filler. Oh, yeah. That's a great way to explain
31:53
it. Yeah. Like an anxious filler. Like, well,
31:54
I'm sorry. And they'll be saying, I'm sorry to
31:57
like a statement. It's like, why are you, why
31:59
are you apologizing? Even, um, I see it with
32:01
our girls. We are so quick to say like, oh, I'm
32:04
sorry. But we're not even sure quite what's going
32:07
on. And then on the other end is sometimes I
32:11
think we use I'm sorry as a get out of jail free
32:15
card where I'm going to do whatever the hell
32:17
I want. And I'll just be like, sorry about that.
32:20
Because we are also conditioned to say my two
32:24
most hated words in the English language, it's
32:28
fine. How often do we say, oh, it's fine. And
32:34
in our heads, it is not fine. What should we
32:36
say to our husband? That's definitely not fine.
32:38
It's not fine, right? So I'm sorry. Could be
32:41
a whole other podcast with the complexities of
32:44
how we use it today. But I do think women apologize
32:48
for, um, they say, I'm sorry for everything.
32:52
So, okay. Well, we're wrapping up here. This
32:53
has been an amazing conversation, but any parting
32:55
words, any other advice that you want to share
32:57
with our listeners? Uh, the one statement that
33:00
I really wanted to share and just, especially
33:02
with the state of everything that's happening
33:05
in the world is that every dollar you spend is
33:08
a statement for the type of world you want to
33:10
live in. Um, I think that's an excellent statement
33:13
of just being more aware. Obviously, we want
33:18
you to spend dollars with small business in that
33:20
sense. However, look at what you're spending
33:23
your money on in the sense of when you are getting
33:25
a quote unquote deal or that dress was only $20,
33:29
something has to go super wrong and kind of questionable
33:35
for it to be. It's like if we were drinking wine
33:39
right now and I was like, here's my $5 bottle
33:42
of Merlot for you. You'd be like, okay. Right?
33:45
Drinking. You're like, oh my God. Right? But
33:47
we aren't questioning why we're putting a shirt
33:49
on our body that was only $5. Yeah. So looking
33:54
at it in that nature, and I know as a business
33:56
owner and other people can imagine, when you
33:58
buy a shirt, it doesn't pay for just the shirt
34:02
and just the fabric, but everybody who made it,
34:05
it's all of its working parts. So that is like
34:08
where it starts to get very questionable. That's
34:12
great advice. Thank you. Well, thank you so much
34:13
for hosting us here in your beautiful space.
34:15
Thank you for having me. We greatly appreciate
34:17
it. Huge thanks to the fearless, fabulous, and
34:20
always stylish Margaret Miller for showing up.
34:22
speaking truth and reminding us that success
34:24
means more when it includes real relationships
34:26
and mutual support. If you're ready to support
34:29
a woman -owned business that's serious style,
34:31
check out the Three Little Birds Boutique online
34:33
or at one of their three fabulous locations in
34:35
Mechanicsburg, Hershey, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
34:38
And definitely follow them on Instagram for fashion
34:40
and fun. Whether you're running a business, chasing
34:43
a dream, or just trying to find your circle,
34:45
we hope this conversation helped you feel a little
34:47
more seen and a lot more lifted. If you love
34:50
this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and
34:52
share it with a woman who needs to hear it. Let's
34:54
stop gatekeeping and start amplifying. Until
34:56
next time, stay loud, stay lifted, and never
34:59
apologize for Shining Bright.