Today we’d like to introduce you to Janae Sergio.
Hi Janae, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started working in clothing stores on Melrose blvd when I was homeless as a teenager. I dreamt of opening my own shop, but due to the circumstances, my life took a different direction. I joined the Navy at 18 from a homeless shelter and spent eight years on active duty. I transitioned out of the Navy when my daughter was two years old, and while working full time, I used my VA benefits to earn my Bachelors’s degree.
In 2019, after gaining a following on social media, I decided to give my dream a shot. My husband and I worked extremely hard to set up our online boutique P.FLWD with no experience in running a business. With our proceeds, we have been able to help donate socks to the homeless, face masks to essential workers at the start of the pandemic and provide feminine care products to women in need. We had a setback during the pandemic as well as we PCSd in the middle of the pandemic and had to close the business for a few months. But we are back and doing our best to make an impact on the world.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a challenge. First, we had very little to invest into the start of the business and have learned how to run a business along the way. The pandemic hit just as we were starting to gain momentum. We had to redirect our vision to accommodate the new way of life. We also PCSd from Hawaii to Texas in the middle of the pandemic, and since our business is run from our home, we closed the shop for a few months while our inventory was in transit. This set us back greatly. In December of 2020, I broke down crying to my family as I was sure we’d have to close the business completely. I’m also the Chief of Air Force Lodging and juggling my career with the hardships my business had faced was overwhelming. My family reminded me of what I started for, and I decided to get creative. I revised my marketing plan and have been picking back up in sales over the past few months.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
After I transitioned out of the Navy, I started working for the Navy as a civilian. I have spent the past 12 years growing my career as a civilian. I am currently the Chief of Air Force Lodging overseeing the operations of 89 Air Force Inns worldwide.
Alright, so before we go, can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My shop is located online at pflwd.com or follows us on Instagram/Facebook/TikTok at @p.flwd, and we use a portion of our proceeds to giving back to the local community.
Contact Info:
- Website: pflwd.com
- Instagram: @p.flwd my personal is @janae_perfectlyflawed
- Facebook: @p.flwd my personal is @janae_perfectlyflawed
- Twitter: @janae_perfectlyflawed
