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

Erica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

Asking for friends and family to support your business can sometimes be tricky and a little awkward but I find that those friends and family members can be your biggest supporters and cheerleaders. When you start any business, whether it’s your own creations or a Multi Level Marketing company or maybe even a big corporation that offers amazing services. Who are the first people you tell? Your friends and family!

Secondly, I feel that if you love what you do or sell, telling your friends and family comes naturally. My biggest pet peeve is someone trying to force or push an idea on me, so that is something that I try very hard not to do. I cringe when I see videos on social media of people being over pushy to try or buy their products. I don’t want my shop to come off that way. There is a big difference from being passionate about your business and being unpleasantly self-assertive. I don’t want to come off as pushy, so I share what I love and if people like it and buy it, that’s a plus.

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 in 2015 creating folders and pouches, I just wanted to do something special for my fellow volunteer friends. I just happened to post on social media and a friend commented ” if you’re selling those, I want to buy one!” I wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted to do or if I could even do it. I started this small company to help support my volunteer work. Then as I started to get more comfortable, I was sewing skirts for personal use. As others inquired about my skirts and asked when I was going to start selling them, I thought what the heck? Let’s give it a try. Here we are, in the skirt business and I love it! I love seeing one’s wearing my skirts and sharing them on social media. I feel the biggest compliment is when someone refers people to my shop and shares it on social media.

In October 2020, I incorporated Farmasi Cosmetics into my shop. Providing makeup, skin care and nutritional items has been so much fun. Being able to help ones feel confident and beautiful in their own skin and body type is truly amazing. Never in a million years did I think I could make that possible. Being able to offer affordable, comfortable and modest products is so important to me. So when the products accomplish that, it makes me feel like I’m making a difference. Since starting my business things have definitely changed.

In 2022 my son showed signs of Autism and in August 2022 he was diagnosed with Autism and Global Developmental delay. It has rocked our world to say the least but I am so proud of the progress that he’s made and Elijah is a huge part of my little shop. I have been able to use my platform to spread awareness and acceptance of the Autism Community and that is something that I am truly proud of!

In April 2023 we were able to host our first Autism Acceptance Celebration. We were able to host 10 kids for a fun-filled event, so many small businesses, family and friends came out to support them and donate their time, money and resources! The event was 100% donated. We look forward to doing it again next year and host more children, teenagers and their families who are a part of the Autism Community.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social Media… I’ve learned that I have a love/ hate relationship with social media. I am a firm believer in staying consistent, sticking to what you know and what you are offering, sharing the struggles and wins. And really just sharing what you love. When you are authentic and real, people can relate to you. Having the support of family and friends is a great way to start your social media following. If I have any advice, it would be… Don’t get caught up in the numbers. Your following count is going to change and go up and down all the time, pretty much daily. Same with your viewers, that is going to constantly change, if you see a dip in numbers, Then pivot, try something different. Lastly, don’t let anyone change who you are. Sticking to your true self and being real and authentic make you relatable and allows people to get to know the real you, which will move them to want to support your business. Some of my best customers are ones that have tried my products because they love my honesty.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When I first started, I went from a full time job to working part time so I could volunteer my time full time. So this small business was just to help support that volunteer work.

As of 2023, my small business has become one of my full time jobs. Along with being a fulltime volunteer and a Stay at Home mom and care giver to my son. My small business helps support my family and having the flexibility has allowed me to manage Elijah’s busy schedule. When Elijah was diagnosed with Autism, we did not realize how hard it was going to be to juggle all his appointments and therapies that he would need. To top it off, he was also diagnosed with Epilepsy. When I lost my job in January of 2023, it was really difficult to find employment that would accommodate our busy schedule for Elijah. So here we are, putting all my attention in my small business has been a huge asset to my family.

Over the years I have been able to share my craft with so many people! Some of these key milestones from hosting popup markets to help other small businesses get the support they deserve, spreading awareness and acceptance for the Autism Community, to being able to share my story on platforms such as this; has truly been a blessing and my family is forever grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.el-collections.com
• Instagram: @e.lcollections
• Facebook: @ericalopez.elcollections

Image Credits
Daisey Lim Photography