Today we’d like to introduce you to Senaida Martinez Gaona.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started crafting as a teenager, making simple paper crafts and it’s been with me ever since. I love creating crafts with my kids, especially during birthday parties, it helps me practice and expand my creativity. I started my journey with Serenity Designs in the fall of 2021. I was in nursing school and things ended up going in a different direction. After leaving nursing school, I studied abroad in Hawaii and when I came back to Texas, I decided to make my hobby full-time. I guess you can say Hawaii gave me a cleanse. That’s when I started Serenity Designs. I started making vinyl decals for cars and from there I moved on to custom items such as t-shirts, tumblers, and paper crafts.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has not had a smooth road. There so many turns and zigzags roads along the way. As a mom with several kids, it’s hard for me to balance mom-life with business life. I have a 3-year-old who always keeps me on my toes and my other kids and husband help out when they can. Also, nowadays material cost is going up and some products are also hard to find. Keeping my products ready for my customers is my main goal for when I work at our local farmer’s market. It can be challenging when another vendor sells similar items as you but you make the best of it and try to overcome that obstacle and challenge yourself to be unique.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in personalized gifts and create custom designs when needed. I create cup decals, vinyl decals, graphic tees, tote bags, and tumblers. I am a self-taught crafter and I’m very passionate about my work and enjoy serving others. I’m known for the lady that can create your t-shirt and personalized gift for that special someone. I’m most proud of the connection I have with my customers. I have a special relationship with each of them and I try to give them the best experience to keep them coming back. It makes me happy when I get returning customers for every season and special event. What sets me apart from others is that I’m very ambitious and my products are well-rounded, I have something for everybody and this helps my growth with my customers.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
When I first started this journey, I didn’t have many people who believed in me, even my close family thought I was wasting my time because I wasn’t making any money and the thing is that it’s not always about money. Yes, money helps pay bills but I love doing what I do, it makes me happy and it’s a reward feeling seeing your customer appreciate your work. I would tell other
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serenitydesigns01
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenitydesigns001
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/serenitydesigns01
