We recently connected with Vanessa Valenzuela and have shared our conversation below.
Vanessa , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Right away I think about my parents, I definitely get my work ethic from them. They were both born in Guatemala and were not presented the same opportunities someone born in the US has. I grew up watching my parents wake up before the sun was even out to go to work. They were the type of people to pick up double shifts, and not give themselves a day off. Their hard work was inspiring to watch, and now they own their own respective businesses! Their drive to give myself and my siblings a good life is what inspires my work ethic today. They are the best role models I could’ve asked for.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have had my business, Ghoulish Delights, for about two years now which has been an exciting milestone! Ghoulish Delights is an antique, vintage, and Victorian inspired oddities shop in Granada Hills, CA. It’s my little spooky haven and I love that I can share it with the community and like minded creatives. It’s unique in its own way and unlike your typical oddities shops! Every section of the store is curated in its own way- we have a vhs corner, our vintage Halloween section, newer gothic retail, a spell bar next to our religious art section, our macabre oddities room, and of course our hand selected vintage and antique items. My shop is truly all my passions put into one place, which is what makes my job not feel like a job. I am a one woman ran show so I do all the sourcing for products on my own, our marketing on my own, and everything involved in running a business. I basically work everyday, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I can guarantee that everytime you visit us, you are sure to find new and wonderful items. We are also big on working with local artists and small business, so when you shop with us, you are also supporting others in the community as well. One of my favorite things to do is plan pop ups that highlight other spooky business! Keep an eye out for the next one.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have only been a business owner for two years, so I feel that I’m still learning new things everyday in terms of what works for my business and what doesn’t, and reflecting on areas of improvement. I believe the three most useful tools that were impactful on my business journey are being able to be adaptable, staying true to my vision, and of course having gone to business school. Being adaptable is something I had to learn. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned and that’s okay! As long as things are changing for the greater good and your long term vision, that’s all that matters. Being adaptable means less stress and anxiety, and I find that those two feelings are what kill a business owner’s drive. Learn to roll with punches and what you can do to make a bad situation better- it’s an opportunity for growth. Switch your mindset and perspective. Secondly, being true to your vision is vital, don’t lose sight on why you started your business. Sometimes it’s easy to just appease the masses with what’s trending, but trends fade. Stick to what makes you unique- if I listened to what others have told me to change about my business, it wouldn’t be MY business. And lastly, business school. Although I’m a firm believer life experiences are key, business school helped me with more of the financial realities of owning a business. There’s a lot more to running a business than most think. Taxes, bookkeeping, marketing, business models, updating licenses, etc. it’s not easy, but I’m grateful to have that background so I didn’t feel completely lost.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
My number one obstacle, which I believe is every business owners obstacle, is slow business months. It can be very discouraging and frustrating. Will I make my rent? Do I have to use my savings? Should I get a loan? All these negative questions come into mind and can be so disheartening. The biggest thing that has helped me through slow months are adapting to the times and realizing that most people do their shopping online (thanks Jeff Bezos). Having an online presence is so vital in this day and age. Instagram has become such a useful tool for me during slow months. We of course use it for marketing purposes, but doing Instagram lives has been a fun and great way to generate more income. We also have our online store that we add to weekly, and those sales sometimes are our saving grace. My boyfriend is also a full time eBay seller, and he surprised me by showing me what a tool eBay can be as well. Our more collectible items will be listed on eBay as well to help generate more money flow and to reach a more global audience. E-commerce can be great a great tool!
Contact Info:
- Website: Ghoulishdelights.square.site
- Instagram: instagram.com/ghoulishdelights.shop
- Yelp: Check out Ghoulish Delights
