Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Maldonado.
Diana, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always since I was a kid, love to help and encourage others. This can be from just giving a smile or a hello to everyone, give food (cooking, baking and buying food, whatever they need), create something special/unique for someone else, etc. but doing anything within my reach and my abilities to make others feel appreciate it. As I started to grow my talents and abilities and always within my capabilities (economically and time-wise) I started to do crafts, this was an outlet for me to be creative, something I learned from my mother, and at the same time giving to others.
People started to ask if I can teach them how to do crafts. So I started to do workshops and teaching others the crafts I was doing, specially stamping as I was a demo for a stamping company named The Angel company, very suitable name. I was living in Puerto Rico (where I was born and raised) where most people speak only Spanish. The stamps from that company were in English and sometimes people used them at the workshop but even when they wanted to buy them and use for other projects (specially cards for others, the language was something that stops them). When I moved to Texas, back in 2011 I have no customer or friends nearby; I couldn’t do workshops and I was driving myself crazy. There is when I started designing stamps in Spanish and when Latina Crafter was born in June 2011.
I started with only four stamp sets including a bunch of popular sentiments that I thought were going to be useful and also in case that it was all I did, I have what I needed to create my own cards. But it wasn’t not the case and Latina Crafter has grown to more than hundreds of designs in Spanish. Some stores in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia and others were carrying my stamps!!! I have had costumers from every continent except Antarctica, LOL!! It has been a wonderful journey.
As I keep designing… one night I felt the need to do Inspirational/Christian stamps. I have done a couple of Bible verses here and there and they were really popular. But since I am living in Texas, I thought it was time for me to do stamps in English as well. I was a bit scared with this new adventure, but in October 2015 I launched the Be a Blessing stamp collection, and oh mine!! this collection has been so popular!! that my Spanish speaking customers wanted for me to do more Inspirational stamps in Spanish as well and that’s what I have mostly do from 2015; stamps with a message… stamps that can bring a smile to the person that receive a card or any other project created with them. Our mission is to inspire you one stamp at a time and we want for you to give encouraging messages…. now we also have stickers, pins and handmade items with inspiring messages that can be give as gifts to those special persons in our life but also to those we encounter in our way that needs encouraging messages in their daily life.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No, of course not. Having a business is never a smooth road, but a wonderful journey with ups and downs. A journey designed specially for you to grow and evolve. A journey that will set you apart from the others.
Struggles, for me specifically has been to connect with others locally. I am a people person and don’t get me wrong, I love my online customers and I love to connect with them and I do. But I love that connection that forms when you get together when you share more than a line, but your life, your emotions, sometimes your everything… that’s why I have been starting to do pop up markets and offering workshops. Hopefully, I will have my first workshop soon… but has been struggling with that as well.
Latina Crafter – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Latina Crafter is a stamping company. “Wait what? aren’t those stickers? how do I use them?” those are the Top 3 questions I am asked every time I present my products.
Remember when you were a kid and the teacher stamp encouraging messages in your work, maybe a star, a good job, an A+ or something along those lines. She/he uses, probably a rubber stamp and ink. What I offer is “clear” stamps made with a high-quality photopolymer made right here in USA. These stamps can be used again and again and with the correct care can last forever. These stamps offer you a couple of things that set them apart.
They are easy to clean, just a damp cloth with water and you are done (a shammy clothe works wonder).
They are easy to store; comes in a clear sheet with the design printed on the other side where you can store them and they occupy a small space contrary to rubber stamps wood mounted or unmounted.
They are clear so you can see where you are stamping!!!
Another thing that set us apart is the messages… we were the first company that offers and specializes in clear Stamps in Spanish and the one with the greater number of designs.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
That’s a great question… I haven’t thought about it. I will say planning better, from the designs, inventory, etc. To have a plan is a great starting point. I didn’t have one and it was a bit of a struggle, as I thought it was going to be a short journey, I wasn’t expecting to go for this long. I will say as a reminder to others, don’t underestimate you and your abilities to go wherever you want to go.
Pricing:
- Stamps are offer in a variety of size from $4.00 to $25.00
- Stickers $4.00
- Pins $2.00
Contact Info:
- Website: latinacrafter.com
- Phone: 2146902379
- Email: diana@latinacrafter.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/latinacrafter
- Facebook: facebook.com/latinacrafter
- Other: pinterest.com/latinacrafter
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