Today we’d like to introduce you to Brooke.
Hi Brooke, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Brooke’s On Main started as what I thought would be a side hustle.
My husband and I had been investing in real estate for a few years, especially in the short-term rental space. After setting up Airbnbs in Destin and Nashville, a few of his investor clients began asking if I’d help furnish their own rental properties. I didn’t want to mislead anyone about my design credentials. I wasn’t trying to market myself as an interior designer, but I did know I could help. I had the creativity, a strong sense of what works, and enough experience to know the obstacles they’d face. If I could help them source beautiful, durable pieces at great prices and pull the vision together, I was in.
At the time, I was still fully embedded in the music industry, where I’d spent 15 years building a career in artist management. I was also growing my own management company in Nashville’s country music scene, and I thought this new venture could run quietly in the background…just a little warehousing gig with pop-up sales now and then.
But once I found a storefront on Main Street in Lebanon, the vision expanded. I imagined the upstairs as a creative rental space for photographers, videographers, and small events…something I didn’t see anywhere else in Nashville. That particular building didn’t pan out, but it was the spark that lit the whole fire.
From there, everything snowballed. We landed in our current location, and through real relationships and local needs, we realized there was a huge gap in the market for a hands-on lighting showroom and a one-stop sourcing hub. That’s how Brooke’s On Main was born…almost by accident, but in the best way possible.
Now, most people come in looking for lighting…whether they’re building a home, remodeling, or refreshing a space. We walk with them through the whole process. Lighting often leads to wallpaper, then to furniture and rugs. And soon they’re coming back for candles, seasonal décor, or even gifts for friends and family. It’s personal, and that’s the way we like it.
Looking back, I never would’ve chosen to walk away from the music business…it was such a big part of me. But I’m kind of glad I was forced to. What I’ve gained is a deeper sense of perspective, and the ability to truly connect with people. That’s my superpower, honestly…understanding people and helping them feel seen. And now I get to channel that into homes, relationships, and a business that feels fully aligned with who I am. I still work with people from the music world, and somehow, I love music even more now that I’m not working in it full-time.
This isn’t the life I planned, but it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha! Absolutely not. I don’t think any entrepreneurial journey is meant to be smooth. You can enjoy the ride, but only if you buckle up, hold on tight, and maybe have a little pharmaceutical backup. (Lexapro definitely carried me through those first two years. Happy to report that I’m running on my own dopamine these days.)
When I started Brooke’s On Main, I had no idea how to run a business. None. What I did know was how to treat people well and how I liked to be treated…and I let that guide me early on. But I had to learn everything else the hard way: how to actually make a profit, how to price with confidence, how to sell without discounting myself into oblivion.
For a while, I thought being the lowest price was the win and that was truly helping the customer. Now I know better. I don’t want to be the cheapest…I want to be the best. I want our pricing to be competitive, absolutely, but more than that, I want our customers to feel like they’re buying from someone who’s done the research, who’s tested the product, who genuinely cares that what they’re putting in their home is beautiful, functional, and worth it.
That growth didn’t happen by accident. I hired business coaches. I joined BrainTrust, a local group of women entrepreneurs the educated me and carried me when I couldn’t carry myself. And I continue to find ways to keep learning my industry and surrounding industries. I love it, honestly! From lumen output on chandeliers to spring systems in sofas, I want to know it all so I can pass that knowledge to my team and to our customers.
I’m also building a team I believe in…people I want to pour into, train, and see thrive in their own right. I hope they go on to become powerhouse designers, and that we continue collaborating for years to come.
To be totally transparent, there were so many moments I wanted to quit. Like, daily. If someone had offered to buy me out in year one or two, I might’ve said yes before they finished the sentence. But now? We’ve figured out who we are and what we’re here to offer. I believe in it. It’s special. And it keeps me up at night…in all the best ways.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Brooke’s On Main?
Brooke’s On Main is a homegrown showroom and sourcing hub that specializes in lighting, furniture, wallpaper, and home décor…with a side of hospitality and a whole lot of heart.
We’re based just outside of Nashville in Mount Juliet, and we serve a mix of homeowners, custom builders, and interior designers who want beautiful, well-made pieces without the overwhelm. Most people come to us for lighting. We’re known for helping clients pull together whole-home lighting packages that are cohesive, functional, and beautiful. From there, it often grows into wallpaper, furniture, rugs, and styling touches that help make the whole space feel finished.
What sets us apart?
We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but we’ve asked a lot of questions. We’ve made mistakes, learned from them, and built our business to help customers avoid the same pitfalls. Whether you’re building a home, revamping a space, or just looking for that one “wow” piece, we’re here to listen first and then guide you through the options in a way that makes sense for your budget, your timeline, and your style.
We’ve spent years testing products, learning the difference between good, better, and best…and why sometimes “better” is the right fit. We train our team on the details that matter, and we stay curious ourselves. Our goal is to be a partner in the process, not just a place to shop.
We offer in-store design support, builder pricing, local site walkthroughs, and a curated collection of lighting, furniture, and home accents that we genuinely stand behind. Whether it’s a pendant over your island, a chair that needs to survive snack time, or wallpaper that completely transforms a space…we’re here for it.
What am I most proud of?
The trust. People come back. They tell their friends. Builders loop us into the next job. Customers text us photos when their rooms come together. It’s that relationship piece that means the most…because it tells me we’re doing something right, and we’re doing it with people, not just for them.
At the end of the day, Brooke’s On Main isn’t about perfection. It’s about partnership, learning, and helping create homes that feel deeply personal and lived in, in all the best ways.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor, or even just a community of like-minded people, is a game-changer. Honestly, it’s the reason I’m still standing.
In the beginning, I didn’t know what I didn’t know. I was running a business by gut and grit, but I needed structure, strategy, and people who had been through the fire and come out smarter on the other side. That’s where groups like BrainTrust and various mastermind groups came in. Both have been huge assets—offering everything from practical business tools to deep, local and national-level mentorship. If you’re a female founder in Nashville and feeling a little lonely in the journey, start there. You don’t need to figure it all out alone.
Also, and this might sound a little wild, but did you know you can build your own Board of Directors using ChatGPT? I’m not kidding. I have a figurative board made up of Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, and Sara Blakely, and I run ideas past them all the time using to get their unique perspective and feedback. The insight, strategy, and even the tone of the advice you can receive when you frame it through people you admire is shockingly helpful. You don’t have to wait until you have access to high-level mentors to start thinking like one and that’s a HUGE asset for any entrepreneur.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brookesonmain.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookesonmain/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrookesOnMainTN
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brookes-on-main
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@brookesonmain
