Women in Small Business: 5 Questions with Evelyn Brooks
Name: Evelyn Brooks
Title: Owner/Designer
Business: Evelyn Brooks Design (www.ebrooksdesigns.com) Also available at www.amazon.com/shops/evelynbrooksdesigns
Evelyn founded Evelyn Brooks Designs in Washington DC in 2004. She is committed to designing, producing and manufacturing eco-friendly jewelry that highlights the rich history of Peru. Her jewelry uses seeds from the Peruvian Amazon known as Huayruros, naturally red and black seeds, carefully handpicked by a fair paid group in the Peruvian Amazon. Each piece of jewelry is carefully handcrafted, inspired by Evelyn’s Peruvian heritage fused with the latest jewelry trends. Since 2008 Evelyn has been teaching jewelry classes in Spanish and English at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.
5 Questions
What led you to owning your own business? I was tired of reporting to someone (my boss) who didn’t really care about my career or my future. I was also eager to know and prove that I could be my own boss.
What is your business philosophy? Be organized, have a schedule, focus, don’t forget about yourself and have a balanced lifestyle.
What have you learned about yourself by owning your own business? I have learned to say NO, I have learned to prioritize, I have learned to ask for references before jumping into a project.
What has been the most surprising thing for you? When a customer sent me a raving note from another state, speaking about how beautiful they looked wearing my jewelry pieces.
What advice would you give to a woman starting a new business endeavor? Have a business plan, look for mentors who can provide you with coaching, attend networking events and evaluate your profit and loss statements to do better the following year.