Meet Mads Motush | Multi-Media Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Mads, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I’d always been enamored with Mesa’s street vendors and all of their fun events and thought I need to get in on that! I’ve always been an artist, dealing with all mediums from digital to sewn, and I wanted to be able to spread my art to others. What finally pushed me to starting my business was leaving my old job. I saw it as a “one door closes, another window opens” opportunity and started working with Jarrod’s Coffee to start vending outside of their store in downtown Mesa.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My grandma taught me how to sew as a young kid and I’d always been making custom clothing, accessories and art for myself which have garnered a lot of attention – not always good! I’m a plus size guy who loves colors and it’s not always easy to find things that fit my style so I figured if I can’t find it, I’d make it! There was a huge learning curve for figuring out how to set all my things up for an event that looks good and works well and even now about a year into selling my art professionally I’m still learning and making changes based on what works for a particular venue and what doesn’t. The most important thing I want people to take away from my art is that being yourself is awesome! The most fun thing for me is taking custom orders from people – being able to take an idea in someone’s head and making it happen in real life is literally a dream come true.

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.
You definitely need to check out Brick Road Coffee in Tempe – it’s a great little hang out spot with the tastiest pastries where lifelong friendships are formed. Next I’d recommend the Mesa Art Center’s free museum. They update it pretty frequently and there’s always something interesting to ponder. After that I’d recommend Los 3 Hermanos Salvadorian Restaurant in Phoenix. It’s a family run hole in the wall restaurant but they have the best yucca fries and pupusas I’ve ever had. At night, you can never go wrong with a lovely walk in the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would definitely need to thank all the other smaller businesses who have helped support me by giving me platforms to work at. I definitely need to thank Jarrod’s Coffee, Brick Road Coffee, Lunch Money gift shop in Chandler and Cheba Hut Mesa for always allowing vendors like myself to hang outside your space and sell their wares. To all the other small shops out there reading this – if you have the space to let even just two or three smaller business owners sell their stuff, do it! It’s an awesome way to get customers in off the street and into your store and it also just helps give back to the community.

Website: https://madsmo.co

Instagram: @madsthetix

Other: read my webcomic here : https://tinyurl.com/transfurtrans

Etsy: madsthetix.etsy.com