Meet Nur Mirza of Matahari Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nur Mirza.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Nur. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When I was studying for the MCAT, I opened up an Instagram account to share my watercolor art, lettering and calligraphy. It was just for fun and I had no formal art or graphic design training. Then, when started medical school, I got an iPad to take notes. But because I was moving away for school, I also had to leave behind a lot of my watercolor supplies at my parents’ house in Orange County. I discovered the app Procreate and decided to teach myself a little bit about digital art and design. In between classes, I loved trying out new projects on my iPad and teaching myself different techniques! At first, I worked on florals and watercolor, but as I grew more comfortable with the app and following other artists on social media, I looked into trying different styles of art as well. I shared those designs on my artwork Instagram account which has now become my primary business account (@thematahari.co).

In March 2020, our school moved to complete online learning due to the pandemic. I had been selling some designs passively on Redbubble but decided to try to open a gift shop on Etsy for my designs. I partnered with different companies to help place my designs on mugs, t-shirts, coasters, platters, and more. Since people were staying home and celebrating Ramadan and Eid would be different this year, I wanted to provide others with the opportunity to personalize home goods and send customized gifts to their loved ones!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I didn’t know the first thing about starting a business, and quite frankly, I’m still learning!

My biggest struggle at first was figuring out how to market my designs and products and generate sales. Friends and family were the first to buy from my shop and promote my designs. I started learning about search engine optimization (SEO) and I also decided to run my own website in addition to continuing to sell on Etsy. My brother-in-law works as a marketing director and was able to help me run ads to reach potential customers as well. He’s been extremely helpful in not only marketing but also managing customers’ questions and concerns! I would not have been able to overcome the obstacles I’ve faced so far without all the support from my family and friends.

Additionally, managing my business and staying on top of school has also been incredibly challenging, but it’s definitely doable. I try to set aside at least a few minutes a day, usually in the morning or right before bed, to take care of business-related items. Moreover, coming up with new designs is fun for me and fits right into my study breaks!

Please tell us about Matahari Co.
I mostly help create personalized household items, which people usually order as gifts for loved ones. People have ordered everything from mugs, engraved coffee tumblers, customized cutting boards, coasters, photo watches, and so much more! What I’m most proud of is the fact that my customers genuinely appreciate the time I take to make sure their design is as perfect as can be, and I work with them closely and as quickly as possible to achieve their vision. While I may not have the means or access to bring every single idea to life, I can offer clients realistic expectations and the flexibility to help them achieve their vision within those expectations. I think its this personalized touch that helps set me apart from a lot of companies because the customer knows there is a real individual behind the business.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I thought way too long about this question because 1. my memory is fuzzy and 2. among the memories I do remember, it’s hard to choose! But I think one that sticks out is when I was six years old and it was Eid. When it came time to receive Eid presents, my mom simply gave me a note that sent me on a scavenger hunt throughout the house for more clues until finally, it led me to the garage where my new pink bike was parked! It was my first bicycle and I was super excited. My mom’s creative scavenger hunt to build the anticipation made it that much better!

Pricing:

• Customized Cutting Boards: $30-45, free shipping in the U.S.
• Personalized Bey/Hatun Mugs: $15-20, free shipping in the U.S.
• Customized Color Accent Mug: $20.99, free shipping in the U.S.
• Customized Portrait (Digital Download): $20-$30

Contact Info:

• Website: thematahari.co
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @thematahari.co
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thematahari.co

Image Credit:
Nur Mirza, Nefertiti Rogers, Soondus Awan

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