Name of Business: Creaciones Monona
Business Type: Artisan Gift Shop
Location: Argentina
My entrepreneurship story began in 2018 when I had to undergo surgery for a serious health problem. As a result of my leave, I lost my job as a social psychologist working in schools and higher-education institutions.
Before losing my job, I used my sewing skills, which I learned from my grandmother, to sew pencil cases and hygiene bags for my children. Their classmates often wanted me to make and sell them my pencil cases, but I wasn’t up for it.
When I lost my job, I realized it was a chance to put what I’d learned into practice, and I started making and selling pencil cases. I think I sold eight the first time, most of them to my daughter’s friends.
Little by little, I gained the courage to make more. I began to try different fabrics, seeing which ones were best and which ones wouldn’t work for the cases. I remember looking at shop windows in downtown Mendoza, copying pencil case designs or taking photos, and then trying to make patterns or looking for them on various websites.
The following year, I started working at a higher-education institute, and there I offered my pencil cases to everyone. I began to feel encouraged to make other things such as placemats, fabric baskets, etc.
I recognized that I needed a brand for my work, and that’s when I decided on Creaciones Monona, to honor my mother, who always encouraged me to grow in every aspect and strive for excellence.
When people found out I sewed, they started asking me to alter their clothing. This helped me a lot when sales were slow. This required that I stay informed and up to date with current prices. This also helped me to continue learning about other products I could add to my business.
Many friends suggested things they needed or that seemed new to them, and I would try to make and sell them, which improved my opportunities to diversify. From making only pencil cases, I found myself offering a variety of products: mate sets (like a good Argentine), tablecloths, placemats, handmade wallets, spa sets, bags, baskets, curtains, hygiene bags for school, towels, event souvenirs, and many other items. When the pandemic hit, I started making masks and sold a lot, which allowed me to keep my business going during this difficult time.
In 2022, we were invited by the Maipú de Cuyo Stake to participate in the Academy for Creating Enterprise. It was an experience that completely changed the way I viewed my business. I was able to give vital importance to keeping track of everything, constantly focusing, setting goals, making better purchases of my materials, and many other things that allow me to grow day by day and become more self-sufficient.
The Lord loves us and knows our potential, which is why He gives us these opportunities to develop our talents and help us and our families. I feel very blessed because I can constantly learn and develop at the Academy and thus achieve my personal and family goals and dreams.