We recently connected with Jennifer Midori Macfarlane and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jennifer Midori with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Thank you for having me! I think my Dad was the one who taught me how to work hard. Every Saturday morning he would leave a list of chores on the kitchen counter for me and my sister to complete. He would have woken up hours earlier and already be working on some task. When I finished a job, he would come for an inspection and always find some thing I could improve on. He did it in a loving manner but I quickly I learned that details matter, people notice when something isn’t perfect.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My first career lasted 15+ years, I was an Art Director in Advertising in New York City. That all changed when I had my first child. My husband and I decided New York was less than ideal for the way we wanted to raise kids. We moved to Portland, OR where we could get outside easily. Getting outside required lots of gear so I designed us a giant tote bag made from industrial grade breathable mesh. The tote was great for the beach, mountains etc. Friends saw them and asked how to get one. Finder Goods was born! I design everything and have it manufactured in Portland and Seattle. My other passion is music. I am a voracious listener, just can’t get enough. I love supporting the artists who’s music has inspired me. I try my best to support local artists, many of whom have become good friends, and use my totes to haul gear to their shows. This makes me so happy.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being appreciative of those I work with is important. I try to go out of my way to let the people who sew the totes for me know that I appreciate their workmanship. I think it is important to acknowledge their contribution to the success of my brand. I hope they feel like they are part of my story. Perseverance is incredibly important. I have run into more dead ends than open doors. I try not to put all my eggs in one basket so I won’t be devastated if an opportunity doesn’t come to fruition. Staying organized is important. I do too much work on scraps of paper that end up in a pile. I wish I had a better filing system so 6 months after I work on something I can easily refer back to it.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The biggest challenge is growing the DTC part of my business. And learning how to harness the power of social media. I’m trying to send more totes to key influencers in hopes that something clicks. I am also trying to do some soft product launches, where I offer IG followers first dibs on new bags. Its definitely something I can get better at.
Contact Info:
- Website: findergoods.com
- Instagram: findergoods
Image Credits
DYSK Photography @dyskphotography Clayton Cotterell @claytoncotterell
