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Welcome to the debut episode of “Shop the Stars with Jill Martin,” a new digital show featuring our favorite celebrity friends and their business ventures where nearly everything you see is shoppable, including the set and Jill's outfit.
Martha Stewart joined host Jill Martin and shared everything from how she created her successful business empire to a few fun facts you probably didn’t know about her. The businesswoman also showcased items from her California Closets collaboration, QVC fashion line and organizing must-haves from her Staples office collection.
Martin and Stewart met while working late nights at QVC and quickly became pals. "I wanted this interview to be a little bit about not only 'What would Martha do,' because that's always the saying, but things that people wouldn't know about you because I learned so much from those late night chats," said Martin, asking the media mogul to describe herself.
"I'm curious about everything," Stewart, 78, replied. "I'm always looking for new things, new ways to do things — that's my business."
Her curiosity as a teen propelled her to New York City to become a model to help pay her school tuition. Little did she know that her strong work ethic would spark her entrepreneurial spirit.
"I was one of six kids and two working parents," she explained. "We were taught to work, we were encouraged to pay our own way, and we all did."
And so, after college, intrigued by the stock market, Stewart became an institutional stockbroker. That's when she learned what made a good company and how to build one from the ground up — part of the foundation that would help her become one of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.
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Stewart eventually quit her Wall Street career, started a family in Connecticut and launched a catering business that turned into a booming enterprise. "I was a party planner as well as a caterer," she said of the specialized business model that led her to work high-profile events in New York City. "That built up to a million-dollar business."
From there, she developed cookbooks and entertainment guides that would evolve into the media powerhouse Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.
Then, in 1999, she became America's first female self-made billionaire, according to Forbes.
"I took my company public, and we had a very nice, long run as a very fine, debt-free company in America," she explained. "I was just a little girl from Nutley, New Jersey. I didn't know how to spend money. I knew how to make money."
Looking back, she recalled some of the biggest ups and downs of her career.
"My biggest break really was starting a fine company with a fine staff and a fine bunch of colleagues. That, to me, really meant the most," she said.
As for the biggest hurdle she overcame, Stewart said, "Having serious personal problems like my marriage dissolving and the horrible legal problem I had, where I had to go to jail for five months — that was a terrible time."
Reflecting on how she overcame that period, she said: "It's all about what you are and who you are. And I never lost my customers because my customers believed in me. That gave me the wherewithal to just continue along my happy path."
Recently, Stewart debuted her 96th book, "Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routine," a new collaboration with California Closets — and it doesn't stop there. Proving there's nothing she can't do, the businesswoman also has a stylish (and comfortable) QVC fashion line and, of course, all the organizing essentials for any office space.
If you like anything you've seen in this episode of "Shop the Stars with Jill Martin," you're in luck because nearly everything is shoppable.
From the set to Martin's outfit and Stewart's product line, it can all be yours with the click of a button!
These products were selected from the celebrity’s business partner and they have agreed to give us a share of the revenue for purchases you make through our site.
Shop Martha's latest book and California Closets collaboration:
- "Martha Stewart's Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home & Routine," $18
- Martha Stewart + California Closets Everyday 6ft Hanging & 3 Drawer Cabinet with Door Cabinet
- Martha Stewart + California Closets Everyday 8ft Home Office & Storage System
- Safavieh Martha Stewart Collection Handmade Premium Wool Whetstone Grey Area Rug (5' x 8'), $173
Shop Martha's QVC fashion line:
- Martha Stewart Silk Cotton Blend Tassel Scarf, $82
- Martha Stewart Stretch Poplin Funnel Neck 3/4-Sleeve Blouse, $41
- Martha Stewart Open-Front Reversible Sweater Ruana, $30 (was $50)
- Martha Stewart Regular Embroidered 5-Pocket Ankle Jeans, $29 (was $51)
- Martha Stewart Regular Knit Denim Ankle Jeans, $37 (was $50)
- Martha Stewart Luxe Cotton Button Front Knit Blouse, $40 (was $53)
Shop Martha's Staples office collection:
- Martha Stewart Medium Gusset Pouch, $7
- Martha Stewart Gold Faux Leather Letter Discbound Notebook, $25
- Martha Stewart Mint Linen Pencil Cup, $16
- Martha Stewart Linen Desk Organizer, $15
- Martha Stewart Gold Office Clips (Launching soon)
- Martha Stewart Set of 6 Vine File Folders, $6
- Martha Stewart Gold Stapler (launching soon)
- Martha Stewart Gold Bunny Trinket Tray, $11
Our editors have independently selected the items featured in this article because we think they’re worth knowing about. Shop TODAY has affiliate relationships so we may get a small share of the revenue if you buy something through our links.
Shop the "Shop the Stars with Jill Martin" set:
- West Elm Hanna Chair, $480 to $680 each (was $599 to $849)
- Welford Shag Area Rug, $47 (was $109)
- Pottery Barn Delaney Marble Round Coffee Table, $319 (was $399)
- Mistana Wasser End Table, $64 (was $189)
- Wrought Studio Leitha End Table, $156 (Was $165)
- Pottery Barn Carter Floor Lamp, $331 (was $349)
- Pottery Barn Graydon Table Lamp, $419 to $549
- West Elm Embroidered Metallic Ribbon Pillow Cover, $35 (was $44)
- West Elm Mongolian Lamb Pillow Covers, $63 (was $79)
- West Elm Speckled Throws, $19 to $31 (was $39)
- Antizer Flameless Candles, $30
- West Elm Lacquer Trays, $45 to $55 (was $69)
- West Elm Orbit Centerpiece Candleholder, $30
- West Elm Taper Candles, $10 (was $12)
- West Elm Half Shimmer Silver Candle, $15 to $25 (was $24 to $39)
- West Elm Metal Vases, $11 to $47 (was $14 to $59)
- West Elm Amethyst Sculptures, $47 to $55 (was $59 to $69)
Shop Jill Martin's outfit:
- Splurge: Jennifer Fisher Jewelry Ear Cuff Trio, $195
- Steal: H&M Ribbed Jersey Top, $15
- Steal: Alice + Olivia Gorgeous Wide-Leg Jumpsuit, $124 (was $495)
- Steal: Schutz Ariella Sandals, $170
- Steal: Marlyn Schiff Drop Earrings (similar option), $49
- Steal: Warby Parker Kimball Glasses in Marzipan Tortoise, $95
- Steal: Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Moisturizing Glossimer, $30
For more "Shop the Stars with Jill Martin" content, check out:
- Spruce up your décor with inspiration from the 'Shop the Stars with Jill Martin' set
- 'Shop the Stars with Jill Martin' host shares how she picks the perfect outfit
- 'Shop the Stars with Jill Martin’ is my new digital show — and you’re going to love it
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