Meet Madeline Stewart | Director of Marketing & Merchandising

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

Hi Madeline, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Work life balance for me has always been a struggle for me. Growing up with a dad as a furniture salesman and a mom in medical school, hard-work, long-hours and determination was something I frequently saw from my parents. I always believed in the ‘work hard days and long hours’ while you’re young to be able to provide for yourself and your family in the upcoming years. But recently, one of the challenges I faced is the concept that work does not define who you are as a person. There’s almost an underlying suggestion that the busiest person is the most successful, and if you are not always busy or stressed, the you aren’t working hard enough. I’ve noticed that for me, personally in my career, I work better if I prioritize rest and give myself an opportunity to mentally and physically recharge instead of the burnout route I was chasing for the first 6 years of my professional career. I’ve come to realize it’s okay to work a 40 hour work week and not check your phone or emails on your day off. It’s okay to not take your computer out on vacation with your family and prioritize time with your loved ones. It’s okay to set time aside in your daily routine to enjoy a cup of coffee, or go to the gym. I think work life balance is tricky, because there is a fine line between laziness and setting healthy boundaries, however, I have come to find that setting aside time for yourself, your health, and things that are important to you is something that will ultimately help you become a better employee at the end of the day.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up in High Point, NC, with a father in the fabric industry, I knew I wanted to start a furniture-related career. I graduated from NC State with a degree in Textiles, concentration in Brand Management & Marketing, in 2016. I started fresh out of college as an independent sales representative in the Southeastern for Hickory White and Lillian August. I then transitioned into a retail store gallery liaison at one of the company’s largest accounts on the East Coast, representing all 9 of the Sherrill Furniture Company’s brands. I grew a 5-state territory and was one of the top business writers.

During this time, I was critical in the launch of the Outdoor division for Lillian August. I helped structure the sales and marketing for the brand launch along with the VP of sales, Patrick Foster, at Casual Market in Chicago. This success positioned me to move into the corporate side and is the Senior Marketing Manager for all 8 divisions of the Sherrill Furniture Companies. During this role, I increased social presence and activity on multiple platforms, revitalized catalog structure and selling tools, and excelled in press relations for all 8 divisions of the Sherrill Furniture Companies. I was recognized as a Rising Star in Furniture Today at Sherrill Furniture. In addition, I received the 2020 Future Leader Award from the nonprofit, Withit, the lead supporter of women in the Home furnishings industry.

I married on New Year’s Eve in 2021 and joined my husband, Ian Stewart’s, family business in the mountains of Blowing Rock, NC, called the Mustard Seed Market. In 2022 we launched the business’s second location, Mustard Seed Home. I am the Marketing Director for the company, a buyer for both locations, merchandising lead, and the Project Manager for the Interior Design business, Mustard Seed Home. During my time in this position, we have been awarded Best Home Decor & Gift Shop in Watauga County (’23), Retail Star by Home Accents Today (’23), and a Finalist for the 34 ART Award for the Home Accents Stores on the East Coast. I personally was recognized as 1 of 20 top home accents industry executives in “People To Watch” by Home Accents Today as well.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Blowing Rock is an amazing town! I always start with a workout at CrossFit Postal. The classes are incredible and it’s a hard workout, but a fun social time as well! Next, we would enjoy a coffee at Birdies, a local coffee trailer with delicious drinks. Breakfast at Stick Boy is a must! Their bagels are baked fresh daily and they have great farm to table options. Right down the road from Stick Boy & Birdies is the Mustard Seed Market Garden Center, here you can see beautiful seasonal gifts, plants, and inspiration. It’s a fin place to wander and check out. After that, lunch at Speckled Trout is a must and this restaurant is at the start of downtown Blowing Rock. We would check out the new mama and baby shop, The Brave Fox, from local artists and creatives, Jacob & Melina Daniels of Common Good, and then hit Mustard Seed Home to see what’s trending in the home decor industry. We would finish with dinner at Bistro Roca because their lobster roll is incredible and they have great cocktails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My dad, Brian Brown, definitely deserves recognition in my story. Growing up my dad was a sales rep for a fabric mill, so I was constantly playing in Market Square and collecting fabric cuttings to use as rugs in my dollhouse. It was difficult growing up with one parent in sales and the other in medical school, but I learned the importance of establishing a career and hard work at a young age. I attempted the pre-med path for one semester of college but started working furniture market with my dad in 2014 and was immediately hooked (not to mention organic chemistry and I did not see eye to eye). I changed my major to Textiles the next day and knew I had found my passion immediately. From the beginning of my career, my dad has always supported me, however, once we both worked in the same industry, our relationship grew even more. He gave me my first opportunity in sales as his sub-rep and trained me in selling, fabric knowledge, furniture construction, people skills and other facets of the industry. He constantly encouraged me, challenged me, and fought for me when others wanted me to fail. He is a great leader, a wealth of information, and a true friend for me both personally and professionally,

Website: https://www.mustardseedblowingrock.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinebrownstewart/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinebrownfurniture/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mustardseedmarketandhome