Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Corrine.
Hi Riley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a graphic designer and product photographer, I received my bachelor degree from FHSU. I created Madame Scodioli in 2009, as a much needed creative outlet. I was working as a designer for a small group of companies at that time, but I needed something creative to call my own. It actually started with soap making, because I’ve always enjoyed bar soap (and all of the beautiful packaging possibilities). Once I developed a good soap recipe, I naturally felt the need to brand it. And Madame Scodioli was born. That portrait is actually me, with a petit goatee. I use the taglines “handmade curiosities for one and all” and “find beauty in the bizarre”. I’ve always struggled with fitting in, so this brand is intended to be very all-inclusive, accepting of all of us outliers.
Obviously, selling bath products as a bearded lady is a very niche market, so I also created the Rouge & Rye brand about ten years ago, which focuses on scents honoring the strong pioneering women of our past, and female empowerment in general.
I’ve never stopped my design and photography work, I do it for both product lines, and then I also offer my services to other small indie companies. That’s extremely rewarding to me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. But I’m an optimist and determined, so potholes and roadblocks don’t slow me down for too long. I don’t think I had any unusual struggles. Typical things: a divorce (thankfully amicable), trademark frustrations, trying to do everything on my own vs hiring help (still a struggle). I was also raising my son at the same time as building these businesses, so our relationship surely suffered in some ways, but he saw his mom trying very hard to handle it all, and I’m sure that helped him develop as a person.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most proud that I’ve been doing this for 17 years (holy shit) and I haven’t had to give up and go back to a “day job”. I set my own hours, I get to hang out with my kitties every day. In terms of the design and photography work, I get to help other small businesses. That’s so satisfying to me, to help other entrepreneurs grow.
I suppose that’s the thing that sets me apart from other makers (in my case, bath and body products). I’m able to design my own labels, take my own photos, that certainly makes things easier.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Again: optimism, stubbornness, and a basic belief that if I want it bad enough, I can bring it into existence. I’ve never been afraid of hard work. I grew up with hard working parents. I’m a busybody, I love being productive. I was once told “only boring people get bored”, and I very much believe that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://scodioli.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madamescodioli/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madame.scodioli
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/scodiolicreative/
