Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Melendez.
Gabriela, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since I was a little girl, I’ve been interested in everything related to Arts and Crafts. Activities like sewing, embroidering, painting, decorating and piñata making really caught my attention. To me, these are very satisfying because I get to see people smiling after seeing the finished product and I love that. I started in the craft world at a really young age with complementary activities during and after school. When I grew up, I realized that the passion for it was still there and that’s when it became a hobby. However, it wasn’t until three years ago that I decided to transform my passion, my hobby, into my work.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. At first, I struggled with time management. I started my business with very little tools and machines, it was literally me handcrafting everything with my own hands, and as you may know, this is very time-consuming. Furthermore, starting a business in a foreign country with a language you don’t fully dominate adds to the challenge! I would advise young women, and really anybody trying to start their own business to educate themselves. It is really important to have the proper equipment necessary to smoothly run a business. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I usually work all by myself but sometimes the workload is too much, and I bring in reinforcements!
What should we know about Little Mo? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I create any type of crafts related to decorating a party. From decorating your tables to making a piñata. It is really satisfying to know that clients are 100% pleased, and with that, they become returning costumers and also recommend our business to new clients. LittleMo differentiates from other companies because our products have the highest quality paired with accessible prices. I always try to adapt to a clients budget and necessities, which are mostly mommies like me.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
I feel like nowadays mentalities have changed and that’s why there are equal opportunities for everybody. I also feel like the biggest barriers are put by ourselves. It’s time to take a look in the mirror and believe in ourselves to finally break that barrier that only exists in our mind. We can all do it!
Contact Info:
- Email: littlemobygaby@gmail.com
- Instagram: littlemobygaby
Image Credit:
T-shirt by @withloveak
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