Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadette Vargas Rodriguez.
Hi Bernadette, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Like many small business owners, I found my way into this community through necessity. What started as a part time job packing silver for a wholesaler to pay bills, evolved into a passion for providing beautiful Mexican & Latin-made products and artisan goods.
I started selling the products during a very difficult season of my life, faced with an unexpected divorce and two daughters soon to graduate and go to college. At that time, I was trying to get by and make ends meet. I started selling the silver that I was packaging in small events and friends continued to ask when I would have another event. The extra money helped get me through and pay for unexpected expenses. A few years later, it occurred to me that I could continue to support other women like myself by purchasing wholesale and bringing their products to a broader market through my business.
I chose the name of my business for two reasons: for the beautiful products and my daughters who have been my silver linings in life! Finding a way to provide stability as a single mom was the reason I started my business. My Silver Linings provides a way to remember my Mexican roots, my love for my family, and serving others. My vision is to build My Silver Linings into a thriving business through collaborations with artisans, wholesalers, and other small businesses while focusing on quality products and serving others in need.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am an educator by profession so I knew nothing about building a business when I started! I have had to learn along the way! I have always chosen to be an inclusive business and to serve others by giving back to the community which means it is a slow build. I also chose to be self funded which can be limiting and challenging but also teaches me to be creative & resourceful.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a teacher at heart! I started as a bilingual kindergarten teacher, worked with children with special needs, and eventually became a college professor before I became a business owner.
I am most proud of always being resourceful when faced with a challenge, I learned this from my parents. I am the daughter of an immigrant father who valued education and his roots. My mother and grandmother modeled service and lifting up other women. For this reason, my business focuses collaborating with and providing opportunity for women owned businesses. What sets us apart is the unique handmade products in the boutique, focus on locally made goods, and giving back to the community as part of the mission. We often chose markets and collaborations that help serve others and that are aligned with our value of inclusion.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Service and collaboration
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mysilverlinings.biz/pages/about-us
- Instagram: @mysilverliningsbiz
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysilverliningboutique
Image Credits
Product image credit: Jenna Livingston @jennalivingstonphotography
