Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Woods.
Brandi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always had a love for creating. Whether it was writing or photography, I knew I was born to create. After I had my daughter, my creativity pushed into overdrive, and I wanted to start making all the things! I started with bows and bracelets because that was really what she was into at the time. However, as she got older, her love for large bows and beaded bracelets started to fade. While making these were fun, my creative passion was pulling me into a different direction. I wanted to start designing shirts and accessories that you wouldn’t normally see. I’ve always been one to do things differently than everyone else, and some of the concepts in my head just weren’t out there, so I decided to be the one to bring them to life.
All the niches that were out there didn’t fit what I was going for, so I created my own, and the “Urbansational Lifestyle Brand” was born. My designs oftentimes have an urban feel, and I create inspirational ones as well hence “urbansational.” In three years, I’ve gone from bows and bracelets to shirts with bold, inspiring, funny and powerful messages. The love has been overwhelming, and I’m excited to see where Sweet Expreshunz will be in the next three years.
Has it been a smooth road?
This road has been about as bumpy as the streets in Houston and, if you travel down them regularly, you know how jacked up they are! I would say my biggest struggle has been the lack of support from people I know. There have been times when I’ve asked for something as simple as helping to spread the word about my business (word of mouth is free, by the way), and they haven’t even done that but will support others. It used to bother me in the beginning, but I’ve concluded that sometimes the people closest to you are the ones rooting for you to fail. It’s like, “how dare you have the courage to step out on faith and do something other than the norm?” But it doesn’t stop me; it just pushes me to go that much harder. So I guess, indirectly, they are still kind of helping me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Sweet Expreshunz is an Urbansational Lifestyle Brand that specializes in dope apparel and accessories for the bold individual who’s not afraid to the rep who they are. I’m most proud that Sweet Expreshunz makes it a point to come up with original concepts and ideas that haven’t been done before. I’ve always been one who liked what everyone else didn’t like. If folks went left, I wanted to go right. I never wanted to do what everyone else was doing. And my business is the same. I don’t want my designs to be like anyone else’s, so I try and make sure I push myself creatively to make sure that each thing I create is authentically me.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I would say it’s a good place for businesses like mine because everyone has a preference, and everyone loves different things. There are different restaurants, grocery stores, banks because everyone is different, and they like what they like. Same as with what I do. It may not appeal to five people, but there may be ten more who may have been looking exactly for what I have to offer.
Pricing:
- Adult Shirts start at $35
- Kid Shirts start at $25
- Adult Sweatshirts start at $40
- Adult Hoodies start at $45
- Kid Hoodies are $40
- Phone Cases are $20
- Button prices vary
- Tote Bags prices vary
- Wall Art is $12
- Tutu prices vary
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweetexpreshunz.com
- Email: sweet.expreshunz@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/sweet. expreshunz
- Facebook: Facebook.com/sweet.expreshunz
- Other: Facebook.com/groups/sweetexpreshunz
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