Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Cuevas.
Samantha, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before founding my own company, I graduated from the University of Houston in 2013 with a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. I worked in mental hospitals and outpatient rehabs for awhile; I planned on becoming a clinical psychologist. I moved to Miami in 2014 for grad school. While preparing for it, I realized that was not the career for me. I began to really get in tune with myself on what motivated me and what I was truly passionate about. Fashion is what constantly came to mind. I knew I was good at it because my friends and family always turned to me for fashion advice or I would notice them buying the same clothes as me. Knowing people trust my opinion and appreciate my taste for fashion really gave me confidence that I was a trendsetter. I didn’t have the experience to go straight into designing, so I opted to buy unique pieces and begin an online store.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
If being an entrepreneur was easy, everyone would be doing it. The reality is it’s harder than it looks. Yes, it’s awesome not having a regular job, but as an entrepreneur, you are working 24/7. You can’t clock out and be done for the day. You have to be completely dedicated to your brand, and you must maintain that mentality. I like to think of La’ Cuev as my baby because I have nurtured it while dedicating my tears, sweat and sleepless nights to it. I launched La’ Cuev in January 2017, after spending a few months researching and learning everything and anything I could about selling online. I can not reiterate how important it is to do your research! It is the key to success; that will be my first and most important advice to anyone starting a new venture. Talk to people, ask questions, join workshops, take a class. If you are passionate about your dream, then you will genuinely want to learn as much as you can about it. The second piece of advice I would give is not to give up or get discouraged by anyone, especially yourself. Sometimes, we are our own worst critics. Keep going, everything is possible!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with La’ Cuev – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
La’ Cuev boutique carries a unique selection of athletic wear, bikinis, dresses, tops, bottoms, and even accessories. I wanted my boutique to have a variety of styles for everyone. Whether you are trendy, casual, exotic, elegant, artsy or even a businesswoman you will find a piece on my site. I am honored to have worked and collaborated with some amazing women, not just in Miami but on the east coast as well. I am a huge supporter of women taking charge of their lives, and I believe it is vital to growing as a person and as a businesswoman. We must lift each other up and work together, not against each other. For the women that don’t enjoy shopping online, I have you covered; I also host pop-ups weekly around Miami. All you would have to do is follow me on social media to know where my next event will be. Our weekend pop-ups are at The Wynwood Marketplace and during the week, you can find us in Coral Gables, Brickell, Fort Lauderdale or our latest venue, Key Largo. I want all my clients to be 100% satisfied with their new pieces. If you do not find what you are looking for on my site or in my pop up, I will personally shop to find you that item or something relatively close. I genuinely care about my customers and want them to feel just as good as they look. Going above and beyond for my clients is what has made me a successful entrepreneur. I am proud of my entire journey, but I am most excited about the future. I am currently working on designing my own collection for La’ Cuev. Slowly but surely, the vision I had two years ago will become a reality.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Some of my favorite blogs would be, Who What Wear, Not Jess Fashion, The Blonde Salad and Little Mexico.
My favorite podcasts are: How I built this, Goal Digger, Clever Girl Finance and American Fashion.
Contact Info:
- Website: LaCuev.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacuevboutique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaCuevBoutique/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaCuevBoutique
Image Credit:
Model- Angela Ayala, Photographer- Julian Bohorquez
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA 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.
