Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aubrey Prosser. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aubrey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea of owning a clothing shop started in college. After being enrolled into an entrepreneurship class the ball started to roll, but really that spirit was always in my blood. My grandfather started a business in the 80s and utilized an entrepreneurial spirit in most things from buying historic properties to selling antiques at the Nashville Flea Market.

One of these properties was in the Germantown area of Nashville. When he bought it, it was just a brick house. He needed a bigger area to store his antiques so he built on a warehouse.

Bits & Pieces settled in that warehouse that held antiques collected by my grandfather. The space was going to eventually be a place for him to open a shop, but he never did because of his untimely passing. Fast forward 18 years later, my entrepreneurial spirit craved something out of my regular 9-5. So in 2015, my dream became a reality and allowed my grandfather’s idea to blossom into a space with eclectic offerings from the past and present. I have always loved a mix of new and old so it felt like a natural move to change just a clothing shop in a antique boutique.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

My favorite thing about my shop is that we cater to everyone. We have people come in that say I grew up with this in my living room. Or I remember this at my grandparents house. But we also have new things that are relevant to what people want today like seasonal clothing, quirky tea towels, bath and body, and groovy earrings.We offer a mix of so many things most people can find something!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

The last two years have been a testament of resilience! We had a tornado that damaged our building, then 8 days later shut down because of the pandemic and then we closed for 2 1/2 months. We had to let go of everyone on our team except one person so we could run things on a slim budget. This was not easy but we made it through and I’m able to say I believe we came out stronger.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Definitely having a HR background prepared me to deal with all sorts of situations. There are many times when dealing with people is not an easy task. I find that leading by example is one of the best ways to gain respect. You also have to come as you are and communicate. Set expectations. They can respect someone who doesn’t act like they have it perfect. It is also important to have fun! Treat them every once and a while. Making sure that you let them know that you are on their side and are willing to work with them as long as they follow your expectations.

They in the end are representing you so your attitude is the best example on how they are going to treat your customers and represent your business well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.btsnpieces.com
• Instagram: btsnpieces
• Facebook: facebook.com/btsnpieces

Image Credits
Britney Kent