Hidden Gems: Meet Magda Guth of Matilda Lake Secondary

Today we’d like to introduce you to Magda Guth. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2006 I began my career in the fashion and apparel industry. My main expertise and focus was driving sales through visual merchandising, new store openings, rebranding, and delivering global communication on brand strategy throughout North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and D.C. 

In 2016 I shifted gears and acquired a position as the Director of Sales for a female-founded start-up based out of Chicago that sells upmarket contemporary bags. I directed the company’s wholesale efforts from the ground up through outreach, account management, sales and inventory tracking, and acquisition of large-scale clients. I was a one-woman show! 

My time with that company strengthened my entrepreneurial spirit, especially working under two hard-working and amazingly talented female co-founders. From there began my solo journey as an entrepreneur and consultant. I have been on my own (literally) for the past two years. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not! It’s always a struggle when you are starting off on your own. I knew what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. So, for the first 8 months, I was trying to figure out everything on my own. I wasn’t exactly sure how to manage and build my own business because I was so used to managing and building someone else’s. That’s when I started taking a business accelerator course from a well-known and highly successful woman in my area of work. It opened my eyes to so many things and gave me the pillars I needed to build upon. I even learned about taxes – which I don’t think anyone actually likes to learn about! 

After that, I became a member of a society that specifically caters to female entrepreneurs. This organization has given me the blueprint on creating a purpose behind my company, building an audience, and growing through social media platforms. And it doesn’t hurt that I have a plethora of other founders to help and challenge me along the way. 

And most importantly, when I started, my son was only one year old. Balancing a business and raising a baby is literally the hardest thing I have ever done. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Matilda Lake Secondary?
There are two different things that I do. 

First, in a nutshell, I consult for fashion and apparel start-ups that are ready to take their business from strictly B2C e-commerce to brick and mortar as well as expanding to other selling platforms such as Amazon and QVC. Together we work on structuring a wholesale strategy and building brand awareness by leading cross-functional initiatives and collaborating closely with brand partners. 

Secondly, and the major part of my business, I invest capital in undervalued designer and luxury fashion, elevate the value through presentation and sometimes restoration, and then sell for gain. I also have clients who consign with me because they may not have the time or knowledge to do the same. Ultimately, I am doing everything for them from photography, editing, comp research, to listing. My service is contributing to the lifecycle of each piece, streamlining closets by passing on unwanted or unneeded items, and taking the work out of their hands. 

There are a lot of people who do what I do, but what makes me stand out is that I give back to my community and ultimately the environment. I have partnered with One Tree Planted and for every purchase made from Matilda Lake Secondary, I donate a portion of the sales to plant trees in areas in need of reforestation. Also, through Instagram, I provide knowledge on sustainable fashion – how we can slow down the buildup of textile waste in landfills and what you can do to contribute to the cause. I highlight small businesses who practice sustainability, whether through their production process or what they do after the fact. Lastly, I provide a style guide; teaching people style independence as they learn how to mix vintage with contemporary and luxury with every day. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t have a specific childhood memory that sticks out, but I am the daughter of two Polish immigrants who came here to live the American Dream. So, what I do remember is my parents starting from nothing, working hard all day and every day in order to build their little empire and provide a good life for my brother and I. And that’s truly inspiring. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.matildalakesecondary.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopmatildalake/

Image Credits
Jill Mastrangelo