OUR STORY

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.”
— Helen Keller

So glad to have you here, babe. My name is Sydney 🤍

I’m 34, married, and a mama to three boys — Wisler (14), Tristen (13), and Adrian (7) — with a baby girl on the way. Our house is full, loud, busy, and full of love, and I truly wouldn’t want it any other way.

Some of my favorite things include trying new makeup techniques, cooking, merchandising, graphic design, and practicing my barista skills. I’m a certified crime junkie and lifelong coffee lover. My husband and I love to travel, discovering new towns and hole-in-the-wall restaurants along the way.

Raised in Arkansas, I learned the value of hard work and family from my parents through their own businesses. My mom, a single mother of three, paved the way for an easier life for my siblings and me. To this day, she remains the creative backbone behind our family businesses. Watching her thrive without ever working for anyone but herself deeply shaped my desire to become an entrepreneur. My parents instilled a business mindset in me that constantly pushes me to grow, dream bigger, and go further. And my husband? Constant encouragement. Constant love. Always my steady ground.

Before starting Bellabird, my passions lived in the beauty and creative space. I am a Certified Dinair Airbrush Makeup Technician and a Certified Spray Tan Technician. Through working alongside my mom in her photography business, I quickly realized how much I truly loved graphic design. The best lessons in my life have always come from experience, so I threw myself into photography, social media, and business.

Working with the public — and especially with women — naturally accelerated me into the fashion space. To me, fashion is so much more than what you wear. It’s how it makes you feel. How it helps you express yourself. That is my favorite thing about it. We don’t just sell clothing — we sell an experience.

Bellabird Clothing Co. was founded in 2012, and to this day we treat the store like a new baby. Our platform is forever changing — styles, trends, social media — nothing looks the same year to year. What has never changed is our love for and communication with our shopping friends — YOU. (But let’s be honest, you’re way more than a customer to us.)

People often ask where the name Bellabird comes from. “Bella” means beautiful in Spanish, and birds have always symbolized freedom — movement, lightness, and the courage to rise above. To me, Bellabird represents beautiful freedom: confidence, individuality, and the ability to fully express who you are. That meaning is woven into everything we do, because every woman deserves to feel beautiful, confident, and free in her own story.

Bellabird — where beauty meets freedom.

Back in 2012, there was a huge void in the women’s fashion market, and we wanted to help fill it. Boutiques were on the rise, and Bellabird was right there alongside so many fashion-loving babes. We set out to create a space that offered more than just outfits — a place that builds confidence for whatever a woman is facing. A reason for a busy mom to smile during a rare moment of treating herself. A helping hand for the woman scrambling for a last-minute gift after a long, hectic week. Sometimes all it takes is one fantastic new outfit to turn a bad day into a good one.

One of my favorite parts about being a business owner is the availability it gives me as a mom. Both Wisler and Tristen stay busy with soccer and football — which can be challenging in its own right — and Adrian loves everything. All sports, all activities, all the things. Being able to show up for practices, games, and moments that matter most is something I never take for granted. I am incredibly thankful for this business, for my amazing manager Kelsie, and for the team of employees who help make Bellabird what it is every single day. Their support allows me to be present both as a business owner and as a mom.

We’ve always listened, taken notes, and paid attention to what our customers want from our brick-and-mortar store. We hunt for those things and work hard to bring them to life, ensuring Bellabird is inclusive and feels just as much your store as it is ours.

My husband Bill — or as we lovingly call him, “Mr. Bellabird” — has been in banking for 18 years and serves as Vice President of Commercial Lending & Diversity Outreach at First Community Bank. He is a first-generation U.S.-born citizen, and his Hispanic roots are deeply tied to who he is. Being part of a family shaped by diversity has expanded my perspective in ways I’m endlessly grateful for. It has allowed me to see the beauty in different cultures, experiences, and stories — and it has deepened my appreciation for life, people, and community in ways that continue to shape both who I am and how I lead this business.

Owning a small business isn’t easy. The long weeks, the lack of security, the constant hustle — it’s all very real. But at the end of the day, I am incredibly grateful. The freedom to be present for my kids, prepare for our baby girl, and build a life with my husband is only possible because you choose to support us. For that, we are endlessly thankful.

Here’s to another year of the most challenging and fulfilling adventure of my life.
Thank you for visiting our store — we truly hope our soul shines through.

Much love,
Sydney Oliva