Meet Stephanie Miller | Founder | Stephanie Miller Designs

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

Hi Stephanie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Simply said, I have a passion for what I do and, like a lot of successful brands, it starts with really understanding the needs of my customer. I made a decision early on that I wanted Stephanie Miller Designs to be about creating unique, bespoke products with a focus on end-to-end quality: working closely with my customers, using high-quality materials, leveraging my investment in leading-edge technology/machinery and a finishing/packaging approach that reinforces this focus on quality. In this online world, I pride myself on delivering a highly personalized shopping experience from the selection of a monogram design, to choices of fabrics and thread colors. Many of the products that I offer are crafted start to finish in my studio and every product sold reflects my passion for designing and creating the highest quality embroidered goods.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I jumped into the world of embroidery with both feet by purchasing a multi-needle embroidery machine and teaching myself how to use it. It was mostly a side hustle and I was primarily monogramming for friends, neighbors and relatives. I was thoroughly enjoying everything about this world and continued to hone my skills and learn new techniques, like sewing and appliqué embroidery. I opened up an Etsy shop in 2020 which was a fantastic way to get acquainted with selling online. I was having a lot of fun and my business grew from there – I was able to acquire a second and then third embroidery machine and finally launched my own website last year.

Settling in on a focused set of product offerings was the biggest learning curve, though. In the world of monogramming, there are so many different types of items one can offer for embroidery that it can be overwhelming. Starting out, I was to trying chase customers by offering it all from clothing and gifts for children to a myriad of home décor items but was having a hard time standing out in what I feel is a saturated market. I decided to take step back and narrow my focus to offering some unique, bespoke, quality products that I truly loved creating and embroidering, many of which I fabricate and sew start to finish in my studio, like my pillow covers, tissue box covers and appliqué cocktail napkins. Since I am selling primarily online, I also wanted to provide the most personalized shopping experience as possible for my customers, so a narrowed focus has allowed me the opportunity to do this. I recognize that my customers are making an investment in their homes and I want to do everything possible to make sure that the items they are ordering will meet their expectations and be something that they will love for years to come!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Usually for anyone visiting these days, their first stop is tour of my home-based studio! I have been so fortunate to take a former media room with lots of natural lighting, a private entrance from the main house and second doorway to our backyard and turn it into my work room. Everyone is amazed at the machinery and all the materials that go into making my creations! Living in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte makes a driving tour of the lake, its beautiful neighborhoods and many fingertip coves is a must. Walking downtown Davidson and the college would be next followed by a dinner stop at Mestizo on Main Street to sit on the patio to enjoy a margarita and one of their many delicious, contemporary Mexican dishes. Antique and consignment store shopping in Charlotte is always a fun opportunity to drive guests into the city. Stops at Consignments on Park, Classic Attic and Sleepy Poet Antique Mall always yield the best finds. And if there’s time, a stop at Blackhawk Hardware at Park Road Shopping Center makes for the most unique hardware store shopping one will ever experience with everything from nuts and bolts to garden and home décor items! Finally, a meal at Dolce Osteria in Dilworth featuring one of their homemade pasta dishes and Limoncello cake for dessert is the perfect ending to the day.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Growing up I was surrounded by Italian women – my grandmother, mother, aunts and their friends – who had the most gifted hands! They sewed, hand-embroidered, cross-stitched, crocheted and knitted beautiful heirloom pieces, many of which I still use today. I loved spending time with them – they inspired me and taught me all of these wonderful skills. Life took me on a pathway through college, marriage, a career in nursing and most importantly raising my two children but that longing to do something creative with my hands never left me. Launching Stephanie Miller Designs allowed me to revisit the love for sewing and embroidery nurtured in me by these creative and loving artists.

I also cannot miss the opportunity to give a shoutout to my family for being my biggest cheerleaders and encouraging me along the way, especially my husband who never wavered as I kept acquiring embroidery machines and equipment…and then told him I wanted to leave my nursing career to focus full time on my business! It sounds so cliché but I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and support.

Website: https://stephaniemillerdesigns.com

Instagram: @stephaniemillerdesigns

Image Credits
The two photos of me on the porch and standing against the bookshelves: Words & Pictures by Jeannie DeSena

All other photos were taken by my husband, Tom Miller, and myself