Windy at the HB Chamber ribbon cutting for Bra Garden
I am honored to share Windy Bess and Bra Garden as the first local business in my new SoCal Community Spotlight series.
I know Windy through our mutual participation in the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce. She is a huge supporter of businesses in our community and supports many organizations affiliated with women’s health and the fight to end breast cancer. I believe it is very important to support the small businesses in our community, which is why I’m also a personal client of Bra Garden. Women, if you have not been to Bra Garden, I recommend you head over and visit Windy’s wonderful shop. You will be so grateful you did!
Thank you, Windy, for your investment in our community and your continuous support of the organizations focusing on women’s health!
Kari: I’d love for you to tell everyone a little bit about your background. How did you get started in your industry? What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Windy: Being a mother of four kids — three being girls — a Girl Scout troop leader, and a surgical technologist, it was a natural progression to evolve into a business that revolves around women’s health. After running surgery centers and businesses for others, I turned my skills into running my own business.
Kari: Let’s talk about Bra Garden. What do you do there? Who do you serve? What are you most proud of?
Windy: Bra Garden is a specialty boutique unlike any other located at 15077 Goldenwest Street in Huntington Beach. In addition to providing the complete size range, 28-56 band, AA-O cup (soon expanding to Q cup), we provide a warm, safe environment to experience a professional bra fitting. The fitting process allows adequate sizes and styles to be found for each individual. We assist all age groups and body types.
Bringing nearly twenty years of medical knowledge in the operating room to the shop, I am able to provide aid in post-surgical recovery garments and prosthetics. A variety of external breast prostheses are available for symmetry related to post-surgical or natural asymmetry. Advancements in this area now offer lighter silicone, hybrid, and active/swim options.
There are so many things to be proud of at Bra Garden every day! I am most proud of my incredible staff. They always strive to provide a comfortable, discreet place for ladies to improve their breast health and gain confidence.
Kari: What’s your favorite part about coming to work every day?
Windy: Similar to working in the operating room, I know that each day we make a difference in the lives of others. Whether it’s teaching a young lady how to wear her first bra, or assisting someone with disabilities obtain structure conducive to their needs. Or patiently and wholeheartedly listening to a cancer patient describe her journey. Or helping a bride get support in an impossible dress. Or providing relief for the woman suffering neck and upper back pain. Or simply finding styles that offer both comfort and support for everyday wear. Whatever the circumstance may be, I love that each life is lifted in a unique way.
Kari: I love how involved you are in the community. Can you speak to any partnerships or collaborations you have formed and how they have impacted your business?
Windy: As a woman-owned small business, we cherish the relationships we build with other surrounding businesses. Each one brings new opportunities to our clientele. Every month, we participate in an in-store collaboration to help promote another local small business. A wonderful avenue for connecting with other local entrepreneurs has been through the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce and Superstarz Business Networking group.
In conjunction with the skills used in teaching my Girl Scout troop, both community service and education have been an important part of Bra Garden as well. A new channel has been added on YouTube to help share knowledge brought to the shop from surgeons and other experts. Several topics involving breast health and related subjects will be discussed throughout the year.
We also participate in ongoing bra donations to local women’s and children’s shelters. The average donation is typically between 300-400 bras.
Kari: Can you share lessons you’ve learned from failure or setbacks in your career?
Although the focus of Bra Garden is to help women gain and maintain proper breast health, the shop’s existence is based on retail sales. Changes in the economy have affected the ability of the store to remain open. Challenges, such as the mandatory closure in 2020, put a severe strain on all businesses. Learning new and improved means of serving the community became necessary for survival.
Kari: What is the biggest goal you’d like to accomplish this year? What goals do you have for Bra Garden in the next 5 years?
Windy: Bra Garden was located in Fountain Valley for nearly eleven years. Moving the store in 2022 to Huntington Beach taught us that we lack familiarity with the new territory. Our goal this year is to teach everyone in Huntington Beach and the surrounding areas what we offer and how we can help.
Kari: Any upcoming events you’re hosting that people should know about?
Windy: The most recent event we hosted was a Women’s Wellness event held at the shop. Several free services were provided, such as massage, waxing, raffles, coffee and cookies, and special guests like Miss Huntington Beach.
Annually Bra Garden gathers a team to participate in the Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk in Newport Beach to help fundraise for finding a cure for breast cancer.
Numerous events are held throughout the year, which we share on our Facebook and Instagram pages @bragardenhb.
