We had the good fortune of connecting with Trina Bell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Trina, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
One thing I’ve heard repeatedly throughout the years is that you should focus and master one thing before moving on to another. However, those who have achieved the level of success that I strive for have been adamant about creating multiple streams of income.

While you do want to be mindful of burn out, I absolutely believe that you can be successful at more than one venture at a time. Having operated several small businesses simultaneously, I found that it works best if you have a very detailed, yet realistic, schedule, set daily goals for each brand and make sure that you’re penciling in time to totally decompress from them all weekly.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Adict Charmery was founded in 2013 as more of a hobby, initially. I fell in love with stackable bracelets after seeing a set on a tv show and became kind of obsessed in finding them.

It also fell right in line with my love for accessorizing. LOL! One day while I was shopping in downtown LA’s fashion district, I stumbled upon a store that happened to carry loosely strung beads; the same beads that I’d seen on tv earlier. That’s when the light bulb went off in my head to begin making stackable bracelets myself.

I spent countless hours on YouTube University teaching myself different techniques and which materials were best to use. I eventually incorporated quality materials into my pieces like gemstones, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver and 14k gold. Through my already established relationships within the entertainment industry (I started out as a singer/songwriter as one half of the 90’s R&B duo Trina & Tamara), I was able to send sets to some of my fashion stylist friends and former colleagues.

My first stockist account was with Coko Gamble- the lead singer of the R&B group SWV. At the time she had a boutique in Virginia and agreed to sell my bracelets on consignment. Since then, Adict Charmery has been featured in media outlets such as People Magazine, Essence, BET, Fox Soul, In Style Magazine, Playboy and more.

About a year after its inception, I started producing women-geared pop-up events as a means to not only showcase Adict Charmery, but also local artisans in the area. There are usually about 8-10 vendors that carry everything from hand-crafted soaps & body butters to candles and one-of-a-kind African prints. The cost covers the entry fee, swag bags, delicious food and is a great place for women to connect and let their hair down.

So far I’ve hosted events here in Los Angeles, Chicago, DC and several in Las Vegas. Additionally, I’ve curated women’s retreats based around the brand in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Napa Valley and Montego Bay with the next one taking place in the Dominican Republic in April of 2024.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hmmm…LA has so many gems that I wouldn’t know where to begin! But, being the foodie that I am, we’d definitely have brunch at Blaqhaus in North Hollywood, grab a scoop of ice cream at Salt & Straw in Studio City and enjoy authentic Indian cuisine at Taste Of India in Sherman Oaks.

Oh, and I can’t leave out a drive along the Pacific Coast Highway. I have a secret spot in Malibu that’s nestled between beautiful homes and is very quiet and peaceful. It’s a perfect place to catch dolphin sightings!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Growing up in Gary, Indiana, from the outside looking in it might have seemed that opportunities were limited or that one’s dreams could never be actualized. However, my parents instilled in me that there was absolutely nothing I was incapable of doing once I set my mind to it; and I truly believed it!

They’d say things like, “No matter WHO thinks it’s not possible, no matter WHO tries to talk you out of it, no matter WHO criticizes your ideas, at the end of the day it’s not their life…right? There isn’t a thing on this earth that you can’t do, Trina.”

That type of upbringing and reaffirming gave me the confidence to just go for it. Sometimes I’d have a plan, sometimes I wouldn’t. But I knew that I’d figure it out along the way.

Website: www.adictcharmery.etsy.com

Instagram: adict_charmery

Facebook: Adict Charmery

Image Credits
Adict Charmery
The Eye Visuals

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