Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Wooding.
Hi Vanessa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out selling jewelry at trunk shows in 2012 for another company & it inspired me to start my own business. I invested $400 in designing a few pieces in Hong Kong. The first show I sold out and so I had to wait four weeks to get more! I have always been nomadic and love to set up in different places around tamp bay & beyond Meeting new people and seeing other women in business is so inspiring I especially love locally made items When corona locked us down, all my shows & events were canceled, I sold on Facebook and Instagram daily but missed being around people in may one of my wholesale accounts told me she was giving up her store and offered it to me! So now we have a brick and mortar We opened in a pandemic Because I guess I take chances and I’m a little crazy haha and I realized you have to pivot in order to keep your business going.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely, a bumpy road. It has been adventurous, to say the least Some of my challenges have been working with companies abroad and this came to light in 2020 when we couldn’t get items shipped so I sourced more items locally and I have enjoyed moving into the gift & home decor market.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about You got this Belleair?
We are a curated space in the Antique alley in Belleair Bluffs. We specialize in selling locally sourced and handmade items from women-owned businesses. We sell art Furniture Boutique clothing. We are a one-stop-shop for gifting! We offer customized items That make wonderful gifts. From cushions to canvases we can personalize your items at no extra cost.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I’m from the UK I traveled from the age of 19. I worked in some amazing places including Hong Kong I have always appreciated all culture and love to travel. I’m married to the man who whisked me away to get married in Sri Lanka so we are soul mates for sure We have three daughters My business “GOT” Is named after them Georgiana Olivia and Tahlia My biggest achievement is being their mum and if I can inspire them to be strong women then I Have done my job well.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: You got this Belleair
- Facebook: You got this Belleair
