Guys, you’re in for a treat today! We’re excited to tell you a little more about our friend + alumni vendor, Madison Ties! Madison has such a cool story to tell and we’re thankful we get to share it. As someone who started their business in high school, she is an encouragement to all small business owners out there to keep pushing through! Between the walls of a dorm room, she carefully crafted each bowtie by hand and grew her business all while juggling the demands of school. Madison recently joined us at our Atlanta event and has been featured at two other Big Fake Weddings in past years. Keep scrolling to hear her story in today’s Vendor Highlight!
Tell us more about the story behind Madison Ties.
This all came together through a series of events. It all began one afternoon when the perfect prom bow tie was no where to be found. With creativity and the right mind set, an anxious girl and her date’s mom created the first tie not knowing that it held future as a company. After prom, when the word got out about what we had made, the news spread like wildfire. I started making single orders of ties which later turned into a small Etsy page.
As college rolled around the market looked right. With the help of a persistent friend a brand was established, models were scouted, photographs were taken, pizza was bought, and celebration begun. This was all so overwhelming for me because I was a quiet freshman looking to just fade into the crowd and I was now pushed into the light of being an 18-year-old with her very own company.
It’s truly amazing how everything has come together so quickly and we are excited to continue our growth into bigger and better things. We continually remind ourselves to always try new things and go the extra mile, for that has been paving our path so far.
Describe a highlight or pivotal moment in your career.
I think the pivotal moment in my career was my first wedding. I think because it became by shock. Growing up in the event industry, weddings were always the ones that gave me the most butterflies. Good butterflies because I absolutely love love. Nervous ones because weddings, unlike parties or events, are a one-shot wonder. So when someone who was just a friend of a friend wanted me (someone they barely knew) to do their wedding ties I was floored. It was truly an honor and changed my business as a whole.
What advice would you give to aspiring small business owners?
Some advice I would give aspiring small business owners is to just GO FOR IT and to never be afraid to ask for help! In the beginning I had no idea that Madison Ties was going to be a small business nor that people would want to use my ties for their wedding, but with a powerful team of peers nothing was to fear when I took the leap of faith to create this business. This company was built in a dorm room and flourished with the help of the people around me that took so much time and love to help me curate this success.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken?
The biggest risk I’ve taken thus far is the time and steady commitment to creating a business while being a full-time student. Although this adventure began senior year in high school, the big leap came when I began to truly set up my business while balancing the whirlwind that is freshman year of college. During these pivotal years I did countless shows, two Big Fake Weddings my Junior year, and by senior year my ties were permanently in two local shops.
What are you most proud of?
I am honestly most proud of how Madison Ties was created; I had nothing to offer people except for my time and appreciation. The fact that I had twenty plus people willing and wanting to help make this company a success was one of the proudest moments of my life. I feel so loved by my community and as time goes on, the continual support and encouragement has been endless.
Photo Credit
Carrie Friesen Photography (1) | Aline Marin Photography (2,5) | JD3 Photography (3) | Square 8 Studio (4)
I am very proud of you