Though growth was fast, Anna admits she’s made her share of mistakes. In one case, she sold a complete line to a company in Australia. The company copied every product in the line and began selling them overseas. The lesson? Know your customer. She also has learned to hire cautiously, being sure the right people are doing the right jobs. “With each failure, I trust I’m being groomed for something bigger. Mistakes remind you to pay attention.”
She prefers to focus on the positive, constantly exploring possibilities. “I want lots of texture, surprises, and dimension,” she explains. “The challenge is to keep it simple.” Using herself as the litmus test, she assesses every pattern for its visual appeal. In her worldwide travels, she actively seeks antique objects or prints that become the foundation for her pattern collections. Then she and her team, including vice president and right hand Tracey Flammer, develop products, packaging, and embellishments. Finally, they build stories around the collections to showcase them for licensing.
The key to continued success, she says, is reinvention. “The philosophy of taking the old and making it new applies to everything.”

Decide what you love to do, then hone your skills in design or business and look for help to complement them.
Trust yourself. Take the risk instead of just talking about it. It’s better to try than to wish you had done it.
Find the right banking relationship. Beyond the thrill of the start-up, you’ll need funding for inventory, salary, rent, and other expenses you don’t always consider.
Expect to work harder, longer, and for less—but nothing beats the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
 

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