Medina King-Sam proves that even when you are stuck in a bad work situation, entrepreneurship can be a way out.
This London entrepreneur actually went from washing dishes to running three businesses before she turned 30. Today, at just 29 years old, King-Sam is one of the first Black children’s interior designers based in London. She crafts personalized, colorful, and fun bedrooms and playrooms for children. But before her success, times were tough for King-Sam, who is a graduate of the renowned University of the Arts London where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Interior Design. She went through a long stretch of unemployment, only to finally find work at a takeaway restaurant where she not only served food but also cleaned and washed the large industrial pots that were used to cook various dishes.
During her off time at the restaurant, King-Sam started coming up with a plan for her own interior design business. She also started assisting interior stylists and art directors to get more experience in the sector. After racking up that experience she decided to take a “leap of faith” and opened MK Kids Interiors. Here we talk to her about her journey to entrepreneurship.
MadameNoire (MN): What would you say was the most important lesson you learned from working at the takeaway restaurant
Medina King-Sam (MKS): Providing excellent customer service was important. It is important to engage with the customers; with a smile or small talk. It relaxes you and the customer.
MN: How did you come up with the idea for MK Kids Interiors?
MKS: During a local business course I was thinking of a niche — something that was not popular, and a sector I could enjoy, and inject my personality! Children’s interiors came to mind and I then started researching.
MN: How did you fund the startup?
MKS: I was working part time so I used some of my wages to do small things like printing business cards, listing the business on websites and attending fetes.
MN: What made you want to take that “leap of faith”?
MKS: I was bored in retail. I wasn’t good at pretending to be busy. I knew that starting a business would challenge me and give me creative freedom I needed to stay sane. I am also a risk taker; I think I thrive on risks.
MN: What were some of the challenges in starting a new business?
MKS: I didn’t really know what would work. Everything I did was trial and error. Not having a constant income is challenging but I’ve learned that you I needed to invent new ways to earn extra income, that’s when I started selling nursery decor online.
MN: What has been most surprising about being an entrepreneur?
MKS: It’s emotional, winning projects gets me on a high but losing projects gets me low. However, I have learned to ask questions, that has helped me improve my business and services. I lost a project last year and because I was confident enough to ask the client why, I implemented the feedback and won another design project.
MN: How do you market MK Kids Interiors?
MKS: I try to blog regularly, I use Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I also try and list the businesses on many legitimate websites that are relative to interior design and my target market.
MN: What are some goals for 2017?
MKS: I will be doing more commercial and hospitality interiors with Nesting Properties. I love office and hotel design. They are both different, but they allow more creativity that residential interiors.
MN: How is the business climate in London for Black female entrepreneurs?
MKS: I think there is more room for us now, and there are some amazing Black women doing great things. It’s a great time to venture out.
MN: What do you enjoy the most about being an entrepreneur?
MKS: Creative Freedom! If I have an idea I can implement it myself. I love being able to run my businesses around my family.
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