Page 210 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2024

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Chances are that if you have ever shopped in Mississippi, you have seen a product designed by Susan Williams.
Over 40 years ago, Susan and her husband, Doug, began selling handmade goods at local flea markets around Jackson, Mississippi. “We were art majors in college, and we would work every evening after we got home from our day jobs making things we could sell at flea markets on the weekends to make ends meet,” says Susan.
On a much-needed mini vacation to Jamaica, she discovered beautiful baskets at the local straw market. Struck by the craftsmanship and affordability, the couple wanted to buy the baskets for their flea market business back home. After many containers of baskets, an immense amount of hard work, and a lot of luck, their “little business” has grown into an international home furnishings company.
Today they manufacture original designs in nine countries, which employ approximately 2,000 people around the world. Their headquarters in Jackson supports a staff of 80 and they ship goods to nearly 10,000 retailers nationwide. Susan laughs as she shares, “We never went to Jamaica looking for a business opportunity, but we have never gone looking for a dog either and we have had a few! Opportunities have found us.”
She fondly remembers the early days. “I actually called Ronald Reagan. He had a Caribbean Basin Initiative that allowed businesses to import Caribbean goods tariff free.
I did not get to speak to the President of course, but his office put us in touch with a manufacturer in Haiti that we continue to work with today.
“In the beginning, Doug and I would import the baskets, often unload the containers ourselves, and dye the baskets in garbage cans in our garage! We worked all day, came home, and worked four hours a night on baskets, slept four hours, and then repeated it all again the next day. We did that for four years.”
Their first booming success came with Susan’s idea for a watermelon basket. “It was the 1980s. Country décor was in, and the shape of the baskets looked like watermelon slices to me. I cannot tell you how many hours we spent painting black seeds on those baskets! We became famous for those watermelon baskets.”
Suddenly they were out of the flea market business and into the wholesale business. Country Originals exploded and they were named one of the “500 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies” by Inc. magazine in 1991 and 1992.
Their success brought a larger audience and the freedom to expand their product line. With a continued focus on the artistic beauty of hand-crafted pieces, Susan began developing new home and garden goods. Thousands
of products later, she and her creative team continue to design all their own products. “I love natural fibers and textiles right now. Linen is one of my favorites
story by
Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
photos courtesy of Susan and Doug Williams
210 | September 2024
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SASSY BIRD INTERIORS
122 Court St. Bay St. Louis
228.344.3181 www.sassybirdinteriors.com