Posted on October 08 2021
Our latest of Small Business Feature is here! To continue celebrating creativity let us introduce you to Megan Burchell!
⭐ We love your work, but would love to know more about you. Tell us all there is to know about you and your business?
Thank you! I’m Meg from Exeter. Scrambled Meg Designs was born only 6 months ago, so it’s literally like my baby that I’m trying to nurture and grow. It began with mental health inspired typography prints, as it’s a topic that’s very close to my heart. That’s where my shop name came from too. I shamelessly love a pun and my brain is always scrambled! Now, my range has expanded and I have enamel pins, stationary, washi tape, stickers, bookmarks and more. I run 2 other small shops also, but I wanted to create a new space that felt 100% me, that a could grow to a place that was quite special, for other people as well as myself.
⭐ What is a product you haven’t made yet but would love to sometime in the future?
Oh good question! I’d love to put some of my designs on clothing and acrylic jewellery perhaps. I’d also like to do an adult colouring and activity book. New ideas come and go in my brain every day, so this could change tomorrow!
⭐ If you could have a lifetime supply of any Zap! Product, which would it be and why?
My initial answer would be acrylic charms, because they’re so versatile. I’ve used them to make keyrings and jewellery and they’re amazing quality.
However, I’m currently answering this question shortly after fighting with my cutting machine as it wouldn’t cut my sticker sheets correctly, so if I had a lifetime supply of sticker sheets, this would save me the stress and drama of wanting to throw the machine out of the window regularly!
⭐ What is the biggest curveball you have had to overcome since starting your business?
My own mental health and time management. I have BPD, OCD and anxiety, which affects me daily in unpredictable ways, so sometimes it can be hard to have access to my own creativity and ideas. I also work full time, I’m studying for a psychology degree part time with the Open University and I run two other small shops, so it can be tough to juggle it all!
Also, It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. There are so many incredible small shops out there who inspire me and I used to have a bad habit of comparing my success to what I perceived as theirs, e.g. number of Instagram followers, product range and sales. I know a lot of people do this, especially when starting out and it can be a difficult habit to break. But the only advice I can give is that you don’t know what goes on behind the scenes of other small shops and numbers don’t represent the whole picture. Focus only on you and do what you love.
⭐ What is your biggest motivation?
I’d be lying if I said money and sales weren’t a big motivation, of course they are! But rather than that in a literal sense, it’s more the gratification that someone is spending their own hard earned
money on something I created, which blows my mind every time my phone makes a ‘cha-ching’ sound. Every person who likes or comments on a post makes the curveballs worth it.
I’m also motivated by all the people in my past (including myself) who told me I couldn’t do it, and I’d fail and give up at any venture I set out to do. My business is a swift middle finger to them all! My fiancé is also amazing at keeping me motivated.
⭐ What is your current favourite Netflix/tv show and what’s your go-to snack for watching?
I’m rubbish at picking favourites! I love anything psychological or true crime themed. I’m really looking forward to the third series of You! And Domino’s if that counts!
⭐ What inspires your illustrations?
Anything and everyone. It could be anything from my own interpretations of different things I see, wordplay, or my own experiences and moods. I’m a night owl, so a lot of ideas come to me when I can’t sleep. My shop doesn’t really have a specific aesthetic, as my design preferences can change regularly. For example, at the moment I’m really into the witchy/Halloween theme which I love drawing! Before that, it was a more subtle bohemian vibe.
⭐ What things are most important to you when running your business?
In the past, I’ve followed the trends and designed things that weren’t particularly my style, but I thought other people would like. But this is utterly ridiculous, as it’ll soon feel like a chore rather than something you do for fun. So it’s important to me that I stay true to myself and don’t follow the crowd.
Also, making sure each and every person who is kind enough to support me and my business is appreciated.
⭐ If you had one superpower what would it be?
I would be able to just click my fingers and my tax return would just be done!
⭐ What would you like to achieve this year?
Nothing specific really as my business is still new. Just to keep growing, experimenting and creating new things!
⭐ Where can we purchase your work?
You can find me on my Website, Instagram or Facebook
