We were lucky to catch up with Leah Mcneill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Leah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
I’ve always been a creative! As a kid, I didn’t dream of the latest toys for Christmas—I wanted bead kits, a sewing machines, and anything that allowed me create. But growing up, the focus was on basic needs, and extras like creative outlets or extracurricular activities weren’t always possible.
That’s why I’m so passionate about bringing immersive creative experiences to kids in schools and summer camps. It’s amazing to watch how creating something with their own hands empowers them and boosts their confidence. You can see their self-esteem grow as they realize their own potential.
I was also raised by a single mom whose love and dedication ensured my brother and I had everything we needed, even if that meant she had to go without. This inspires me to give back to other moms in meaningful ways. This year, I’m thrilled to partner with HomeFront, a local organization, to donate a piece of jewelry to the women on their campus for every purchase made through my website from December 2 to December 16.
My mother was the reason I’ve always felt empowered to pursue my creative dreams. Giving back is my way of honoring her love and encouragement while also celebrating the little girl I once was.
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 name is Leah, and I’m a wife and mom to three wonderful sons. I’m a jewelry designer and owner of BLK Confetti, specializing in lightweight statement earrings. My mission is to help women look and feel amazing.
I love encouraging my customers to take chances with fashion and step out of their comfort zones, whether in small ways or bold leaps. The best part of what I do is watching someone try a new style, love it, and feel confident wearing it. It’s so rewarding to help customers discover their own unique style.
I’ve always loved making jewelry. I majored in fashion marketing in Atlanta, but my love for acrylic dates back to sixth grade. I’ll never forget taking an intro to woodworking course where we worked with acrylic for a project—I was hooked! Since then, it’s been my dream to work with acrylic, and now most of my earrings are made from acrylic or wood.
At the heart of my brand is a love for empowering women through fashion. Whether it’s a bold pair of earrings or a subtle statement piece, I want every woman to feel confident! I truly believe when you look better, you do better.
Have you ever had to pivot?
In addition to designing jewelry, I love creating gifts. For years, I tried to combine the two, but it never felt quite right. I eventually stopped marketing the gifts to focus on jewelry, but the demand for gifts from those who knew about them never went away. After years of going back-and-forth between combining the jewelry and gifts and separating them , I decided to trust my gut. That led me to launch my second brand, Gift BLK, exclusively for gifts. Once I committed to the separation, new opportunities for the gifts quickly opened up. With all that being said , Trust yourself!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I lost my mom in 2020 due to Covid. As you can tell my through my story, my mom was my biggest supporter and my best friend. Honestly, four years later, it’s really hard to keep going without her, but I know she wouldn’t want me to give up so I keep moving forward every day in memory of her.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.blkconfetti.com
- Instagram: @blkconfetti @shopgiftblk
