Today we’d like to introduce you to Yolanda Brionez.
Yolanda, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I quit school. Well, I finished my bachelor’s degree but still had to do a 2 year stint for a teaching degree. It made no sense! Two years of suffering & debt just to make $35K??? So to many people’s dismay, I quit. Life with 3 munchkins in San Diego isn’t cheap so I realized I was going to have to do something. As a way to fill in the “gaps” I decided to buy some goods and resell them at the swap meet. That was 17 months ago…Of course there is a lot of sweat, tears and mistakes from then to now!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth and business have nothing to do with one another!!! To give you an idea of what I have been going through I tell you this; I have thought about quitting every day for the last 9 months! This is so far from smooth!
My biggest struggles for my small business are time management & cash flow. My time is valuable outside of work because I have 3 young children. This business is a sacrifice of my influence in our home…It irks me to no end that I can’t seem to find a “balance”.
Cash flow is a forever mystery to me. I am slowly learning the importance of cash flow and how it is the back bone to my business. The sacrifice of money in one area can affect my business for months. I am a forever student I guess!
Petra de Luna Shop – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
There is a strong maker’s movement happening in Southern California. I personally love it. I am not a maker, but I love what they do. I love what they represent. I am a fan not only of their products, but their character. It takes a certain kind of soul to have the patience to visualize, create and sell a piece of themselves. At Petra de Luna Shop we try to find brands & makers that represent 3 characteristics; strength, kindness and love. A piece has to have soul…A story…It must evoke a certain nostalgia. I am not sure if that sets me apart from others. I follow a few people on Instagram that create these emotions… but I have not found many.
My ultimate goal is to create a business where people feel as though we are family. Beyond the bakers dozen thing. The idea of this goal has stemmed from our name; Petra de Luna Shop. Petra de Luna was my grandmother’s name. Her family lived in Texas before it was a part of the US. She had a 3rd grade education, illiterate and unable to speak a lick of English. She grew up in a different time in terms of the US. She had 13 siblings but only 5 survived past 10 years of age. Eventually she had 10 of her own babies and had to raise them primarily on her own.
My Grandmother was as strong. She was kind to strangers, and above all she gave love when no one else did. If I leave anything behind for my own children I don’t want it to be stuff…I want it to be the legacy of her character. I fight every day to create a business of honor…
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I hate to admit it, but it’s the positive feedback from others. I am very hard on myself and seldom sit back and give myself praise. So when someone stops and takes the time to give a good review or a kind word…I feel like a kid again. The acceptance of all my hard work is worth it!
Contact Info:
- Address: 964 5th Ave
San Diego, CA 92101 - Website: petradelunashop.com
- Phone: 6197232930
- Email: petradelunashop@gmail.com
- Instagram: @petradeluna
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petradelunashop/
- Twitter: Petradeluna
- Other: Pinterest: Petra de Luna Shop
Image Credit:
Image credit for blue bench: Mezcla Designs
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