All right, we are live. Welcome to Flourish and Flooring Podcast by Women of the Flooring Business, where we are a community of women in tile, stone, and flooring who are passionate about personal and professional growth. I'm your host, Cameron Matheny, Principal of Cameo Studio Designs and visionary entrepreneur recognized for the concept designer dopamine where I merge all things that are lighting with tile. I want to thank our sponsor, my company, Cameo Studio Designs, where you can find me at cameostudiodesigns.com and always look for the hashtag designer dopamine. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Michelle Winters at Michelle at michellerightnow.com to get further information on becoming a sponsor. Through this podcast, we aim to amplify the voices of women in our field to empower each other to flourish in business in all things life. On today's podcast, I am so excited, you guys, to be joined by Maggie Doyle, who is a complete package. She has a master's degree in fine arts, an entrepreneur, and a Texan. So I would like to welcome to the WOFB podcast, Miss Maggie Doyle. All right, girl, let's get you on stage here. Hi, Maggie. Hi there. How are you? So nice to be here. Thank you for having me. Oh my gosh, you are so welcome. I can tell you're on the go. I'm on the go. I'm in my car about to go to another appointment, but I'm like, I got to do this. You just got to do it. Absolutely. I'm so happy to have you. Now, I know a little bit about you just from having conversations with Erin from J&R Tile, and then having conversations with you throughout the week. But tell our listeners, tell us who you are for those of you that don't know you. Well, let's see. I am Maggie. So glad to be here. I have been involved in design for over 20 years now. So I've always been a creative. I've studied art throughout my college career. i have a master's in fine arts from the school of visual arts in new york city so um I have been I'm texan um I've been back in texas for about 10 years um and just being in new york finishing grad school yeah I wanted to find something where I could be creative because I was not going to be a working artist I knew clearly as soon as I got to new york that that was not going to happen. I just wasn't built for that. But in my previous career before graduate school, I've always done commission sales, but I've always missed the component of the design aspect of things. I love the relationships aspect of all the sales roles that I've had, but being in New York, worked for Design Within Reach for many years at their location in Soho, developed lots of great relationships with architects and designers, and then moved back to San Antonio in 2014 with my husband and my daughter, just kind of wanting to slow down. But while in New York too, my husband and I started our own company, t-shirt and jewelry line called Loyalty and Blood. So we were at that. I love it. I need a new t-shirt. Oh yeah. No, we can hook you up. We can hook you up. So it's kind of, yeah. So we, you know, it's kind of a thing that I started because my husband also is an artist was at grad, was in grad school with me. And when he was finished, I had a great job, you know, I had the job security and I just wanted him to find something that would make him happy and fulfilled. And I'm like, you know, you're a printmaker, you're an artist, you've got great ideas, let's start something. So we did, you know, we had a really great run in New York and decided to move back to Texas to slow down, work on wholesale aspect. But as soon as I got here, things were kind of changing even before we left New York with just the apparel industry and just the way, you know, everything's available online. People don't want to shop in person. People are wanting like, you know, it's just made in China. So I fell into tile and knew nothing about tile. Tile just was never in my world. I was into, you know, I knew furniture, some lighting, you know, all of that stuff. But tile, I just fell into it. I love, I love how Just you telling your story already, I can already tell you that you bolster those around you through their gifts and through their visions. And then being able to be that creative and flexible. Can you tell me about how you use your MFA in tile? I think that's where you were kind of going. As you said, you fell into the industry. Tell me more about that. Well, definitely I use my degree every day. I just feel like just having like a lifetime of thinking creatively and problem solving that way. I feel like it helps me so much in my role here in the tile showroom that I'm in. I just really love to find something that speaks to my clients. I also want to show them things that maybe they haven't thought about. And I feel like outside of the box. Yes. I always want to try and take people outside the box. I mean, you can come in and say like, I want this, but I, I'm going to show you different things and I want to like excite you and inspire, but like really make you think about stuff. And I want to do things that are set apart from the things that you see from the everyday. So yeah. You know, I think definitely my background in art has served me super well. I mean, I think about it sometimes. I'm like, oh, well, you know, maybe I should be doing something really attached to it. But at the same time, it's like it's happened so organically for me and has worked really to my advantage. So. And, you know, I love that you've talked about having people think outside of the box. That's how I fell into this industry is I have a lighting background of you know, 10 plus years and brought linear lighting and architectural lighting and just started lighting tile spaces. It was about six years ago that I went down this venture. And so it's amazing because that's all that I preach is to think outside of the box because putting lighting in spaces where it's not supposed to be, it's taken some time to wrap their heads around it. So I love that you're someone in the industry with an art background too, And, you know, I really think that people that have an artist background, as most setters do, most setters and guys and women that are in tile, they are essentially artisans. And so to be able to bring, you know, now we've got the artisans that are doing the implementation. You've got visionaries like yourself that are having people thinking outside of the box. And then you have a visionary like me that I just want to light it all up. Yeah. Well, I mean, that's the thing. I mean, you know, lighting is art and then it can also be sculptural, you know, when you think about pairing those two things, I mean, they coexist beautifully, you know, and I'm a huge fan of lighting. I miss, I miss working with light so much. So I'm really excited that I've. Yeah. Yeah. No, I love that so much. So, yeah. So tell me if you had a business that, what would you name it? I know you have the t-shirt business, but now like talking to you, learning about yourself as an, as an artist, you know, having all of this background and moving into a tile industry with that. So tell me about if you had a business, what would that look like? Well, um, you know, if I had a business, I definitely like just taking a consultative approach and maybe it's not lighting. I mean, I also have a side gig in addition to what I do with like the t-shirts and, um, everything. I started a pillow company because there was a need for that, you know, in our, in our city, just like, um, workrooms have become really scarce. It's kind of a dying art, the quality. So, um, I've teamed up with a few designers and I have pillows made for them through my auntie, who is a master seamstress. So, you know, and when I think about that, it's like, okay, I've got this pillow aspect. I've got this tile aspect. I love furniture. I'm actually working on some table designs like with stone. So, I mean, it's just like I find that I like having my hands in lots of things. And, you know, it's something that I've been thinking about for the past few years. Just like, how do you bridge all that together? You know, because I have so many passions. Have you met Alison Eden? Do you know Alison Eden? I do know her work and I love her work. Yes. Yes. So with you having that, when you get some time, you should really research kind of her story and what it is of how she got involved. Because she was a fashion designer that then moved into the mosaic. And now she's huge in our industry. Yeah, I love her work. We'll have to talk more about that. So why, I know that you've talked about being an entrepreneur, but why would you want to be an entrepreneur in the tile sector? Like, what does that do for you versus maybe being in a corporate setting? Well, I think the possibilities are endless. You know, I think with tile, you know, there's just so much problem solving and trust that happens in relationships that happen that, you know, you're creating something. So like, I feel like I always joke that like, I really don't ever get to work on my personal art because I'm working on art every day for other people and fulfilling like their, you know, visions. But with tile, I just feel like there's so many possibilities, be it like, you know, a small residential project, a huge commercial project, a specialty portion of a project that, you know, maybe one of my architects has, you know, thought about but doesn't know how to access it. And just trying to like bring that vision to life, I guess, more. You know, so I don't know. I just see the endless possibilities. And that really excites me. You know, I can see a sweet spot in the industry for you. And that would be I mean, I can't stop thinking about it since we've started talking. Just you being like a tile designer. No, and I mean, that's something that I've thought about, too, just because I think there are a lot of things that are missing. But I'm like, when I talk to reps, you know, what's great about this, too, is just in this industry, unlike, you know, other industries, I feel like people are so welcoming and open. And just I value my relationships with all of these brands that I've been able to work with. And, you know, or like, I talked to people that have smaller lines and like, well, what do you think about this? And I was like, you know, this is what like I see, you know, that would sell well in my area that could sell well on the West coast or on the East coast, you know, cause I'm looking at trends like globally, you know, I'm, that's what excites me. It's just like, I'm looking and I'm really inspired, like, you know, by the contemporary art world, but like really, you know, for tile, you know, I'm looking to Europe. I'm looking to, you know, see what the next thing that's going to happen, because I feel like things trickle down much slower once it gets to Texas, you know? Absolutely. Well, I love that you brought that up about the global and tile and things and trends that are happening. Are you going to coverings? I am. Yes. Oh, my gosh. My second visit. So I I just went for the first time. And I mean, I've been wanting to go for years and I finally got to go last year and it just was mind blowing. And, you know, I I hated that I didn't have enough time to look at things, you know, and really fully experience it. but I'm taking my husband who is, you know, also super excited just to see. And I also want him to just see like, you know, this whole world. Like, I mean, he's excited to see my projects, but it's like, you know, I show him things and he's like, Oh wow. Like I've never seen anything like that. So just to be able to share that and like open up his eyes to like, you know, this whole other world and just all these great people that I've been able to meet too. Yeah. Absolutely. And, you know, we're going to actually be covering coverings, 2024 design trends. So I would love for all of our listeners and for you to join us for a special live broadcast. It's going to be hosted by myself, Michelle Winters, and Julie Ireland, who's the designer of founder of Home Renovation School. She's also the ambassador for Tile Mart. And as we cover everything coverings of 2024, you've got to come down and see us. If you are at the show, we'll be at Hall 3. Level B from 12 until 1 on Monday, April 22nd. And if you're not going to be at the show, you can also log in to our live participation to ask questions and have a discussion. And if you're not registered, you can go to www.coverings.com. forward slash Angie NTD. Angie is one of our ambassadors this year. So we're so excited to be met with Angie, Julie, Michelle, and then many other women of the flooring business. And for those of you right now that are just joining me, I am hanging out today with Maggie Doyle, And we are talking about being floored by design, being floored by just things that are happening in the tile industry as far as trends. So Maggie, you mentioned earlier that you have been to coverings one time before. What do you think, and you mentioned a little bit too, but what do you think are trends that we're going to see for 2024 or that you hope to see for 2024 at coverings this year? I'm hoping to see, I love color, but I also just like seeing things that I'm really attracted to the handmade and I love seeing like things that are handmade but can work really well in like modern and, you know, traditional spaces so you know I know everyone is just crazy right now but I would love to see. you know, something that isn't Zalish that like really excites me, you know? It's just like, I look to like, you know, different lines, you know, that we carry, you know, just even seeing like, different things in stones different textures so like I absolutely more textures happening I mean I feel like we see some of it but I feel like there's just so many like more like sculptural but not you know but but I see that it's hard to explain you know um No, and we saw the same thing. So again, I have a huge inspiration throughout the lighting. And what we saw this year too at Trends with Lighting was organic. more subtle colors and how things were very round and soft edges. For so long, we've seen tons of linear aspects in lighting. And now we're seeing bolsterous, beautiful, circular, organic, sustainable products. And I really, truly believe that that is going to pour into at least into the tile industry, we're seeing those lighter colors and tones where people are really in the bathroom aspect are getting that spa-like feeling. And so, I mean, I think you're right. I think that we're going to see a lot of texture. I think that we are going to see a hint of the classic, maybe vintage colors. So those pinks and lighter tones. So I think it's going to be really exciting. Yeah. So the last thing that I wanna cover with you is through this industry and through Tile, whether it be through art, who is it that inspires you or where do you get your inspiration from to want to perhaps pursue being an entrepreneur in the future? I would just say like with my everyday colleagues that I work with, you know, you mentioned Erin from JNR Tile, huge inspiration. I've known her for a few years and it just, it's really exciting to see a woman who owns a tile installation company and is really taking it to the next level. I mean, it's a company that's been around for decades that, you know, her father had that she took over and just seeing like the innovations and the things that she's exposed me to, you know, have been great. And just seeing someone who's excited. I mean, that's the whole thing. I think that like being able to connect with a peer who is just as excited as I am and can geek out like I do when it comes to, you know, materials or like a installation or a product, you know, I mean, a technical product. I mean, I love all of it. Like, and I just like a sponge and I want to absorb the technical side, you know, just the creative side. So yeah. You know, Aaron is great inspiration, but just even like reps that I work with and just having this open communication and dialogue is so great. And just knowing that I can pick up the phone and I have like a resource amongst a lot of, you know, the people that I work with, which I'm so grateful for. And I love and I love just building those relationships and being there and, you know, being available to, you know, my peers. Yeah. Well, I am so excited that I got to meet you. I'm so excited that we got to connect today. I really look forward to hanging out with you at Coverings. And I want to make sure that you get connected with the women of the flooring business. We'll also be having an event while there, and I'll be sure to email you and send you further information about the Women of the Flooring Business Sponsored. I believe it's like a happy hour that we're having. If you're not connected yet, be sure to log into the WOFB on Facebook. I'm going to put, here's the information up right now so that you can join the conversations that we are having on our online community. to connect with women like yourself, like Michelle Winters, Angelique Weber, and thousands of other women of the flooring, tile, and stone industries. Our website is womenflooring.com and just click join to become a member. Thank you for everyone tuning in and stay connected through women flooring.com. Be sure to log in on that Facebook group and Maggie. Thank you. We will see you at coverings and thank you so much for joining me today. Okay. So we'll see you at coverings guys.
