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

Alright, Gabriela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

It took me a few weeks to land on the name Monarch Ice. I knew I wanted something that felt dreamy and inspiring, something that would resonate with people and look great in a logo. I’ve always been drawn to butterflies because they represent transformation and growth, which aligns with the values I wanted for my brand. After researching butterflies, I felt a special connection to the Monarch butterfly, especially because they migrate to Mexico. As a Mexican, it added a personal sense of home and culture to the name. “Monarch” also carries a royal connotation, which felt like a perfect fit for a brand that embodies elegance, change, and strength.

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.

After nearly 20 years away from the ice, I saw a video by the influencer @sophia.lazuli sharing her journey as an adult skater and it really inspired me to get back on the ice. So, I got myself a new pair of skates and signed up for lessons. However, when I looked for soakers, I couldn’t find anything that I really liked. As a creative person, I thought, “Why not make my own?” So I visited the fabric store, watched a few tutorials, and read a few blogs. After a couple of tries, I made my first good pair of soakers. They turned out beautifully and when I took them to the rink, people would compliment me and ask where I got them.

One day, at my local pro shop – Skate Daddy – I was getting my skates sharpened and the owner was so impressed with the soakers that he wanted to sell them. I’ll always be grateful to him for believing in me and supporting my work. He became my first customer and from there I decided to open an Etsy shop. It’s been an incredible journey since then and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come.

What sets me apart is my passion for creating high-quality products for my customers to enjoy. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work brings happiness to others. I’m always working to improve and deliver great products. I’m excited about the future and thankful for everyone who supports my small business.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think my reputation has been built on the quality of my soakers, the personalized experience, and the quality of the packaging. Positive reviews and word of mouth are also a big driver. When customers are happy with what they receive and share their experiences, it really helps.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Luckily for me, I already had a sewing machine, so the first few things I invested in were fabric, packaging, tags, and a label maker. After taking a second look at my soakers, I realized they needed to look more professional, so I decided to invest in a serging machine before I started selling them. The business itself is also not capital intensive which makes the barrier to entry mostly skills based.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.monarchice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monarch.ice
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FDxXtmXKd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/monarchice

Image Credits

My personal photo is my Jessica Combs