We recently connected with Claudia Zelaya and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Claudia, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Being an entrepreneur is an inherent risk as your success is dependent on the whims of people you do not know. You have to be convincing, even compelling, that your product is worthwhile for a complete stranger to spend their earned dollars on. Starting a baby clothes boutique in Miami (Mi Petit Pois), where most moms buy from the mega brands, is no easy feat. It’s difficult, but it’s also meant to be. We don’t have a storefront which requires us to be creative, fun, and engaging through the digital sphere. This uncertainty is terrifying, especially after having quit my full-time job, but it’s well worth it as not having done so so would leave me with a feeling of regret.

Why would someone take this risk? Frankly, I saw very little growth in my role. I was stuck and felt there was no way but horizontal, which is to say, a lot of the same. I wanted to drive greater impact. I wanted to create artisanal products. I wanted to build something. That’s why I took the leap.

To all of those thinking of starting a business in a competitive industry, take a step back and plan before doing so. Once you have a high-degree of conviction that you’ve exhausted all resources to slice and dice your product and industry in every which way, then take your first step.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

First and foremost, I am a mother. I would be nothing without my motherhood, it has been such an eye-opening experience for me and a blessing unlike any other. I am also a wife, sister, and daughter. My family is my everything, I would be lost without their constant advice and love – and patience. These things all had differing impacts on my desire to start Mi Petit Pois.

As a child, my mother dressed me in a very classic fashion, think ruffles upon ruffles and pique. As I was pregnant, I sought out the same clothes that I was dressed in as a child. My inexperienced assumption was that this clothing would be easy to find, accessible as it used to be. I was wrong. Finding high-quality, hand-knit clothing is no longer readily available as it once was. Everything now is, well, a bit industrial and copy-paste. I decided to do something about it. While on a trip in Spain, I went overboard on shopping – WORTH IT! I found so many gorgeous pieces, the kind that can be handed down to siblings, nephews, even grandchildren. Side note – my son uses my little brother’s clothes for special occasions. Think about it, that’s how good the quality is!

After much deliberation, I decided to reach out to some of these boutique Spanish brands and tell them my story. I was able to form meaningful relationships with a few key individuals, and the rest is history. I decided to set-up shop (online!) and launch Mi Petit Pois. Has it been easy? No. Has it been worth the fun and the challenge? Absolutely.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

An important lesson that I had to unlearn as an entrepreneur was that what may have worked in the past is destined to work in the future. We’ve created content that has received thousands of views and has led to sizable purchases. Whenever achieved this small success, we treat it as a framework to follow for future success. Boy are we always wrong. Digital advertisements are great at humbling you when you thought you’ve finally cracked the code. More than anything, you need to produce high-quality content knowing full well that it may fall flat.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Managing a team is difficult, you don’t need to hear it from me, you already know. The critical piece of advice, which you already know, is more a reminder than advice, treat your team as you would like to be treated. If you were working for someone else, would you want to be reprimanded? Treated poorly? No. You’d want to be incentivized. Led. Treated as if you were a member of the team, not just another employee.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mipetitpois.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mipetitpois/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-m-iturregui-zelaya-038292140/