Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathalie Brooks.
Nathalie, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
A story is just that, a story of the paths that we choose to take and where it’s led us to. My story is a bit busy, sad, and inspiring, and it’s led me to this amazing place. How far back should I go? Brooks & Bridges was originally started as a Luxury Events Rental Company. I have been building it from the ground up for three years. As usual, life got in the way. I got married, I had an unexpected pregnancy (I do love her, she was not a mistake! Haha), and I purchased a new home all while working two full-time jobs. My dream has always been to curate and hosts amazing galas and events that would truly wow people.
So I started small. I did not have enough overhead to throw the types of events that I wanted and I had to build a rapport, so I started building the luxury events rental portion of the business. Part of my plan for Brooks and Bridges involved designing and creating my own luxury dinnerware line. I was tired of seeing the same luxury products at every wedding, birthday party, gala, celebrity gathering. I wanted to make Brooks and Bridges distinguished, and I also wanted to pave a lane for women of color in the designing world of Fine China. Fine china is very expensive and for some people, it may be something they want, but cannot afford it. I want to change that narrative by designing top of the line products that have both the quality and quantity people need at an affordable rate. Growing up, my mother and grandmother collected Fine China and pulled them out for every major occasion. Would you believe me if I told you 30 years later, these collections are still around?! I want that same experience for a lot of families.
I started designing my first dinnerware collection in my head. I never had the time to really draw it out. Then something tragic happened. My biggest inspiration in life passed away from cancer. My grandmother was my motivating force in getting the business off the ground. She raised me to do what I loved and to live in joy. During her last few hours on this earth, I made a promise to her and myself that I would no longer procrastinate on the things that bring me joy because life is not promised. Let’s just say I went from crawling to cross country runs. Haha. I was not playing around. I was determined to keep my promise to myself and my grandmother and it was a way to stay close to her and take me through the grieving process. My grandmother passed away in Sept 2019. By January 2020, I had fully established Brooks & Bridges as a business and I had my FIRST luxury dinnerware set designed and in production. I named the collection after my grandmother “The Bruno Legacy” collection. Since then, my grandmother has sent me design after design to create. I have two collections waiting to drop. I absolutely love designing and bringing people together, all while giving them the luxury feel they deserve.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say I have pretty smooth chocolate skin, but a smooth road was NOT in the cards for me. I am a mother of two, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and an employee to not one, but TWO jobs. I spend most of my time working. For Brooks and Bridges alone, I am the CEO, curator, administrative assistant, packing center, and quality control specialist all in one. The mother and wife part was another major challenge for me. I wanted to build the business, and working two full jobs allowed me to foot the costs for the business to avoid taking out small business loans. In doing that, I struggled with feeling like I was not a good mom like I was not there enough for my kids. I missed spending quality time with my husband, and at times, I felt spread thin. Let’s just face it, I was, and still am. At the time when I started working the two jobs, my son was three, and my daughter was plotting her arrival. I figured it was better to do this now, while they are still young than when they were older. It has been difficult, to say the least.
I thought that was the peak of my struggles. Then one WORD and two numbers let me know God had different plans for me. The big bad wolf, COVID-19, came through and shut down many small and large businesses; production came to a halt in many parts of the world, and shipping and production costs skyrocketed. The entire event planning and rental industry took a pregnant pause. Two months into the pandemic, I struggled with the question of timing. I had already designed and produced my first ever dinnerware collection, but with the state of the world, I questioned if the timing was right to release the collection. The whole idea of releasing something for sale felt insensitive; With the state of the world, COVID-19, the murders of innocent black people by the hands of cops, civil unrest, and lack of equality, I decided to release my newly designed dinnerware collection anyway. I truly felt like people needed togetherness and good memories now more than ever.
I design my collections with intention. My latest collection, “The Royalty” Collection, was designed to celebrate the different shades of melanin. The collection is a reminder to people that brown is beautiful, no matter what shade, and that it is Royal. Even releasing that collection was a struggle. As a new business trying to build and grow, people have told me to stay away from certain topics like skin tone, and politics, etc., to avoid not appealing to the masses. But the truth is, I wanted to remain true to me and design with intention. Like that of man businesses, production times have been extended, and customers have to wait longer to welcome their new pieces into their homes. I am just glad to have understanding customers. I make the process easy for them by keeping them updated every step of the way and offering discounts for their next order for the inconvenience.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Brooks & Bridges story. Tell us more about the business.
Brooks & Bridges is a Brand! Currently, We specialize in designing and curating fine luxury china at an affordable rate. What am I most proud of? If I had to pick something, I would say our customer service. We truly go over and beyond to give our customers the experience they deserve, Down to the packaging that we choose for them. We truly want everyone to feel special when they receive their package. I think what sets us apart from many companies is the time we take to check-in with our customers even after we ship out their products. We always follow-up to ensure that their package was received and intact. As busy as we may be, I think building a company is one thing, but I want my customers to know that we are not beyond reach. They mean something to Brooks and Bridges, and we thank them for their support.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t know if I would call it good or bad luck. I would just say everything happens for a reason. For example, COVID-19 changed my circumstances in life around completely. Before COVID, I was never home. I worked both jobs and always made it home after the kids went to bed. Now, because of COVID, my jobs have gone fully remotely. I get to see my children when they wake up, throughout the day, and before they go to bed. I can walk over anytime to kiss them and tell them I love them. I can now spend my day sitting next to my husband while we both work and sneak in a kiss here and there. The point is, I wouldn’t say COVID was good luck for me, I would say that this event resulted in changes that made spending time with my family easier.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brooksbridges.com
- Phone: (301) 580-2276
- Email: info@brooksbridges.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/brooksbridgesofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brooksbridgesofficial
Image Credit:
Brooks and Bridges
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