We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alexis Finley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alexis below.
Hi Alexis, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I get my work ethic from my mother, Krystina Rae Sanchez. She was a single teen mom that came from nothing who went to college, had a full time job, battled a terminal auto-immune disease all while raising me. Everything I do is in her memory and when I feel like I can’t do something, I remember she did. I get my resilience, generosity, optimism and light from from her. I don’t have another choice but to succeed.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Alexis Finley and I am 20 years old who also started my business in high school. I used to typically only share what I go by “Lex” and would never share my age but as I grow- I realize it’s important to not hide who you are. I was fearful people would not take me seriously since I’m younger the average business owner. However, I still tend to have more work experience than the average person I come across in my industry.
In 2018, I started selling my closet on Instagram. Two years later covid hit and something that was a side gig for pocket change, turned into passion and my full time job. It’s 2020, I’m 16 with nothing but motivation and a whole bunch of thrifted clothing… and a website I designed myself where I sold my clothes under the name Futura Fine. TikTok was my best friend and after using it to promote what I was selling, the sales started rolling in. This was my bread and butter because I was able to be so creative with guerrilla marketing, the social media posts, filming look books, styling, and more.
I immediately wanted to make the transition to selling at flea markets so I was started working with on in particular at the very end of 2020 where I ended up running their social media doing their marketing- yes, in high school. I was able to work one on one with content creation, cultivating relationships with vendors, and absorbing more knowledge than ever through this experience all while selling at multiple flea markets for Futura Fine.
After a year of learning the back end of how in person events work plus gaining marketing experience, I decided to put together my own flea called “Hot Girl Market” with the first event being only two weeks after my high school graduation. It was instantly a hit because there was nothing else like it out at the time. At first I hosted about 16 10×10 vendors with a few 5×5 and table spaces but after only 3 months, we grew out of it into a bigger lot that hosts 70 sellers. This was bittersweet because I was going to college in New York City so I moved just as my business was taking off. I would fly back to Los Angeles monthly for my events and that was fun but I’m always thinking about how I can level up.
I got trained to do tooth gems so that is another one of my business ventures (@hotgirlgems) if you’d like to book. With the creation of Hot Girl Market, I stepped back from listing my clothes online and promoting Futura Fine as I once did which I regret. I focused on throwing events and even started one in Brooklyn called Futura Flea with the name coming from my vintage brand of course. Although I only hosted a few events, I am forever grateful for this chapter in my life because I was able to meet some of my best friend’s on the east coast.
Over the summer, I was hired by an agency to collaborate on producing an event for Urban Decay cosmetics, my first project with a big company! It was a surreal experience to know they trust someone like me with something so important for them. I am also available for event production if anyone is interested!
Fast forward to my second year of college, I decided for Hot Girl Market to open a consignment store pop up for the fall season. Vendors could rent a rack and the store takes commission like a consignment store. I had my team back in LA run HGM while I ran my shop on the east coast. Again, experience is the best teacher. I know what I would do again and what I wouldn’t so it is my goal to open a store in New York but in a better location and permanently. This is where I am at now.
I want to put more focus in curating vintage like I once did (listing online and using it as a creative outlet), build my tooth gem clientele, and open a permanent store in New York City (investors wanted!!!). I want to try everything and do everything. I think that’s the beauty of being young- taking advantage of the time to truly figure out what you like and what works. I wake up and I’m excited because I chose what I get to do for work, I am my own boss, and I love everything I’ve builded. I have learned an immense amount during my four years of work experience and I am no where near done. There is a lot more in the works but I am afraid I can’t share it until it’s done. Follow me to find out @acediner0 @hotgirlmarket @futurafine @hotgirlgems and @hotgirlzine This is my story. This is where I am at. Thanks for following along for the journey.
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?
Three qualities/skills that were most impactful for my journey was knowledge on how to produce engaging social media content, being able to take risks, and the last one which gave me a leg up is just experience. Be involved in what you want to do even if it’s somewhat related. You will meet like minded people, make connections, and absorb more knowledge than you will in school!
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?
I usually like to only focus on positive matters. However, I have learned you need to ask! Closed mouths don’t get feed so you need to go after what you want or simply share your obstacles so someone can help (or know someone who can help)! Mine currently is funding. In order to secure a permanent location, I would like to do some renovations and make the inside a dreamy haven for young women who love sustainable to have a space to hang out and shop at. I have a vision for Hot Girl Market in New York City to be in the Lower East Side or if I had a million dollars, SoHo (preferred). I would sell my own vintage clothing, Hot Girl merchandise, rent out racks to vendors, but also host weekly events. I know how to run this and make it successful so if you’re an investor, my email is hotgirlmarket@gmail.com and we can talk numbers.
Contact Info:
- Website: hotgirlmarket.co
- Instagram: instagram.com/acediner0
- Other: depop.com/hotgirlmarket
Image Credits
The DJ image is from Josh @cannonfort on IG and the rest is from Sophia from the Hot Girl Market team @sofia.monicaaa @sofiamonicastudio
