Meet Ray Flores

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Flores. 

Hi Ray, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
As an entrepreneur and a minister, my life has been an incredible journey. I have been in ministry for over 28 years, started when I was 16, and I have been in business for about a year. When it comes to ministry, I started going to church at the age of 8 years old with my aunt. I have traveled the country preaching at different churches and events. At the age of 14, I taught my first youth class at church and at the age of 16 I preached my first sermon. From there until now I have preached at over 30 churches and hosted over 40 conferences across the nation. Though I been in ministry a long time it was not always an easy journey. Even though I love ministry I also battled my own issues in life. I have battled depression, I was suicidal and was a bad alcoholic for a long time and no one knew because I knew how to hide it well. I battled abandonment and rejection issues for most of my life because of my father leaving us when I was 6 years old and was just in and out of my life. I tell people, God gives His hardest battles to his strongest soldiers. I thank God for other leaders that have been in my life to help me through some tough times and in turn I have been able to help a lot of people with their struggles and issues. My life’s mission is to help change lives one person at a time. 

When it comes to my jewelry business, Flores Custom Jewelry 

Last year I had asked my mom to make me some bracelets because she is like a pro at it, so she did but also started to show me how to make them. So, one day I bought some beads and made one bracelet and was proud of it and posted it on Facebook. Someone really liked it and asked if I could make them one and that’s how it all started. I never really thought that it would ever turn out too much, but I have sold so many pieces, shipped them out to 5 states, and have been a part of 6 local vendor events. Our first vendor event was at Laveen Craft Fair here in Laveen, AZ which is founded by Lisa Taylor. I was a little nervous because we, my mother and I, were taking our little business public, and when you do that you never know how people will receive it. To our surprise, we did very well at our first event. My jewelry has been in two music videos from local artist. 

There were a few people that said I should just stick to ministry because it needed my time more, but I knew that when you have a talent and a passion for something you should do it. I have been able to use jewelry making a way of therapy as well. Last year I lost two grandparents to covid/cancer, 4 friends to covid, and then an uncle this year along with 2 friends. With death all around I needed something that would help with a distraction and making jewelry was one of them especially when my clients would be happy with their products. To see someone happy is the greatest blessing to me whether it’s through jewelry or through ministry. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think one of the major obstacles/challenges was me. I would always battle within myself if what I was doing was good enough to bring to the public because sometimes people cannot be nice. Another struggle was I didn’t want to come to a place where if people didn’t like what I was doing that I would just give up, so staying motivated was and is a challenge. I would always have to continue to encourage myself that not everyone will like what I am doing but there is that one person that will love what I do. That one person you impact positively would be that one person to spread the word about what you’re doing. I had one friend from church that purchased my first piece jewelry and loved it. He then posted it and kept buying and it opened the door for more people to come and buy from me. Pricing has been rough as well because some people will think your charging too much and others would say you’re not charging enough so having enough confidence in your product will help you produce what it’s truly worth. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently am a full-time employee at Grand Canyon University. Been there going on 9 years and love what I do. I process student transcripts from other colleges. I am very well like on my team and I am known for being funny and just love making work fun. I am proud that I have been at my job for this many years and that I have made an impact on those around me in a positive way. What sets me apart from others is that I will go above and beyond to make sure that what we need to get done, gets done. I have volunteered to work at almost every graduation that we have had for the past 9 years, I believe that I have maybe missed 2. I will do overtime when we get an overabundance of work, not just for pay but because I know the students need their transcripts processed. I got asked from my boss not to work after I clock out because I don’t get paid for it, I told her it is not about the money for me it is about the students. 

What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was a good kid. I was very helpful to my mom when it came to watching out for my brothers and sister. I was always trying to make some money as a kid. I would go to work with my dad when he was around because I knew I would always get money. When I got money, I would go to yard sales and buy my mom little glass cups and little things I thought she would like, I was like 10 years old. I would rarely spend my money on me. When it comes to personality, I was funny, outgoing, and just loving. I wanted to make people laugh and my cousins loved being around me because we would just sit around and laugh and have fun. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up but we knew how to have fun. 

My family on my dad’s side had a construction business and I always had an interest in making money. I would be in the den with a little calculator and fake money acting like I was a businessman. I always would dream about one day having my own business. 

Contact Info:

• Email: iamray.org@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamrayflores/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/florescustomjewelry