We recently connected with Suri Hernandez and have shared our conversation below.
Suri, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
As a mom of high functioning Autistic child is hard to fit him on the school system. Most of the programs are created for kids under the expectations and High Functioning children under the spectrum exceed them, but schools’ lake off inclusions programs besides a celebration on April. There is a misperception what Autism really is. Because of that I start telling my story on daycares and also helping parents how to navigate the school system, in different ways and organization. Education is what lead me where I am today and encourage people to educate not only on one topic but in different. This how is born this project call Fashion with purpose. I offer my services as speaker on different topics such as, Entrepreneurship, What is Autism? and Women you know the truth. In exchange to let me exhibit my products to earn income to my family.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started pulling a stroller in one hand and a suitcase in another selling handbags and accesories with my kid’s schoolteachers, also I keep some earrings inside my personal bag so when a cashier or someone gives me a complement about my earrings I tell them, do you like my earrings and when someone said yes, I said o I sell them and there it was me, pulling a bunch of earrings from my bag, looking for the opportunity to make a sale. I find myself a good seller so exactly on March 22/2020 I decide that I was ready to become a real business owner so register my owned business, working on my brand and created my website. Back then I didn’t know the pandemic will keep us under though circumstances. Well, I survive my first year as entrepreneur when I have the opportunity to open my own boutique in the main avenue of my hometown. It didn’t work out. I’m a single mother and my kids are a priority, so my time was extremely short to provide quality time to them, besides my customers many times didn’t show up, sometimes they couldn’t find parking and they got used to that it was me whom deliver the products. In March of 2022 the NJEDA lunch a program to help small businesses owners to acquire electric vehicles to improve the environment and it was then when I saw the opportunity to create my Mobile Boutique. I put myself to work, meet all the requirements and I got approved and this is how my dream of create my Mobile Boutique come true. Now I go from town to town delivering my products and in this case the boutique goes to you instead of you go to the store. It is so important to keep the contact with the people, nowadays, many get lost behind the screens, so I like to see my customers and know them to advise what would be the best for them.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I came from a really poor background and the idea of visit Disney Worl seems impossible years ago. I’m the first generation to inmigrante to U.S. My mother didn’t support the idea of me going to college. She told me once that,” you will be a housewife you don’t need to study”.I owned my decision and I decide to immigrate to U.S. and I always have a desire to grow and here everything seems possible. Successfully and thanks to God in 2019 I graduated from college. It was me breaking down a barrier. Life throws curve balls at me and because off the lack of knowledge myself I stuck in a mentally abusive relationship having three handsome boys that they become my buster. I managed to get out of there. In the process of applying for my vehicles my mom told me, why you want to expand your business? You are so ambitions, ambitions is not good. You are fine you will complicate your life. Also, people when I mention the program, they used to tell me, nothing is free you will pay back later, etc.
When I post the picture of my first vehicle, they believe it even myself. I break down my mental barrier because honestly, I applied doubting if this would be possible. It is.
Today I understand my mom and just love her the way she is. Is not her fault it is the circumstances she grew up with.
In summary
1.- Don’t lisen others, believe in yourself.
2.- Know yourself better so don’t let someone to force you to learn you throughout bad experience.
3.- Have enough courage to stand for you believes.
4.- There is a lot of resources out there waiting for the prepare people.
5.- The opportunity is ready for the ones are ready to take them.
6.- Unlearn your patterns.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Networking I spend time networking. Most important to create a client is create relationships, right relationship lead you places where you even imagined.
Contact Info: