Local Love: Bella Vita Jewelry

I got to interview several local woman business owners about how the pandemic has affected them - each week this month, I'll be sharing a little local love! This is part one.

Bella Vita Jewelry, located in downtown Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS -- With the exception of the now ubiquitous sign telling customers to put on a mask before entering and the bottle of hand sanitizer just inside the door, Bella Vita Jewelry looks much the same from the outside as it did a year ago. Inside, upbeat oldies music softly fills the quiet spaces and incense and candles scent the air. "We try to keep a fun vibe," says owner Brandy Thomason McNair. The effort is apparent in the carefully curated items - books and crystals, incense and craft kits, tea and home goods, and an array of unique jewelry including Brandy's own designs.

Before Covid-19 started causing temporary shut downs, the shop website only showcased the original pieces. But Brandy and her team have since updated it to include every item in the shop. Bags of online orders ready to be picked up or packed up for shipping fill several shelves behind the counter. Her approach to social media has also become more thoughtful, her focus shifted to a desire to uplift. She initially expressed guilt over continuing to post and promote, fearing it might be insensitive, but asked her customers and they said 'keep sharing what you do!'

Brandy helps a customer, standing at the front counter next to a case of locally made Cocoa Belle chocolate

"When I was younger and more naive, I had this idea like 'oh, beautiful design leads to beautiful lives!'" says Brandy. But the customers who engage with her now more active social media feed, as well as those who come into the sunny shop in person, would seem to agree. While her wholesale business has dropped over the past year, retail sales have increased, as well as her follower count.

Bella Vita Jewelry has been one of the happy places I've turned to a lot over the past year, online for the beautiful photos, and in person for the amazing shop vibe and delightful array of goods. I stop for the atmosphere and leave with a little bit of it, every time, in the form of a new bandana or candle, a book and some tea and chocolate to enjoy with it, or even a little sparkle.

You can find Bella Vita Jewelry at

108 W 6th St Suite A

Little Rock AR 72201

shop online

and follow her uplifting posts

on Facebook and Instagram

Comments

Veronica said…

Greatt reading your post

November 15, 2021 at 3:06 PM

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