We recently connected with Nancy Quero Ramirez and have shared our conversation below.
Nancy , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My name is Nancy Quero and I founded Guelaguetza Designs in 2005. I wanted to feel a connection to my home culture of Mexico, so I started by featuring the artwork of my mother, who has been an artisan for over 40 years.
My mission through Guelaguetza Designs is to help build cultural bridges through the preservation of cultural traditions and the sale of beautiful handmade items from Mexico.
My vision is to empower our youth to embrace their own cultural heritage and women to break the glass ceilings through story-telling. I believe that by sharing stories of success and failure, we can encourage women to strive for better opportunities. Through this narrative sharing, we can create an environment where everyone feels empowered to pursue their dreams without fear of failure or judgement. By connecting with each other’s stories, we can create a platform for positive change in our society.
As an immigrant, I understand the importance of creating a legacy that will be remembered and honored for generations to come. That is why I am determined to leave behind something that will make a lasting impact on my three sons, as well as many other Mexican-American generations yet to come. Whether it’s through my work, my philanthropic efforts, or simply by setting an example of hard work and dedication.
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?
Guelaguetza Designs specializes in authentic and handmade item from Mexico such as clothing, jewelry and home decor. We currently collaborate with over 100 artisans from all over Mexico, offering fair trade practices to create sustainable business and to help preserve native Mexican ancestral techniques.
Through our products, we want to make sure our Mexican-American community have access to a part of Mexico’s culture that helps them connect with their roots.
Have you ever had to pivot?
We opened our first brick and mortar store in November 2019, a few months later the pandemic started…….. The pandemic changed the way of doing business for all, we were not the exception.
E-commerce was such a new term and to be honest, for couple years we resist and procrastinate to learn about it.
Little we know that once the pandemic hit and we were forced to close the store and we really had to jump into the waters of e-commerce.
By this time, we already had our Etsy shop for little over a year having couple sales per week, nothing major.
One day of my stay home days, I was browsing on the phone I noticed there was a lock of facemasks. Just any kind! My sister was in town visiting and with no place to go other than home, I ask her to make embroider facemask with the material we had at the store. We did around 20 pcs the first time and sold out in less than 30 minutes!
I saw a need and great opportunity. I called the workshops in Mexico to get a large order going.
We were one of the first Etsy shops to star selling Mexican facemask and our e-commerce boomed. From selling 1-3 orders per week to selling 20+ orders per day.
Ever since, we haven’t stop and we continue to offering amazing and unique items national wide.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
As I mentioned, I started Guelaguetza Designs in 2005 and it took me 14 years to open a brick and mortar store. During all these years I knew what I was doing was more than a hobby. I attended so many shows, talked to so many people, learned a lot and in 2016 after taking a business course I knew I was ready for the next big step.
The opportunity to buy a retail building in 2019 finally came. By this time, I already had paper trail to show the growth we had in the last 3 previous years, but I didn’t have the money…….. yet.
Another opportunity to invest in real state came along, with no capital to invest I got a loan from the bank and use my home’s equity. This was the huge leap of faith we took with my husband that helped us to secure the commercial building. Worked really hard and pay it off in 3 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.guelaguetzadesigns.com
- Instagram: guelaguetzadesigns
- Facebook: guelaguetzadesigns
Image Credits
Eric Bouwens Photographer