Former WPXI reporter/anchor Courtney Brennan connects followers to jeweler
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Courtney Brennan left the world of television news and quickly became a sought-after social influencer.
The Emmy-award winning journalist from Lawrenceville, who left WPXI-TV at the end of May, has partnered with Henne Jewelers.
Through Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, she’s connecting with her followers to highlight high-end jewelry pieces.
Brennan has 63,000 followers across the three social media platforms who interact with her posts about everything from potty training her toddler, renovating homes and nights out with her husband. Nowadays, she might be sporting a $10,000 Henne necklace as she heads out to an elegant gala.
Henne Jewelers hired Jessica Johansson as its creative media director, prompting her to seek out someone like Brennan. The 130-year-old Shadyside store on Walnut Street is known for high-end necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. So Johansson invited Brennan to be the face of a jewelry line at the store.
“I love that I have the freedom to share my life experiences via social media, and I was thrilled to be asked by Henne Jewelers to showcase this line,” Brennan said. “The jewelry company and I were on two roads that met.”
On the day the Henne Jewelry by Courtney Brennan page launched, the campaign reached 50,000 people on social media. There were 900 web visits to the collection in the first few hours. It’s been the most visited web page for Henne Jewelers, second only to bridal.
In 10 days, five pieces sold — two necklaces, two pair of earrings and a ring — in the price range of thousands of dollars.
Followers can also buy from Brennan’s Instagram page.
Brennan is showcasing the jewelry by demonstrating how to wear each piece.
Johansson said she was looking for such a collaborator and followed Brennan, then made contact.
“Courtney definitely stood out and she was professional and relatable,” Johansson said. “We wanted an authentic voice to go with the collection.”
John Henne, president of Henne Jewelers, said he likes Brennan’s energy and style.
“She is a pleasure to work with,” Henne said. “We love her authenticity about what it is like to balance work and being a mom.”
Brennan will be attending a trunk show for the line at Henne Jewelers at 5 p.m. Nov. 13 for a meet-and-greet event.
“As women we don’t always put ourselves first, but we should because we are mothers and caregivers and hard-working individuals,” Brennan said.
“People feel a real connection to Henne Jewelry through Courtney,” Johansson said. “It’s about relationships. This is the first time Henne has done something like this, and we wanted to get it right.”
Brennan wasn’t expecting her social media platform to blossom so quickly.
“I feel like I stepped out of a minivan and into a rocket ship,” she said. “This has been a wonderful collaboration. With social media you know what people think right away, because social media is interactive. And you have to listen.”