Today we’d like to introduce you to Leilani Fernandes and Lisa Tam.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We both come from families that owned their own businesses, and before we met with both had goals of one day opening our very own. We studied fashion merchandising and business at Florida State University. After graduation, we pursued great careers in different areas of the industry including publishing, buying, and marketing. We learned a lot and reached a point in our careers where we could keep growing or take a leap of faith into pursuing a dream project. We decided life is too short and we should try to make our dreams of owning a boutique a reality. With a lot of grit and grace, we got our store up and running in March of 2015.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Dreams are always much sweeter when there are bumps in the road. We encountered several challenges in our journey but in the end, they taught us a lot, and we wouldn’t be where we are without them. This was our first business we ever opened so dealing with commercial real estate negotiations, finding reliable contractors, and figuring out what permits, and inspections we needed to operate was challenging. We also opened our store in a newly constructed building, so we experienced lots of unforeseen delays. Once we were finally open, we weren’t able to hire employees right away. We devoted all of our time into working and figuring out our day-to-day operations. It was socially challenging, but we learned a great deal about our business and created a foundation that has set us up for a successful future.
Please tell us about MIMO Market.
MIMO Market is a boutique that is home to eclectic, contemporary, clothing and accessories for women and men. We aren’t just about setting the trends. Each piece you find from MIMO Market is handpicked and curated with our customer in mind. Most of the designers we bring on have a story, a passion, and a vibe that is unique and special. Our store is located in the heart of Wynwood, Miami’s art district so we’re all about personal style and carrying pieces that inspire people to just be who they are. We’re proud of being a small business; it allows us to connect and build relationships with our customers, and provide them amazing personal service. As owners, we are very hands on, and always making sure that we bring in special pieces that are of great quality at an affordable price.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Leilani: I grew up in a military family, so we moved around quite often. When we lived in Germany, my mom loved having fresh bread and pastries in the house. I was about ten years old, and she would let me walk to the local bakery by myself. For me at that age, it was a big deal. Whether it was a sunny or snowy day, that walk and having that responsibility gave me a sense of independence. I’ll never forget the ringing of the bell above the door, the warmth and sweet smells of the bakery. I got to practice my German, and sometimes the ladies that worked there would give me those sugary wormy candies. It’s a memory that always brings a smile to my face.
Lisa: When I was in elementary school, my dad owned a Chinese restaurant called “Egg Roll Restaurant.” The restaurant had two stories with a staircase lined with faux grass – the kind of material you see on fake Christmas trees. My dad had a bunch of empty boxes laying around, and we had the bright idea of creating our own roller coaster ride, with the box as the cart and the stairs as the slide. We did paper-rock-scissors to decide who goes first, and “somehow” my sister Vicky was chosen as the first rider. She hopped in the box, and I stood behind her to give her a gentle nudge. She made it down smoothly maybe 2-3 steps until the box bumped into a step and flipped over. She haphazardly rolled down the rest of the stairs. I came running down the stairs to make sure she was okay. Luckily she only walked away with some bumps and a small scratch down her cheek from the rough grass carpet. She still has a faint scar on that spot to this day. Needless to say, we never tried that again!
Pricing:
- Most of our products are under $100
Contact Info:
- Address: 2619 NW 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33127
- Website: www.mimomarket.com
- Phone: 7865770389
- Email: mimomarket@mimomarket.com
- Instagram: @mimomarket
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mimomarket
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mimo-market-miami
Image Credit:
Andrea Menendez @iaiamb, Phoebe Cheong @phoebecheongphotography
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