We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bre Campbell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Bre, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
When starting BréLa, it was just a thought. I had a vision for something so much greater! At the startup stage, I was all over the place with many ideas. Mistake one, instead of focusing on one thing and executing each separately, I wanted to bring everything to the table at once. I had to talk with myself and say, “It will come in due time.” After weeks of figuring out which venture I wanted to tackle 1st, I decided it should be my cosmetic line. At that moment, I didn’t have a brand name. I knew I wanted it to exemplify “All Things Beauty.”The clock had started ticking. It was a struggle. I started this process during the middle of the pandemic in 2020. The world was in shambles for many of us. During this time, so many people were without jobs or working from home. Fortunately for me, I still had my job. Well, that is where the struggle came in. Many people think plenty of people work full-time jobs and run full-time businesses. Yea, it is easier said than done. I work full time, scheduled 2 pm-11 pm. Some days I wouldn’t leave work until 2 am at the latest.
I often thought if I give someone else’s dream 100%, I must do the same for myself. No one else will do the work for me or see my vision. Some days after work, I was only physically able to dedicate an hour to my business. Slow progress is still progress! Throughout the progress, I spoke with multiple vendors, most of which were in a different time zone I started sampling lots of products, spending lots of money to make sure it was “perfect” Initially, I was the only one sampling and looking at things I wanted for my brand. I then reached out to family members because I didn’t want to get too many people involved prematurely. Family members were giving honest feedback. I also looked at competitors and bought products from them to see what made my product stand out from theirs.This method made me aware of the needed changes and how I wanted to ship my products to ensure a memorable experience for all consumers. Spending soo much money on things during the startup phase was mistake two for me. I thought I knew what I was doing and that it was the right way. Not! After narrowing the options and creating a budget, everything changed for the better. I became overwhelmed because I thought I didn’t have enough products to start my business. I’m such a perfectionist I wanted everything to be “perfect” from the beginning.
No one’s perfect. We’re human. Ultimately, I started with what I had after 100 + samples and putting on my big girl panties. I was nervous when the launch day arrived. I knew it was going to be great. I’m not sure why I was so nervous. An hour and moments leading to the hour of my launch, the unimaginably had happened. My website wouldn’t work. My website wouldn’t allow me to go live for verification purposes. It limited the form of payments I would receive. I thought I had my website for two years. The day I planned to launch my website wasn’t working. I wasn’t able to on the initial date. I didn’t have a solid plan b outside of creating an Etsy or Amazon selling platform for the time being. Finally, a week later, I launched my baby, BréLa!
Bre, 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?
Hello, My name is Bre Campbell. I’m a 90’s baby, born in Atlanta, GA. I am the Founder and CEO of BréLa, LLC. BréLa, LLC focuses on All Things Beauty.Only a few were aware when I was younger, I was an Avon representative. I was the youngest in my district but the highest-selling representative! An experience, I must say. My younger self would have never imagined me doing this. I guess this was me getting my feet wet in the beauty industry. I always said I didn’t want to work for someone my entire life.My goal is to build generational wealth while I enjoy doing it. I know the long nights won’t stop here and will surely pay off long-term! I had to stay afloat and trust the process through it all. Entrepreneurship isn’t easy. It takes a lot of dedication and constant reminders. You may bend but will not break if you keep your vision clear. Although I may have just begun, the growth will be much bigger with so much more to offer!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Since starting BréLa, my phone has been my best source. No matter where I utilize it in the best way possible. Technology is constantly evolving. When I am out, I keep my digital business card handy. It’s less hassle than hoping someone keeps up with it and if I even have enough while I am out. What I found helpful was airdropping my business card. When airdropping my business card, it also sends whoever accepts the airdrop directly to my website. I realized I am a walking brand, and adding this way of marketing has been a great way to bring clients to my website.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
> In growing my clientele, the most effective way is by staying on top of the changes that are taking place within the beauty industry, seeing what I can offer that my competitors aren’t, and allowing my audience to feel that they are their best selves when wearing my product. To make sure they not only feel good but bring the extra boost of confidence because what is a lady without her lip gloss or lipstick?
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Image Credits
Photographer: website: www. vettephotography.com Instagram: vettephotography