We are honored to have Bridget Brown launch our Women Who Inspire campaign. Both of our businesses, A Day in May Design and Bella Bridesmaid, started around the same time and we shared studio space in a San Francisco courtyard in the early days. We often found ourselves comparing notes, our entrepreneurial frustrations, and offering support to each other’s fledgling businesses. In the short time that we asked Bridget to fill out our Women Who Inspire questionnaire, and before we launched this campaign, we are happy to report that Bridget has sold the Bella Bridesmaid franchise! Not only did she build her business from scratch, she successfully franchised it, and now has sold the franchise. To the girls at A Day in May, she continues to impress and we look forward to following the next phase of her career which we have no doubt will be equally inspirational. In the meantime, we raise a glass to Bridget and wish her some rest and relaxation so she can pat herself on the back and soak up her impressive feat.
I’m the founder of Bella Bridesmaid….we are a nationwide company of over 40 boutiques specializing in chic, modern and wearable bridesmaid dresses. We work by appointment to give the bride and her maids a memorable, enjoyable and stress-free experience! We carry an assortment of designers and styles for all budgets and tastes.
I started Bella Bridesmaid in San Francisco in May of 2000 when I saw a lack of chic bridesmaid dresses in the industry, and franchised the company in 2006.
A lawyer. (I went to law school). Or own a dress boutique. Check and Check!
Loyalty
Kindness
An ability to read people…I’ve got a great first impression, gut instinct!
By how many trophies and medals you have won? Kidding! There’s no “bridesmaid” Oscars…….
I’d have to say success for me is defined as having it all (whatever your “all” may be!), appreciating that you have it all, and enjoying it. For me that means being grateful for what I do and waking up each day excited to see what happens. And for meeting my husband…who has led me down an incredible path the past 12 years into a life filled with excitement and joy.
Ohhh wow. I think I’m supposed to say “there are no failures because otherwise you wouldn’t have successes” but I think every small business owner knows it’s hard to NOT to accomplish something you’ve set out to do. I’ve always tried to look at failures as a necessary evil. I wouldn’t have been able to successfully franchise my business, which is essentially teaching someone the secrets of your success, without making a lot of mistakes to know what pitfalls to avoid!
Singular? More like mistake’S…plural. Sure, lots. I learned early on that I had to trust my gut. The times I didn’t were mistakes.
Take it easy! I went straight from college to law school…I thought that was the norm. When I showed up to my first day, I was one of the youngest ones there by a long shot and every – one else had life experiences, or had traveled and explored the world. I thought it was a race…I know now it’s about the journey.
My mom. She’s such a kind and lovely person and makes time for everyone important in her life. She’s smart, beautiful, and is so great at showing people that she cares. I aspire to be more like her every day.
Next question……….
I struggle with this daily. The right answer is to turn on the email and phone at a certain time each night, right?
I *do* try to get a few classes of Pilates in each week, mainly for an hour free time-frame where I can rest my mind. Ok, and for Madonna arms. I also think it’s key to have a notepad and pen on your bedside table and write down any worries or thoughts you have at the end of the night. It alleviates the fear of forgetting something important and allows you to shut down!
Something that involves being surrounded by puppies, pretty dresses, interesting fonts, and lots of time to scroll through Pinterest.
I still have my favorite childhood book on my bookshelf. It’s called “Bridget’s Growing Day” and for obvious reasons I thought it was written for me. And because I’m 5’1. I didn’t grow that much but it gave me something to aspire to!
Beach…books…booze.
1) Copenhagen, Denmark
My husband and I are fans of most Scandinavian countries, but Copenhagen is a favorite. We visited in the dead of winter, December, and it was bone-chilling cold, but every bar and restaurant had candles in the windows and a warm and cozy ambiance. They even have a word for it…”Hyggelig”..which translates to “comfortable and snug”.
2) Barcelona, Spain
This city has it all….culture, amazing food and nightlife, and a laid back attitude. It’s so easy to walk the entire city and take it all in.
3) Ambergris Caye, Belize
Hard to get to and a very recent introduction to cars on the island (we only saw a few!) make this a true getaway. Our favorite memories are an island with only iguanas for inhabitants and amazing snorkeling/diving o the barrier reef.
4) Stockholm, Sweden
Another top Scandinavian destination….the land of beautiful people, literally! Everyone is 6 feet tall, blonde, and incredibly stylish. We visited for New Years Eve and took a boat ride around the archipelago…one of 30,000 islands and islets! (most are tiny and uninhabited…..)
5) Paris, France
Enough said. In the words of Audrey Hepburn, “Paris is always a good idea”.
