Coming Home for the Holidays

Dear friends and family,
Please join us in celebrating Briolette's 3rd annual holiday jewelry party hosted by Barbara Martinez and Suzzette Malasko.

Barbara Martinez's House

13 Edgewater Place

Brownsville, Texas 78521

Saturday, November 19th · 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Holiday treats and cheerful spirits will be provided. Please feel free to bring guests. We look forward to seeing everyone in our hometown.

Sincerely,

Briolette

Jayne Malasko & Nicole Martinez

Austin Fashion Week; Let the Fun Begin

For those of you who are new to AFW, there are lots of opportunities to discover “Austin-based jewelry lines, meet talented local clothing designers, or chat with beauty industry experts at over 100 official Austin Fashion Week events”.

This week, Briolette gears up for its photo shoot. We are paired with talented artists including a photographer, hair stylist, makeup artist, clothing designer, accessory designer and a beautiful, spirited model who will bring our vision together.

On another note, Nicky and I are so excited to be chosen as a “showcase designer” and work with Milk + Honey Day Spa at the Galleria. More details on the joined trunk show to follow. Great news…The showcase events throughout the week are open to the public; for more information, visit the link below.

http://fashionweekaustin.com/2011-schedule/

Stay tuned! Details coming soon.

Going Green: Every Little Bit Counts

When it came time to create our packaging, we were brainstorming on how we can incorporate something local. Austin is a town that is very clean; and it promotes eco-friendly alternatives. In the beginning, we did not have a lot of money to work with, but we wanted to make a small contribution in some way. Any small change you can implement in your packaging or business practices can make a difference. We found a way to combine renewable materials when formulating our packaging; our labels are made from seeded paper. When you plant them, wildflowers grow. 

Joke of the Day:

What's the secret ingredient for a gold soup? 24 carrots.

Display Away

When starting a business, creating your own displays from items you already own is a smart way to be financially savvy.  Being avid shoppers, Nicky and I are intrigued by different displays. You can attract attention and promote a purchase by using various materials including, but not limited to minerals, metals, wood, plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables, ornaments, home décor etc. Remember, your display acts as a silent salesperson. It draws consumers in and boosts sales by allowing an individual to see a product in a unique, yet close fashion.

A Shout Out to Big Mouth Mamas

There’s no point blogging about a business if you don’t recognize those who have helped along the way. Through the last couple of years, our mothers have shown up to every trunk show ready to work. They have hauled countless trunk loads of pots, plants, decorations, tables, etc. They are our unofficial first employees. I say unofficial because they are paid off the books with jewelry. If we had an award, they would be our employees of the month, no year.

In this day and age, everyone knows the power of the internet. However, do you know the power of the “mothernet”? If you are from Brownsville, you know exactly what I am talking about. News travels hard and fast.

When starting any kind of business, your mother will be your strongest advocate and word-of-mouth marketer. Word to the wise, let her have full reign. If you want the word out quickly, you can count on your mom to get the job done. Plus, she will do it with or without your blessing. Thanks moms for being that good.

Briolette’s Blogging World

We have so much to be grateful for and wanted an outlet to share interests, accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned with our friends and family, since founding Briolette in 2009.

Accomplishments:

As Nicky and I created our blog, we starting talking about everything we have accomplished thus far; the excitement started to build. For those of you who are new to Briolette, here is the short yet very big list:

• Briolette is showcased in nine retailers throughout the US
• Had many successful trunk shows
• Survived Austin Fashion week and even came out with a news clip on News 8 Austin
• Was featured as “Designers to Watch” in the October issue of Austin Monthly
• Sparkle and Sweets for Austin Live! Briolette was on the 4:00 o’ clock news
• Completed 2010 taxes on time, and by ourselves. With that said, CPA’s are worth every penny.

As we get back into the swing of things after Nicky and Rubes’ wedding, stay tuned for more!!!