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

Misty, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

This business of mine is a combination of ideas and interests I’ve had since I was a young girl. It’s funny how life will sometimes lead you on a path you do not notice until you’ve reached your destination.

I began working in the food industry at a very young age. I met my best friend and now husband of nearly seventeen years in grade school. Our senior year of high school he joined the Marine Corps and two years later we were married and expecting our first child. Starting our lives and our family at a young age, we were on a tight budget. I’ve always enjoyed things at home, cleaning, organizing, decorating. It was something I was very familiar with so creating our first home together was a breeze, we just had to be creative. I began thrifting and repurposing items for our home and soon I wanted to start building things on our own. Our home quickly became exactly what we wanted, full of items we had repurposed or built with our own hands. During this time I was a stay at home mom and began to get an itch for an outlet. I eventually decided there had to be other military moms wanting to create beautiful homes they love, on the same budget we had. Maybe they just didn’t know where to begin. I soon began blogging and created social media accounts, Over the next five years my following grew into something much bigger than I had expected. I began influencing and helping to support small businesses over this platform. During this time we had our second daughter and shortly after we were preparing for a move. In the mix of life I decided to step away from social media for awhile. During this time I tried many ‘hobbies’ to find something new that I was passionate about just as much as DIY and sharing. I took cake decorating classes, starting working on my photography skills, learned to sew and I continued to repurpose and DIY, but just for our home.

Fast forward to another move that lead us back to Ohio and then shortly after my husband detached from the Marine Corps. It was a lot of life for nine years and it taught us so much, I truly believe that nine years helped shape us into who we are today. Being back in Ohio, our hometown, I struggled a bit. Growing up in a small town has its pros and cons. For the first couple of years I stayed hidden as much as possible, until one day I heard news that we were getting a coffee shop! I remember telling my husband, if I ever get a job outside of the home, that’s the job I would want. I had been a stay at home mom for 12 years at this point, thinking about joining the workforce again was a bit scary! Fast forward a few months and I had the job. I absolutely loved it! Not only did I enjoy working with the public again, it also gave me another creative outlet, one that I had been missing. I was able to help with events, create drinks, decorate when needed. All of the things I loved doing! After two years the business shut down for a period of time I was unsure of.

Getting involved with the community again led me to meet my people, the ones that understand my creative mind and my drive, because they too had the same mindset and ideas. I moved on to work at our local brewery, again helping with things I am most passionate about. A few months and life moments later and I had a pop-up in the brewery. See while I was doing my thrifting and repurposing years ago, I also use to host what I then called ‘Facebook Sales’. People would go crazy over my sales and I would sell out of items every single time. I began to learn that I had an eye to find and create unique pieces and collections people wanted. My pop-up was just that, home decor and lifestyle items that I hand picked or created to showcase a collection of beautiful pieces for everyday life. With coffee in hand, I opened my pop-up three days a week and it was a dream. During all of this, the coffee shop had reopened, I was still in contact with the owner and was even able to fill in from time to time when staff was short. I was also in the process of looking for an available space because I was finally confident enough to try and open my own store. Shortly after my search began, I received news that the coffee shop was preparing to close their doors permanently. The owner contacted me to let me know the space would be available along with some of the equipment that had been in the coffee shop. I had this little flash back of my husband and I when we were first married, sitting in a little cafe drinking coffee and I said, ‘one day I want to open a little shop that has coffee or wine, little sandwiches and salads that you can sit and enjoy, but on the other side of the space I want a little shop where people can grab a candle and flowers to take home and create a cozy little moment’.

Life.

Creating a home, decorating the rooms for the seasons and holidays, having detailed birthday parties, learning photography, baking and decorating cakes, learning to sew, planning and hosting events, working with the public for all of those years. It’s now what I do, every day but Sunday, under the name of Home + Brew by Misdiy and it’s a dream. I’ve fallen in love with our community again! One of my goals with this business was to create something for the community, to give back a little. I organize several community events over the year to get the community involved and to have fun events to enjoy, I stock my inventory with items for the home, lifestyle goods that may not be easily found and several items for the coffee lover like myself. I’ve poured my whole self into this business and the space that people come to enjoy. A cozy, welcoming spot that I hope allows people to see the love I have for doing what I do! And if you’re wondering, the MisDIY was my social media and blog years ago, it’s where it all really started and who my followers know me as. It only felt right for it to continue along in this new adventure.

Stepping stones are not just to keep our feet dry, they’re also markers for the direction we should go. I never really paid attention to mine, until it lead me to exactly where I am today.

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.

I feel as though I answered all of these questions prior but just in case I took a snippet from it and added it here.

I began working in the food industry at a very young age. I met my best friend and now husband of nearly seventeen years in grade school. Our senior year of high school he joined the Marine Corps and two years later we were married and expecting our first child. Starting our lives and our family at a young age, we were on a tight budget. I’ve always enjoyed things at home, cleaning, organizing, decorating. It was something I was very familiar with so creating our first home together was a breeze, we just had to be creative. I began thrifting and repurposing items for our home and soon I wanted to start building things on our own. Our home quickly became exactly what we wanted, full of items we had repurposed or built with our own hands. During this time I was a stay at home mom and began to get an itch for an outlet. I eventually decided there had to be other military moms wanting to create beautiful homes they love, on the same budget we had. Maybe they just didn’t know where to begin. I soon began blogging and created social media accounts, Over the next five years my following grew into something much bigger than I had expected. I began influencing and helping to support small businesses over this platform. During this time we had our second daughter and shortly after we were preparing for a move. In the mix of life I decided to step away from social media for awhile. During this time I tried many ‘hobbies’ to find something new that I was passionate about just as much as DIY and sharing. I took cake decorating classes, starting working on my photography skills, learned to sew and I continued to repurpose and DIY for our home.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media was a huge outlet for me. I think starting out when I did, I may have had an advantage. Today there are so many platforms to advertise your business on, but I have found something to be true over the years. If you want to reach local, use Facebook. If you want to reach worldwide use any or all of the other platforms, but remember, not all platforms are right for your business. I currently use Instagram and Facebook. I have found that it is most important to find you niche. People want the real you. Share your passion, your voice is louder behind what you’re actually passionate about rather than trying to convince someone you love something that you truly don’t. Remember to engage, followers get to know you through what you share, they also want to communicate.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

We all have things we have to unlearn from our past, one for me was believing that I am enough. I am capable of doing things and I can do them well. Growing up I always pushed myself to be the best, to make everyone proud and I always felt like I fell short. No matter what, it was never enough. As an adult I could do nearly anything I set my mind to but there was still that voice, I couldn’t see past it. It’s still something I struggle with today but the proof that I’ve grown from it is in my business. No way would that girl, years ago, be confident enough in herself to start a business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.homeandbrewbymisdiy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homeandbrewonmain/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeBrewbyMisdiy

Image Credits
Misty Bragg (Home + Brew by Misdiy)