We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Virginia Lopez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Virginia below.
Hi Virginia, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My parents instilled a sense of pride and confidence in me, and taught me and my siblings, all 8 of them the importance of being resourceful as well as the importance of reusing when possible. We were taught to not be wasteful and thrift stores were visited frequently. As I became older, thrifting and antiquing was a fun outing, something I shared with my mom. and cherish those memories. As a mother myself, I taught my 4 children the same values and thrifting and antiquing continued! These values are the principles that guide me on how I live and work today. They helped shape who I am.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Reusable Finds is where we Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse and Resell!
Nested in the industrial area of South Bay Park, San Diego you will find us transforming and upcycling. We are committed to diverting usable materials from our landfills. Upcycling encourages a shift towards sustainable living by promoting conscious consumption.
In today’s world, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about the impact of their purchasing decisions on the environment. As a result, at Reusable Finds we provide an option by implementing strategies and actions that minimize negative impacts on the environment and society, while also promoting long-term economic viability. This involves considering the entire lifecycle of an item from sourcing to disposal and making choices that prioritize environmental conservation and social responsibility. We are offering a product/item a second life opportunity
Here is where we are promoting the movement towards a greener, healthier, and more responsible future.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
It took a while to get to this point in time. I had a career in the hotel hospitality industry for a couple of decades prior to being able to go full force with my own business. In 2008 I started upcycling in my backyard. In 2012 I opened a 500 SQF storefront that was manageable and was welcomed by the community. It had been pretty much a smooth road until the demand for more inventory. We needed to find a larger storefront. I would say finding a larger place was challenging. In 2014 we ended up finding the ideal location nearby, a 5000 SQF warehouse that took care of all our needs. We even have a garden, and workspace, something we didn’t have at the last location. The community has supported us all these years and that feels great!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Seed capital for my initial research and planning the business came from sales that were made out of my backyard literally. I repurposed and upcycled furniture. Furniture that was given to me, furniture that I purchased at a discounted price, and furniture I found by the waste side.
Saving up for the initial startup capital took a bit longer. I turned to Craigslist, Etsy and Ebay to enhance my reach and increase sales. After 4 years, I was ready to open my first storefront, and liquidation side of the business. I was able to fill the store with finds for resale and it felt great!
I was fortunate that I didn’t have to seek a loan. It was hard, fun work getting started and it continues to be fun and rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://Reusablefinds.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/Reusable_Finds
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Reusablefinds
- Linkedin: http://www.facebook.com/Reusablefinds
Image Credits
Reusable Finds