Meet Melina Lovera | Small business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melina Lovera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melina, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Yes, I do, “She believed she could, so she did” by R.S. Grey. It has resonated with me since a young age. Whenever I was going through a rough patch in my career or personal life, I often would repeat it to myself to ease my anxiety and also to motivate me to keep pursuing my dreams and goals. It became one of my first t-shirt designs to sell out. I have the quote on a Post-it note on my desk. I encourage positive affirmations, especially since we tend to be our most prominent critics during difficult times.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
This line is created with lots of love to empower women all over the world, we can fall, and we will, but we also rise above stronger than before. Ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed of being a clothing designer. After personal experiences, challenges, and personal growth, what better platform to inspire than through art, fashion, and advocating for change?

I would say the hardest part was getting started, I had the idea since I was a little girl, but I was lacking self-confidence, and I had many self-limiting beliefs. I would consider 2020 my hardest year, I was recently divorced, I had lost my full-time job due to the pandemic, and a few months from graduating when the schools shut down. I was also dealing with an eating disorder, loss of appetite, short-term memory problems, severe depression, and feeling like I had wasted what I thought were the best years of my life. For the first time in my life at 23, I was learning to cope with anxiety and how to regulate my nervous system and calm myself. Now, I know my early twenties were a life lesson, and I started a women’s empowerment blog on the shoploveraboutique.com website sharing my story and adding resources, materials, and tools for any young women wanting some motivation and encouragement to start over. I believe in life; sometimes we have to go through difficult roads in order to grow and expand. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my life experiences, and Shop Lovera would not be a women’s empowerment brand.

I learned the hardest part is starting and deciding to learn as you go, make mistakes, and keep going. I have been very fortunate with some of the opportunities that presented themselves to me since I started. I would also say knowing your Why is important, staying disciplined, and listening to positive criticism. Also, understanding you will never please everyone. Someone told me, “I love the idea of having graphic tees, but no one is going to want to buy a t-shirt with a quote.” “Your bracelets are nice, but I wouldn’t spend more than $6 on each.” I remember thinking this person is not who my target market customer is. My target customers are go-getters, fighters, women who are resilient and don’t give up and they will love to wear my pieces. I could have stopped there, but I kept going…I kept networking, sending emails, applying for popups, learning from other vendors and I continue to do competitive market research. In any field, don’t let the negative feedback paralyze you! Use any obstacle as a stepping stone to propel you forward!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love to go on road trips or weekend getaways! I frequently visit San Diego and Palm Springs. They are rich in art culture and have some of the best museums and art galleries for inspiration. I am a huge foodie; I love to try international cuisine and a good coffee shop. Some of my friends joke I am the most picky when finding a spot for a good coffee. On my last trip to San Diego, I tried Buzz Coffee iced hazelnut coffee with the right amount of caffeine. I love the Balboa Park museums; one of my favorites is the Air and Space Museum. I also enjoy the Gaslamp and La Jolla downtown areas. In the spring, I like to visit Palm Springs. One of my favorite museums is the Palm Springs Art Museum, which highlights architecture and design. I also love the local small boutiques there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this article to everyone who believed and saw my vision slowly come to life. My family, mentors, and friends have been supportive with popup events, volunteering, promoting my brand, podcast hosts, and small shops that showcase my brand in their stores or events. My professors at Orange Coast College Fashion Department and Cal State University Fullerton Communications Department have given me real-time feedback and support. Shop Lovera wouldn’t exist without you!

Website: shoploveraboutqiue.com

Instagram: Shop_lovera and beautybylovera

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melina-lovera-a3657013a/

Youtube: Lovera’s Self Love Cup

Other: Spotify Lovera’s Self Love Cup

Image Credits
First image title feature: Kurtis Filmmaker All other images: Robert Colon