Meet Karen Ofelia Turadek | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Ofelia Turadek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen Ofelia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I want to solve problems for myself and others. But the whole idea of creating from zero excites and motivates me. That is exactly why I have never felt it as work but as something that I enjoy doing.

My children inspired the idea to create cute waterproof bags and totes. They would come home from school with their dirty, soggy gym clothes bunched up in a disposable plastic zipped bag from their teacher. It did the job, but I had to find a better way to transport their clothes and prevent these plastic bags from sitting in a landfill. I went to the sewing machine, and some adorable reusable waterproof bags were born. With Ofelia City East, I can provide my customers with something stylish, cute, earth-friendly, and practical. That’s a whole lot of wins in my book.

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets me apart from others is my passion for problem-solving and my genuine care for my customers. I thrive on challenges, understanding that each setback is an opportunity for growth.

I feel proud and excited when my customers tell me how much they love my products. Hearing simple remarks like, “I love your bags,” brings me immense joy and motivates me to keep going.

Running a business comes with many challenges that must be faced and overcome to keep it thriving. Sometimes, you will succeed, and at other times, you will face failure. However, failure is a part of any journey. If you learn from your failures, success is bound to come eventually.

When I started my business, the main issue was financial stability. I began with an empty wallet, producing and selling a small quantity. I went door-to-door to reach my customers, always thinking big. I aimed to satisfy them with both quality and price. Ultimately, making money is not the only goal of a business; building trust and confidence is crucial. If you consistently produce quality products, you will be able to overcome obstacles.

I want everyone to understand how much I love creating my products, and I hope they take the opportunity to check them out online.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I usually have friends & family that visit us from New York. Our favorite spot is American Junkie in Hermosa because it is close to the beach, so we take them for a walk at the Pier. Also, our favorite restaurant is The Bottle Inn in Hermosa. The have the most beautiful sunsets while you eat dinner.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my kids, Richie and Reagan, and my husband, Richard, whose unconditional love keeps giving me the strength to continue doing what I love.
To my best friend, Diana, who never stopped believing in me.

To my parents, without them, I wouldn’t have been here.

And Finaly to my My Grandma Ofelia She was my first inspiration and the reason my store features her beautiful name.
 My second biggest inspiration for my sewing passion came from my lovely mother-in-law Brigidann She was the driving force behind my desire to pick up sewing again. I took classes online and started to make clothes for my own kids. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but I keep her memory alive by continuing the tradition she passed on to me. She is with me every time I sit at my machine and create.

Website: https://www.ofeliacityeast.com

Instagram: @ofeliacityeast

Facebook: @ofeliacityeast