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Meet Emily McCarthy

When her small business started to grow, Emily McCarthy needed to move her office out of the house. She also needed a space for her young children to play. So the home office became—and still is—the playroom.

That balance between booming entrepreneurship and family life has come to define McCarthy’s career.

“I was nervous about having a growing business as a new mom,” McCarthy says. “I always said that I’d love to have my own little store someday, after my kids were older, but I never imagined this.”

What began as an online store is now a 14,000 square foot headquarters on Savannah’s Victory Drive. Along with offices, a warehouse and fulfillment center, the space is the home of the flagship Emily McCarthy Shoppe, which includes a wine and coffee bar called the Joy Club.

“You will get a full-branded shopping experience here, but you can also come to meet your girlfriends for coffee or to take a wine tasting class,” McCarthy says. “It’s about creating a community.”

Her Own Vision

McCarthy grew up in Dallas, Georgia, and was steeped in the arts from a young age.

“My grandmother was a huge influence on me,” she recalls. “She was a piano teacher and fine arts portrait painter. She taught me a lot of classic skills in art, drawing, painting and music.”

McCarthy considered going to college for fashion but opted to study graphic design and photography at LaGrange College, where she met her husband Patrick. They got married and moved to Savannah, Patrick’s hometown. McCarthy found corporate design work, but soon felt the urge to freelance.

“I felt a little bit restricted,” she recalls. “I wanted to follow my own vision.”

McCarthy started selling her original designs of stationery and products for entertaining through an online store, which grew into a space at Cohen’s Retreat, which grew again into her own location on Abercorn Street. Meanwhile, McCarthy’s family grew into a party-of-four with a daughter and son. The pace of change was faster than McCarthy had imagined, but she says she just rolled with it.

“A dear friend reminded me that my kids’ lives will get busier as they get older,” McCarthy recalls. “She said, ‘I think this is your time.’”

Invite Joy

Early on in her business, McCarthy added animal, floral, and geometric prints to her personalized stationery. She later incorporated those prints into products such as tote bags and beach towels, and soon found that her customers were all making the same suggestion—that McCarthy design prints for clothing.

“We did a little test to see how clothing would do, and it immensely grew our business,” McCarthy says. “I think people respond to what makes us unique—our designs are very classic, but there’s always a detail or a bold twist to them.”

Today, more than 400 stores across the country carry McCarthy’s designs. All the tops, bottoms, dresses and more contain the same two words on the label: invite joy.

“Our tagline came about organically because Joy is my middle name and our daughter’s middle name, but the idea of inviting joy captures what we are trying to do,” McCarthy says. “You can invite joy into someone’s life by bringing them a gift or invite joy into your day by treating yourself.”

In return, McCarthy receives joy from the stories her customers share with her.

“Women love to tell us how many compliments they got when they wore a piece of our clothing,” she says. “It’s such a boost when someone tells you that you look great. I hope to encourage that—women supporting each other and uplifting one another. It’s about feeling confident and happy.” 

A Family Of Redheads

Emily McCarthy loves to be outdoors with her family, often on the water. Along with irreplaceable quality time with her children, she will often get some unexpected design inspiration from patterns in the waves or the light.

What she doesn’t want is skin damage from the sun.

“We’re a family of redheads with fair skin and blue eyes,” she says. “Skin protection is huge for us, year-round. Hats and sunglasses, long sleeves and UV-protected fabrics are a must.”

McCarthy makes sure everyone uses plenty of sunscreen, and is strict about the part that others often forget—reapplying it.

“Kids don’t like to stop what they’re doing, but we have to make sure we are reapplying,” she says.

Despite their strict regimen, McCarthy’s husband Patrick recently had to have a melanoma removed from his foot. It was a sobering reminder that melanoma can happen anywhere on the body.

“Our fair skin increases our risk, but skin cancer can happen to anyone,” McCarthy says. “We all need to remember to protect ourselves."

What You Can Do:

Skin protection in the South isn’t only a summertime concern. If you know you will be exposed to the sun for hours, remember to wear:

• Sunscreen. Choose broad spectrum products with an SPF of at least 30.
• Hats
• Sunglasses. Choose a pair that offers UVA/UVB protection.
• Long-sleeved tops and long pants. Many brands of athletic clothing and beachwear offer items specially designed to protect your skin from harmful rays.