Meet Anna Pickering | Jewelry Maker & Boutique Owner

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

Hi Anna, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
AP was started in December 2020 and honestly, I had no clue what I was doing. I thought this business would be a pretty rad way to make an impact and jumped right in. My decision to begin stamping jewelry was driven by the struggle I felt while heading to college at the tail-end of the COVID-19 pandemic. I grew up raising Brahman cattle, spending nearly every day in the barn, and constantly being stretched thin with extracurriculars. When I went to college, I felt like I had lost my purpose and felt isolated during that first semester.

During Winter break, I learned about stamping jewelry and as I began researching, I realized that not only did it look like fun, but I could use it as a medium to create the purpose I’d been searching for. The first year I treated it as a hobby, using my jewelry as an excuse to set a table up at cattle shows and make a little extra money. By my second year, I began taking myself more seriously, designing my own graphic tees, stickers, and other accessories. I feel that these agriculture-based designs are what truly helped my brand my business. Throughout my third year in business, I’ve added a boutique and now offer clothing, shoes, and bags. My vision for my business has grown from a small jewelry shop to creating a one-stop shop for women and men in the agriculture industry. One day, I’d love to add more men’s accessories, and helpful products like herd management journals, stock show planners, and more.

I am someone who jumps in with both feet, so I won’t deny a lot of the WHY of AP Brand Designs came after I decided that I would stamp jewelry. I looked for ways to make my business stand out and realized I could do so by focusing on a stock show and animal production-oriented audience. In doing this, I became even more passionate about the people in these industries. Everyone welcomed my business with open arms and was eager to support my new venture. While I still consider this to be part-time, as I am currently searching for a marketing and communications position, I hope to one day give back to the industry through scholarship programs and educational opportunities for others who want to follow their passion and start a business.

The AP brand is one that I hold close, as it was originally my Brahman cattle brand designed by me & my dad. While in college, I decided to repurpose the brand for my little biz. Although the brand serves a new purpose, you can still catch us set up at a cattle show nearly every weekend. AP was founded on the idea that everyone has their own brand, and helping others brand themselves is our purpose.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Howdy! My name is Anna Pickering and I am 21 years old. I graduated from Texas A&M University in December 2023 with a Bachelor of Science: B.S. in Agricultural Communications and Journalism and a minor in Agricultural Leadership and Development. I began AP Brand Designs in December 2020, stamping jewelry out of my freshman dorm room. Today, I offer stamped jewelry, boutique-style clothing and shoes, graphic tees, custom graphic designs, and branding services. My top priority is that my customers leave my shop feeling better than before and that my design clients feel confident in their brand identity. I want to help people brand themselves both personally and professionally, serving as a one-stop shop for those in the Agriculture industry. I feel that what sets AP Brand Designs apart is my customer service and one-of-a-kind designs. No piece of jewelry is ever alike, nor is any graphic item. Truly the aspect of AP Brand Designs that makes me most proud is the relationships I’ve developed over the past three years. Between managing part-time jobs, school, and owning a small business; it was often difficult to find balance while getting everything done. However, the connections that I made with other business owners and agriculture advocates whether it be in person or online helped make navigating life as a small business owner a breeze.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Focusing on the College Station and Brenham area, there are so many things to do. From start to finish, our first day would start at The Toasted Yolk for breakfast with Bloody Mary’s. From there, we would shop downtown Bryan, looking through all of the local antique shops, and eat at a local joint, such as Casa Rod’s or Longhorn Tavern. I always like to give my friends a tour around campus and Aggie Park, visiting The Moore Family Creamery.

The next day in Brenham, we would head straight to Andrea’s Taco Shop for the BEST breakfast burritos in town. Spending the day downtown, we would check out shops such as The Prancy Pony and more. Yum’s for lunch would be a must before heading to Blue Bell Creamery for a quick tour. We would end the night at Manuel’s Mexican restaurant, where you would find us 2 margaritas deep and a plate of enchiladas on the table.

Over the week, we would visit places such as The Dixie Chicken on Northgate, The Bonfire Memorial, Century Square Shopping Centre, Big Shots, and so many more fun activities and hangouts in the area. The Brazos Valley area is booming with activities and places to go. There are tons of local spots that I adore but can’t even begin to list.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
None of my success would have been possible without the support of my family and friends. Whether I run out of room in my car or need help prepping for a sale, they always come to my rescue and lend a helping hand. They have truly been a blessing throughout this journey. My customers also make all of the difference in my story, as AP Brand Designs would not be what it is today without their continuous support.

Website: https://apbranddesigns.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apbranddesigns/

Facebook: AP Brand Designs