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

Hi Brooks, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting at a young age, I grew up antiquing with my mother. I was always fascinated by the beautiful pieces she searched for and collected, and over time, I developed my own passion for a special collection. Inspired by my mother’s legacy and her collections, Collectible Brooks was launched in 2019 as a side gig from my full-time career as a pediatrician. Like many physicians in today’s medical field, I had been struggling with frustration and fatigue. I felt a strong pull to start my own business as a creative outlet and with my lifetime love of antiques and vintage, a luxury vintage home décor business seemed the logical choice!

As a physician with virtually no retail experience, I had so much to learn! From where to source my pieces (I go to estate sales, auctions, and antique fairs), to how to stage them for social media posts and website photographs, to how to build and maintain a website, to how to ship fragile pieces across the country, it was roller coaster starting out. Not to mention, I was still practicing medicine full time and had a family! Eventually, Collectible Brooks became woven into my life and even has managed to balance well with my medical career and family. It has become a source of pride and a true joy, not to mention that much needed creative outlet that I was searching for in 2019.

You can find Collectible Brooks online and within Painted Tree Boutiques in San Antonio and I’m excited to be opening a brick-and-mortar vintage and antique home décor shop later this year with two other amazing partners in our community. A new curated collection goes live on my website and Instagram every Saturday and features classic vintage and antique décor with a twist of Grandmillennial. I also carry traditional high-quality new blue and white porcelain and gorgeous hand mad Oushak rugs 24/7 on my website.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have always had a passion for beautiful homes and the decor pieces within it that make it a home. I believe your home should tell your story of where you’ve been and what you love. Collectible Brooks was born out of my love of procuring those special antique and vintage pieces to add to those meaningful collections in homes across the country. I search high and low to find the unique, the chic, and the beautiful for my customer’s spaces! And as my antique-loving mother always said, “If you love a piece, buy it. You will always find a home for it.”

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?
San Antonio is rich in history, culture, food, and entertainment! Obviously we would need to start downtown with our famous River Walk and The Alamo but we would definitely also need to make a stop at one of my favorite lesser known attractions, the Japanese Tea Garden with it’s gorgeous floral-lined paths, koi-filled ponds, and a 60-foot waterfall. After a day of exploring some of our city’s famous historical landmarks, I would take them to eat on the patio of our favorite Mexican restaurant, Soluna, where they have the best chispas and margaritas! To cap the night off, Jazz Texas, located in the basement of the Bottling Department at the historic Pearl Brewery, is the perfect place to unwind and relax with world-class musical talent.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe so much to my parents who I wish could still be here to see my success with Collectible Brooks (especially my mother since she first took me antiquing). And of course I wouldn’t be anywhere without my amazing family including my husband and our two kids who all thought I was crazy when I first started Collectible Brooks but have come around nicely since. I would be remiss to not mention The Southern Coterie, an incredible female entrepreneur community that has been invaluable for networking, collaboration, and inspiration. And thank you, God, for it all.

Website: https://www.collectiblebrooks.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/collectiblebrooks

Facebook: https://facebook.com/collectiblebrooks1

Image Credits
Image Credits: Brooks Hagee | Collectible Brooks

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.