For Brielle Smallwood, founder of BB’s Designs, becoming an entrepreneur began with a viral TikTok video.  

“I started my business because I love art, and I had never seen someone make bedazzled canvases before, so I thought it’d be a good idea,” Smallwood recalls. “I posted a video of one on TikTok, and my first video got 8 million views. My [direct messages] started to get flooded with people wanting one, so I made a website a website and I quickly sold out.”  

Demand for Smallwood’s artwork was so high that she couldn’t keep up because making the canvases took a considerable amount of time. Wanting to capitalize on the interest in her products, she came up with the idea of selling do-it-yourself kits that include tools, glue, beads and canvas with a pre-printed design so customers can put together the art themselves.  

Since then, BB’s Designs has flourished, earning $650,000 in revenue since October 2022. Smallwood’s TikTok videos have continued to perform well too, with nearly 25 videos on her page garnering more than 1 million views. 

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The business has been so successful that Smallwood, a student at ASU, decided to switch majors from interior design to organizational leadership and project management so she could take classes online and dedicate more time to growing BB’s Designs.  

“I was a one-woman team for a long time, but I just couldn’t keep up with it by myself,” Smallwood says. “I ended up having my friends to help me, and now I have an employee that I pay a salary.” 

For now, all of Smallwood’s sales are routed through her website, but she is attempting to get her products into stores, which has proven to be a difficult task.  

“The problem is that I have to create a package if I want it in stores,” she explains. “I’ve talked with many wholesalers to create a custom box, and it’s hard to get the right price because my kits come with a bunch of individual pieces that must be packed correctly. I’ve been trying to work with Urban Outfitters since their customers are in my target age range, but it’s hard to get in contact with the right people. I’ve also spoken with local brands to get my product in their stores, but it’s all still in the works.” 


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Even with the challenges, Smallwood says that she loves being an entrepreneur. Many of her friends reach out to her for advice on starting a business. The biggest hump to get over, she says, is getting over the fear of putting yourself and your product out there.  

“Some of my friends feel embarrassed to post about their idea on social media,” Smallwood says. “I totally get it, because when I first started, I didn’t want to show my face on my videos because I was embarrassed too. I never thought that my first video would’ve done as well as it did, and I’m so glad I took that chance and put myself out there. But I’ve learned that if people are making fun of you online, it’s often because they want what you have. Anyone who has created a business online gets it, and no, they’re not judging you. Social media is the best way to market an online business right now, so if you want to be an entrepreneur, don’t get stuck on ‘I want to do this.’ Change it to ‘I am doing this.’” 

Learn more about BB’s Designs on its website, TikTok and Instagram pages.