Co-Founder & Creative Director

Hey Hannah! So tell us, what is your role at Merchgirls
I am the co-founder and Creative Director of Merchgirls. I am responsible for the look, feel and tone of the company and the work that we produce. My job involves working on the serious stuff such as colour palettes, fabrications, graphic styles, typography, packaging, copywriting and written communication for all our proposals and business development. I am big on the small details and Pippa calls me an annoying perfectionist. I prefer pedantic polisher. Either way guilty, soz. 

From when I meet the customer and understand the brief, all creative mood-boards and designs are directed by me. I absolutely love all the varied jobs that come through our doors and the challenge to ensure that the aesthetic for each company / brand is considered on an individual basis. There is no copy, paste approach. 

I am a massive mood-boarder - I basically live on Pinterest and need to be aware of trends and creative ways to brand and customise. My job is to ensure our merchgame is always at the top of our industry and constantly looking for the next new products or updates to our product offering. 

What is your co-founder story?
I founded the company with Pippa who was my Production Manager for my former clothing label, Chip Chop, in my previous life. 

We worked so collaboratively and well together that when I decided to close that business, we both agreed that we would work together in some capacity again. The gods must have been listening because in the next few days, an opportunity was presented to me on a silver platter. The Australian Ballet approached me to ask to design them an entire collection for their 2016 season. Naturally, I picked up the phone to ask Pippa if she was interested. She quickly took my hand in marriage and we soon became Work Wives in the land of Merchgirls and have since lived happily (and chaotically) ever since. 

Before Merchgirls, what did you do? 
I worked on my Women's clothing label, Chip Chop (give it a google) for 10 years (2005 - 2015). Before that I worked as a receptionist in a cosmetic clinic and a manager at a French bakery. So I’ve got beauty, croissants and tote bags under my belt. It’s a very important combo. I studied Visual Communications at UTS during my bakery career. 

In your role, what does a typical day look like?  
Obviously the creative direction of any work that comes through and ensuring all proposals and designs we work on are the best they can be. 

I also work a lot in Account Management with our clients, so there is a lot of communication, educating our customers on our products, zoom, zoom, zoom, quoting and closing sales. 

Then liaising with production; approving samples/colour matches, quality and being across all products that are in sampling and production stage. Because I deal with both sides: client and internal - I am an important conduit for communication. Fancy. 

What has been your number one highlight being the co-founder of Merchgirls?  
So. Many. Highlights. Gosh, I’m so proud of what we have achieved in our *almost 6 years in business. The fact that such huge brands choose to work with us is still such a rush. If I had to pick one though, I would pick the moment when Tennis Australia called us to ask if we could produce a brand new lifestyle range for the Australian Open. OMG - this is what we had wanted to do for 3 years and now we had the actual opportunity. BUT we had to make it in 8 weeks (design, sample, produce and land). It was the most hectic, exhilarating moment in time. The steepest learning curve we could have asked for and really upped the ante for us. This project meant so much to us and we were so bloody proud of how we actually managed to pull it off. Our business changed from this moment. 

What has been your favourite piece of merch?  
“Life is Short, Meet me on Court” - the aforementioned AO range. I loved the whole range. Proud as punch back then and I still am. 

If you could work with any client in the world, who would it be? 
- Celeste Barber - Tour merch (This funny woman needs funny merch)
- Barilla Pasta (Pasta merch!)
- QANTAS (when travel kicks back up again)
- Beyond Blue or RUOK? Non for profits working with mental health issues. So important.

QUICK ROUND…..  

Camping or Glamping?
Glamping 

Pizza or Hamburgers? 
Pizza 

Dogs or Cats? 
Cats (you must meet my darling kitten, Violet and you’ll agree)

Swimming pool or beach?
Pool

Custom T-shirt or Laptop holder? 
Tee, baby!

Thanks Hannah!