Divine Inspirations is a bookstore and wellness center located in Nutley, New Jersey. The company’s mission is to “provide an avenue to promote and enhance the spiritual, physical, and mental well being of the community at large. Divine Inspirations Bookstore is a full service retail bookstore, providing quality products and excellent customer service for those seeking spiritual education, products, and services. The bookstore specializes in promoting optimal health and well-being through books, music, gift products, yoga and meditation programs and other events focused on stimulating learning, self-exploration, personal growth and healing”.

Gloria Brown is the President and CEO of Divine Inspirations Bookstore LLC. After 30 years in corporate America, and various middle management positions, she is realizing her dream of bringing together her love of books, and educational services and programs in the area of alternative health options to help improve the health and well-being of people in the community.

In 2004 Ms. Brown attended several workshops offered by the Rutgers-Newark Small Business Development Center (R-N SBDC) including our 5-week Business Plan Writing Workshop and our Keeping the Books workshop which instructs attendees on financial management. After completing the Business Plan Writing Workshop Ms. Brown scheduled a series of one-on-one counseling sessions to receive guidance on preparing a loan package, locating sources of financing, understanding lending criteria, and putting the finishing touches to her business plan. The Center referred her to a small business lender where she was approved for a start-up loan.

Divine Inspirations had its grand opening on November 8, 2005 at its new 2,305 square foot location at 217 Franklin Avenue in the city of Nutley, New Jersey. “We’re doing well,” Ms. Brown says. “People are very interested and stop in – partly because it smells so good.”