Mover & Shaker: Robin Brackbill

Bucks County's next Mover & Shaker is 100% FABULOUS! In just a few short years, Doylestown's Robin Brackbill has made her business, Fabby Shabby Grab Bag Co., a household name in the community. Robyn utilized her talents (she attended the Moore College of Art and Design) to literally hand-fabricate and create a fun, quirky, and totally unique, award-winning company.

It all started on a whim with one driving thought in mind: To help aid young mothers-in-need and create awareness of a need. A portion of all Fabby parties and events help aid mothers in need through funds to Friendship-Center.org and through Fabby's own service project, “The Diaper Duty Project” where she collects baby products to fill up diaper bags for local women's charities in the area.

Robin has no plans to slow down. In November 2013, Fabby will be opening their doors on State Street in Doylestown borough as a “Grab-Bag and Creation Boutique”. The boutique will host children's parties & classes in addition to her in-home services. Ulitimately, Robin's goal is to franchise Fabby Shabby for in-home parties. The sky is the limit for this motivated momtrepreneur.

Bucks Happening had the opportunity to ask Robin a few questions:

BH: Before attending design school, where did you go for high school?

RB: Penn Wood High School (William Penn School District)

BH: You've achieved so much with your business in such a short period of time. What keeps you motivated every morning?

RB: The Lord! I have an extremely strong faith in God who has given me my passion, motivation and hard driving spirit. He has laid my path before me and I couldn't have gotten here with out Him. It's all because of Him and for Him, that I do what I do. 🙂

BH: What’s your idea of a perfect day?

RB: A glorious sunny day at the beach in Ocean City, NJ with my husband and kids relaxing the day away… then off to a night at the boards for the rides and Jilly's cheese fries. yum!

BH: Who do you look up to?

RB: I'm the eldest of 10 siblings. I look up to my dad and mom, who love and raised all 10 of us kids…actually some of the youngest kids are still home, being “raised”. I look up to my dad for loving my mom so much and working so hard 6 days a week as a train engineer for Septa in Philly, to support such a huge family. His love for my mom and us kids and all his humorous energy kept us a strong family unit. I look up to mom for her mercy and kindness and all the love she shows to us kids. Mom is one of a kind. I did not inherit the mercy and grace she shows to people. You have to be a special person to raise that many children. My dad and mom were each others cheer leaders. that's what love is. It's rare in this day and age.

BH: How did you decide to pursue Fabby Shabby?

RB: Well… one of my harebrained ideas would HAVE to finally work ONE of these days! Born a creative visionary, I've had more jobs and business ideas and licenses than I care to admit. Some worked for awhile… some didn't work at all! But Fabby is something that was birthed by God. It is something that is completely me in every area and has combined all of my god-given giftings into one company. My love for children, the arts, hospitality… and Oh do I LOVE to party… it's all here! The business of Fabby is who I am. We have been very well received. That's why it works.

BH: Which achievement are you most proud of?

RB: Do you mean enduring 3 c-sections or building Fabby? Ha! Fabby is one of my greatest achievements besides being a mother to 3 my handsome men! Yes… I have 3 sons. Fabby is my girl! 😉

BH: What is the biggest thing that you’d like to achieve over the next 5 years?

RB: I just want Fabby to work! All business ventures are a risk. I am fully aware that in this market, starting a business can be tough. It's finding the right niche and going for it. Fabby has been around since 2010 as an in-home mobile creation boutique and party service… I am looking forward to being a stationary boutique as well. My goal is to do my best to get our name out there as an experience, not just a shop!

BH: How do you think your friends & coworkers would describe you?

RB: “Kid, you've got some spunk!” “Boy, Andy, you really married a firecracker!” These are just a couple of the humorous things I remember folks saying about me. Ya know, there have been many words friends and co-workers have used to describe me. Some I'm too embarrassed to say 🙂

But just being a Scotch-Irish red-head with a bit of french-English mutt, “personality”, with a bit of attitude, might be an understatement. Humor is a big love of mine. I am NOT serious: AT ALL! I love wow. I love pop. I love cheese. Usually provolone 😉 I don't care what anyone thinks of me… and yet I care about what EVERYONE thinks of me!

BH: Where’s your favorite spot to spend time in Bucks?

RB: It's a toss-up between Honey and Jules Pizza. I cried one time when I ate Honey's truffled potatoes chips. Literally a tear rolled down my cheek. Insanely good! I love Jules gluten free rosemary potato pizza that they only make seasonally…I swear I'd eat it year round and keep the local potato farmers in business!

I have a love affair with potatoes, you might have noticed since I think I mentioned potatoes more than once in this interview! I am a vegetarian. Can't get more veggie than potatoes!

BH: If you could go back in time and talk to yourself 10 years ago, what advice would you give?

RB: I had suffered from childhood anxiety and panic disorder in my young adult life from post traumatic stress syndrome. I fought long and hard with help from the Lord and through counseling and have been completely healed by God's grace. Because of the battle I had fought for so long and then to now be free has made any accomplishments I have achieved all the more richer and all the more glory to my God who works all things for good and uses our past to help others. The advice I'd give myself would be: “You ARE free!”

BH: What has been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

RB: My recent challenge has been just getting prepared to open the new store this November in Doylestown and juggling kids. I'm thankful that I can bring my kids to work with me on occasion too, being that it's so kid-friendly. Fabby's new shop has become a wonderful and exciting challenge… and am loving every minute of it!

BH: We can't wait to visit your new shop!