Meet Katherine Holloway | Mom & Mix it Up Dough Co-Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katherine Holloway and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katherine, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The process behind starting Mix it Up Dough stemmed from being a mom of three boys under five years old. My days are loud, wild, and fun – but some days are also filled with struggles to meet everyone’s needs for mommy play time & get household tasks done. When my oldest son began grabbing small toys from his playroom and putting them in play dough, I observed him using his imagination, focused on one activity, and having fun. We finally found an activity that encouraged him to play independently, and I suddenly had time to drink my coffee hot, fold laundry, and take a break from the constant entertaining! I decided to start Mix it Up Dough to support families in providing their children with an activity that supports vital components of child development, as well as their own needs as parents and caregivers.

What should our readers know about your business?
What we feel sets us apart is our desire to engage with and provide additional resources for our customers. I run our social media accounts and absolutely love connecting with families who also find themselves in the “parenting trenches” while wanting to provide the best for their kids. I often feel social media has lost the “social” aspect. Our pages are not merely there to provide reasons why our product is great and solve a problem many parents have, but also to interact, support, and form a community of encouragement for those with little kids. I absolutely love conversing with our social media followers and that remains a top priority even as our business grows. We also offer our blog, Mix it Up Dough | The Blog through our website. Whether it’s an educational post about the benefits of sensory play, a post to make clean up easier, or ways to repurpose your kits, we want to provide our customers with more than just an activity kit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a food, wine, & restaurant loving person, my favorite spot in the DFW area has to be Grapevine! I absolutely love the small town feel, the history, the Texas wineries, small boutiques, and delicious restaurants. Hotel Vin is a stunning hotel that is perfect for a staycation, a romantic getaway, or a girls weekend. I would start my time in Grapevine with a stroll down Main Street and stop in at some of my favorite wineries – Landon Winery and Larue Winery. A stop into the Grapevine Olive Oil Company is also necessary – definitely try the roasted garlic olive oil! The best brunch is at Chez Fabien, a French bistro-style restaurant with a bakery with sweet treats next door. Markets and festivals are easy to come by in this area so I would stop by those to check out and support local vendors. Bacchus Kitchen + Bar is a great place for pre-dinner drinks and an appetizer. Their meatballs are the most tender and delicious bites I’ve had. Dinner would be at Piaf Kitchen or Winewood which boast great ambiance, service, and menus. For a nightcap, The Rioja Rooftop Terrace has great cocktails, a beautiful view of downtown, and fun live entertainment. Hotel Vin’s rooms are luxurious and stylish, in fact the entire hotel is such a vibe. The next day I would most definitely stop by Harvest Hall, which houses food stalls from all over the globe. Just writing this makes me want to have a staycation as soon as possible – you need to check these places out, especially at the holidays!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The unwavering support of my husband, close friends, and mom are to thank for encouraging me to take the small business plunge. My husband is my rock, and I can credit him with giving me the initial boost to believe in myself and my vision of creating these kits. He is always willing to help, be a voice of reason, and cheer us on. My mom, Emily Gallagher, who is our other co-owner was so supportive that she wanted to take this crazy ride with me! She makes running this business possible, fun, and there is no one else I would rather work side-by-side with daily. My close friends genuinely care about Mix it Up Dough’s success and are the best cheerleaders – plus, they also have adorable product testers!! There would be no business without any of these individuals, so I owe this Shoutout to them!

Website: https://mixitupdough.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mixitupdough/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mixitupdough