Visit Nopalera 

🎙️Join host Georgina Miranda on the She Ventures podcast as she sits down with the inspiring Sandra Velasquez, the founder of Nopalera, a vibrant Mexican botanical bath and body brand. In this candid and enlightening episode, Sandra shares her remarkable founder's story, taking listeners through the journey from ideation to the triumphant launch of her brand.

Nopalera is a culture-forward brand that celebrates and elevates Mexican Heritage while offering high-quality bath and body products made with nopal (prickly pear cactus). Sandra's mission is to decolonize the bath and body industry, providing a luxurious and premium experience that challenges the dominance of Eurocentric beauty brands. 

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• Meet Sandra Velasquez, the visionary founder of Nopalera, a brand that celebrates and elevates Mexican Heritage through its range of culturally inspired botanical bath and body products.
• Discover the story behind Nopalera, a brand that focuses on products for below the neck, all made from the nopal (prickly pear cactus).
• Learn about Sandra's journey from unemployment to inspiration, where she harnessed the power of newfound time to cultivate ideas and dreams that would eventually lead her to launch Nopalera.
• Gain insight into the significance of building a strong brand foundation as Sandra shares her experiences investing in herself and her product’s branding, even when resources were limited.
• Delve into the mindset shift required to transition from survival mode to the entrepreneurial mindset, and how Sandra's belief in herself and Nopalera fueled her journey.
• Why Sandra highlights the need to challenge societal narratives that diminish the worth of Latin culture and the importance of normalizing Latina products as premium and aspirational.
• Uncover the strategies and determination that allowed Sandra to transform Nopalera from a seed of an idea into a magnet that attracted a community of passionate supporters, investors, and over 200 boutiques, including major retailers like Nordstrom and Free People.

🔊 Why Listen: If you're seeking inspiration to take your entrepreneurial dreams to reality or are fascinated by the process of building a brand from the ground up, this episode is a must-listen. Sandra's personal journey and dedication to her vision exemplify the power of passion, resourcefulness, and the importance of investing in oneself.

🌟 Tune In: Join Georgina and Sandra for an engaging cultural conversation that reveals the transformative journey of Nopalera, and inspires other aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women of color, looking to create their own brands and challenge traditional narratives.

🔗 Connect and Learn More: Ready to dive into the world of cultural celebration and botanical beauty? Tune in to the full episode on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible, and YouTube and gain valuable lessons from Sandra Velasquez's journey of turning a concept into a thriving brand. 

For more on Nopalera and its vibrant offerings: 

• www.nopalera.co
• IG: nopalera.co

✨ Embark on a journey of entrepreneurship and cultural inspiration with Sandra Velasquez and the captivating Nopalera brand.

In this exciting “behind-the-scenes” episode, Danielle Bombash, co-owner of Bombash and Earley, gives us a tour of her store and production space. She and her husband, Tim, run the business out of a charming storefront that resembles a cottage-style home in McMurray, PA. Their impressive and extensive lineup of botanical skin care products is made entirely by hand in small batches from this location.

After viewing their retail displays in the front of the store, I got to see their main production room in the back of the house, which is typically off-limits to customers. Danielle described how their products are made from raw ingredients, and she showed me some of the equipment that’s used in the creation process. We had a terrific discussion about the origin of the business, how she and Tim balance their unique approaches to entrepreneurship, and why family is a central part of what they are building.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH DANIELLE BOMBASH AT:

Website: https://bombashearley.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bombashbotanical

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bombashandearley

• Both Autumn and Heather grew up in small towns in separate parts of North Carolina. Though their paths would not cross until several years later, both moved to the mountains in 1998. Both attended and received their degrees from Western Carolina University (although there at different times). The two have worked a collective 39 years serving the children and families of Buncombe County.   To the Brim definitely helps to illustrate the importance of doing one’s part in their community to make a larger impact or, more simply, to “do better”.

145 Charlotte Highway, Suite 60, Asheville, NC 

Phone: 828-552-3332

https://www.tothebrimrefill.com/

Being a Business Owner is Lonely. 

But It Doesn't Have to Be...

Join The Entrepreneur Experience.

Be sure to visit BizRadio.US to discover hundreds more engaging conversations, regional events and more.

Denise Villanueva is a former L.A. Raiders cheerleader, also known as a Raiderette! Denise has so many fun stories of her time with the Raider's organization, and she also met some of her lifelong friends and future business partners during those formative years of her life! One of those people, Earvin Magic Johnson. In this episode, she recalls her first few interactions with Magic Johnson that began their venture into business together. Denise was the President and Executive Director of the successfully created Magic Johnson Enterprises. About ten years down the road, Denise had an open door to work as the Director of Marketing for Disney Regional Entertainment. She worked with some of the most talented people in the world, and later went on to start her own business. Denise assists Fortune 500 companies and high-profile brands in multiple facets to guarantee their continual success. Denise worked closely with the company affairs group at L Brands (Bath & Body, Victoria's Secret etc.) and specializes in delivering key initiatives: press conferences, investor events, high-profile grand openings, speaking engagements and renowned fashion shows! Denise was so fun to talk to, and I am glad to have met her through our dear friend Marcus Allen! So sit back, relax, and get your pens ready!!

When Jeff Lovett and his wife moved from New York City to southeastern Ohio, they got back in touch with small-town living. It was the early 2000s, and the DIY movement was in full swing. The Lovetts experimented with things like home brewing and soapmaking, among many other endeavors. Whenever they shared their soaps and lotions with people, they received overwhelmingly positive feedback. People loved the fact that the products actually worked, and that they were comprised of simple, clean ingredients that they could trust. The Lovetts realized they were onto something, and even though they had no prior business experience, they decided to take a leap and launch Lovett Sundries.

While living in Appalachia, Jeff had been studying the history of company stores. This inspired the branding, product naming, and labeling for their concept. Sustainability was also a driving factor for them, so the Lovetts sourced materials that were recyclable and reusable for their packaging. In this episode, Jeff talks about some of the funnier moments when they were finding their way in the very beginning. Ultimately, it was a trade show back in New York City that helped them to refine their product offerings and build some important relationships in the industry. Today, the Lovetts make all of their products in their studio located in the Wilkinsburg neighborhood, and they also operate a small retail space in the front of the building.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JEFF LOVETT AT:

Website: https://lovettsundries.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovett_sundries

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovettsundries

Emily Bonk was introduced to soap making at the age of 14. Her kitchen was the center of activity for the hobby shared by her mother, aunt, and friends of the family. These warm memories would later fuel her passion to start her own handmade soap business in 2019. But making the choice to go full-time as a business owner wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Emily was just a few credits shy of an associate’s degree when she came to a crossroads. Should she move on to a four-year program and further commit to becoming a teacher? Should she take on more college debt? It was at this point that she started to seriously consider entrepreneurship as a viable alternative.

Almost a year and a half after launching her business, Emily is making a product that she loves and spending her time interacting with customers at craft shows and farmers’ markets across the region. She is committed to using all-natural ingredients and a custom oil blend in her unique artisan designs. Although the pandemic virtually shut down her business, she managed to make it through with a combination of online sales and savings that she put away for a rainy day. In our discussion, you can hear Emily’s excitement to get back to selling now that the outdoor markets have reopened. She always feels right at home beside her fellow makers, artisans, and farmers.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Podcast: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Website: https://www.thestartupshoppe.net/podcasts

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH EMILY BONK AT:

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/UpinSuds

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upinsuds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upinsuds

Phone: 412-315-4850