Today we’re excited to introduce you to Meredith Jurica. Meredith is the Founder and CEO of Makeup Junkie Bags and is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Meredith below.
Hi Meredith, thank you so much for sitting down with us again. For folks who might have missed our initial interview, can you start by briefly introducing yourself?
Hi I’m MJ, Founder and CEO of Makeup Junkie Bags! Before starting my business, I was a Speech Language Pathologist after obtaining my Bachelor and Masters degree in the field. I departed from my job as a Speech Language Pathologist to stay at home with my two young daughters. As an avid lover of makeup, I was tired of makeup bags not meeting my standards, and decided to get crafty in my spare time. It turns out I was solving a problem many people were having. A few short years ago, starting with one simple sewing machine at my kitchen table, I made an adorable lay flat cosmetics bag in my kitchen for personal use. I loved how the design housed all my modern day large cosmetic palettes. Then the fairytale happened and Makeup Junkie Bags was born. People took notice and wanted me to make them one. Fast forward five years, a design patent, an appearance on Shark Tank, and a Good Morning America sales event, my sweet little project has turned into a national wholesale company. We make everything with love in Houston, Texas at my private facility. My company now has a retail website and wholesales to thousands of retailers nationwide. All of my bags are “Handmade in Texas,” and carry a lifetime guarantee. I have continued to expand my lines over the last three years to include
handbags, cosmetics, apparel and other accessories.
Notable Philanthropy:
– Main gift Sponsor of “In the Pink”, raising almost $50,000 from the bags donated.
– Sponsorships of most local school districts in progress that include monetary
donations and gift donations.
– Athletic sponsorships
– Pageant and Academic sponsorship
What is a comical or unique thing that has happened to you on your journey as a business owner?
When I worked from home, before I had a commercial space, I operated as if I was a commercial business but out of my home. A customer had received a package from me and didn’t realize I didn’t have a store yet and showed up at my house and rang the doorbell, trying to return it for something else, not realizing it was my house until we met. I had a crying baby, my hair in a bun, no makeup and pretty sure I was in a t-shirt and pajamas.
Do you like Pina Colada’s, getting caught in the rain?
Absolutely! I believe that both of those things are vital to running a successful business.
As an independent business owner, it can be like a lone island, so what kind of services or things do you need as a business owner to stay connected and afloat? What resources do you have to keep you in touch with other business owners?
I make relationships with other people at Wholesale Markets who also own other manufacturing companies so that we can bounce ideas off of each other and kind of form a support group that we create ourselves. I am also a local Member of the Board of Directors of my local Chamber of Commerce and try to network with local business owners as well that understand what it’s like to own a business and all the bad entails.
Thank you so much again for sharing all of this with us. Before we go, can you share with our readers how they can connect with you, learn more or show support?
You can follow my Instagram account which is my personal account at @mjmakesbags where I talk to people and discuss new products and a little bit of my personal life. You can also talk to our business on Instagram and Facebook at Makeup Junkie Bags, You can reach out to the phone number listed on our Facebook page and our website, where you can also visit to view products at www.makeupjunkiebags.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/makeupjunkiebags.com
Instagram: @mjmakesbags
Contact Info:
- Website: www.makeupjunkiebags.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/makeupjunkiebags
Image Credits
Jessie Smith Photography
