Empowering Entrepreneurial Women: Mara Rypacek Miller, Founder of Industville

In honour of International Women's Day 2024, we spoke with Mara Rypacek Miller, the Founder and Managing Director of Industville. We delved into her inspirations, experiences, and the challenges she encountered on her journey into the lighting and furniture industry, and how being a female leader has shaped Industville's vision.

Personal experiences and challenges.

After a successful career in International Marketing & Business Development with companies like Volvo and AXA, the seed for Industville was planted nearly a decade ago. Fueled by a desire to create something of her own, Mara was initially drawn by the lack of aesthetic classic industrial lighting options. Setting up shop in her workshop, she restored vintage pieces inspired by the historic Royal Arsenal in London. However, overwhelming demand quickly necessitated a shift to partner with a team of skilled craftsmen globally, leading to the growth of Industville.

The business has grown exponentially ever since then and now serves a huge range of customers and businesses worldwide, flourishing to become what it is today, a design led company with strong values for quality and sustainability, all the way from our artisan manufacturing to our end product.

Mara said, "taking on this challenge has been an incredibly rewarding experience for me; I have had the opportunity to design our own products and make crucial decisions, lead a team, and experiment with different tactics in order to provide the best customer support possible."

"An incredibly fulfilling activity that I enjoy doing every single day."

Keeping up with customer demands is no easy task, but Mara said that it has been a "great source of satisfaction". It has enabled her to "come up with innovative solutions to improve customer satisfaction levels, whilst making sure that our service quality remains at its highest level. Additionally, [she] gets the chance to work closely with my colleagues and motivate them towards achieving our common goals. Moreover, [she can] use resources efficiently in order to get results in a timely manner, which further contributes towards positive experiences for our customers."

Inspirations

Drawing from the rich heritage of London's Royal Arsenal, Mara crafted our lighting fixtures by blending vintage aesthetics with modern trends to create unique designs.

She said this investment into making unique designs paid off, "as within a few months demand began to exceed expectations - leading to an eventual growth that made this ‘one woman’ production unsustainable and led to partnerships with skilled craftsmen around the world."

Despite the rapid growth, she continued sourcing high-quality materials from across the globe. Mara said "from pure brass to copper, I was able to find the perfect materials for designing elegant and authentic pieces, allowing me to design top quality and original bespoke items for my customers - resulting in attractive lights that have been highly sought after among those looking for modern updates on vintage styles."

Pivotal moments as a female entrepreneur

Mara said that one pivotal moment in our journey was when demand for our handcrafted lighting fixtures far exceeded expectations, prompting the need to scale up production. This transition marked not only Industville's growth but also highlighted the importance of adaptability and innovation in leadership. It underscored our commitment to providing high-quality products while embracing modern trends in design.

She said "running my own business was always an attractive prospect to me. Ever since I was a teenager, I had the desire to start something of my own and become an entrepreneur. This ambition led me to do something daring when I was 16 – opening a fast food ‘hole in the wall’ shop during my summer holidays. It was a great experience that helped me gain knowledge in all aspects of running a business – from basic operations to marketing. During this initial venture, I found that managing a business was incredibly rewarding and it gave me the drive to learn more about the subject.

This newfound love for business management led me to pursue a career in marketing and business operations management over several years, but my ultimate goal remained owning my own business. Things changed drastically when Industville started growing rapidly and taking off - finally allowing me to make this dream come true."

Significant projects

We have worked with hundreds of companies and designers, each bringing something unique to the table. It’s always inspiring to see how our products are used in different spaces, from minimalistic modern designs to robust industrial styles. Each design style has its own unique beauty. We are privileged to have been part of so many different projects, each one special in its own way.

We have worked with a variety of distinguished retail, leisure and hospitality companies such as Liberty, Next, Lush, Ted Baker, Costa Coffee and Caffè Nero, and many more. In addition to smaller scale interior projects and retail customers. We are also very proud to be involved in ongoing projects for clients such as Paul’s bakery, Superdry and Tissot where our products are installed around their worldwide network of stores. It's a real testament to our high quality and timeless products.

Our collections

We prides ourselves on being able to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to interior design trends. As we grow accustomed to the industrial look, we are continuing to find ways to innovate and refine the look, whilst maintaining its timeless charm. To ensure our products remain both relevant and attractive to customers we have embraced a modern take on industrial design and have now ventured into other collections like colourful shades, table lamps, natural lighting and rugs.

Our venture into table lamps offers customers an expanded range of lighting options, showcasing our commitment to innovative design and high-quality materials. With a focus on striking geometric and organic shapes crafted from robust Pewter and Brass, our lamps add sophistication to any space.

We have started to champion natural materials like Rattan, Raffia, Moonj Grass, and Wood in lighting fixtures. From earthy rattan pendants to elegant wood chandeliers, each fixture reflects our commitment to sustainability. These eco-friendly lighting solutions offer both beauty and environmental responsibility.

Venturing into rugs also marks an exciting and completely new chapter for Industville, presenting fresh challenges and opportunities in a completely different field. While our heritage lies in the sustainable handcrafted production of lighting and furniture, we've embraced this new challenge and are bringing our ethos to all of our new ranges, driven by our commitment to innovation and quality craftsmanship.

Entering the world of rugs allows us to explore new avenues of creativity and design, expanding our portfolio to offer customers a more comprehensive range of interior solutions. It's a testament to our adaptability and willingness to push boundaries.

Navigating the intricacies of rug design and production requires a different set of skills and knowledge compared to lighting and furniture. We're embracing this learning curve with open minds, leveraging our experience in design and manufacturing to deliver rugs that meet the same standards of excellence our customers have come to expect.

Message for other women in design

Mara's advice is to remain adaptive while adhering to what makes you unique. Consider offering products and services that can be tailored to the individual customer, taking into account their needs, interests, and budget. Additionally, think about ways in which you can distinguish yourself from the competition by focusing on the quality of your offerings and providing exceptional customer service.

This could be as simple as offering a personalised experience, or going the extra mile with product recommendations or additional services such as installation or maintenance. Ultimately, by staying true to yourself and providing products and services that appeal to customers on an individual level, you will be able to stand out from the crowd.

We strive to achieve this modern balance between traditional and new. We maintain a connection with our roots, whilst at the same time reflecting current trends in interior design. This combination offers something fresh yet reassuringly familiar that can be appreciated across all styles. The post-modern age presents an exciting opportunity for interior designers to explore new ideas while embracing certain aspects of their heritage and authenticity.

By taking on board both customer feedback and market trends, Industville strives to provide an up-to-date selection of home decor items that stay true to traditional principles but with enough variation to make them truly special.

The future of Industville

Industville's product roadmap and future are guided by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and meeting the evolving needs of our customers. As we continue to grow and expand our offerings, we're dedicated to staying at the forefront of design trends while maintaining the timeless appeal that sets our products apart.

One key aspect of our future vision is a continued focus on sustainability. We recognise the importance of environmental responsibility and are committed to minimising our ecological footprint throughout the entire production process. This includes sourcing eco-friendly materials, implementing energy-efficient manufacturing practices, and exploring sustainable packaging options.

Additionally, we're constantly exploring new product categories and expanding our range to offer customers a comprehensive selection of interior solutions. Our venture into rugs and natural lighting is just the beginning - we're excited to explore new avenues and introduce innovative products that enhance and elevate the spaces they inhabit.

Looking ahead, we are poised to continue growing and evolving, driven by our passion for creativity, quality, and sustainability. With a focus on innovation and collaboration, we're excited to shape the future of interior design and deliver exceptional experiences to our customers around the world.