Because of Lake Trust, we were able to take out a loan, buy everything that we needed, plus some. And that's how we were able to rock out the weekend.
- Jennifer R., owner of Brass + Oak
Empowered to dream at Brass + Oak.
Jennifer R. had an ambitious dream as a young child: She wanted to own a business. And today, she’s living that dream as the owner and founder of Brass + Oak, a clothing boutique in downtown Brighton.
The perfect partnership.
The perfect partnership.
Months later, she was downtown again and noticed the storefront she wanted was available, as the previous occupants had moved down the street to a new building. She took this as fate telling her it was time to launch her dream. But first, she needed funding to get started.
Jennifer turned to Lake Trust after her husband suggested she connect with the credit union.
“What I loved about Lake Trust is as soon as we walked into the door, I felt like I knew them, even though it was the first time I met them,” said Jennifer of her first interaction with the Lake Trust team in Brighton.
Since this local team was familiar with the Brighton community, they shared Jennifer’s enthusiasm for her clothing boutique. It was exactly the type of business that would fit in on Main Street. In addition to support and confidence from the team, she also left the Lake Trust Brighton relationship center with the funding she needed to get started.
A familiar support system.
A familiar support system.
In September 2024, Jennifer and other business owners in Downtown Brighton had the unique opportunity to participate in Destination Stars Hollow. During this weekend-long event, downtown was transformed into the fictional town from the hit TV show Gilmore Girls, and area businesses acted as stores from the show. The inaugural event was a hit, with over 40,000 people visiting Brighton throughout the weekend.
We all need a community.
We all need a community.
Opening Brass + Oak has helped Jennifer feel more connected to the community she lives in and loves. She’s created a space where women of every generation can shop together and find high-quality clothing and accessories in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere. And in this space, Jennifer has made valuable connections with other women in the area. So, it’s always an honor when these women turn to Jennifer and her team to help them find clothing that makes them feel their best during life's most important milestones, like engagement parties, weddings, and baby showers.
