Today we’d like to introduce you to Caithlyn Rodriguez.
Hi Caithlyn, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been going to crystal stores for a long time now and they all seem to follow similar themes and styles, I always thought to myself that I wanted to open my own crystal shop but in a more modern way. It was really an idea that I didn’t think would happen for years to come. Last summer, I decided to open an Instagram page and named it Gaze Within. It was simply a place for me to post self-care tips and manifestation techniques, etc… When I started I only had about six followers and not much of an audience. That fall, I was presented the opportunity to start any business I wanted and immediately I knew what it was going to be. At this time Gaze Within was only a name and an Instagram page no one really knew about and that’s where it all began.
In September of 2021, I signed the lease for a retail location with no products, no logo, no branding and no customers. Looking back now I think to myself “you are brave!”. Besides being brave, I simply had the passion to start this shop and for it to be different than what anyone has experienced. I registered the company, bought products, took an online marketing course and revamped the entire space with the help of my family in order to preserve capital for more important things to come. In about one month, Gaze Within was up and ready to go, we opened our doors October 31st, 2021.
Since then, we have grown our following on Instagram to be almost 500, had reels views of over 7,000 and expanded to offer weekly yoga classes, monthly holistic events, and had the opportunity to network with local brands that sell online only and showcase their products in our shop.
Gaze Within was created with the intention of oneness and inclusivity. Our shop is very light and airy with a minimalist style. We have something for everyone, regardless of your belief system, age or style. It is a place that many call home and where we embrace each and every person’s unique talents and gifts.
I am so proud of Gaze Within and all that it is becoming. Our slogan, The Home of Mindfulness truly speaks for itself. Gaze Within my ultimate manifestation and a true definition of how stepping into your purpose and aligning with it will take you further than you could’ve ever thought.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
One of the first obstacles we faced, was finding a retail location. A lot of places will not rent to startups, especially if you don’t even have an online shop to back up your business revenue. We also had to wait for what seemed like forever to receive all of our permits and licensing in order to legally open up. During product research, it was difficult to find items that were not from overseas and massive wholesale. That brought us to one of our values, always supporting other small businesses. In the marketing department, we got banned from Facebook Ads due to our page getting hacked and had to fix that which took about a week. A big obstacle was getting people in the store, which we have now overcome. Overall, it has definitely not been a smooth road, but every obstacle led us to where we are today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
A little bit about myself, My name is Caithlyn and I am 23 years old. I am a full-time student and currently attend FIU and hold my Bachelors in Industrial Psychology, pursuing my Master now. I do not work a traditional job, instead, I am fully focused on Gaze Within and really give it my all. I also work on other businesses that are on a larger scale and not with such an intimate customer base. I am also working on creating an online course and starting my own podcast called Inner Magic, where I will talk about all things manifestation, self-care and intuition from a spiritual and psychological perspective.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I personally do not believe in luck. I believe that we create our reality through a combination of thoughts and actions following those thoughts. Life is a series of choices and the way you respond to those choices.
Contact Info:
- Email: support@gazewithin.biz
- Website: www.gazewithin.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gazewithin.co/
Image Credits
@calvin_alfaro
