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Meet Gloria Elox of La Pequeña Market in Central Phoenix

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Gloria Elox.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Gloria. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the spring of 2014 my mother and I had this crazy idea to open a boutique store. We both had no clue what we were doing, and had little knowledge on how to run a business. After two months of planning we opened a women boutique store. My mom and I rushed into this idea and did not think about the commitment we were getting ourselves into. To top it off, the same month I found out that I was pregnant with my second child. I think we all know how this ended up, yes after 4 months we had to close our boutique. I felt that l failed completely and that I let my family down. I told myself that never again I would even think about having a business. But I’ll be honest, that spark never died. Last year I attend a conference called Adelante Mami and I met some amazing Latinas who were business owners and realized that I CAN DO THIS TOO.

This time I was going to do things different. So I started to write down my goals, do a lot of research and I put my learning cap on. I have always been very proud of my roots and where I come from. I believe that in order to know who you really are, first you need to know where you come from. Once again, I reached out to my biggest supporter my mom, I told her that wanted I wanted to give it a try again and open a business but this time it would be very different. She told me “mija, tu puedes con esto y mas” (daughter, you can do this and much more).

Has it been a smooth road?
I giggle when I read the word smooth, definitely not the word I would describe my journey. My journey has been very interesting. I have knocked so many doors and few of them have opened. They have told me that “I don’t fit their criteria”, what does this mean? Am I too Latina for their markets? Not sure. But this didn’t stop me it gave me the courage to create my own little market. So my struggles I don’t see them as barriers, I see them as opportunities to grow.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the La Pequeña Market story. Tell us more about the business.
I wanted to bring a piece of my home town Tepoztlan, Mexico and share it with my second home, Arizona. Our pieces represent the Mexican culture and all my pieces are made from women from my home town. Plus, my mother and I designed some of essential pieces of our shop. Also, I wanted to give my own twist to my market so I added a Chingona (Bad Ass) tee shirt to my shop. For me a Chingona is not just a women who hustles is more than that. I believe that a Chingona is a women that will do anything to chase their dreams and will overcome any obstacles. The Chingona tee was made after a trip I took to Las Vegas. The purpose of my trip was to attend a conference for new entrepreneurs. My family didn’t agree of my trip but I was determined to gain more knowledge. I got in my car and drove by myself to Vegas and told myself “I am a Chingona and no one will stop be from chasing my dream”. That is how the Chingona Tee became part of my little shop. I want every women who wears their Chingona Tee to feel that they are capable of doing whatever they put their mind into and no one can stop them. As well as, embracing their culture and be proud of who they are. That is the reason why I started La Pequeña Market.

I am very proud that in such short period of time I have accomplished things that I never imaged I could. I have learned that with persistence and determination anything is possible. What sets us apart from others is that La Pequeña Market is not just my market is a market that supports other Latinas to start or grow their business. I strongly agree that is not about competing against one another, is about helping each other grow and blossom.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
If you truly believe in something follow your heart. When you are passionate about something and you believe in yourself anything is possible. I was recently told that I need to be my biggest cheerleader, and now I understand why. If you don’t believe in yourself no one will. I still have so much to learn but I see La Pequeña Market accomplishing many things in the future and definitely organizing more markets.

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