Today we’d like to introduce you to Azucena Blanco.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Azucena Blanco – Founder of Clothes Care
I was born in El Salvador, where I earned my degree in Public Relations and Communications. I spent approximately 15 years working in banks and financial institutions, building a professional career that I was proud of and deeply committed to.
In 2019, I moved to the United States after getting married and starting a beautiful family. My plan was to continue my professional path in banking, given the experience I had gained in my home country. However, my level of English at the time was not sufficient to secure a position in the financial industry.
Determined to work and contribute, I began a job at a dry cleaning business as an ironer. The only ironing experience I had was with my own clothes, and physically it was very demanding. After about a month, my hands would swell from the weight of the iron. The owner noticed my potential and encouraged me to move into customer service, assuring me that my English was strong enough to communicate with clients.
Sewing had always been one of my favorite hobbies. I loved making my own clothes, though I never imagined it would one day become my livelihood. While working at the store, I noticed sewing machines and asked if I could use them. The owner asked if I knew how to sew, and I honestly told him it was only a hobby. He and his wife decided to teach me professionally how to perform clothing alterations with the level of quality customers expect.
I immediately fell in love with the craft. I am very detail-oriented and delicate in my work. I care deeply about how garments look and fit, and I love seeing the joy on clients’ faces when their clothing fits exactly as they envisioned. I worked there for two years, from August 2019 to September 2021, learning every aspect of alterations on all types of garments.
Eventually, I needed more flexibility because my son required significant time and attention due to hearing challenges that required therapy to help improve his speech. I made the difficult decision to become independent. I purchased my own machines and began working from home, providing alteration services to other dry cleaners that did not have an in-house seamstress.
Within less than a year, I began receiving independent clients referred by friends and family. I quickly realized I could no longer receive customers in my home. Even then, opening a commercial location felt overwhelming. The idea of committing to such a large responsibility was intimidating. It wasn’t until I enrolled in a program designed to support women entrepreneurs that I found the courage to take that step.
In 2022, I officially formed SB Services & Creations LLC, operating under the business name Clothes Care. On October 24, 2022, we opened our doors from scratch in Mesa, Arizona.
Some of the achievements we have reached at Clothes Care include participating in the Local First Arizona Business Accelerator in 2023.
In 2024, I participated in “Corazón de Mujer,” a business competition organized by Chicanos Por La Causa, where we earned third place by sharing the story of my business and entrepreneurial journey.
In 2025, we were honored to be recognized as a Top 3 Mesa Award Winner in the Dry Cleaner category, based on our Google reviews. This recognition was granted by The Business Rate Staff.
Today, nearly three and a half years later, what began as a small corner in our home has grown into a business my family and I are incredibly proud of. It has required sacrifice, resilience, and faith, but it has also brought fulfillment and purpose.
As a family, we built this together—and that is one of my greatest successes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been an easy journey—especially because entrepreneurship was never part of my original plan. This path was shaped by necessity. I was not financially prepared to take on something of this magnitude or the level of responsibility that comes with building a business from the ground up.
We did not have a marketing budget. We did not purchase an established business with an existing client base. We started with an empty space. From day one, everything was built from zero. Social media became one of my most valuable tools to promote and grow my business organically.
Another major challenge was learning how business operates in a country that was still new to me—and doing it in a language I did not fully master. At that time, if I am being generous with myself, my English was perhaps at a 40 or 50 percent level. I had only been living in the United States for three years when we decided to take this leap.
Today, my English has improved significantly, and I continue learning every day. There are still people who question why I opened a business without fully mastering the language. But if I had waited until everything felt perfect—until my English was flawless—I would probably still be waiting for the courage to begin.
Entrepreneurship requires faith, resilience, and the willingness to grow along the way. I chose to grow while building.
As you know, we’re big fans of Clothes Care. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a company dedicated to all types of clothing and home alterations. We also provide dry cleaning, pressing, and laundry services. We specialize in wedding gowns, quinceañera dresses, and tailored suits.
What truly defines us is the quality of service we provide. No matter how simple or small the alteration may be, we give it the attention it deserves and complete it with the highest level of professionalism.
I believe this not only represents who we are, but also what makes us different. We treat our clients with equal importance, and our main goal is to give garments a second chance when they seem to have none—and of course, to make our customers happy when they see the final result just as they imagined it.
I cannot fully express the joy I feel when we make a bride happy, or when a quinceañera looks at herself in the mirror wearing her dream dress, perfectly fitted and modified so she can look spectacular on her special day.
The same joy comes from helping gentlemen and young clients look their best in their suits, and from restoring a favorite piece of clothing that was torn or worn out, giving it new life again.
At Clothes Care, we do not see our clients as just another number. We see Daniel, Simon, Judy—each one a special client with unique needs. We are committed to meeting every expectation and going above and beyond.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Books
* Atomic Habits by James Clear — It has helped me build better routines and stay consistent in my goals
* “Los 7 hábitos de la gente altamente efectiva” – Stephen R. Covey
Blogs
*Entrepreneur.com — I read articles about small business strategies and marketing.
*Instagram/business pages of other Latina entrepreneurs — I find community and creative inspiration there.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Clothescareaz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clothes_careaz?igsh=MW1rYTYxYXhvYW9jbg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1bCux3L4GE/
Image Credits
Ariadna Robledo
