Embracing style and success: the journey of Elizabeth Lewis
Elizabeth Lewis founded Brand, Style & Bloom to help professionals get noticed. She talks about playing dress-up as a shy kid, launching a knitwear line, and going from client to coach.
In the world of personal branding and styling, Elizabeth Lewis stands out as a true trailblazer. As the founder of Brand, Style & Bloom, she combines her passion for fashion with her expertise in branding to empower professionals to express their unique value. In this interview, Elizabeth shares her journey, the inspiration behind her business, her experience with Start Small Think Big, and her thoughts on equitable entrepreneurship.
Tell us about yourself and the story of your business.
My company is called Brand, Style & Bloom, which is a personal branding and styling consultancy. My passion is to help professionals get noticed to achieve their personal vision of success, using personal branding and styling as tools! I was inspired to start Brand, Style & Bloom while working as a senior brand manager at a large consumer packaged goods company. I loved launching stand-out products that POPPED on shelf, and I decided that I wanted to do the same for people to help them to understand their own unique value, get noticed (through their visual packaging, i.e. their personal style) and achieve their fullest potential.
And speaking of style, I launched a clothing line in Fall 2023 called THE COLLECTION, featuring chic, stylist-approved luxury knitwear designed to make women look effortlessly elegant.
How has your background and identity impacted your entrepreneurial journey?
One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to play dress up in my mom's clothes. I would try on her shoes, her jewelry, anything I could. Why? Well I loved all of the aesthetics and beauty, but mostly, it's because it helped me to express myself. See, back in those days, I was incredibly shy. Fashion is something that helped me to express myself when words failed me. Visually, it allowed me to share a little bit of who I was where my voice remained silent. It also helped me to see a future where I was living a vibrant life in New York City (I have wanted to live here since I was 7) and no longer shy. Even though the work is hard, I am so fortunate to be living my dream career in New York City, and playing dress up is what originally inspired me to understand the power of what we wear to express ourselves, our abilities and our goals.
What made you decide to work with Start Small Think Big, and how was the experience?
When I left my company, I met with a former coworker, Tammeca Rochester, the incredible entrepreneur who founded Harlem Cycle. I was looking for guidance and resources for my new entrepreneurial journey, and she recommended that I look into Start Small Think Big. As I learned more about the organization, I could not believe all of the amazing resources it offered, and it has been absolutely instrumental in the growth of my company!
Through Start Small Think Big, I utilized a range of valuable services for free, including:
- Free headshots
- Free legal help to help me draft critical contracts
- Free marketing help
- Free website review
- Free financial education
My experiences with my volunteers were all very encouraging and positive, and now, I am so fortunate to shift from being a client to now coaching other Start Small Think Big clients on their marketing and branding efforts through the Branding Immersion sessions!
What does equitable entrepreneurship look like to you?
I think equitable entrepreneurship means having access to opportunities that provide education and great networks that help us grow. Thank you, Start Small Think Big, for doing the work!
What is a piece of advice you'd give to other entrepreneurs?
Enjoy the journey. I know we are all going for the ultimate destination of whatever we are trying to achieve, but the journey, although it can be stressful, is what makes the destination worth it. There is so much personal and professional growth that comes from it. Also, don't take rejection personally. If you are not being rejected, that means that you may not be putting yourself out there enough! And putting yourself out there, even though it's uncomfortable, is a key part of entrepreneurial success.
