Meet Estefania Quintero | Business Owner

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

Hi Estefania, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking is everything. Without risk there is no success and no opportunities. I’ve always said it’s better to TRY and fail than to live with the “what ifs” and then later on in life live with regret. Taking a risk was primarily the reason I decided to open up a business & it was the best decision I could have made for myself and my future. As an entrepreneur, taking risks becomes part of your daily life.

Risk taking has made a HUGE impact on my personal life and career. I’m gonna be honest I’ve always been afraid of change & fearing the unknown. But thankfully, risk taking has definitely impacted me in a positive way. I am now more comfortable with change and more often take initiative while doing many things which is so important. Risk taking is a lifestyle you have to learn to live. If you fail, you will always learn something new so risk taking will always be worth it!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
“Shop with Steff” is an online based retail brand. We specialize and take huge pride in the QUALITY of our clothing. Our biggest compliment is always the quality on our pieces + the affordable pricing. We believe these are the two most important things people look for as a shopper. As much as we love bringing in unique never before seen pieces, we love a good staple piece you can wear daily (basics) . Always expect to see new styles every week and many things to choose from on our website ☻ Another thing I can say sets us apart from others is that we love giving back to our customers, we constantly have GIVEAWAYS on our Instagram page a few times a year. Making our customers happy makes US happy & we are beyond thankful for our customers!

I would say I’m most proud of our growth and consistency as a business. I’m also very proud of myself for always staying positive & never giving up. There are days that are very challenging, but your mindset is what will keep you going and keep you sane.

To get to where I am today, It all started when I was working at my previous office job as a administrative / accounting assistant. I worked there full time and I realized I wasn’t getting anywhere nor was I happy. While working there I had this brilliant idea of starting my own business. I thought about things that I love and of course I thought CLOTHING. I started doing tons of research on licenses, permits, etc and now here I am. Doing what I love! Building a business of course is not easy. You have your good days and your bad… Some lessons I’ve learned are to manage my time wisely, take care of my mental health and to pay close attention to my customers & their needs. Time management, mental health and listening to your customer is so important when owning a business. Take your rest days when you need them!

Lastly, what I would like the world to know about me, my story & the brand is that we’re a Latina owned business who come from immigrant parents. I want to let the world know (specifically women) that anything is possible! I truly believe women are capable of anything and that we are powerful. There are more women owned businesses now than ever before & this is what inspires me everyday. To all women who have creative ideas and plans they’d like to execute, take that first step! I took my first step and always remember… do something you’re passionate about that will get you closer to YOUR dreams and not somebody else’s!

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?
OMG so many spots to choose from! First off, I want to say I was born and raised in LA (koreatown & echo park) so I know all the hidden gems! Lol. I am also a huge foodie so I’d take her to all the best restaurants in the city. Places to eat, I would take her to my favorite lunch spot ever which is Porto’s bakery! They have the best food plates, smoothies, pastries. For dinner I’d take her to my favorites which are Mastros, Lalas, Toca madera, TAO, or Perch. For a night out for drinks I would take her to tempo cantina, kalaveras or kings and queen cantina. For a nice view of the city, we’d go on the runway canyon hiking trail in Hollywood or to the Griffith park trail! I’d take her to the echo park swan boats while we eat our acai bowls or smoothies from Roots & rye (another favorite) I’d also stop by my favorite beach La Jolla while on our way to San Diego. There’s kayaking tours there which are super fun & jet skiing! I’d take her to X lanes in little Tokyo for arcade games, bowling… & last I LOVEEE boba so I’d take her to my all time favorite “BOBA TIME” to end the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d love to give a special shoutout to three special people in my life. First, my mother of course. She’s always been super supportive from the start + has never hesitated to be a helping hand when needed. I owe her the world, everything I do is for HER! My biggest goal in life is to retire my mother ASAP. Second shoutout would be to my best friend Chelsea. She plays a HUGE role in the company – She helps me so much behind the scenes + gives her input in many things and never hesitates to help me out when she can. She’s been my best friend of 15+ years so she’s more like a sister to me. Love her to death! Very very appreciative of her & all the love & support she has always showed me & my business.
& last shoutout would be to my boyfriend James. He is literally my right hand, the best assistant ever! Does SOO much for the company! Picks inventory up, drops orders off for me, meets with my customers for pick ups, takes my pictures, + so much more! These three amazing people have a huge impact on the success of the company & have been extremely supportive since day 1 and never left my side whatsoever.
I will always appreciate them with my whole heart. THANK YOU.

& of course, A huge shoutout to SHOUTOUTLA for the opportunity!

Website: www.shopwithsteff.com

Instagram: @shopwithsteff

Other: Tiktok: @shopwithsteff