NJMOMpreneur: Brigitte McGuire, Intentional B, Bradley Beach

New Jersey is home to many ambitious and talented women who juggle family, career and home. A select few of these women are also extremely busy building their own companies to help better manage the whole work-life balance. At NJMOM, we want to highlight these extraordinary women building NJ businesses and learn the secret to their success.

Brigitte McGuire is the NJMOMpreneur and owner of Intentional B, a whimsical artisan shop in the family shore town of Bradley Beach, featuring products sourced from both local and international artists. NJMOM had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Brigitte about her positive impacts in the community, important lessons from her parents, and where her family has fun in New Jersey.

NJMOM: What do you offer to your clients and how is it different than other professionals in your field?Brigitte: I have had a good amount of customers express after shopping that it felt like a good therapy session.  My shop is a sweet vessel and place to bring joy and fun to the community. Walking into the space is warm and friendly and people love it simply for that: heart connection.

I put positive intentions in everything I do including the products that I fill the shop with.

I love filling my shop with goods that I buy direct from the creator. It’s a different connection and energy that the product holds. I always try my best to find high integrity companies – ones that give back and are well intentioned.  Most products in my shop are unique and one of a kind. We also carry fresh flower bouquets, because I love flowers.  We are now online as well and we offer free local bike delivery in Bradley Beach. So if you want your weekly flowers delivered right to your door, we can set up an account or just call us weekly for an order. If you need a gift all wrapped and ready and you are at work, we can have it at your door same day.

NJMOM: What inspired you to come up with the idea for your business?
Brigitte: Creating community in Bradley Beach is what inspired me, and then I came upon a vacant space right near my home. It was from there that I decided to open a shop because I knew it would be a playground for me while offering something to the town where I am raising my children. As a home school mom I was also inspired to show my kids to willingly take risks and work hard to accomplish things that they love and bring them joy.

NJMOM: What is your favorite part about your business?
Brigitte: Definitely the simple joy it brings. It’s just a sweet space filled with pretty things. It has heart and my absolute favorite thing is when people just walk in and feel that.

NJMOM: What is your background in your business expertise?
Brigitte: My expertise is in small business management in holistic health. In my teen years I worked for my personal chiropractor and grew to manage his office. From there I became a massage therapist and and practiced for about 10 years. I lived out of state for a while and managed several chiropractic offices, even helping rebuild some of them. I also took on a massage position at a day spa where I was then hired as spa director overseeing a large specialty shop as well as managing about 20-25 employees and practitioners.

My most important studies that I have implemented into all aspects of my life has been self and spiritual work.  I am an ordained minister and offer intuitive spiritual and emotional guidance. I am a certified Holographic Health practitioner, have completed The Quickening Accelerated Conscious Evolution, a divinely inspired system of gentle and powerful inner transformation for the new millennium, and I attended Module One through Erickson Life Coaching training. Simply put, I do intentional work in whatever I do.

NJMOM: Who is your role model? Why?
Brigitte:  I would have to say my parents have definitely shown me what it is like to open your heart to anyone and love. That’s probably the biggest piece.  My dad was self-employed and ran a pretty big and successful company for many years. I feel that I picked up the part of feeling like it’s okay to always want to work for yourself and provide. He was also my spiritual partner in life. We shared many deep, deep conversations about spirit and science and humanity. My mom has always been a “Mother Theresa” for just about anyone. The amount of will and love for helping others goes beyond what I feel like I could ever do. She’s a healer and blows me away with her capacity to help. I have also had several life and educational mentors along the way that all played big parts in my life that I still mention almost daily. There are so many beautiful people in the world.

NJMOM: What’s the best piece of advice your mom ever gave to you?
Brigitte:  My mom’s best teachings have been and still are to work on my fears, letting go of ego and trusting, and becoming who I truly can become as my best self. Also, that it is a constant practice in life and it may never fully reach something you envision, but trusting your practice is enough. It happens day to day and helps you find peace.

NJMOM: Do you have a favorite quote you live by?
Brigitte:

What if I fall? Oh, but darling, what if you fly?

I believe fear is just part of the human experience, and how we each personally find our ways to eliminate it is key. Everyone flies through it differently. This quote reminds me to trust and take risk. It just hits me a certain way.

NJMOM: What are your favorite things to do in NJ with your family?
Brigitte: Living at the Jersey Shore has definitely brought me full gratitude for New Jersey. This is a life down here that is so different than what I knew growing up in New Jersey.  I feel you get a mix of it all – suburban feel with a small town city vibe, and it’s all next to the beach. It’s just perfect. We love hopping on our bikes and getting to choose from the variety of eclectic places to go. I love it down here all year round because each season has its own special feel. Day trips around NJ can be cool because as small as this little state is, it offers such a beautiful variety of nature and landscape.  Frenchtown is a sweet little spot. The kids enjoy the creek and playground up there. Other than that I’m perfectly happy at the beach!

NJMOM: What is the best part about being a mom for you?
Brigitte:  The best part is when it’s peaceful. Haha. I’m serious too. There are those sweet, quiet moments with deep connection where we love and feel joyful. Those are the best. And the best part is seeing my kids have joy and pure love. So, I do this thing where I can just watch them, like really watch them. I might tell my husband to glance over at them and he might just look and smile. I take such depth in watching them. I love their small hands and watching how they interact and giggle. There is something so, so sweet and pure about children and I love seeing that and knowing we have all been there.

NJMOM: What are your favorite businesses in NJ?
Brigitte:
Eats:
Pascale and Sabine, Asbury Park
Talula’s Pizza, Asbury Park
Grand Tavern, Bradley Beach
Seed to Sprout, Avon-By-The-Sea
Cafe Volan, Asbury Park
Health and Wellness:
Innate Living Center Chiropractor, Matawan
Dr. Memoli Holistic Dentist, Berkeley Heights
Soulful Awakenings, Lake Como
Nine Grace, Cranbury and Lambertville
Zen Den Acupuncture, Ocean

NJMOM: Where do you reside/vacation in New Jersey?
Brigitte: We live in Bradley Beach, New Jersey and are so happy we chose to live here. Every time we drive home it feels like we are driving to vacation. We don’t feel the need to go anywhere else in summer. We do like Lambertville area. We once stayed and the Lambertville House and that was so sweet and the sheets smelled delicious.

NJMOM: Anything else you’d like to tell moms in NJ?
Brigitte:

We are all in it together.  Don’t ever think you are less than.  Just do your best and love.

To learn more about Intentional B, visit their website, and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.