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

Karla , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

I came up with the idea for my business through my own struggles as a small business owner. Before opening my storefront, I was constantly searching for places to sell my handmade earrings and products, but I heard “no” many times and struggled to find consistent opportunities. I was doing markets and pop-ups while also working a full-time 8 to 5, and although I appreciated those experiences, it became exhausting trying to balance everything just to get my products seen.

At the same time, I noticed so many other talented Latina-owned businesses were going through the same thing. That’s when I realized I wanted to create more than just a boutique for myself, I wanted to build a space where other small business owners could also have the opportunity to showcase and sell their products.

What excited me most was creating a supportive community and giving vendors a storefront opportunity that many of us struggled to find. I knew the idea could work because I personally understood the problem, and I wanted to create a collaborative space where small businesses could grow together instead of struggling alone.

Karla , 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?

My name is Karla, and I’m the owner of Poderosa & Co., a Latina-owned boutique and creative space based in San Antonio. I started my journey as a handmade jewelry artist creating polymer clay earrings, and over time my small business grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined.

I got into this industry because I’ve always loved creativity, fashion, and connecting with people. What started as making earrings turned into attending markets and pop-ups, where I quickly realized how difficult it could be for small businesses, especially Latina-owned brands, to find consistent opportunities and storefront space. That experience inspired me to create a boutique that not only showcases my own products, but also gives other small businesses a place to sell and grow.

Today, Poderosa & Co. offers handmade jewelry, accessories, apparel, gifts, and curated products from multiple small businesses and vendors. One thing that sets us apart is the sense of community behind the brand. We’re not just a boutique, we’re a space that uplifts and supports women-owned and Latina-owned businesses while creating a fun, welcoming shopping experience for our customers.

What I’m most proud of is being able to open my own storefront after only a few years in business and creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs along the way. I want people to know that my brand is built on authenticity, hard work, and community. Everything we do comes from a genuine passion for helping others feel confident, represented, and supported.

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

Yes — what started as a side hustle eventually turned into my full-time business. I first started making handmade polymer clay earrings while working a 8 to 5 job, while also balancing life as a wife and mom. At the beginning, it was simply a creative outlet and a way to make extra income doing something I loved. I began selling at local markets and pop-ups, packing orders after work, and spending weekends trying to grow my brand little by little.

As time went on, I started building a loyal customer base and realized people connected not only with my products, but with my story and brand as well. One of the biggest turning points for me was consistently selling out at markets and seeing how much support there was for handmade, Latina-owned businesses in my community.

Another major milestone was realizing I wasn’t alone in the struggle of finding opportunities to sell. So many small business owners were looking for affordable storefront space and visibility. That inspired me to expand my vision beyond just my own products and open a storefront that could also support other vendors and entrepreneurs.

Opening my boutique was definitely the biggest milestone and the moment my side hustle became something much bigger. What started with handmade earrings turned into creating a community-centered space that supports multiple small businesses. Looking back, I’m most proud of being able to balance motherhood, marriage, and entrepreneurship while turning something I once worked on after hours into my full-time passion and career.

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

One story that really shows my resilience was during the period when I was trying to grow my business while still working my 8 to 5, being a wife, and raising my kids. There were nights where I would stay up until 2 or 3 in the morning finishing earrings, packing orders, or getting ready for markets, knowing I still had to wake up early for work and take care of my family the next day. I remember feeling physically exhausted so many times, but I also knew I couldn’t give up on something I cared so deeply about.

What made it even harder was the amount of rejection I faced in the beginning. I would reach out asking for opportunities to sell my products and constantly hear “no” or get ignored completely. There were moments where I cried out of frustration because I felt like I was working so hard and not getting the opportunities I hoped for. But deep down, I believed in myself and in what I was building.

I think becoming a mom changed my mindset a lot too. My kids became my biggest motivation. I wanted to show them that even when things are hard, you keep going and fight for the life you want. That’s honestly what pushed me through the difficult seasons, the desire to create something meaningful not just for myself, but for my family and for other women who needed someone to believe in them too.

Now when I look at my storefront and the community we’ve built, it reminds me that every sleepless night, every rejection, and every sacrifice was worth it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/poderosaco.llc