We recently connected with Karen Navarro and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Karen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Im happier now, I used to be hostess on a restaurant in Miami, South Beach area, for more than 5 years and every shift I was on, this idea of becoming a bussiness owner was taking over my thoughts, I learnt a lot of custumer service and my top notch experience in fine dinings allowed me to push myself harder when i comes to work however, I dont want to go back on a regular job at all, i feel i can do a lot of more things and money creating and expresing myself through my clothing bussiness, God gave the chance to be on a regular job in case my plans go down, I already know how to be on a regular job and make money, I appreciate the people that opened the door for me, because every place ive been, took me to where i am today but been on a regular Job was living someone elses dream, and for me life is not about it.

Karen , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Kozel Miami is Clothing brand, I started my brand under another name, it was Cabra Flava in 2018, i used to resell socks, accesories and more from my suppliers in Colombia and china. I was doing good, then i started customizing shirts and jackets i thrifted. i was doing even better. and then after the pandemia, i was stock in Colombia visiting my family, I lost 3 close family members during this global pandemia and I couldnt flight back for a while, I was devastating.

In 2022 after all I started Kozel Miami, (which means goat in russian) i kept the essence of Cabra which is fire and goats, because for me goats are unique they dont run in groups they always analizing and facing up to the mountains alone, thats the animal i want my brand to be represented.
My brand was exclusive now, bags, sandals, cardholders, boots and more is made off leather and rubber soles. My own designs, my own brand, Thank God a lot of people supported me, my boyfriend and his familys leather company, as well as my family whose got a shoe soles company, and of course the people that execute my idea, such as shoemakers, sewing ladies, and more.

I also took designing and sewing classes while in Colombia.

You can now find clothes, accesories, shoes, sandals and more in my store,

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I was 21 years old when i moved out from my country Colombia, I arrived in New York in 2012 to study Digital Media in upstate NY, after one year i moved down to Miami, the decision to move from NY to MiA was my family, they didnt like to take long flights, so Miami was closer aboout 3 hours flight from my hometown.

I continue my studies in Miami Dade College for 2 more years, until I dropped off because my parents werent able to afford my carrer anymore, so started working in hospítality a good friend i met in Bayside, recommend me to apply for a job in South Beach, it was as a busser, i took it, i was making $245 dollars a week. and i was happy with that.

Couple of months after, I apply for hostess in Sardinia Enoteca, great place, i told the manager i had experience as hostess but i didnt have any experience, i look up in youtube and of course watching my coworkers i learnt a lot.
i was ready, next stop, Versace Mansion, fine dining again as hostess, 2-3 years, I met a lot of celebrities, Chris Bown, Justin Bieber, Lionel Richie and more. to be honest this was a great place a made a lot of friends there.
I started in Casa Tua fine dining and hotel in 2016 in hostess and reservations $450 plus tips a week around $16 an hour it was ok. appreciating every chance i was getting tired of this and i started to consider my own business. i kept working as reservationist in places as Chotto Matte, Eden Roc., Fountainbleu, Oriental Hotel, Makoto.

I started buying socks from Aliexpress, and reselling in Miami. i was happy people was actually buying it.

after too many attempts i got my own brand today. High quality products selling around the world. God is good.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Be on time. once i got an order i try to ship it the same day. most of my 5 stars are about my fast shipping

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Kozel_Miami

Image Credits
Karen Navarro, Jhon Jairo Toloza, Melissa Navarro, Fabian Florez