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

Theresa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you tell us a bit about who your hero is and the influence they’ve had on you?

My hero isn’t one person, it’s actually two…my parents. They have always been incredibly supportive and encouraging. I know that my confidence to try new things or to put myself out there would not be what it is without them.

One example of encouragement that frequently pops into my mind was when I was in the fifth grade. It was my first Fifth-Sixth Grade Spring Dance. My mom bought me a very pretty pink and white dress and new shoes. All my friends and I were so excited for the big event.

However, because it was the “Fifth-Sixth Grade” dance, and who knows how this happened, all the fifth grade boys only asked the sixth grade girls to dance. The fifth grade girls were not asked!

Well, when I got home my mom asked me if I had fun. I could not hold it in and I started crying. I told her what happened. She comforted me, but then said, “If the boys don’t ask you, then you should go and ask them to dance.”

She continued, “Sometimes it’s up to you to make sure you have a good time.”

So, the next dance came around and this time it was a totally different story. It was a great time and I didn’t even have to do all the asking!

This lesson has continued to stay in the forefront for me and has reminded me that when something isn’t going the way I hoped, it’s up to me to change it.

Theresa, 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?

A frequent question I get asked is, “How did you start designing scarves?” My excitement for making things started when I was 4 years old…when I created my first piece of art?

It was a horse made from wire and newspaper and some tape to hold it all together. I thought it was so cool, my first major creation!

After my mom saw this horse she pulled out one of her fancy pink boxes – one of those department store, hard, cardboard style boxes – and filled it with all sorts of craft supplies.

That was just the beginning. For years to come I created art using a variety of media. I loved diving into my Pink Box!

Flash forward to 2019…I got the idea to transform a painting I did of a Tuscan hillside onto a scarf. I loved how the scarf turned out!

That was the moment…my business was born!

Since that first scarf my prints have evolved, but always inspired by the places and memories that hold a special meaning to me. Much of that inspiration comes from the vistas and modern architecture uniquely found in Southern California, where I live. My designs embody the joy of bold colors and playful eye-popping prints that foster an optimistic outlook as a way of living.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Funding a startup can be challenging and stressful. When you start a business you don’t know what you don’t know. I was hesitant about taking out a loan when I really didn’t know what was going to be involved or what expenses there would be. I decided not to and if that meant growing slower, I was OK with that.

Self-funding has worked well for me because I scrutinize expenses and analyze the best, most effective places to spend. It has allowed me to learn where funds are best used and think methodically. More importantly, I have not gone into debt and I appreciate not having that extra pressure.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Opinions to have your own website, sell on a third party platform, or both are all over the board. I really believe it depends on the person. If you would like to start a business and test your product, then a platform like Etsy is great. Many businesses are solely on Etsy and they do very well.

If you’re willing to take the time and patience to learn, then setting up your own website gives you a lot of flexibility. I decided to go with this route. The majority of the work when you have your own website is definitely at the beginning. Once you have all the pieces in place – and there are a lot – you have a sense of pride in your business. A website of your own really makes you feel like your business is a real thing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theresadelgado.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theresadelgado/
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/theresadelgado