We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Rodriguez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Rachel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The name INSPIRA is rooted in the word INSPIRAtion. As the Founder, I have always had a love for fitness, a passion for helping others, and the desire to create innovative fitness apparel while building a supportive community. When the pandemic hit, I flew from New York City with one suitcase to Florida to be with my now-inlaws and husband. In my one bag was strictly activewear. The amalgam of my passion and profession was created as a result and through collaboration with my sister-in-law. That’s when I founded Inspira: The Lifestyle Brand. My vision (and still serves as my North Star) is that it caters to all women, regardless of ethnicity, shape, and age. My products are versatile, so teenage girls to mothers on the run can live a seamless, confident, and comfortable lifestyle. Inspira represents not only my passion and profession but also my purpose. The positive energy of one person can be a catalyst to so many others, making that one person an INSPIRAtion. A portion of proceeds from our sales is donated to the Lupus Foundation of America to help fight for a cure for the disease that has affected many loved ones. My logo – a butterfly – symbolizes my mom guiding me on my journey, which ironically correlates with the butterfly rash, a common symptom of lupus.
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?
In 2011, in eighth grade, my father committed suicide, influencing my perspective on life and the need for me to find the best in those around me. In 2018, my mom suffered a heart attack, leading to organ failure. My mom fought lupus for half her life, and ultimately, I believe lupus is what couldn’t help her fight in the end. I was an athlete in high school, and when I moved to the Big Apple to pursue my education in August 2018, I continued to turn to fitness for my overall health; working out or getting the runner’s high has helped me cope with my parents’ passing. In 2019, I had blood work done because I thought my iron was deficient; the only thing that came back positive was genetic markers for lupus. I hope those markers never manifest into this auto-immune disease so I can focus on my health. When I landed an internship with Kleinfeld Bridal in NYC in 2019, I started seeing butterflies whirring around me, and when I saw them, they reminded me of my mom, making her feel so close.
I have filled a space in the activewear market online and around Jacksonville, FL, and Chicago, IL (local markets, pop-up shops, custom merchandise for studios and gyms) that has helped build my community and empower others. The most exciting part for me is seeing the difference we are making in Lupus warriors’ lives and helping women find pieces they can don to feel bold, brave, and self-assured.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Since the day I started Inspira in 2020, my goal has been to have it be my full-time job. I never had an exact date or deadline when I knew I would go full-time, but I worked diligently, putting in the time daily to ensure that the date came within four years and on God’s timing. I was motivated to create my schedule and have flexibility once kids came into the picture. I have put my capital into Inspira while working full-time. I waited on tables and worked in retail while studying and continuing to build my dream.
In October 2022, I transitioned to a part-time job, allowing me to work Inspira full-time. Those eight months changed the game for my business, mainly because a few months overlapped peek season. In the summer of 2023, I stacked pop-up shops, said “yes” to almost every opportunity, closed four wholesale deals, and lost a lot of sleep. In early May, after a massive market in Chicago that broke record sales within two days, I knew the day I’d break even was coming soon, within a month. I adjusted my budget and was very strategic with marketing dollars and the cost of goods sold. Ironically, on June 4th, 2023, my mom’s heavenly birthday, I broke even and started profiting. The key milestones were the contribution of the pop-up shops/markets, customer connections, and wholesale opportunities. I still pinch myself that out of all days, each mini milestone led to it happening on my mom’s birthday. I started working Inspira full-time without any part-time job in October 2023.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Making intentional connections in person through pop-up shops and markets is paramount to me. I want to know my customers deeply, learn about them, and hear their stories. Aside from a CRM, I stay organized with spreadsheets and customer profiles in my online database to help maintain a personalized approach to foster brand loyalty. I reach out via email or message and stay connected with at least 90% of my customers. It’s easily my favorite aspect about being such a small business right now; it’s also my biggest challenge while I grow. I always want to maintain a personal approach, and only one of me exists.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.inspiratlb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspira_tlb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiratlb
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/68866229/admin/feed/posts/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/inspiratlb
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/inspiratlb
Image Credits
Shaq Jacobs Markets for Makers Kelly Martucci Brooke Starkey Word Marketing Co.,