What does your morning routine look like?
I have two pretty wonderful boys, so mornings are always busy.
Both need to be woken up, dressed, and have their lunches packed. It takes quite a while to get them all ready for kindergarten and school :)
Every morning my boyfriend, Niels, asks if I want a cup of coffee - and every morning I answer "yes". Even though Niels asks in exactly the same way and time every day, I think it's a nice tradition - a perfect way to start the day.
When we are all ready, either Niels or I take the children to school and kindergarten, after which I continue to the Shangies showroom in Østerbro or our warehouse in North Zealand.
How do you best spend an hour in your own company?
With two small children, it's not often that I'm completely alone. Most of the time I spend with my family or my wonderful colleagues.
If I have a little time to myself, I love to go for a walk in Østerbro - preferably along the lakes with a cup of coffee in hand. I enjoy the view, watch people, and think about life - and of course Shangies.
What is your best advice for showing self-love and prioritizing yourself in a busy everyday life?
I love treating myself to a pedicure - it's incredibly relaxing and something I always prioritize.
I think it's important to have nice feet, especially when I'm behind a sandal brand. We also live close to a massage parlor, where you don't have to make an appointment in advance. When it's convenient, I enjoy visiting the massage parlor and relaxing for an hour.
It's a habit I've stuck to since my time in Shanghai, where massage is a slightly more natural part of everyday life.
For me, it's the perfect way to recharge during a busy day. I wish it could happen a little more often :)
Have you made a decision in your life that has been particularly good for you?
I have made many decisions and made some big choices that have had a huge impact on me and my journey to where I am today. One of the biggest was the decision to have a second child. It is so wonderful to see how much joy our two boys have in each other.
I am also incredibly happy that I started Shangies by Stilov. It has been a very educational and rewarding journey in many ways, and it is wonderful to share 'Project Shangies' with my family.
Since the beginning, my parents and my boyfriend have supported me in the Shangies journey. My father knows most of the North Zealand retailers, as he has driven many orders to the stores. My mother is much more practical than me and still helps with everything from bookkeeping tasks, warehouse layout and is also a huge help in the warehouse with picking and packing orders.
We also often make use of my girlfriend's production and design knowledge, and if we have too few employees to participate in two trade fairs at the same time, Niels steps in.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice on how to create a balanced life, what would it be?
So I would say that I should have prioritized my friends better. Unfortunately, choosing to move to Shanghai and live there for 7 years meant that I lost contact with some of my friends back home in Denmark. The distance can be difficult, but I could have been better at keeping in touch with more of my good friends.
It's so important to have good, close friends, and there could definitely be more in my life.
Your best tip for a strong and healthy body and a balanced mind?
Unfortunately, I don't have any great recommendations here, but I could probably use some good tips :)
I live with a guy from northern Jutland who loves gravy and potatoes, so the healthy lifestyle can be a bit difficult, but I try hard to influence him in the lighter and greener direction...
Have you always had an entrepreneurial dream in your stomach?
No, but it came very naturally when, after my employment in the furniture world, I had a desire to make decisions - all by myself!
I wanted to continue living in Shanghai and benefit from the experience and network that I had built.
My first company produced and delivered furniture to primarily Danish companies in Shanghai. We also took on a number of sourcing tasks, which today are combined nicely with the Shangies company.
Do you have an easy beauty tip that we can share with others?
I've fallen in love with facial oil and just got a new one from my friend Maria from Mellow Mind, which I look forward to using every day.
I also think having nice feet is important, so if you haven't tried a pedicure, go for it! :)
If you could freely choose an activity that would give you lots of energy, what would it be?
I love that we can combine Shangies with family holidays - and I would love to go on more trips with the family to "Shangies destinations". The boys' first question when they wake up on Bornholm, Funen or Mallorca, for example, is often: "Mom, which dealer should we visit today".
My colleagues at Shangies are also part of the family, and it's nice when we end a busy week with Friday drinks in the showroom. When it's been a while since the last Friday fun, it's often Herman who asks if there won't be a Friday bar again soon :)
If you also want to follow Maria's beautiful Shangies universe, follow @shangies_by_stilov
Shangies by Stilov
Shangies by Stilov is a Danish brand established by Maria Stilov in 2016.
The brand has a clear vision of creating stylish and timeless products for the whole family in high-quality materials that are durable and comfortable.
Shangies started by designing and producing sandals, but has evolved to be more than just sandals - Shangies is now also bags and accessories.
Shangie's products are versatile and suitable for use all year round.
Today, Shangie's products are supplied to handpicked, unique retailers in more than 30 countries.
Click to explore Shangie's beautiful universe - your feet will love you for it