In early 2004, Brandy Kelty was convinced she had a winning business idea. 

She had been wearing her personal creations to her family-owned restaurant for years and always attracted the attention of newcomers. 

“Little girls will always love sparkly things and grown-up girls love having something a little bit special,” says Brandy. 

“The first item I ever created was a green shirt with a clear crystal shamrock.  Looking back, it was the ugliest thing, but I absolutely loved it.”

“Back then, the blue jeans with awesome crystal designs were just coming back into fashion and I couldn’t get enough of them.  I pored over catalogs, started attending clothing shows and made it my personal mission to find the right stones and right shirts.”

After a solid year of industry research, Brandy launched Eye Candy by Brandy™, operating out of her home, a back room in the restaurant, or wherever she could find a little space.

Each stone had to be individually placed and affixed by hand.  It was tedious work, but Brandy loved every minute of it.

Over time, her client base grew and Brandy moved operations to its current showroom space in Springfield, Illinois.  She hired two sales reps and additional support staff and invested in the equipment that made the job of creating shirts much easier!

“I think my personal message to any woman who wants to start her own business is that you really have to persevere.  It takes time, incredible flexibility, and you definitely can’t take any set-backs personally,” Brandy insists.

“I am proof that your dream business can happen, if you work hard and are smart about the business choices you make.  One of the things that I’m most proud of is having a staff that is comprised of mothers, women who are looking for a way to support their families in a work environment that’s rewarding and flexible.”

“I know it sounds cliché but this work is my passion.  It has been thrilling to create something from scratch and then find a market that is as excited about the piece as I am.”

“If my creations can make the wearer feel just a little special, then I’m very happy.”