Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Mathias.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started selling vintage furniture 6 years ago when I graduated from college. I was an accountant out of school and because my job was so boring to me, I needed a creative outlet. My mom and I would spend the weekends hunting for furniture deals and then we would rehab and sell it. We started small, only a few pieces here and there. We did our first market and were hooked. We grew really slowly and organically, building up a client base. I decided to quit my job to go into real estate which allowed me to spend more time on the business. Over the years, we really narrowed it down to what our style is today. For years, we sold out of my house and then decided we needed a bigger space so we rented a warehouse space in Dallas and would open it to the public occasionally to sell our furniture. After doing that for a year, I knew it was time to grow or give up. I was super nervous about opening a retail location as I’ve never worked retail before and didn’t even know if we could accomplish it. Finding our location was kismet. We had been searching for about a month or two when a friend noticed a going out of business sign in the window of our current space. I had actually been in the store years before and loved it. We decided to jump fully into a retail concept. We did all the work ourselves with the help of my construction worker father and opened a month later!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I constantly struggle with dividing my time up between the store and my “real job.” I’m still a real estate agent and sometimes that requires more time than others. I try and prioritize when I can. I’m a big fan of making lists.
It has definitely been a slow road for us. We started selling furniture 6 years ago and just opened our store a few months ago. I think it can be hard to be so patient when you are passionate about something but I learned so many lessons over those 6 years I think the store would have failed if I had opened it when we first started.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Magic Hour – what should we know?
Magic Hour sells vintage, handmade or ethically made items. We make sure to shine a spotlight on indie artists and makers from all over the world. We sell furniture, home decor, apothecary, art, jewelry, and clothing.
Everything in our store has a casual, breezy feel to it. We don’t want your home or life to be too fussy.
Everything must be comfortable, but stylish. I handpick everything that gets sold in the store and I love to find makers off of Etsy and support budding makers and artists. You can be sure that whatever you buy in a store, you are supporting someone special.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I have a very analytical brain, being a former accountant. I don’t tend to jump into anything without considering all the possibilities and alternatives. I think creative people tend to get big grand ideas but have a hard time accomplishing them. I try to set concrete goals, that can be accomplished. I also have a good business sense given my education and work background which has been invaluable.
Contact Info:
- Address: 421 N Tyler Street
Dallas, TX 75208 - Website: magichourshop.com
- Phone: 972-913-4402
- Email: magichourdallas@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magichour_shop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MagicHourDallas
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
