Courage And Creativity
Courage to stay in place – and keep creating. Now that staying close to home and family are the new realities, Chip and Joanna Gaines inspire us as self-made entrepreneurs who live by their own personal mission. They make business decisions based on intuition and instinct. They move forward in their lives with conviction, courage and fearlessness in the face of risk.
On their journey, Chip and Joanna have known failure and triumph. They began flipping houses successfully and in 2010, put everything into developing Magnolia Villas, a 38-home neighborhood. The collapse of the housing market in Waco, Texas put their livelihood at risk, and the project stopped. They were determined to keep going.
“For us, it’s a motivator to say – today couldn’t get any worse, but if we fight through this, tomorrow there’s a greener pasture."
– Chip Gaines
In 2013, their next project was a TV show, Fixer Upper, which became an overnight success. The public loved their humble work ethic – and related to how they razzed each other on screen. Within 2 years, HGTV earned record ratings, becoming one of the top 10 networks on cable.
“They represent everything that America wants: faith, family, food, home and kindness. The Gaines’s are naturals at forging a powerful connection with their audience and building on that foundation.”
– INC Magazine, March/April 2020
We bet on ourselves, every time.
At the height of their Fixer Upper success, Chip and Joanna made a bold choice to end the show, focusing on family and new business ventures. In Waco, they felt a tug at their heart to create a physical space to bring people together. They restored an old property with abandoned silos and created Magnolia Market with destination retail, restaurants and a hotel project to expand tourism. The Magnolia brand was launched in Target, along with product licensing to Anthropologie and Ace Hardware.
“Either way we go there will be trials and challenges, so why not move where our hearts are going.
– Chip Gaines
The explosive growth of the Magnolia brand is fascinating, but their intent is even more powerful. Chip and Joanna understand that the core of their business is about people – they believe that your customers teach you more than you can ever offer them. Intuition, perseverance and willingness to take risks are woven into their DNA.
Is print dead? Not for Magnolia Journal.
As Fixer Upper ended, Joanna wanted a way to stay connected with their audience. She envisioned creating something that would encourage people to slow down and savor small moments. Advisors told them print was dead, but they believed in it and moved forward. Meredith Publishing listened to Joanna’s requests for minimal advertising and expensive paper. When Magnolia Journal launched fall 2016, it was immediately profitable and the most successful magazine launch since Oprah’s O magazine. Two years later, its audience was recorded at 5.5 million.
Each issue of the publication features a message of empowerment on the cover. Each article within echoes positivity and humanity. In today’s culture of self-promotion, the Gaines’ offer a rare approach, focused on inspiring and uplifting the lives of their reader.
Courage and excitement for their own cable network.
Fixer Upper showed that Joanna and Chip could bring hope, beauty and stories into people’s homes and they have been inspired to continue doing what moves them. Joining with Discovery, the new Magnolia network officially debuted in 2021 as part of Discovery+. In 2022, the DIY Network was officially relaunched with the Magnolia branding, and the Gaines’ initial launch opened to an audience of approximately 3 million viewers, shattering all DIY Network ratings records.
Fans of this super couple have been given a chance to get to know Chip and Joanna all over again, including their playful chemistry.
Our lives were already built on a steady diet of risk, failure and growth. But Chip and I always landed. Feet together. Side by side.
– Joanna Gaines
“For as long as we've been married, Jo and I have made a habit of trusting one another and relying on our instincts. It's become the rhythm of our lives and, frankly, we wouldn't have it any other way."
– Chip Gaines
