Annie and Kate! Where did you get your start? How did The Mahjong Line begin?
Kate: In 2017, I had my first real exposure to the game of American mahjong and I was shopping for my first set of tiles to host my first game at my house. I discovered a gap in the market where there was an opportunity to build a brand and a community of colorful characters that play the game. Following the old adage, “if you can’t find it, create it” I partnered with Annie (a friend, mahjong veteran, a smarty pants) to create colorful/uniquely artful mahjong tiles to bring the game to more people.
How do your backgrounds in jewelry design, finance, and advertising influence the way you approach this business?
Kate: Our past experiences helped build a strong work ethic, entrepreneurial grit, and passion for a unique brand voice and visual identity. All of what we did before TML gave us the confidence to take a leap into the unknown and figure it out as we go. Oftentimes (on the daily) repeating our mantra, “Live and Learn”.
What’s your secret to working together as founders and friends?
Annie: Respect.
Kate: As Annie said, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. I think we mutually care for and listen to each other’s opinions because we value what the other thinks and believes. That is the foundation. We also are a creative unit…our brainstorming is very fluid and it’s hard to know where one person’s idea begins and another person’s ends. It’s all one and the same.
What does girl gang energy mean to you — and how do you see it reflected around your brand and customer community?
Girl gang energy is believing things are NOT a zero sum game. That other women’s creativity, originality and success, and your vocal support of them in their endeavors, is a win-win for everyone. Plus it’s way more fun to be a cheerleader to other women and their businesses.
As it relates to us, two things. Our ambassadors and our customer community.
Ambassadors: We have a team of TML ambassadors across the country. 250 or so. These (mostly women) are professional mahjong teachers and coaches first and foremost. They are entrepreneurs like us. It’s a wonderful symbiotic relationship. We celebrate their creativity and smarts and love watching them grow along with us.
Community: Mahjong, a four player game, has always had a community feel to it. Players are a funny, smart, adventurous group of (mostly) women. We dreamed of building a unique mahjong community with an emphasis on FUN and fellowship…but it has exceeded all of our expectations. Community becomes meaningful when you really allow people to see who you are and what you stand for. Our Instagram is a vehicle for that and we try to show our personalities/values and creative process. Our customers and followers do the same, sharing their experiences with the world.
As it relates to us, two things. Our ambassadors and our customer community.
Ambassadors: We have a team of TML ambassadors across the country. 250 or so. These (mostly women) are professional mahjong teachers and coaches first and foremost. They are entrepreneurs like us. It’s a wonderful symbiotic relationship. We celebrate their creativity and smarts and love watching them grow along with us.
Community: Mahjong, a four player game, has always had a community feel to it. Players are a funny, smart, adventurous group of (mostly) women. We dreamed of building a unique mahjong community with an emphasis on FUN and fellowship…but it has exceeded all of our expectations. Community becomes meaningful when you really allow people to see who you are and what you stand for. Our Instagram is a vehicle for that and we try to show our personalities/values and creative process. Our customers and followers do the same, sharing their experiences with the world.
Quickfire Questions:
What’s one thing every new player should know before they sit down at a mahjong table?
We are here to have fun!
Morning person or night owl?
Annie: Morning
Kate: Morning!
Coffee order, no thinking.
Kate: Big ole' latte please
Color you’re currently obsessed with?
Annie: Avocado green or really any green.
Kate: Plum plum plum plum, plum.
Favorite tile to pull?
Annie: Is this a trick question?
Kate: The 14th tile for Mahjong!
Kate: The 14th tile for Mahjong!
