Braavhearts
#Braavheart: Audrey Joris
Meet our Braavheart #4: Audrey Joris. Interior & fashion lover with a clear mission to reshape the interior & design world with her innovative concept: AFC Collection. Her ultimate goal in life is to create a dream interior accessible for everyone, filled with quality & unique objects. Don't go to chain stores and buy non-qualitative & unsustainable products! With the new Lease-To-Own concept of AFC, it’s possible to lease your dream interior at every age for every budget.
First of all, can you introduce yourself and what you do in a few sentences?
My name is Audrey Joris, I’m 27 years old and live and work in Brussels. I am a Female entrepreneur and started AFC 3 years ago with Augustin Brown. With AFC we want to promote a sustainable way of life, but in style.
Do you have a quote/slogan where you live / how you stand in life?
Don’t take no for an answer! Never say no and push yourself in everything you want to achieve. I’ve heard the word NO several times in my time as a female entrepreneur. However, the best advice is to keep negotiating, be self-assured, and never give up. You will be amazed by the results you are getting from pushing the boundaries and going the extra mile to get what you deserve.
How do you manage to maintain a healthy work/life balance?
Efficiency is one of the key pillars of my work life. Be motivated and efficient so you have enough time to relax & rethink your vision after working hours. These principles are woven in the culture of our office: I prefer to have an employee who works 5 hours superefficient instead of irrelevant meetings, unproductivity, and no time to relax and refresh the mind.
What is the ultimate relaxation for you? What brings you peace after a busy/hectic day?
Cuddling & pruning with my dog Nelson. He gives me peace and joy after a hectic day. Another way to relax is by taking a bath and listening to good jazz music. Transforming my bathroom in a little wellness area with candles, a book & music.
What are your professional objectives for the future?
On short notice, we want AFC collection to be the go-to-interior concept thanks to the lease-to-own-formula. If you calculate the monthly cost, it’s super attractive and smart to invest in qualitative design objects. Not only it makes you feel good after a hectic day, but it’s also a smart investment for the future. Next to that, we want to open our digital showroom in Brussels. Being the pioneer in Belgium of a fully digital showroom where customers can touch fabrics and visualize their interior, without having any furniture in the open space is the next milestone on the agenda. A long term goal is to conquer big cities with our AFC concept as Paris, London, and New york.
If you could give a 1 (ultimate) tip to other ambitious women, what would it be?
When thinking about a new project our business idea, always work-out a best-case & worst-case scenario. Fear is the main struggle and exit point of starting a project or a business concept. When thinking about all the potential risks and losses, a lot of women tend to take the safe side and don’t jump. Start working out your worst-case scenario and really write down everything that potentially can go wrong. You will realize when making that kind of plan you can simply overcome a lot of hurdles and you will realize that the worst-case is actually quite OK and definitely worth the risk to take the jump!
On the other hand, you need to have a dream and a realistic best-case scenario that will push you the extra mile in achieving your milestones.
Which book do you think is an absolute must-read for our Braavheart community?
Le Panthère du Cartier: Telling the story about the Fondatrice from Cartier and one of the first female entrepreneurs in Paris.
Who do you think should be in our #Braavhearts section?
Pauline Janssens. She wants to give a new life to worn jewellery. The pieces she sells on Instagram are accessible and with a soul. Check out her Instagram: Pauline's Jewellery Box
