We were lucky to catch up with Sofia Del Rivero recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sofia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?
I realize how lucky I am to love what I do on a daily basis. I get to hang out with kids and make them happy, all while having access to a studio full of art supplies I can use to make amazing creations and get messy – truly all of my favorite things rolled into one! However, naturally, when you’ve had your dream job for so long, there are times when you have to wonder if at some point, you will have to wake up from that dream. I often wonder what my day would look like if I worked a 9-5 office job, if I wore business attire every day rather than a messy apron and sneakers, or if I had to prepare presentations for meetings with clients rather than teach a painting class to a classroom full of students. I enjoy my job so much, that sometimes I can’t help but feel guilt, and this is what usually leads me to do some self reflecting. When I have these thoughts, I tend to stay grounded by asking myself 3 questions: 1) Does my job make me happy? 2) Does my job make others happy? 3) Am I doing something positive for my community? If the answer to all these 3 questions is “yes,” then I know I am exactly where I should be, and I can only grow my business stronger from there.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Sofia, and I am an artist and the owner and founder of Art Box. Upon graduating college with a BFA in Studio Art, I naturally thought I would dedicate my career to being an oil painter, which is something I’m very passionate about. However, somewhere along the way, I discovered my other passion as well – teaching children. Art Box began with the intention of providing children with a very educational yet fun art program. Growing up, I always had access to an art education and creative outlets, so I know how essential they can be for developing young kids. However, I couldn’t help but feel that there weren’t many options for kids nowadays, let alone interest on their behalf. With technology being so accessible for younger and younger demographics, I felt it was almost imperative to provide my community with an alternative option for kids extracurriculars. I wanted to provide them with the same magic I felt as a 5 year old walking into a cozy art studio, ready to get messy and make masterpieces, and so came about Art Box! Over the course of 8 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to expand this program to include people of all ages – teens, adults, and even toddlers. Apart from after-school classes, I also organize birthday parties, mini camps, special events, and so much more. In my free time, I continue to make paintings and murals and participate in local exhibitions annually. My career as an artist is something I make sure I consistently work on, not only because it makes me happy, but also because I like to set an example for my students and inspire them. I want them to understand that they are not just taking classes from a regular teacher, but from an exhibiting artist, who is truly passionate about what she does.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A pretty obvious and drastic change we’ve all experienced recently has been the covid pandemic, which has affected most businesses, Art Box being no exception. With Art Box’s physical location closing for 6 months, I had to think quickly on my feet of what I could do not only to keep my business afloat, but also help my community in need. It was heartbreaking to know kids everywhere were confined to their homes, unable to see their friends or participate in their favorite activities. I immediately decided to make classes accessible via an online platform as well as deliver art kits to my students’ homes. Eventually when there was more demand for in-person classes, I decided to do house calls, bringing all my supplies and prepared lessons straight to their doors. I was pleasantly surprised by how busy I was and how much easier the transition was than I had anticipated. These classes although a bit unconventional, were a nice change of pace because they were a bit more intimate, personalized, and the students were so excited to have private art classes in the comfort of their home. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to adapt during this trying time, as I know not many businesses have the same luck.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I understand that an ideal scenario for customers within my market is finding a teacher who is well qualified and hard working. Throughout my time teaching at Art Box, I have made sure to be just that for my students, so they have the ultimate educational, artistic experience in my program. The effort I put into planning my classes and teaching them new topics and skills really pays off when you see the excitement and gratitude that comes with learning an artist’s name or how to paint a still life. Another thing that has helped build Art Box’s reputation is my genuine love and appreciation for my clients. Throughout the past 8 years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting amazing kids and parents, many of whom have watched my business grow from the very beginning and have been along for the ride. Through loyalty discounts, personalized emails, calls, and text messages, birthday and holiday greetings, letters of recommendation, I try to always keep my clients cared for so they know how special they are to me and my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artboxmiami.com
- Instagram: artboxmiami
- Facebook: facebook.com/artboxmiami
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofia-del-rivero-497806ba/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/art-box-miami-2