Meet Aly Brooks

 

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aly Brooks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aly below.

Hi Aly, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

I am very blessed to have the GIFT OF GAB! I have literally been a talker all my life, ask my mom! I have an undergrad degree in Communications/PR that has helped me understand the importance of crafting your message to your audience. These skills has also transferred favorably to my small business. Whether I am creating copy for social media posts, going live, representing myself at markets or chatting at networking events I am confident! I also think the passion I exude makes a positive impact on their decision to support me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Im Aly and I reside in Jacksonville, Florida. I have always considered myself to be a creative, so during the quarantine of 2020 I decided to channel my grandmother (THE OG PLANT LADY) and went houseplant crazy. I noticed there was an upswing in demand and prices of planters so I decided to create my own, OUT OF CONCRETE! I continued to educate myself, increase my skills and expand my offerings. I began to move into the home decor realm and I was hooked.
This platform gives me the opportunity to combine interior design, photography and networking through this entrepreneurial journey.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

These three things have given me a successful edge; persistence, finding community and carving out a unique path. Let me break these down and explain why they are still so significant to my personal success. The level of confidence I lead with is insane! Over the years I have pitched myself like crazy. Emails, DMs, phone calls walk in, you name it I’ve done it, because WHY NOT?
When I first began I felt soooo isolated and lonely, I knew something wasn’t right. I even hosted a small biz meetup group for a year for my local FRIENDORS (vendor friends) and it was one of the highlights of my career. The friendships and camaraderie was unmatched as I gained so many connections and knowledge along the way. I know this was a serious stepping stone to spreading the word about my commitment to community and my concrete peices.
Last but not least creating your own path! I ran into so many people giving unsolicited business advice but entrepreneurialship isn’t a one size fits all type of scenario. And what works for one probablywont wont work for another in a different industry. It’s really up to me to turn my experiences into lessons with trial and error and create my own success.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

One of my current obstacles is finding my tribe. As a concrete artisan many potential clients are new to concrete decor. So i’ve decided to diversify my brand and put my products in a variety of spaces where consumers can find me. Recently, I’ve partnered with numerous local retailers, announced my rebrand on local tv, ramped up my social media presence and recently launched a concrete candle line. I am building my tribe and following with intentional exposure.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kristie Mangold Photography

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