We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brittany Smith-Tukkinen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brittany below.

Brittany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Growing up, I knew I was meant to be a business owner, but honing into what that business would be was challenging. After working in the event industry for over eight years, I knew I wanted to own a business that was impactful to the industry. However, the ideas that flew around my mind were endless; a spa owner that catered to brides, a catering company, a wedding planner. I realized that the one common fact of my thoughts was that I wanted to work with brides. I wanted to help brides create their magical day.

When I became I bride myself, I joined multiple social media groups to help me prepare for my big day. These groups’ posts ranged widely from support and advice topics and wedding planning horror stories to brides selling items they did not need anymore after their wedding. Hundreds of comments would be posted on the sale posts, making it truly overwhelming for both the seller and buyer. Not to mention the danger of meeting a stranger for these items and the scam posts one would see. I knew then I wanted to create a local, safe, and convenient marketplace for brides where all felt welcome regardless of budget.

I created a business plan after my wedding in early 2022, but the pandemic hit. I wondered if I should move forward with this idea or if I should play it safe. However, I knew the best outcomes in life require taking a chance, so Bells and the Ball opened in November of 2022. Since opening, I have brought my mother in as a business partner, who has helped expand the business substantially. We have moved to a bigger location, have a 5-star google review, and have helped many brides find their dream wedding dress. Best of all, we have got to donate some of our profits to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, the hospital that performed surgery on me when I was six months old due to hip dysplasia.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began working in a bakery and flower shop in Conroe, Texas, at 14. Here, I gained experience with weddings and working with brides. Seeing the brides excited for the special day made me want to interact with them more. Since graduating from high school, I have worked in the wedding industry in nearly every capacity, including as a dj’s assistant, in catering and event sales, and at bridal and men’s suit shops. The more I worked in the field and planned my wedding, the more I realized how expensive weddings are and how easy it is for businesses to judge a bride’s budget. I wanted to eliminate that fear for brides.

Bells and the Ball Consignment offers an affordable alternative for brides and anyone looking for a formal dress. Many of our dresses are new with tags or gently used, and our selection grows daily. What makes me proud to own Bells and the Ball is going through our reviews and seeing how my mother (business partner) and I have helped brides have a one-of-a-kind experience before and after their wedding. We have created a business that allows brides to recycle their dresses, recoup some of their wedding costs, and let other brides find the dress of their dreams.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth has been the most effective strategy for growing the Bells and the Ball clientele. You create a buzz among your targeted clientele when you provide a unique experience with top-notch guest service. We love seeing our guests tagging us on forums where brides are searching for a dress or decor. It always thrills us when we get a new review on Google or Yelp or when a guest comes in and says a friend or co-worker referred them to us.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I took a chance when I decided to open Bells and the Ball in the middle of a pandemic. Many friends and family thought I was crazy, but I knew this business was something the Houston Bridal community was missing. I had a now or never attitude, and my resilience has paid off. However, that is not to say I did not face any challenges. After opening, I learned many brides who were getting married had already purchased their wedding gowns since many weddings in late 2020, and early 2021 were rescheduled. The lack of sales in the first few months was unsettling; however, Bells and the Ball has grown and flourished into a successful business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bellsandtheball.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellsandtheballbridal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellsandtheball
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bells-and-the-ball-houston