We recently connected with Quinn Mcilhargey and have shared our conversation below.
Quinn , first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Let’s just say I have not overcome imposter syndrome, however fighting against imposter syndrome isa daily action in my life. It is way too easy to compare your business, talent, progress, growth, etc. these days with the wide availability of watching other brands succeed on social media. I like to re-focus when I’m feeling imposter syndrome by thinking about how everyone starts. We all start at the same spot and timing is so personal to you and your business. Skills develop as time goes on, and as long as your passion and ambition is still in tact, there’s no reason to stop. It’s impossible to measure yourself/business against any other because we all come from separate sets of circumstances. So, my biggest advice is to keep going and let the movement of your business/skill develop in its own time.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Quinn and I am the owner and designer behind Baqette! I got started developing this business back in 2011, when I saw an opportunity to turn some upholstery leather scraps from my uncle’s furniture company into something useful. I started working on a domestic sewing machine, figuring out how to attach zippers, sew straight lines adjust tension and needle strength for the leather, and coming up with some functional pieces. I have always been getting my hands into creative spaces. I studied Business Management and Studio Art in college and while I was eager to find a career that would allow me to make money and pay off my student loans, I was always finding ways to keep my hands active in creating. With all the apartments I lived in, I created a little work space to this business and would make trips to get more leather scraps to work with and dabble.
I had an interest in fashion, and the access to leather scraps made it possible for me to develop both my skill and design, while sustainably contributing to the fashion world.
It was absolutely a hobby, but when people started asking where they could buy a piece, i gained some confidence to develop things more seriously. I started doing local markets in 2016, established an LLC in 2017, landed a wholesale account with Magnolia and another large wholesale account that provided stability and interest that kept both me and my brand going. I worked a full-time job until the end of 2020, and decided to take a chance pursuing Baqette more full-time, while also exploring other career interests I’d put to the side for those 9 years at Anthropologie.
So here we are in 2023, my first full year pursuing Baqette full-time. I moved my studio out of my house and into a real Studio with 4x the space! I’ve been able to collaborate other local artists, and continue to create what inspires me. I primarily do everything, however this year I’ve been able to hire on part-time support for marketing, production and upcoming markets.
The pursuit of a creative career comes with so much opportunity, flexibility, and inspiration, but how you approach it all can also be a detriment. My priority is to grow sustainably, keep production local and handmade. I incorporate local creative talent wherever I can in things like photoshoots, packaging, collaboration, etc. It’s a lot of work, but I feel confident knowing that those creative dollars are getting pumped right back into the community.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think it’s so important to find people who might be doing something that aligns with your interest and see how they work. I am self-taught when it comes to sewing and I remember seeking out another local business that worked with leather to see how they functioned. One opportunity can lead to another and all these opportunities and experiences tend to build on each other to build up your skills and knowledge. Being social and talking to other small business owners is also vital to any business starting out and during! We often struggle with the same things and sharing resources and experiences is so helpful.
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?
I’m so proud to be a woman-owned and operated business! We’ve been able to grow with the small team we have and we’re growing even more as I welcome my first baby into the world in November. This proposes a huge challenge for me and my business. November – December are crucial months for sales. As a super small business, I do most of the production, packaging, shipping, selling and I now have to make a huge shift so that my business can function without my presence as I take maternity leave. I’ve been working hard to hire help, teach what I can, and I’m about to start producing large batches of product that could last through the season. Earlier this year I invested in creating business relationship with a friend who thrives in marketing and organization. She has been crucial to staying on track, planning, and keeping this ship moving forward! I feel so lucky to experience and benefit from her talent. It’s all a journey and it makes everything easier having people close to you cheering you on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.baqette.com
- Instagram: @BAQETTE
Image Credits
portraits in studio: Tessa Trozzolillo Foltz (@Tessa__tf) images with models/still life: Samuel Greenhill (@abrokenlightbulb)
