Life & Work with Carly Kirkham of Franklin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carly Kirkham

Hi Carly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2022, my now husband and I were engaged and planning our dream wedding. I decided to make all of our wedding signage myself as a way to reconnect with my artsy side and also escape the stresses of wedding planning. After showing my friends my work, many of them began asking if I could make the signage for their weddings, baby showers, and bachelorette parties. I quickly realized how happy it made me to be a small part of making someone’s vision come to life while celebrating some of life’s greatest milestones.

Fast forward two years, I am now full time with mid-July Designs and creating event signage for all of the greater Nashville area. I have made hundreds of bar signs, seating charts, place cards, welcome signs and so much more. The best part is that I’m just getting started. There is so much more in store for mid-July Designs and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting mid-July designs off the ground has been an incredible adventure. When I first started my business, I was working 80 hour work weeks at a very intense corporate finance job. I would come home around 7 pm each night and work until around midnight learning new design softwares, making sample products, and reaching out to brides and businesses trying to get new customers. I even volunteered on weekends to work with other local wedding vendors for extra cash to invest in my business and try to build my network.

I have learned that it really takes a village to start and run a successful business. My husband and I live in a tiny one bedroom apartment and have had to lean on our friends and family a lot for our bigger projects. We have used friends farms, garages, and backyards to build our 8-10 ft displays. Some of our favorite memories from this year have come from working late into the night on with flashlight helmets while we put the finishing touches on a new piece.

Although the road has not been the smoothest, I would not trade any part of my experience starting mid-July Designs.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I always have a hard time describing what I do because the signage industry is so new! I specialize in wedding and event signage. I frequently work with event coordinators, brides, and other vendors to create custom pieces to have at their events. This includes but isn’t limited to seating chart displays, welcome signage, guestbook signage, bar signage, cocktail walls, champagne walls, custom napkins, placards, table numbers and so much more.

I am most proud of the fact that I chose to do what makes me happy. Before mid-July Designs I was working a high paying corporate finance job that most people could only dream of. But, that life made me miserable despite having disposable income and so much financial stability. I feel very fortunate to have learned at a young age that happiness is priceless.

What sets me apart from other individuals in my industry is my client relationships. My motto with all of my clients is that “if you can dream it I can make it”. I work very hard to get to know each of my clients and what makes them unique. My favorite part about what I do is figuring out ways to incorporate personal touches in my clients events. Earlier this year, a bride ask me to brainstorm a way to include bourbon in their signage because that was unique to their love story. In order to fulfill this request, I researched and brainstormed for days until I came up with a design for a bourbon barrel seating chart that was later featured in Kentucky Bride Magazine.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Owning and starting my own business has taught more lessons than I ever imagined. In fact, I often joke that I learn a new lesson just about every week being an entrepreneur. The most important thing I have learned is that you get what you work for not what you wish for.

Pricing:

• $1500 Product Minimum
• $350 Design Fee

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.midjulydesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midjulydesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midjulydesigns
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@midjulydesigns?_t=8sY7lYH51Tv&_r=1