Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gina Pacheco. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
About 4 years ago my husband and I were talking about collaborating on a small passion project/business venture. I really have always wanted to learn photography because I love taking pictures! So, we decided we’d start with photography and really delve into purchasing and learning our camera by attending monthly trainings. When we were coming up with a name I really loved the idea of have a two part business name and my husband asked “like this and that?” and I kid you not, I got chills! Not only was it perfect, it exuded and encaptured everything I was feeling about all the places my passion project would go. I felt empowered to take my creativity and run wild. Flash forward, I’ve taken many photos of all types from little league baseball teams to maternity shoots and have since even expanded my business beyond photography. Naming my business thisxthat was more than fitting because I knew I was going to do more than photography. I have opened a successful Etsy shop filled with handmade and custom macrame hangings, I have done a great deal of macrame workshops all around the city, and I have participated in some give backs that are most dear to me. Some days I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that I’ve been able to do the things I’ve done and meet the people I’ve met with thisxthat and those days are the humble reminding why I do what I do!
Gina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I have always been a creator. My creativity is something that has been a part of me since I was little. I love art in all forms. My first love for art was and still is music. Music helped me get through some of the hardest times of my life. My mother passed away when I was eleven and to cope I’d lock myself in the bathroom for hours and hours listening to my favorite artists singing, dancing, and even crying at times. When the world was too much for me music was there. Secondly, I enjoy writing out my thoughts and ideas and sometimes it comes out in the form of letters or even creative stories. Both music and writing were how I began expressing my creativity however, these arts only birthed the desire to want to express more. I want people to feel comfortable when I take their pictures trusting that I’m going to get those shots they love. Not just loving the way they look but the moments that are being captured. I want those who have bought my macrame pieces to feel the love and dedication and creativity that was put into them and inspire them to do something that makes them feel the same. My company was designed based on me fulfilling my creativity which has been and ever flowing dominant factor of my being, my well being at that. In return, my company has recognized my desire to bring people together and make them feel as good as I while creating together. It’s about feeling connected and togetherness through expression and creation.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is people pleasing and overdoing. The backstory is I have always been one to imagine that I can do it all. Well, I can’t and I’ve learned that I don’t want to.
As for people pleasing, I’ve had only one experience where I have had to deal with an unhappy customer. My initial response was remorse and sadness. I over offered and in return was left with nothing but ultimately wasted time and materials. I’ll honorably mention, this was a macrame workshop where time and materials were used and at the end I lost profit due to over appeasing a seemingly unhappy customer. Through that experience I learned to stand firm in my processes and value. Some people will walk all over you whether you let them or not. It just happens and all of the sudden you look back and see all the places you allowed this. This makes for a great learning lesson and ultimately will make you stronger. Moving forward I have unlearned people pleasing and I now have policies in place for what should ever happen if there is someone who is unhappy with their service.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
I always try to be myself when shooting new or old clients which I feel builds the most natural rapport. Maintaining relationships professionally or of any kind ultimately stem from being your authentic self. I want people to love their photos but like I mentioned I want them to feel good and have a trusting and natural working relationship with me as well. Thisxthat is about the entire experience not just the end product.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thisxthatco
- Facebook: @this.x.that