You will meet the lovely Sophie from Sophia Mulheran Designs today! We recently undertook a project with Sophie that we can't wait to share in the coming months. It was a delight to work with her and we can vouch for the wow factor her products bring. We have enjoyed getting to know the Sophia Mulheran Design brand for a couple of reasons in particular. At a business level, we enjoy supporting local businesses and you will find the Sophia Mulheran Designs brand based here in Brisbane, Australia. On a personal level, Pete has a science degree with an environmental major & Em has honours in environmental microbiology; the Sophia Mulheran Designs brand is passionate about sustainable and ethical business practices, so this (environmentally conscious) aspect resonates with us. We recently noticed on Sophie's Instagram that the team have picked up 10,479 pieces of rubbish so far this year! What an amazing effort! I am sure you would be keen to hear more of the stories behind Sophie's business so I will now hand it over to Sophia to speak for herself:
"Tell us about yourself”
I’m a creative and passionate Brisbanite who is working towards the most sustainable and ethical lifestyle and business. I love drawing so to essentially be able to do it as a job (as well as creating other awesome things) is an absolute dream come true!
"Why did you choose to design homewares, stationery and giftware?”
I’ve always wanted to make a positive difference to our environment and community so when I formulated the idea to turn my passions into a career, I stopped at nothing to get the business up and running. The Sophia. Brand launched in August 2017 and since then, it’s been nothing but a success. I have learnt so much and met so many beautiful and inspiring people.
"How did your interest in design and creativity start?”
I grew up on an acreage property, so I was constantly building, exploring, creating and running free. This has shaped me into the person I am today and has armed me with an intense passion for the environment and everything creative.
"Who in business inspires you?”
There’s too many to count!! I’m inspired by anyone and everyone who has the courage to take the leap of faith and follow their dreams. It’s inspiring to see so many people who have made the decision to quit their day jobs and set out to do exactly what they were born to do.
"Any misconceptions about your industry that you would like to dispel?”
Most people think that I sit down and carefully plan out every tiny detail of my designs, but the truth is that I create all my designs on the spot, and I never know how they are going to turn out.
"Do you have any tips for those of us who aren't experts?”
I know there’s people out there who think they don’t have a creative bone in their body but the truth is that my drawings used to be messy and nothing of great quality. It was only the other day that I found a few drawings that I created not long before I launched my business. If I was still creating those dodgy designs, my business would be an absolute flop! Keep exploring different aspects and don’t forget that nearly anything can be considered art!
"Why should couples choose you for their big day?”
When it comes to weddings, I have a few unique things to offer. The first being custom-designed wedding invitations and menus to suit your flowers, style and wedding layout. I’ve also introduced wedding hire items. These include my hand-crafted copper bowls and plates, which bring a striking colour and texture to the wedding dining
"How do you set yourself apart from competitors?”
I pride myself on being unique and creating things that people have never seen before. What's the point of following the trend when you can create your own?
"What is the best advice you ever received?”
I’ve received lots of awesome advice over the years but one thing I always tell myself is that if you keep going and never give up, you will succeed. Work hard, keep your head down and you’ll get there in the end!
"What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?”
Who knew there was so much to learn about running a business? I thought I’d done the majority of the work when I launched the business, but the truth is that there are always improvements to make. Business is a journey too!
"How do you balance work and family demands?”
I’m definitely guilty of working for 5am until 10pm without so much as a break. I have way too many ideas that I want to follow through on so at this point in time, work never really stops for me. I might find a balance one day!
"Anything else you would like to add?”
If you’d like to follow my sustainable and ethical business journey, feel free to check out my website and social media pages:
Website: http://www.sophiamulheran.com