Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Colleen Perry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Colleen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?
Sometimes I do wonder why I work so hard and devote so much of my time and my life to my small business. The days are long and the demands on my time often seem never ending. Still, I enjoy going to the store everyday. I enjoy interacting with my customers. I thrive on ordering products and merchandising them. Creating fabulous displays is my guilty addiction. Then there are those days when I ask myself, will I look back on this time and ask myself, “Why?”
My husband is 13 years older than me and he is home most days and I feel horrible limiting our older years together by being so tethered to my business. Occasionally he will ask me if I would like to retire and I always respond, “Well, I’ll probably just start up another business.” He is wonderfully supportive and helps out at the store whenever I need him. He is holds down the fort at home, grocery shops, makes dinner and cleans the house. I don’t know what I would do without him.
I started Brissonté in 2007 and three years later my daughter, who opened the business with me, moved to CA and I decided I would close my business. I applied for a Branch Office Administrator position with Edward Jones Investments and was hired. I spent 9 months working 5 days a week at the office and weekends at the store. In those 9 months I found sitting at a desk was torture. I was up and down washing windows, cleaning the kitchen, organizing the storage space, decorating the office and defrosting the office refrigerator. I gave my notice, moved my store to a new town and started again. My son, Robert, joined the business about 7 years ago and 5 years ago we moved from our 1,200 sf location to our current location of 4,000 sf. I can honestly say I love having my own business but there will always be those days when I wonder if it has been worth all the ups and downs; closing during the pandemic, shipping issues and delays, product availability, inflation, product surcharges and all those intangible things that pop up and disrupt my business.
All in all, yes, I would do it again. I think it’s in my DNA or perhaps I have a retail parasite that just won’t let me go.
Colleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started out working with my father refurbishing and selling antiques. We would bring our items to shows in our area. I really love vintage and antique items and the history each one represents. When my father retired we opened a small gift shop in our downtown. That was my first taste of owning my own business and I loved it. I have always enjoyed decorating and creating so my store was my way of expressing myself and sharing it with my customers.
Brissonté is my dream business! We have created a store that has a Euro style flair, a relaxing atmosphere and is filled with inspired decor and gifts. All our items are hand chosen with an eye towards what is on trend and will be a beautiful addition to your home or as a gift to a friend or loved one. We are not like the big box stores were you are an anonymous shopper. We want to provide an outstanding shopping experience where you are not just a sale but a person we value and look forward to seeing whenever you stop by.
We offer many custom items that can be personalized. Our Zip Code Pillows, custom signs, custom wreaths, floral arrangements and custom gift baskets are a big hit with the community. We always offer the best customer service and beautiful packaging for all gifts. We have a 5 star rating and we work hard to maintain that. We are deeply involved in our community and are a member of the RNRChamber of Commerce. We offer our Fundraising Shopping Days were we give back to local non profit organizations. Ten percent of all sales up to $500 is donated to the non profit. Supporting our community is our way of saying thank you for shopping local and supporting our small business.
Recently we launched Studio Brissonté were we offer diverse workshops and events for customers to learn a new skill or craft. We have a wonderful group of talented people who love sharing their amazing talents with our customers. Hearing the laughter and fun from our studio is the very best energy.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of my initial thoughts upon opening my own store was, “If I build it, they will come.” I quickly learned that that is not the way it works. Brissonté is my third business and while there were real personal circumstances why the first two did not thrive and endure, Brissonté is where I learned from my past mistakes and 15 years later we are growing and thriving.
Having my own business takes patience, hard work and being willing to take the knocks. I struggled but I learned to teach myself so much. I had to adapt and wear multiple hats when needed. I paid attention to what other businesses were doing, I got involved with my Chamber, I asked for help when I needed it and I did not ignore the tough stuff. My biggest failing when business is slow, is that I take it personally. It feels a bit like performing before an empty theatre after have prepared and worked so hard. I try not to take it to heart. Retail will always be up and down and very susceptible to the ebb and flow of what is happening in the world. Everyday I work to stay true to myself and my strengths.
Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?
My small business had been hit hard since the pandemic with high shipping fees, surcharges on orders, limited product availability, increased consumer shopping online and inflation.
Last year in 2022, we were struggling with one of our worst business years. Money was tight and sales were slow. We were worried. In October a regular customer brought a friend in to take a workshop. She and I were talking and she was asking me about the business and how we were doing. I shared with her how lean the year had been and how we were anxiously waiting for the Christmas shopping season to begin. She listened and then told me she had been given funds to help any small business she wanted and she wanted to pay my rent for November!
I could not believe it! What an answer to prayer! This check allowed me to breathe and helped us get through the tough time we had been having.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brissonte.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/brissonte
- Facebook: facebook.com/brissonte
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=brissonte&origin=GLOBAL_SEARCH_HEADER&sid=(Sv
- Twitter: twitter.com/brissonte
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brissonte
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brissonte-gifts-and-home-decor-north-reading-2?osq=brissonte
- Other: Nextdoor – Brissonte Gifts & Home Decor
Image Credits
Colleen Perry, Robert Perry