I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a creative friend say they’ve left their run too late to pursue their passion. Well, one name for you friends, RACHEL CASTLE.

She didn’t start Castle and Things until her late 30’s …

“I grew up a teenager in a small country town during the eighties.  My pop culture was Countdown, Dolly Magazine and the odd trip to Sportsgirl in Melbourne (thanks Mum).  When I became ‘me’ I was wearing fluro WHAM t-shirts, gingham pink bikinis, and high top yellow connies.  I remember my pride and joy was a wicker basket decorated with hundreds of ribbons and badges as an ode to my love Boy George.  I soaked up anything visual I could get my hands on – the bands, the films, the books – and so I’ve never loved a decade like it.  I could listen to Culture Club and The Smiths and the Violent Femmes and Fleetwood Mac until the day I die and never be happier.  And this is where all my work ends up.  Back being a teenager in my little single bed, reading magazines, taping all the good songs off the radio (by hand) and doodling my boyfriends name in big bubble letters.   I want to be around fun people and fun things.  And this for me is colour and whimsy and laughter at all times.”

Surely someone with that sort of design sense always knew she’d be fabulously successful? 

“My whole life has been a very gradual, unexpected and unplanned, organic little surprise, like everything, sometimes good, sometimes bad.  I met and married my husband in 6 weeks and always count this as a pivotal point at which everything just fell into place.  I don’t think anyone my age ever could have imagined the revolution the internet has been.  Ten years ago I could never have been a profitable business.  I would have needed a retail store, open 5 days a week to a small audience, now I have a retail store open 24/7 to anyone in the world.  The opportunities created are vast.  I could never have envisaged being a shopkeeper and making my own wares, and starting in my late 30’s.  Without online shopping I really don’t think it would ever have been possible.”

Best career tip?

“Above all else listen to your inner aesthete.  I know instinctively when a product is ‘right’,  Doesn’t mean it will be a best seller, or that anyone else at all will like it, but I have a 100% yes that’s a winner for me button.  I’ve asked people I very much love and respect about products and designs in the past and have always regretted going against my better judgement if something hasn’t been an absolute for me.  People who like my brand want to see and buy what I like, not what I ‘think’ they might like.”

Find her here www.castleandthings.com.au

See, don’t worry about what you think people will like, just trust your gut and your heart and that inner voice. Solid advice… Got a few more minutes up your sleeve? Read our full interview with Rachel here