Today we’d like to introduce you to Juan Saldana.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Juan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my brand in March of 2019 with the intent of just showing my love and passion for fitness. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or where to even begin, all I knew is that it became something I knew I wanted to do. Fitness is something I turned to about 3 to 4 years ago when things just weren’t going right in my life. A buddy of mine was really big into fitness and I remember asking him one day if I could join him. I went with him one evening and the rest was history. I loved everything about it! Having a bad day? I’d go to the gym. Needed to blow some steam off, I’d go to the gym. Needed alone time, I’d go to the gym. It became my go to place.
Being able to see my body change with dedication and consistency was amazing to me. Seeing people in the gym with the same goals which were to better themselves felt like that’s where I belonged. The people I met, the friendships I made throughout the years were magical. It’s honestly been life-changing for me. So when I started my brand it was honestly through a leap of faith but now with all the love and support I’ve received I knew that this was meant for me to do. People who didn’t know me wanted to support me, people from different states reached out wanting to support me. It was mind-blowing I couldn’t believe it.
Friends and family were always so supportive and one thing lead to another. Just to see my brand in gyms across the DFW is still something I can never get used to. I can’t thank every single person enough who has ever supported me this past year and keep supporting me till this day. I will forever be thankful and beyond grateful for y’all!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road to say the least lol. Every single step along the way has been a challenge and a learning process. It’s always a challenge deciding on what to put out, how to design it, colors, prints, sizes, quantity, I mean it’s insane what goes into having a brand.
You don’t realize the long nights and early mornings that come along with having to track all orders, package them and get them shipped out in a timely manner. One of the hardest pills to swallow is knowing you can’t please everyone but still trying to put out apparel that you know you love and hope everyone else will too.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about BJ Athletics – what should we know?
My brand is one that anyone can wear any day of the week. Wear it to the gym or just wear it out on a casual day. I remember when I first started the line that it was something I wanted to make sure I stuck to was being versatile and not just one dimensional. From my hoodies, crewnecks sweaters, to the crop tops to regular tees, anyone can wear them at any given time.
One of the things I’m most proud of about my company is genuinely the crazy support that I’ve received in the metroplex. From where I started to where I’m at now is mind-blowing! Thinking back knowing I’m just a normal guy who fell in love with fitness and had a dream about one day wanting to show a representation of it! And here I am now.
I feel that I can relate to a lot of small businesses in the area. I think we all started with a dream, took a leap of faith to get it started, scared beyond belief at first and rightfully so but continued to fight for this dream of ours day in and day out no matter what challenges got thrown our way.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Wow, where do I start. I without a doubt have to give my girlfriend Diana Maldonado a huge amount of credit for playing such a big role for where I’m at now. A lot of people don’t know this but she actually helped fund my first big purchase I ever did. So without her help, I wouldn’t be here… All her co-workers at the Mod Labb & Body Labb have always been huge supporters since the day I started. I can’t thank them enough for always showing me love.
My family, my friends, my gym buddies, all the people I’ve never met but have always purchased my apparel, they all deserve credit for where I’m at. The power of social media plays a big role in getting noticed especially when people not only wear my brand but post and tag me as well. It’s truly humbling when there are people who genuinely want to see you win and succeed! It’s a feeling that I just can’t describe or put into words.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bigjuan_athletics_85
Image Credit:
@sinography
@minfullyexecuted
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