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MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

As promised, I’m back with another solo show! Here, I discuss a bunch of things coming up for me, and also some things that you guys will be a part of. This summer, I’m speaking at several shows and teaching a masterclass and I share all the details. I also share updates about my blog, my plans for upcoming webinars, updates on the Show Me Your Store series, and details on Zoom consultations.

What’s Inside:

• Where I’m teaching and speaking this summer
• An update about my blog and upcoming webinars
• Updates on the Show Me Your Store series

Send us a Text Message.

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Tara Thorn started her jewelry business, Cedar and Cypress Designs, after living in Haiti for five years. Seeing the beauty of the island, she wanted to share the beauty and work of the artisans she had met. Starting with a small website, she quickly grew into wholesale and is now in over 500 stores across the
US.

It was with the help of mentors and places like MPLS MART that shaped her business. Tara is now also a showroom owner at the MPLS MART, the Midwest’s only permanent regional gift market. Through shows and the online space, she can grow her reach to more stores and customers, increase
awareness of the beautiful items coming out of Haiti, and showcase the work of her artisans and their team. Every purchase makes a difference, Purchase with Purpose.

This is Tara’s second time on the show and here she shares a little about Cedar and Cypress Designs and how the political and social unrest in Haiti impacts her artisans and business. She then dives into her new role at the MPLS mart and how she got started. Tara also shares all the details of her showroom set up, which brands are represented at the mart, and how she maintains a healthy work/life balance.

Upcoming dates for the MPLS Mart are:

June 9-11, 2024
July 26-30, 2024
October 6-8, 2024

What’s Inside:

• How the unrest in Haiti is impacting Tara’s artisans
• What it’s like inside Tara’s showroom
• How Tara maintains a healthy work/life balance

Mentioned In This Episode:
Cedar and Cypress Designs on Instagram
Cedar and Cypress Designs on Facebook
cedarandcypressdesigns.com
cedarandcypresswholesale.com
MPLS Mart on Instagram
MLPS Mart on Facebook
mplsmart.com
Book: Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire

Send us a Text Message.

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!

Michele Doty has been in sales for 30+ years, spending the first half learning and mastering her sales, presentation, and people skills within the recruiting space. She was then presented with an opportunity she couldn’t pass up - a sales director position for a luxury jewelry brand. For the last 14 years, Michele has enjoyed being a part of the fashion, beauty, home & gift industries, working for two luxury jewelry brands, and developing relationships with retailers both nationally and internationally.

From growing a start-up company with $0 sales (literally not one sale) to 7 figures within a year, to closing a million-dollar deal in her 20's, to multiple President's Club Honors, to growing wholesale brands to 7+ figures in revenue, to personally selling and managing 8 figures worth of wholesale products and so much more in between, Michelle has learned a WHOLE (pun intended!) lot about sales, strategy & people in the last 30+ years!

Recently, Michele started a strategy consulting company to help fashion brands grow their wholesale business. Now, she has the benefit of experience working with both retailers and brands. Her goal is to bridge that gap between the two and support their growth. Michele Doty Sales (MDS) was born out of the dire need for sales consulting and training, along with educational and community resources and support for brands, designers, creatives, and anyone looking to grow their wholesale business in the Fashion, Beauty, and Home & Gift industries.

As the founder of Michele Doty Sales and a self-proclaimed sales junkie, Michele’s mission is to share her wealth of knowledge, years of experience, and tried & true processes with anyone interested in taking their wholesale business to the next level - biggest cheerleader and hype girl are bonuses! Here, Michele shares all about her career journey and how she founded her consulting company, how she helps her clients shine at markets and shows, what it’s like to work with her, and more.

What’s Inside:

• Michele’s career journey from corporate sales and recruiting to consulting business owner
• How Michele helps her clients shine at markets and shows
• What it looks like to sign on with Michele as a consultant

Mentioned In This Episode:

Michele Doty on Instagram
micheledotysales.com