Megan on Blog Talk Radio

As a result of her trip to Shanghai in June, Megan was introduced to Angie Strader, host of “What’s Your Bottom Line?” on Diva Toolbox Radio Network, and was asked by Angie to appear on the show.  The show aired live last Tuesday, and it was a really interesting experience, both for Megan and the rest of us here in the office.

Megan was asked to call into the show, as well as go onto the show’s webpage, a few minutes the show went live at 2:00 pm Central Time (noon here on the West Coast).  Angie had another guest for the first 15 minutes of the show and then went live to Megan as that day’s featured guest.

It was really a fun experience here.  Megan sent out a company-wide e-mail asking that she not be disturbed during the live radio interview, and even put a warning sign on her closed door (it reminded me of those red lights at TV studios – “Silence – Taping in Progress). 

Meanwhile, we all logged onto the Internet to listen to the interview while we worked.  It was a great interview, but a little surreal to be sitting in our offices a few feet away from Megan and yet hear her being interviewed on Blog Talk Radio!

If you want to hear more from Angie Strader, you can listen to “What’s Your Bottom Line?” live each Tuesday at 2:00 pm Central Time (3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 noon Pacific), and there are also a number of previous shows available.  I’ve also just checked out her blog, and I found her posts quite interesting.  I especially liked the post titled, “Why the heck are you going it alone?”

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Photos from “Take Your Own Path”

Back in September, I posted on Dell Computer’s “Take Your Own Path” campaign, which featured inspiring entrepreneurs from small and medium sized businesses around the world, including our own Megan Duckett.

Well, recently we came upon a photostream from the campaign press conference in New York City, and I thought I’d pass it on.  Here’s a preview of one of the photos in the photostream (Megan is on the far right):

 Want to see more?  Go to the flickr photostream, or check out Dell’s “Take Your Own Path” webpage.  The entrepreneur stories are really inspiring! 

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Sew What? Goes International

Naturally, since Sew What? is a U.S. company, the majority of our customers are also in the U.S.  We make soft goods for schools and churches, theatres and special event companies all across the country.  But did you know that our custom stage curtains, digitally printed backdrops, and theatrical supplies can be seen across the globe?

As you know, we have provided soft goods to the tours of a number of well-known recording artists.  In many cases, those goods are used not only for the North American portion of the tour (including Canada), but on other continents as well.  In some cases, we even make custom drapery specifically for the European leg of the tour, such as with the mixed media cut drop we made for Lady Gaga.

What I find particularly exciting, however, is when we are discovered by a production designer in another country.  One example is Peter Young, the well-known European music producer, designer and drummer.  A few years ago, Peter (also known as Takis Kouvatseas) was producing and designing the European tour of Greek / Cypriot pop star Anna Vissi and was looking for just the right soft goods company.  He discovered Sew What? through our website, contacted us, and the next thing we knew, we were turning his vision into reality.   Since then, we have worked with Peter to provide drapery for several other projects, primarily in Greece.

Another exciting international project that we did was for the production of “The Gospel at Colonus” at the 2006 Vienna Music Festival.  This project included colored voiles, crushed satin, and buillion trim and rope  to create a multi-layered effect.  To me, the showstopper was the gorgeous digitally printed medallion that we created using designer Alison Yerxa’s beautiful artwork – just incredible!

And it’s exciting to find that we are recognized in the news as a “player” in the international market.  U.S. News and World Report included an article on us in their July 31, 2006, issue, in which they called Sew What? a “global brand,” and we even got a mention in Denmark’s “Backstage” magazine (in Danish, of course). 

When I think about it, though, it really isn’t all that surprising that Sew What? has “gone international.”  While we may be based in the United States, the reality is that we really are a global company.  After all, Megan (company founder and president) immigrated to the U.S. from Australia, Adam (CFO) came from New Zealand, and many of our staff are immigrants from Mexico and Latin America.  We really are a melting pot – and so I think that gives us a greater ability to expand our focus beyond the U.S. border and out into the world.

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Stevie Awards

A big congratulations to Megan Duckett, President of Sew What?, for being named a finalist for a 2009 Stevie Award for Woman in Business in the “Best Entrepreneur – Service Businesses – Up to 100 Employees – Other Industries” category.

This is not the first time that Megan and Sew What? have been recognized by the Stevie Awards.  Megan was a finalist in this same category in 2008, and in 2007, Sew What? won the Stevie Award for “Most Innovative Company of the Year.”

The 2009 winners will be announced on November 13th – keep your fingers crossed for Megan!

If you are not familiar with the Stevie Awards, they were “created to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and business people worldwide.”

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A Family Business

I have always loved to cook (my mother taught herself to cook watching Julia Child and then taught me starting at about 5).  When I was in my early twenties, I dreamed of owning my own restaurant, so I went to culinary school to become a chef and study restaurant management.  When I got out and started to work in the industry, I realized how hard the life of a chef is, especially a chef-restauranteur.  Working 18 hours a day, 6 days a week (or more) – and, as the restaurant owner, everything is on your shoulders.  Fairly quickly I set that dream aside and pursued other goals.  But I have always recognized that it takes a special kind of person to own and run a small business.  Megan and Adam Duckett are two of them.

Throughout this blog, there are bits and pieces of the company’s history (both from Megan and from myself), but I realize that many readers may not realize that the owners are actually a married couple.  While Megan started the company on her kitchen table, her husband Adam (also a former roadie) later joined the company.  In terms of roles, Megan is President and focuses primarily on marketing and sales, while Adam serves as Chief Financial Officer with a focus on production and operations.

I have so much admiration for the two of them, that they have built this company to its current level, and that they continue to strive for growth and improvement.  Running a small business takes a lot of hard work and dedication – and sometimes it means being here late into the night or throughout the weekend.  Anyone who can manage to maintain that level of dedication throughout the years and still be excited and inspired for growth definitely deserves accolades. 

Add marriage and parenthood to the mix, and in my mind, it is even more impressive.  Most couples spend their days apart, and then come together at home in the evening and on weekends.  Megan and Adam are, for the most part, together 24/7, between work and personal time (oh – not literally – but you get the picture).  That can be stressful for a couple – but somehow they manage to make it work.

Maybe someday I’ll be ready to own my own business (don’t ask me what kind of business – definitely not a restaurant!), maybe I never will.  But if I do, I hope I do half as good a job as Megan and Adam have done (and continue to do) here at Sew What?

Note: There was a terrific story about them published in the “Palos Verdes Peninsula News” a few years ago – check it out in the Sew What? News Archive – I think you’ll find it an inspiring story.

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Dell’s “Take Your Own Path” campaign

Recently, Dell Computers announced its selections for business owners to be featured in its “Take Your Own Path” campaign.  In the campaign, Dell spotlights inspiring entreprenuers from small and medium sized businesses around the world.

Megan Duckett, President & Founder of Sew What? Inc., was selected as one of seven “inspiring entreprenuers” in the United States – a group that Dell calls “Trailblazers” that includes founders of companies as well-known as Lonely Planet and LinkedIn. 

Here we are, a small company making custom stage curtains for churches and schools, rock tours and special events.  Most people have never heard of us, at least not in the way that people have heard of Lonely Planet, for example. What an honor for Megan, and for all of us here at Sew What? Inc., for her to be included in such company.  

But even before the Dell campaign, those of us here already considered Megan an inspiration – she never stops thinking and planning and dreaming of ways to make this little company become the best it can be!

Make sure to read the stories of all of the U.S. Trailblazers selected for the “Take Your Own Path” campaign – they truly are inspiring.

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Nice to Meet You

I am often asked how it is that I ended up doing what I am doing, that is being the founder and President of Sew What? Inc. – a Concert and Special Events Softgoods Supply Company.  I usually respond with “wrong place at the wrong time.”  Well, in all honesty it was not planned nor do I think it was preordained.  Rather that it was the result of not having a real job and wanting more for myself than a studio apartment and a diet of cigarettes and peanut butter.

I knew not of digitally printed backdrops and the equipment required to produce them.  Nor did I have any experience in theatrical drapery manufacturing of grand drapes or sharkstooth scrims.  I could not even sew!  I seem to recall that from an early age sewing made me nauseous.  (Don’t you recall the clickety-clack of your mother’s knitting needles while you were trying to watch the Cosby Show?).

My move to California from Melbourne was mostly inspired by some amazing and dedicated roadcrew whom I met in 1989 in Australia.  Steve Gomes, Dave Agar, Bobby Thrasher – just a few of the friendly faces who were touring with Billy Joel on the Storm Front Tour.  I got to meet lighting designer Steve Cohen, and as production driver for the crew and band I had a great gig – traveling the Southern states of Aus with them inspired me.

I would go to America, be an electrican – or failing that possibly a rock star.

Yes – you have my permission to laugh loudly.

So enough of my reminiscing – or there will be nothing for next time.

Fast forward 20 years later….now a stage drape selling, karaoke-loving wife, mother, and seamstress, who is very proud of her Sew What? family – I am contemplating enrolling in the next round of Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp.  I am figuring it could only be good to get my “rock and roll” energy out – and belt out a few Meatloaf tunes while I am at it.  If I do, you will be the first to know.  I promise.  (Really).

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