Today we’d like to introduce you to Renee Goodman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2004, Rachel Esposito started Bel Fiore Bridal in Marietta, GA. Rachel sold the bridal business in 2012 so she could use her expertise of the BridalLive program to help other shop owners build the business of their dreams. Her husband, Tom, was the creator of the program, and it has become the go-to POS (Point-of-sale) for bridal stores everywhere. The second owner moved the store around the corner to the current location and did the store layout in a way that makes our space flow and enhances the shopping experience. However, after having a daughter, she decided to focus on her family and sold the business to me! I took over in 2018 and believe if you surround yourself with good people, you will be successful.
I am ready for the next generation of brides who want to know “the who” of the business. I am happy to share that I have a husband, Mike is a handy guy and will pop in to fix this or work on that as my projects and visions for the store seem to never stop evolving. I have a daughter who will be one soon and two stepsons who are 18 and 6. I have a degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. In college, I got my license to sell life insurance and would have to discuss what happens if my customer dies. After a few months, I decided it was not a product I wanted to be passionate about. I decided from then on I would sell happiness. From furniture to make a house a home, to homes that help a family plant roots, selling products that help make life worth living seemed to be for me. Now I get to sell gowns that help transform women into brides and show them how beautiful and unique they are. This is truly a happy industry to work in.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our biggest challenge was 2020 and COVID-19. With so many unknowns and wedding plans changing, we found ourselves really putting ourselves in our bride’s shoes and feeling the stress along side them. This forced us to be creative problem solvers, and I relied on the amazing team of ladies who kept working when the store itself was closed. We survived the year and are more ready today to help brides navigate change if the need arises in the future.
We’ve been impressed with Bel Fiore Bridal, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We try to be a refreshing departure from big box Atlanta bridal shops and over-priced boutiques. At Bel Fiore, we go beyond the status quo and offer personal attention, complete with a budget-friendly assortment of beautiful gowns. We know memories are created throughout wedding planning, and gown shopping should be a highlight. Trying on gowns can become overwhelming, so our goal is to be the store that understands and provides a low pressure, high praise environment for you to explore gowns and visualize your wedding day. So bring a bottle of champagne to enjoy as you try on gowns in your simi-private fitting room.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
“I’m Getting Married and have Nothing to Wear” by Nayri Kalayjian is a great book for any Bride-To-Be “Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson is just a great simple life lesson that I have my team read to prepare them for working in an always-evolving industry. “Go-Givers Sell More” is my suggestion for anyone in a sales job. It helped me stop selling and start helping my customers. Which has increased our sales and built some amazing relationships that are more valuable than gold.
Pricing:
- Special Order Gowns Start at $799
- Every Gown in the store is under $3500
- Most Gowns are between $1200 – $2500
- We also have Take-Home-Today Gowns starting at $250
Contact Info:
- Email: info@belfiorebridal.com
- Website: https://www.belfiorebridal.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belfiorebridal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelFioreBridal/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BelFioreBridal
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/bel-fiore-bridal-marietta
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/belfiorebridal/
Image Credits
Waking Heart Photography, Lindsey LaRue, Rachel Pourchier Photography
