Holy Mahj!
A tale of two Charleston gals dedicated to bringing the timeless game of Mahjong into the modern era with chic, curated events
We all have that one fashion-maven pal who always gets it right. My dear friend, Anne Stover-Ruder, has been my personal style influencer for years, and I typically order what she’s wearing the second we get together. With a robust career in fashion, she moved to Charleston (as many Chicagoans do!) to launch Trunk Club Charleston. Sadly, TC as a whole folded, so Anne found herself pursuing other passions. Now that she’s pivoted from the fashion industry into “gaming”, I thought you’d enjoy a feature of her recent new launch (with her best, Caroline!) and the craze that’s sweeping communities all around us: MAHJONG.
Anne, From Burberry to Trunk Club to Lake Pajamas, you’ve had a robust fashion career. How does it feel to now be in the gaming industry? What motivated the shift?
In a nutshell, it's focusing on finding a career that you love. I have always loved the fashion industry since an early age and am so grateful about the opportunities the industry has given me. However, it's quite refreshing to have a break from the fashion world, and do my own thing. I get to work with one of my best friends everyday and we teach a game that brings so many people joy! What more could you ask for?
What can you share about the origins of Holy Mahj?
Holy Mahj started the same way it grew -- Organically. We started teaching small groups of friends that wanted to learn the game at the suggestion of a friend. Once word got out we were booking two and three months out for lessons! Now we host large events throughout Charleston and are launching our first league of 80 people!
The world seems to be hopping on the mahjong train. What makes it so exciting for all ages, and how do you see its popularity evolving?
We are a little biased as we are The Mahjong Line ambassadors, but we believe they are responsible for the resurgence of Mahjong. They have taken a traditional and very classic, fun game and breathed new life into it through their fun tiles and vibrant colors. Their product is superior and the obsession starts with the product. Branding is everything!
The game of Mahjong requires both luck and skill. It's competitive yet social. Each game lasts twenty minutes (on a good day) so if you have a bad game, it won't be for long!
What is your favorite mahjong party theme, and how did you prep for it?
(Caroline) Anne threw me a surprise birthday Mahjong party. There were framed printed menus with signature cocktails, Holy Mahj printed cups and napkins, HolyMahj cake, and husbands bartending and bringing everyone drinks on silver trays. The mahjong tables were all set beautifully with different table cloths, mats, tiles and lamps. It was perfect! The best theme for a mahjong party is always 'more is more'.
Share with us your favorite mahjong set and why?
This constantly changes, pretty much anytime we get a new set. Anne's favorite is her palm springs Minimal Line - it is sentimental because she had just learned how to play, learned on these tiles and got this set for her 40th birthday.
We have a light blue cheeky that I love - I also feel like I have better luck with the Cheeky line!
Where do you find creative inspiration? Any routines that keep you innovative?
We love planning events and parties and we have an appreciation for pretty tablescapes and linens, and we just gain inspiration from everywhere. We pass by somewhere that we think could be a great venue for our next Mahjong night or see pretty painted egg cups on Instagram that inspire our new logo design.
Advice for those starting a business in a niche market?
I think there can be a lot of limiting thoughts around a niche market and you will get negative comments from people - "What will you do when you have taught everyone mahjong" and "Mahjong is just the trend right now", and you may not have that answer at the moment and that's OK. If there is a demand you can make anything work - just stand out and give people what they want.
Any future plans for Holy Mahj and other projects?
We have a lot of future plans for Holy Mahj, some we can't talk about yet but we want to pop up in the product space for sure. We want to keep growing our community. We are as far as Pawley's Island and Murrells inlet, frequently in Savannah, GA and want to extend our reach throughout the lowcountry and beyond! The suburbs of Chicago are on the horizon - we are hoping for a Fall 2024 launch.
How do you build and engage with the Holy Mahj community?
I think because our growth was so organic, we are serving our community exactly what they came to us for. They aren't following us on Instagram for updates on Mahjong rules, because they won't find it there but they follow us for pretty party scenes and mahjong tables and maybe a funny video here or there!
Best piece of advice you’ve received?
Anne and I constantly have to remind each other to put our blinders on. If we are too busy worrying about what other people are doing we lose focus on what we are doing and that should always be our number one focus, it doesn't matter what other people are doing.
What is your life mantra?
"Let them." - Mel Robbins
This comes up a lot in our professional and personal life - it is a great reminder that you can't control everyone and everything but you can control your reaction, your decisions and what you're focused on.
Do you have tips for balancing professional life with personal interests and family time?
(Caroline) I'm looking for some! I actually just asked Chat GPT this yesterday! Nothing good to report....
My goal is to be able to not just balance work and family, but to prioritize family. It's really hard when you have a small business because if you can't do it then who will? I have found that knowing your strengths and where you thrive helps - I am most productive in the morning, so that 8-12 window is best for me to get work done. Does that mean that the beds aren't getting made until 3pm - maybe?
(Anne) It's never easy. Caroline and I are gone a lot of nights during the week which is obviously hard on our significant others. I remind myself that although I'm not there for bedtime some nights, I do get to pick my kids up from school everyday and really enjoy that time with them! I try to approach every day differently in an attempt to find balance where I can.
Thank you Anne & Caroline for your contribution to this week’s substack! For more information or to book a party, find them at Holy Mahj or on Instragram: holymahj