We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan Temple and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind success or life in general, I believe, is just being real & 100% honest with yourself or wherever it is you’re doing. We get so caught up in the hype of what everyone else is doing that we forget to pat ourselves on the back. Being a small business owner is not for the weak. You have to be determined & have an idea/outline of where/what you are trying to do. The best advice that I can offer other SBO’s is to get out and get active in your community’s. We want our businesses to blow up and be successful right away that we tend to solely focus on social & marketing, but how can you expect to hit the numbers/goals you have for yourself when no one knows who you are? Get your name out in your community and surrounding areas first! Once I stopped solely relying on my content and products to sell themselves/I started doing the work, being more hands on, is when I saw an increase in my numbers. Do those pop up shops, go to the mall on weekends and pass out your business cards, air drop your work while at the grocery store, all of these things will add up I promise!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Made by Meg is a small, Black owned jewelry line that offers affordable tarnish free jewelry as well as pro-different body type waistbeads, all beginning at just $10!!! (Use code “SUPPORT” for 40% off of all U.S. orders., limited use) I was laid off due to COVID-19 & unemployment never crossed my mind nor was a favorable route because I have worked my entire life. I began to eat more and could notice my weight gain, so I created myself a pair of waist beads as a symbol of motivation to get myself back on track and haven’t looked back!!! Being a SBO is never easy. You have to be your biggest fan, be real with yourself, & stay motivated. You cannot allow yourself to get caught up in what everyone is doing. I tell myself that there is someone out there who loves what you’re selling,  they just haven’t seen it yet. For example, one of my necklaces hasn’t sold any on my website, but, on March 27th, at my pop up shop I sold out of all of them! A pop up shop I didn’t want to attend at all after returning from my trip to Mexico, and it was the most money I had ever made with MBM. Just yesterday, April 25th, I had another pop up shop and made double what I made at the last one & some to make that showing the best yet!!!! Keep going, I promise it gets better. I want the world to know that last year I was reading posts that said “some will come out of this pandemic a business owner” and was like “ha not me” and now look at me. You too can do it, you just have to start! What sets my brand apart from others are three things: Affordability (Google says the avg. American makes $31,000/year which is $1,192.30 before living costs, you do the math,) Inclusivity (no price gauging for those who are blessed with a little more (:,) & durability (I create products the last!!! Leave the H&M & costume jewelry alone, get a tarnish free, gold filled chain today @ www.megsmuse.com .) Those are key for my business because for myself, there is nothing more that works my nerves than ridiculous prices for products & quality not matching, not finding my size in something, & not getting my money’s worth. So I decided to make those MBM’s main focus.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is probably the hardest question of the whole interview because anyone who knows me, and knows me well, knows that I am a homebody. I really only get out of the house when I go out of town for vacation. I would say I would bring them to some restaurants known in HTX, but whenever I go to those places the service is typically awful. I much rather to cook them a nice New Orleanian home cooked meal and we can watch Big Momma’s House after on my projector. All while snuggling with the cutest German Shepard ever, Endymion. Sound like a plan?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the old version of myself. The one who dealt with doubt, the one who smiled when no one knew she was suffering, the one who managed to get up everyday & continue to push, to the one who is forever changing & growing. I am thankful. Without the storm I’ve been through I would’ve never been able to see the sun today. Here’s to doing what everyone thought you couldn’t. You did it (:

Website: www.megsmuse.com

Instagram: __MadebyMeg__

Twitter: __MadebyMeg__

Facebook: __MadebyMeg__

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