We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daniela Acevedo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daniela below.

Daniela, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Growing up in Indiana for over 20 years called for a change in my life. Although my loved ones currently reside there, it was always a goal of mine to live elsewhere. Early 2021, I proposed to myself to work hard all year to be able to move by the following year. I am grateful for all of the opportunities in my hometown, but I felt stumped. I always knew there were many more experiences to come. I began to act as if the move was approaching by slowly packing my things and soaking in all time with my family. There were tears of joy and sadness, but overall an immense amount of support. In February of 2022, I gathered the last of my belongings in my compact car and I felt more ready than ever.
After a 16 hour drive to San Antonio, I didn’t really know what to expect beginning the new journey. The first couple of weeks were spent getting settled and taking it easy. As time went by, the homesickness kicked in which made it harder to adjust. I began to doubt my purpose in a new city. The fear of failure took over influencing all tough decisions. I began working in retail, which led me to become very drained and unmotivated. After resigning, I took time off to truly explore what would be happening next. During the break, my husband approached the idea of creating a business. Initially, I had no idea what the business could be. I have a background in Cosmetology with the dream of owning a salon in the future. In my eyes, that was the only business I’d ever create. As a couple of months of brainstorming went by, I was impelled to create the clothing store. Stepping into a brand new industry definitely came with trial and error. Considering that I was going through a variety of changes, I do believe the boutique was created at a perfect time. All of the ambitious and motivational emotions had steered instantly. As if moving across the country wasn’t already a big risk, I am glad that the business goal was pursued.
The most important key to achieving a goal is to remain determined. I am not innocent when it comes to procrastination, but I am mindful of when it wants to creep in. We are all capable of accomplishing the goals, when we set our minds to it.
Moving to a new city and starting fresh is the biggest risk I have ever taken. I can honestly say it has been life changing in all aspects. It has shifted my career as well as my personal life for the better. The mindset and maturity that I present myself with is also very distinct. A couple of years back, I would’ve fearfully shut down the idea of any major change. It is said that one witnesses growth by changing, which I’d confirm to be true. This is the stage of my life where I’ve experience the most growth and I absolutely embrace it. Now, I allow myself to be in uncomfortable situations because I know it is a part of the journey. My reactions in different situations have improved into a positive reassuring manner. I believe that the thing that we fear most, is most likely the step we need to take. Any risks I have taken were decided in low moments of my life. The moments were filled with fear, self doubt and low confidence. Despite the weighing emotions, I found clarity to move forward. It is important to believe in ourselves in order to enjoy the process.

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.

Coming from a background in the beauty industry, it has always been very important to empower others. I spent a few years boosting confidence and building connections. It was clear to me that I enjoyed pushing others to be the best version of themselves. By creating ADAE, it is very important to provide a space where anyone is welcomed and heard. ADAE is a trendy and inclusive brand that strives to spread positivity. It includes a variety of clothing and accessories. In ADAE, one can find a dress and handbag to pair it with for an occasion. I participate in events all around San Antonio, where it is important to connect with others. I truly enjoy spending a Saturday morning having genuine conversations with those that stop by. First impressions are very important to me, therefore I strive to have a positive impact on anyone I chat with. ADAE stands out by its fashionable and inviting style. But, most importantly stands out for the appreciative and welcoming environment. Whether it is in person or online, it is key to expand all bonds. I am most proud of the safe space that has come out of this journey. It is filled with reassurance and confidence. Overall, I’d love for ADAE to be a representation of kindness and encouragement.
I truly enjoy hearing the stories about the dress one wore to a special trip and had a blast in. It brings me much joy to be tagged in selfies of others rocking a pair of sunglasses. As the the journey continues, the brand will firmly stand for what it believes in. It can be expected to provide a selection of pieces to enjoy. Such as. purses ,skirts, shoes etc. All feedback is apprehended and dictates each collection in the store.
I hope to continue meeting new faces and creating trendy collections.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

During the months of brainstorming and research, funds seemed to be a major concern. Funding a website, inventory and supplies was not a simple task. Initially, it was overwhelming and discouraging. Therefore, I started at a part time serving job at a local restaurant. The part time job became the main source of income making it very helpful to fund the business. Despite the main income, I did not intensely gather all tools for the business. For example, each collection is available with a variety of pieces. Therefore on launch day, I did not bring in an immense amount of inventory. It is recommended to provide a few products first. If the launch is successful, gather any profit to fund the following products. I am grateful to have learned that tool in the months of creating the business. Stepping into a new industry came with a lot of knowledge that I did not see coming. There were many important documents required to be filed, along with platforms needed to run the store efficiently. I gathered basic supplies and ordered the first set of inventory, and just went for it. The illusion of creating a business can be dispirited by an overwhelming amount of emotions. Despite the uncertainty, gather minimal sources to launch the business. Although I am not a financial expert, I share my process to encourage businesses to blossom.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I do not think I speak for myself when I say that self doubt and fear has been influential in this journey. Although this topic can be vulnerable, I’d love to share what guides me into remaining resilient. A prime example is pre-launch day, I began to doubt if others would enjoy the concept. Especially being in a new city on a fresh start, I did not know what reactions to expect. The social media platforms had a low audience and zero connections established. It is normal to become nervous when starting anything new. Whether it is a job, school or idea. The time of launching arrives, and the website is published. Overall, it was a day filled with happiness and very rewarding emotions. I remained confident and secure about the brand. Initially, all of the important tasks needed to be executed to launch seemed impossible to me. Some were bigger than others, but still managed to be disorienting. It is important to have clarity and remain encouraged to accomplish a goal. One thing I struggle with is being very hard on myself. I will belittle an achievement by not wanting to embrace and enjoy it. Now, I will look back on the journey and remember the conflicting moments to be reminded of the progress made. Another lesson I have recently learned, is to not focus entirely on the things we desire. It is normal to think about the future and where we envision ourselves or business. I have learned to embrace each step of this journey because it is a part of the growth. It is important to me to have a positive outlook to remain motivated. There will be difficult moments in any journey, but the reactions are key. I do believe resilience is strengthened by mindset and ability to manage our reactions.

Contact Info:

• Website: adaeboutique.com
• Instagram: adaeboutique
• Facebook: ADAE BOUTIQUE
• TikTok: @adaeboutique

Image Credits
Rethlyn Photography