Today we’d like to introduce you to Dolly Noemi Vigil.
Dolly Noemi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a 25-year-old Latina. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. I was raised by both of my parents, they are Central American specifically from El Salvador. I have two sisters and one brother who mean the absolute world to me. I moved to San Diego about 4.5 years ago to start a new chapter in my life as I moved in with my partner Anthony. We have since grown our small family by 1- our dog Duke and I couldn’t be happier.
When the pandemic started, I was working at a hotel in Mission Valley. I made an incredibly tough decision to quit because not only was I not happy but as many I struggled with the fear of what surrounded the virus and potentially feared being exposed to it. Two months later I pitched the idea of starting my own epoxy resin business to my partner and he supported me 100%. I have always been very creative and loved doing arts and crafts as a little girl; I know my friends and family can vouch for that on my behalf.
During the peak of the quarantine period, I believed this to be a perfect creative outlet for myself. Fast forward to July of 2020 I started my Instagram page DesignsByDNV to start showcasing my artwork- my resin pieces. I started off with small pieces and as I got more comfortable I moved on to bigger pieces. I genuinely couldn’t believe how much love and support I received from friends, family, mutuals, etc.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning a small business comes with a lot of ups and downs. One day it can all be going as planned and the next day my heat gun can suddenly stop working and Instead of having a beautifully smooth and clear piece, I have one full of air bubbles. I now know that this is just part of the journey and as cliche as it sounds life always has struggled but I get through them with a positive attitude! I genuinely put all my heart into each and every piece that I make because it means so much to me that I have customers who trust me with their ideas and want me to bring them to life.
Regardless of the struggles I face, I am so thankful to be able to do what I love. I am blessed with the love and support I receive from my family, friends, and amazing customers.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
All of my work consists of using epoxy resin- a mix that is curated and then made to be a hard composite. Using epoxy can be unhealthy if you don’t use proper equipment so I’ve learned to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of my workspace, my health, and that of my customers as well since they will be receiving their product once finalized. I would say I am mostly known for my unique designs and bright colors; I am constantly thinking of new designs to put out that my customers/ supporters have not seen before. I am very humbled when I’m told that I inspire others with my work and all of the designs that I come up with and that truly motivates me. Right now, after these tough, past couple of years, I am most proud of not giving up. There have been times where I wanted to give up, leave everything, and just walk away but I remind myself to keep a positive attitude and ALWAYS have faith in God because I know my life has a purpose and I’m meant to live it to my fullest potential all while inspiring others around me. I believe something that sets me and my business aside is the loyalty, love, and unconditional support that I am blessed to have through my customers/ supporters. They took a chance on me and believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and I wouldn’t be here without them- they are the core of my business.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In 5-10 years from now, I hope to have a studio where I can showcase my art pieces, display collaborations, and to solely just dedicate a space to where I can devote my energy into my art. I would also like to get my website up and running to make my pieces more accessible and provide inspiration to many outside of social media. A main focus of mine is to become more educated on being eco-friendly since epoxy resin is known to not be a sustainable product- I’d like to make my packaging more eco-friendly and reduce my business’s carbon footprint as it grows. Eventually, I would love to have someone on my team to help me with packaging, shipping, etc. The goal is to expand and be able to give back to those who’ve gotten me to where I am now- my partner, my parents, siblings, friends, and amazing customers/supporters.
Contact Info:
- Email: Designsbydnv@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designsbydnv/?hl=en
