Fun Facts about Alyssa:
* She is born TWO minutes before Lauren
*She is an amazing writer, and author who has published several books through 826NYC
*She loves to bake
*She is also an aspiring singer, dancer, model and actress.
Q & A with Alyssa Rose, Founder and Co-owner of Bklyn Blingz:
Why did you want to start your own business?
Well, at first, I didn't want to start a business! When my mom told me about a program called NFTE Biz Camp, I wasn't interested because I thought having your own business would be boring. At the time, I was more interested in creative pursuits like acting, singing, writing and art, but my mom convinced me that these creative areas also had to do with business so I decided to give it a chance and they accepted me into their program. Biz Camp was a life-changing experience-I absolutely loved it! My experience at Biz Camp opened up a whole new world to me. I listened to the various speakers and they inspired my creative juices. At Biz Camp we were taken to the wholesale district in NYC with the assignment to purchase $25 on merchandise and resell it. I was in heaven! I could work surrounded by beautiful things and use my artistic eye to pick the right merchandise making money by bringing fashion jewelry to all my friends who I knew didn't have access to quality fashion jewelry. This was the beginning of Bklyn Blingz! My twin sister Lauren came along side me in the business and we began selling to family and friends. Bklyn Blingz has changed my life and thinking. I thought I would have to wait for someone to give me a job. Now I know that I can make my own job and in a way control my own future. I learned that having a business is not boring at all. It is an open door to a lot of fun, exciting opportunities!What is your Business Model?
We are Bklyn Blingz! The 'we' part is that my twin sister Lauren and I sell unique, high-quality fashion jewelry that is stylish, fun, colorful, and different at competitive prices not currently being offered to teens and young adults. We have a corner on the market! To find a fashion accessories store you have to take a train or a bus 2 miles north or five miles south. Bklyn Blingz jewelry dresses up any outfit from a T-shirt and jeans, to business attire to formal clothes like prom or Sweet 16 party dresses-what ever your style may be or whatever the occasion our fashion jewelry can dress up or compliment. Bklyn Blingz helps girls and women of all ages express themselves. I am so excited to own Bklyn Blingz! Although, we have started small by selling to friends, family, neighbors, school mates and even tourists, we have plans to increase our market by building our own website. Bklyn Blingz has potential for the future!
How has your business made an impact on the community?
I could almost guarantee that there are no Hispanic teen-age, twin sister-owned businesses in Brooklyn! I believe that even now in our own small way we have impacted our community by being a role model to young people. Teens are either looking to get babysitting jobs or waiting to receive their allowance every week. It was not too long ago that I thought that way, too. It wasn't until I was exposed to something different that I changed. I believe that Bklyn Blingz can bring about positive change in our community by exposing our community to something different-us! Sporting the Bling and getting paid!
Alyssa's Favorite Piece of Jewelry to Sport:
Gold Hoop Earrings
