We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Grecia Martínez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Grecia , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 15 years old and I had to be hospitalized for 10 months to take my chemotherapy treatment.

Since I was a child, jewelry has always caught my attention and in my free time I took classes and made jewelry and sold it to my friends. When I was in the hospital that was my distraction and the nurses from all over the hospital came to my room to buy jewelry.

I had the good fortune of meeting many famous people who visited the hospital while I was taking my treatment and one of them was the Duchess of York.

I remember when the Duchess entered my room she was one of the most elegant women I had ever met and I got very nervous but she was very kind and humble. I was making some bracelets and she came to see them and my dad told me to give her one and I didn’t dare, I told my dad “she’s a duchess and I make plastic jewelry, I don’t think she’ll like it.” To my surprise, the Duchess was very excited, she quickly put on the bracelet, I even have a newspaper clipping with a photo of the Duchess modeling my bracelet during her visit to the hospital.

When my son was diagnosed with autism and seizures I had to stop working to take care of him and I started my small business from home making handmade jewelry and hand made hair accessories and couldn’t think of a better name than “Duquesas” in honor of the Duchess of York.

Grecia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Running Duquesa’s Boutique has been an incredible journey for me, one that intertwines moments of triumph with challenges that have tested my strength. Diagnosed with leukemia and spinal cord tumors at just 15, I found myself in a hospital bed, crafting jewelry as a way to cope with the grueling chemotherapy. It was during this time that fate introduced me to the Duchess of York, who was touched by one of my creations. When my father suggested naming my future business after that unforgettable encounter, Duquesa’s Boutique was born. Years later, when my son was diagnosed with autism, I knew I needed to create something meaningful for him and for myself. Thus, Duquesa’s Boutique evolved into more than just a business; it became a symbol of resilience and love. Despite the challenges, both personal and professional, we’ve faced along the way, I am proud to say that we’re still here, stronger than ever, sharing our story through each handmade piece.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Starting Duquesa’s Boutique was a leap of faith fueled by determination and a desire to turn my passion into a livelihood. With little more than a dream and a credit card, I purchased the cheapest sewing machine I could find and some fabrics to begin crafting handmade headbands. In the early months, sales were scarce, and doubts crept in, but I refused to give up. Then, as if by fate, the pandemic struck, and suddenly demand for handmade accessories soared. I found myself stitching over 100 headbands a week, struggling to keep up with orders. With the increased revenue, I reinvested in my business, purchasing better equipment that allowed me to expand my product line and meet the growing demand. Each sewing machine and piece of equipment became a symbol of resilience and progress, propelling Duquesa’s Boutique forward on its journey of success.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Growing my social media following was scary at first because I wasn’t comfortable with it. I was terrified of putting myself out there. So, I enlisted the help of my best friend who was starting her coaching business. She really pushed me out of my comfort zone, even though there were times I cried in front of the camera because I had no clue what I was doing. But slowly, with lots of practice and research, I started to figure things out. Now, I make a living creating content and engaging with my audience online. It’s been a journey of ups and downs, but I’ve learned how to connect with people and turn that connection into sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://duquesasboutiques.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duquesasboutique/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Duquesas-Boutique-by-Grecia-Camilla/100063635780856/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@duquesasboutique

Image Credits
GL Media Group