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

Tina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I came up with the name of my business in a similar way that I picked the paint color for my cabinets. Sounds weird, right? So when I get an idea, my brain goes 150 miles per hour. So much information swirls around, so many ideas, words, phrases, and processes. I overthink things and easily become overwhelmed. For example, when I was wanting to paint my cabinets, I knew I’d become overwhelmed by all the choices and I did. Who knew there were so many beautiful color choices?! I liked them all, but it would look pretty crazy with each cabinet being a different color, so I hung my top choice colors near my cabinets and everyday I would remove colors that didn’t catch my attention anymore. After a few weeks, the day came that only two colors remained and they felt right and worked. The same with the name of my business. I wanted a name that, when you said it, you could create an image in your head of what the business might be about or the services it offered. I would do research on gift giving, giving vs. receiving, and when words or phrases caught my attention, I would write them down in a designated notebook. Sometimes. I’d write actual business names. There was alot of information in that little notebook! It was so messy, but I would review it often and scratch out what didn’t ‘feel right’ anymore. Then one night, after reviewing my notebook, it just came to me and I told my husband the name and when I said the name out loud to him, it felt right. It perfectly represented what my little business was….a Little Box of Texas!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Tina Bryan. I am the owner of Little Box of Texas. I have a wonderful husband, 3 children (2 living), one granddaughter, 2 dogs and I love to RV. The idea for Little Box of Texas began in April 2021, when I was ill with CoVid. I was needing a gift for my granddaughter’s birthday and was disappointed that I couldn’t go out to a store and pick up something and that anything I ordered was going to be delivered in just plain ole, average packaging. I thought others must feel like this sometimes too, not necessarily because they are ill and can’t go out, but maybe they just don’t have the time. I have always had a desire to be a small business owner, but for various reasons fear would always get the better of me and my ideas remained ideas in a notebook. With Little Box of Texas, I was confident, that out of all my ideas, this idea was most ‘doable’ for me. Planning began in April and November 1, 2021, Little Box of Texas launched. A November launch was special, to me, because it’s the birth month of my son who passed away. Little Box of Texas partners with small businesses throughout Texas to provide a unique gift-giving experience. A customer can conveniently shop from anywhere they have access to a computer, mobile phone, tablet, etc. They can shop with multiple Texas small businesses to build a gift box for themselves or someone special. They can even choose a card and I will handwrite their special message inside! It’s convenient to shop and you’re supporting Texas small businesses, while creating smiles for the giver AND receiver. Smiles across miles! It’s a win-win! I come from a background in Victim Services. It can be heavy work, but serving others or providing something that helps someone is the rewarding part. It’s the same with Little Box of Texas. I am providing a service for which I am rewarded when I am putting together each and every gift box ordered, no matter the “why” behind it being ordered.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I mentioned previously that I have always had a desire to create my own business and fear was a huge roadblock for me. Whether it was settling on a business, funding a business, maintaining a business, failing, whatever the fear was, it held me back. I feel like, for me, there’s a resilience that comes from never giving up. I knew deep down that I was meant for something that was mine, my idea, my baby, so to speak. Now, I may not always choose the correct “something”, but being able to adapt or change when I am pointed to a different “something” is key, for me. I felt so strong and so deeply that I was meant to have my own business that I would often get discouraged because the tons of business ideas I had seemed unattainable or never the right ones. I would question my God about why He made the desire so strong if every idea I had wasn’t the right one. And the answer, like most of His answers, revealed itself with time and patience. I never let go of the dream, I just had to have patience for the right time and He would give me the right idea and the doors would open. Just because it doesn’t go exactly how I imagined it, doesn’t mean success can’t come from it. I think in alot of areas in life, we have to get out of our own way sometimes. I was causing my own discouragement because my timing was wrong. The businesses I initially wanted to create, while they were great ideas, they weren’t great for me, at the time. They didn’t fit with what inspires me as much as Little Box of Texas does. I am constantly reminded that when I am stuck on my ways/ideas, it will bring disappointment and discouragement, but when I can adjust or pivot to see things differently, consider a new avenue, or even just wait, things will begin to work out. Doesn’t mean it’s all cotton candy and rainbows, but it changes me, it changes my ability to persevere and recover or bounce back. I know that if Little Box of Texas ceases to exist, I will find another thing that fuels me and inspires me because I found, started, and survived Little Box of Texas.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I am still growing my clientele and will forever be growing clientele, especially since I just became a REALTOR®️ too! I feel like meeting people face-to-face is absolutely the best way to grow clientele. Building rapport or relationships is key, right? And relationships are the foundation of business! I know alot of people say social media is where it’s at and maybe it is with the Reels or videos, because it’s the closest to seeing an actual person and maybe you can get a glimpse of who they are by the material they post. However, there is just something to be said about the connection you get from having physical interactions with people; seeing them, how they behave, listening to them, and just having a good ole double-sided, in-person conversation with them about something. Real connection isn’t built over email or text. With Little Box of Texas, I do alot of my interacting over email, and that is fine, I am not complaining, but it is so exciting when a vendor and I talk on the phone or agree to meet so I can pick up their creations! I want to share voices with them or meet them in person. It’s so cool to put a face with the business and to engage with them! It’s the same thing with the customers! I have recently started doing markets and it has been amazing. I feel like people really see and hear my passion when I talk about my small business partners and their creations. It’s more than just a purchase, they want to know more, and, likewise, I learn more about them. It’s energizing and inspiring. Just off the top of my head, I would say 85% of my customers with Little Box of Texas are people I have met face-to-face and have built some type of relationship with. So with Little Box of Texas, as well my real estate career, the most effective way of growing clientele will continue to be those face-to-face interactions! Human connection is where it’s at! I am a person who enjoys people and their stories, though, so I can only speak for myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.littleboxoftexas.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/little_box_of_texas
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/littleboxoftexas