{"id":103591,"date":"2023-03-17T13:11:21","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T20:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thegood.com\/?post_type=insights&p=103591"},"modified":"2024-06-26T15:05:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T22:05:03","slug":"studio-m-case-study","status":"publish","type":"insights","link":"https:\/\/thegood.com\/insights\/studio-m-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Encouraging A \u201cTest And Learn\u201d Culture To Keep Innovation Fresh After 30 Years In Business<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s 10:30 am on a Wednesday (but it could be any day of the week) when a bell chimes in the office. The Studio M team kicks back from their workstations and takes a moment to consider how they might make the task they\u2019re working on easier or more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 10:45 am, the team returns to work, their creative juices replenished and in full flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Innovation runs through Studio M\u2019s veins. The 80s brainchild of Curt and Sue Todd has evolved from its humble beginnings to become one of the most prolific family-run home and garden DTC and wholesale businesses. Today, it\u2019s famed for inventing MailWraps\u00ae, the first decorative magnetic mailbox cover, and its most recent patented product, Art Poles. But it’s the constant commitment to a culture of innovation and experimentation that has given the brand its competitive edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maura Godat joined the company 10 years ago as an intern\u2014a favor from her brother-in-law during her college days. Over the past decade, she has risen to become the Creative Team Director, overseeing resource management and timeline planning for the expanding product and marketing teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There has been a lot <\/em>of change at the company since Maura started\u2014something that she handles strategically and thoughtfully with her team. \u201cIf we\u2019re talking about a general sense of change in an organization, it\u2019s really just about making sure people feel like they\u2019re part of the change,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Involving the entire team in decisions, reassuring people that their opinions are valued, and encouraging them to feel part of the change has been a huge driver behind the success of Studio M\u2019s experimentation program. \u201cEverything is more successful when everyone in the organization, whatever the project they\u2019re working on, feels like a part of the solution,\u201d says Maura.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brand is always coming up with new product ideas and iterating on and improving products that are already out there. \u201cWe add a little twist to make them better,\u201d says Maura. Studio M has always had an experimental streak, and the brand is not afraid to explore and play. As the company has embraced a continuous improvement mindset, Maura has helped her team implement lean principles. \u201cWe\u2019re always pushing continuous iteration and improvement across all teams, whether it\u2019s production, warehouse, admin, or creative. Everybody\u2019s challenged,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s this willingness to think outside the box and innovate while still trusting the data that has made The Good\u2019s partnership with Studio M so successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n