Meet Andrea Bibbs of June Dragonfly

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Bibbs

Hi Andrea, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I call myself an “imported peach” 🙂 I was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to amazing Guyanese parents who had moved to Canada from London, England. I grew up just outside of Toronto, Ontario, where I studied radio and television in university. I moved to Atlanta in 2000, a year after graduating, to work at CNN, where I spent over 22 years until a merger led me to leave.

Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve loved discovering unique items, especially from local artists… whether it was cool earrings, clothing, stationery or books. As I grew older, that passion remained, with a special focus on supporting women and other underrepresented-owned brands. I dreamed of creating a platform to amplify some of these businesses. I was always so inspired by these founders’ journeys and the fact that they were following their dreams.

About 10 years ago, while still working in corporate, I began putting those ideas on paper. I had an idea of creating a brunch series that highlighted one or two entrepreneurs at each event, where attendees would support them in various ways, from purchasing their items to helping with marketing. I secured the domain, but never ended up launching it.

Later, I discovered the world of gift box companies and knew that was something I wanted to pursue one day.

Fast forward to the pandemic in 2020, I started an Instagram page called @dreasquarantinecloset to boost my spirits. I used it to encourage myself to wear clothes that made me happy, even though I was just walking down to my basement office every day. I would highlight my outfits and tag the brands. It was the smaller brands that were the most appreciative, and I started connecting with many of them through DMs, eventually becoming friends with some outside of IG. During this time, I shared my idea of starting a gifting company with some of them, and many expressed interest in working with me once I launched.

In 2022, after officially leaving corporate, I started a business consulting company, working with some inspiring women-owned brands. After my 47th birthday in June 2023, I felt the urge to finally make my gifting company dream a reality. Although I was scared, I knew the regret of not starting would be far worse than trying and failing. So, in July 2023, I registered my company, secured my domains and social handles, and started telling people about this gifting business, despite only having a landing page and knowing little about the industry.

I met my first client at a charity event the following month after casually mentioning that I was starting this business. She needed my services right away, so I took the project. I didn’t even have branding at the time, but I’m forever grateful she trusted me to create a birthday box for her dear friend, and June Dragonfly was born! Later that month, I secured my first corporate client as well!

Now, more than a year and a half later, I’ve worked with incredible clients and brands, both big and small. Every bit of growth has been through word of mouth and setting up booths at markets and events across Atlanta. I’ve been able to collaborate with underrepresented brands and showcase their stories through intentional gifting. It’s been a joy to see the impact my gift boxes have had — not just on the recipients, but also on the small businesses I partner with. I feel so proud to be a small business supporting other small businesses and making an impact on their bottom line.

As for what’s next, I’m thrilled to be launching my e-commerce site at the start of 2025, which will make it even easier for people to purchase curated, meaningful gifts. Looking ahead, I’m excited about expanding my reach nationally, continuing to support women-owned and minority-owned brands, and seeing how far June Dragonfly can grow.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! 🙂 Even though I spent over 20 years working in media and the corporate world, being an entrepreneur is a completely different beast. Starting and growing a business from the ground up has been full of challenges. There was (and still is) so much I didn’t know about running a business, and I’ve had to learn on the fly… whether through research, courses or hiring experts for advice. There’s also a lot of trial and error, which can be overwhelming at times, especially when the weight of most things is on your shoulders.

One of the biggest struggles has been funding. I’m completely self-funded, so managing cash flow, making sure I have enough inventory, and navigating the expenses of running a business –while still trying to grow — has been tough. There have been moments where I’ve questioned if I could keep pushing forward, but I’ve always found a way, whether by being resourceful or through sheer determination.

Another challenge has been balancing everything as a solopreneur. From handling logistics and vendor relationships to building the brand and marketing it… wearing all the hats is exhausting. I’m also a mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend, so finding the right balance between family, personal commitments and business can sometimes feel impossible.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
June Dragonfly is a gifting company I launched in 2023 that’s rooted in intentionality and community. We create beautifully curated gift boxes that feature products from women-owned and other underrepresented brands, with a strong emphasis on local businesses here in Georgia. What sets us apart is our commitment to amplifying the stories of these small businesses and putting their incredible work in front of people who may not have discovered them otherwise.

We specialize in corporate and personal gifting, offering custom gift boxes that are not only thoughtfully curated, but also deeply personal. Whether it’s for an employee appreciation event, a client holiday gift or a special occasion, every box is designed to bring joy and create a lasting impression. We work closely with brands and clients to ensure that the gifts align with their values and needs. Every item in our boxes has a story and is handpicked with care. Our clients love knowing that their gifts not only bring happiness to the recipient, but also supports a small business or an artisan pursuing their dreams.

I’m proud of how far the brand has come in such a short amount of time. We’ve grown through word of mouth and by showing up at local markets and events in the Atlanta area, which has allowed us to build genuine relationships with both customers and vendors. One of the biggest highlights this year was having the opportunity to sell our products at a kiosk in Lenox Mall, the third largest mall in Georgia! It was an amazing experience to see my brand positioned alongside stores like Kate Spade, Adidas, and Apple. I also loved meeting so many wonderful people and having the chance to share the stories behind the brands I carry.

For anyone reading, I want you to know that June Dragonfly is more than a company selling pretty boxes. We’re here to make gifting easier, more thoughtful and more intentional. Whether it’s a curated gift box from our upcoming e-commerce site or a custom project for a corporate client, we pour our heart and soul into every single box. And with every purchase, you’re supporting a larger movement… one that celebrates women, underrepresented founders, and small businesses with big dreams.

June Dragonfly is not just about gifting… we’re about community, collaboration and creating opportunities for small businesses to truly shine.

What’s next?
First up is the official launch of our e-commerce site! It’s been in soft launch mode for the past few months, so I’m excited to fully open it up and offer even more curated boxes that people can purchase from across the U.S. Eventually, I plan to expand so that customers in Canada and the U.K. can also experience our gift boxes. This is a big step in making June Dragonfly more accessible to a wider audience.

As the business grows, I’d love to bring on some employees to help scale things up. Right now, I’m doing everything myself, so having a dedicated team will help me streamline operations and take the company to the next level.

In the future, I’d love to start operating out of a warehouse space to manage our growing inventory and fulfill larger orders more efficiently. It would also give me room to experiment with new ideas and packaging concepts.

A big dream of mine is to curate gifts for even more events. I’ve had a taste of this by curating gift bags for “elevate:PAUSE,” a phenomenal event presented by Stacey Washington’s shiftHER, which focused on the important topics of perimenopause and menopause. I’d love to expand this work into larger-scale events, like conferences, retreats and more.

I’m also working on launching some June Dragonfly merchandise! This would include branded products and maybe even some of my own creations, which would allow people to take a piece of the brand with them beyond just our gift boxes.

Another exciting goal is launching a subscription box. I’ve been toying with a few ideas and am looking forward to testing them out in the coming months. I think this will be a great way to keep things fresh and offer something fun and exclusive to our customers on a recurring basis.

There’s truly so much I’m looking forward to in this year ahead, and it all comes down to growing June Dragonfly in ways that allow me to keep bringing joy to people while supporting small, underrepresented businesses. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.junedragonfly.com
• Instagram: @junedragonflybox
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/junedragonflybox

Image Credits
X Photography (All pics of me in the floral blazer/top and pleated skirt)