We recently had the chance to connect with Marguerite Knowles and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Marguerite, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Although it’s August, this is the time of year where I start working on my Christmas and Holiday designs for greeting cards and stationery. I usually look back and select some cards to repeat from the previous year on top of creating new designs, and as I have been looking back through my cards from previous seasons, I realise how far I’ve come! From when all my cards were handmade in 2020, to my first set of printed cards in 2022, and now some of my first printed cards from a few years ago continue to be best sellers every Holiday season! Sometimes it’s hard to feel the growth day to day, but I have certainly been feeling very proud recently.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marguerite and I design greeting cards and stationery! I grew up in Dallas but am currently based in London, and I focus on illustrative, fun and colourful designs. My main aim is to bring joy and laughter to every occasion, alongside creating stationery that is art in it’s own right as well!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My dad definitely taught me the most about work, he is the most hard working person I know. He always told me that being a hard worker is more valuable than any other quality. I think for me it’s important that I open myself to every opportunity. I firmly believe if you want something done, you have to do it yourself, and I want to make sure that I work hard enough that I never let any chance pass me by.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I think that every time I’ve failed, It’s ended up being exactly what was meant to happen, even if it took a few months or years for me to see that. I think everything happens for a reason, and if something doesn’t work you the way you want in the moment, it often because it wasn’t meant for you. Also, every failure teaches a lesson, which is often incredibly valuable.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the hard truths about having a Stationery small business is that people don’t write letters or send greeting cards as much as they used to. I think writing meaningful notes to those you love is such a sentimental and special thing, but it just doesn’t happen very much! Perhaps that’s what makes each card sale even more exciting, is that it becomes so much more special by how much less frequent the form of expression is.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I think I could, but perhaps that’s optimistic! Even if nobody purchased my greeting cards, I think I’d still want to do everything in my power to create products that I was passionate about. When I have wondered in the past if I should stop designing greeting cards, that maybe it wasn’t worth all the time and effort, I realise that I would still want to paint and create anyway! I love the time that I spend creating, and even if nobody saw it I would certainly still do it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @margueriteknowlesart
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MargueriteKnowlesArt?
