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Meet Trailblazer Diana Rayon

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Rayon.

Diana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, they moved to North America for the American dream. They set the example for my siblings and me by my working hard, running their businesses and becoming citizens to this country. When I think of hustlers, I think of them.

Like many other immigrant families, my mom and dad started their own business to sustain our large family. At a young age, I remember my parents managing our family’s custom cabinetry business. They included us in daily tasks such as organizing tools, sanding cabinets, sweeping up sawdust, and even typing up invoices. Although I was obligated as a kid to take part in these duties, now I realize it was a blessing in disguise. As an adult, I have learned to appreciate them teaching us the importance of challenging ourselves and achieving our goals. This was our livelihood and we took such pride in our teamwork. This was the beginning of my business-oriented mindset.

After my husband and I got married we started a non-emergency transportation business. This was his dream job and I was happy to contribute by being co-owner making administrative decisions along with him. This stage of my life taught me to DREAM BIG. We were a successful company transporting VA passengers to and from their appointments. This business provided us financial stability and more but it didn’t last for long. After three years, a bigger company took over and we were let go. This was unexpected and without proper notice leaving us unprepared for what was to come.

We lived off of our savings for a whole year while we settled into hourly paying jobs and dealt with the baggage that came with our downfall. We had exhausted our savings and the financial burden as so overwhelming that we were left vulnerable. We lost our cars, our home, and our lifestyle. This brought upon us so much emotional and mental depression. Quickly, we learned to see things through a different lens as we still counted the many rich blessings such as family and health.

Our family opened the doors to their home to us. During this dark year, many great things happened. We filed for bankruptcy, we saved up for a home, and Cute Cositas was born. In the desperation to get out of this hole, I started Cute Cositas, it was born from the ashes, I also had enjoyed contributing to the start of my family’s food truck business which was a wild ride and brought us closer than ever as we learned to operate a business in the food industry. It was so great to see how quickly the community grew around this business and it was the thing I need to start my own endeavor!

At the end of 2018, I came across a new marketplace for Latinas called the AZ Mujeres Mercado which consisted of local Latina artists and vendors. As I approached the booths and met the women behind each business, a feeling of inspiration came over me. They motivated me to make my business idea happen, it was the push I needed to just do it!

Finally, in February of 2019, I opened up the virtual doors of my online shop.

Has it been a smooth road?
E-commerce is new to me, I have no previous experience or training. It is natural to encounter obstacles along the way.

One main challenge has been that of comparing my work to others, Social media is a great tool but can definitely bring you down if you don’t have the right mindset. During this beginning phase of my company, I am guilty of comparing my work to others’. It’s easy to forget that it doesn’t matter what others are doing, it matters what I am are doing. This simple way of thinking helps me stay grounded with my goals. One must stay in control of our thoughts and emotions because we are not in competition with anybody but ourselves. I constantly remind myself that everyone has their own qualities and flaws, the road for each person is different. We all have different goals!

Another thing I have learned along the way is not to be scared to reach out to others. Although I suffer from anxiety, I have found that when it comes to business, being shy, timid, scared won’t get you anywhere. If I want my business to grow, then I have to take those steps to move forward because success is not given, it’s taken. Networking with like-minded people is great, asking for help, asking for advice, collaborating with other businesses and going out of our comfort-zone makes a difference. I firmly believe that community over competition is the way to go.

The third point I’d like to mention is that of using the free resources available, as I previously said, I have no experience or training but I have been able to find the answers to all my questions so far. A huge benefit we have is the internet, YouTube is a great teacher!

We’d love to hear more about Cute Cositas.
Cute Cositas is an online shop for American Latinas like me who want to show off their Latina pride, Currently, Cute Cositas offers a variety of everyday items such as mugs, shirts, hats, and other products. Some of our most popular items have been the notebooks and journals. Latina inspired stationery is still unique in the market and I hope to one day offer a larger assortment of stationery products including calendars, post-it notes, and who knows maybe a planner! Washi tape is one item I am planning into adding in the near future. Another type of product that makes Cute Cositas unique as well are the stickers! These stickers are weatherproof and some come in a selection of holographic, mirror or prismatic effect. As time goes by, I look forward to adding more designs to my overall collections at CuteCositas.com.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Great things come to those who hustle! Like I mentioned previously, I believe we must have goals and plans in order to move forward. We can not just daydream about what we want in life we have to CHASE our dreams and that means research, seeking mentors, working with others, putting ourselves out there. We must challenge ourselves to grow.

Having a support system. My family has been an immense help, they are my cheerleaders and they are there when I need words of encouragement. Another type of support I have is that of my circle of amigas, my work sisters, my fellow vendors. We are on the same boat and we don’t see each other as competition. Often, we call/message each other and hold each other accountable for goals or meetup and work together and share tips.

Lastly, use the internet to research all your questions. YouTube has been a great tool for me in regards to running a business, learning about social media, finding manufacturers, improving the creative side of my business and so much more!

Pricing:

  • $4 Stickers
  • $18 Notebooks
  • $26 Journals

Contact Info:

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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