Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcie Carson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Marcie Carson and I’ve had the insane pleasure of being the founding Creative Director for two companies. In 1995, I started a graphic design firm called IE Design + Communications that grew to be one of the leading West Coast agencies, garnering hundreds of design awards for clients like BMW, Mattel, Getty, UCLA, and The Academy Awards. I left the firm in 2012 to launch a line of stationery and gift goods called MIXT Studio. In addition to having a successful online presence, MIXT products can be found in over 300 stores across the nation.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I think there will always be struggles when you have an entrepreneurial spirit. For the first company I started, I was too young and naive to be scared. Plus the younger you are, the less you have to lose, so the struggles are easier. I started IE Design with $500 used Apple Computer, a few business cards and an unstoppable drive to create something I could be proud of. The launch of MIXT Studio in 2012 was quite different. I was looking to take client demands and deadlines out of my daily life, but I was very passionate about being a graphic designer. Given that I loved paper and print, stationery was a natural choice. I dove in head first and named the new company MIXT (pronounced “mixed”) because I knew it was going to be a wild mix of product and design. The struggles started later when the monetary and operational realities of running a manufacturing company began. I learned very quickly that a product business model is very different from a service model.
Please tell us about MIXT Studio.
MIXT Studio is a lifestyle brand that designs, manufactures and curates a free-spirited collection of paper goods, gifts, apparel and accessories. There are creative spirit and love of the environment that infuses everything our studio produces. Whether it’s my passion to discover new things or our eclectic approach, the resulting aesthetic is an inspired mix of color, pattern and message. We’re best known for fresh, fashionable patterns printed on Tyvek® bags and totes. MIXT products can now be found in over 300 stores across the nation.
In 2015, we opened the doors to our existing studio (also home to our graphic design firm, IE Design) to create a unique storefront called MIXT Studio WORK+SHOP. Located in a historic building on Pacific Coast Highway in Hermosa Beach CA, this is where our products are designed and shipped daily (“work”) and people can “shop” a carefully curated collection of like-minded local artisans, international finds and larger brands.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I actually smile that I ended up here. I probably could’ve and should’ve done a lot differently, but it all works out in the end.
I just hit a large milestone birthday, so I’m able to look back on a design career that spans almost thirty years. I’m proud of a lot of things — the work, awards, recognition, mentoring young designers, etc. — but to be honest, I’m most proud of my choice to follow my heart and step down from my agency. It was a very difficult decision to leave a thriving career and start over, but I was ready to reinvent myself and my personal life. In addition to giving me the opportunity to spend more time with my family, MIXT Studio allowed me to pursue creative and philanthropic endeavors. We do a lot for girl power, the environment and other causes that are important to me.
I recently started referring to myself as “the bag lady”. I started MIXT Studio as a line of greeting cards and gift wrap but had an idea for a Reusable Wine Bag. In order to be reusable, the bag couldn’t be made of wood pulp paper. I discovered Tyvek® and began using it for the wine bags. People loved them! They were carried at Whole Foods, The Container Store and Crate & Barrel. Since the Tyvek® is water-resistant, requests came in for beach totes and gym bags. In just six years, MIXT Studio paper goods will be a thing of the past and the brand will be solely bags and totes. So should I have done anything differently? Probably. But I’ve always loved the saying, “Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and start being excited by what could go right.”
Pricing:
- Reversible Totes $36
- Zipper Totes $46
- Pouches/Wristlets $29
Contact Info:
- Address: 422 Pacific Coast Hwy Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
- Website: https://mixtstudio.com
- Phone: 310.698.3653
- Email: hello@mixtstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixtstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIXTStudio/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MIXTStudio
- Yelp: Gum Tree
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/marciecarson/
Image Credit:
Siri Berting Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
