Meet Xiomara Rosa-Tedla: Co-founder + Owner of UnoEth

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xiomara Rosa-Tedla and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xiomara, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The most important lesson I learned in building UnoEth is to have a plan. Honestly, our business started on accident. When we first started out, we didn’t know what we were doing and what direction we were heading in. It is extremely important to have a plan before launching a business so that there are goals in place and overall structure. We didn’t have that. We literally made up plans in the moment while we were managing our own demanding careers in Merchandising and Education. Having a plan creates a strategy to get you closer to your goals and it makes them feel more real.

What should our readers know about your business?
As a family-owned business, we’re tight knit. We literally talk on the phone every single day and we’ve shared so many memories over the years as father and daughter traveling and eating all over the world. What we love most about our brand, UnoEth, is that we get to reach back to our roots in Ethiopia and connect with our culture together. What’s interesting about launching and growing a business with family is learning how to work with one another as business partners. This part was a little rocky for us in the beginning as we didn’t share that experience together prior to launching our brand. We have different working styles and had different expectations. The key to working it out? Lots and lots and lots of communication!

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.
Whenever someone comes to visit, I love to create a diverse itinerary. It has to include all the things: the outdoors, a view, amazing food, a fun drive and a good walk to absorb the energy in the Bay Area. A fun hike in Redwood Regional Park is a great way to escape the city life, admire the trees and smell the fresh air. After working up an appetite hiking in the hills, brunch is necessary at Sobre Mesa in Oakland paired with a signature cocktail or two. A stroll around Lake Merritt and stopping by a couple our favorite shops are always in order too! After shopping at Alyce on Grand and Renegade Running, a picnic at Lake Merritt is always the right move. From the drum circle, food vendors, endless music, dogs, and folks from all ages and walks of life, the vibe is so unique and warm. All you need is a blanket, a bomb charcuterie board and a pack of Crowns & Hops beer to enjoy the view of the lake, sun and smiles all day long. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The majority of our business blossomed because of our friends and family. Word of mouth is the most powerful tool in marketing! If it wasn’t for our friends and family spreading the news about our handmade, leather bags, no one would have known about us. Why wouldn’t you trust people you know more than people you don’t? After our friends and family promoted us, then came boutiques, online media platforms and more. It just keeps spreading and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Website: http://unoeth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unoeth/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unoeth

Image Credits
Kimberly Davalos, Lance Carr, Akeem Pina