EP 165: BLENDING CREATIVITY AND CULTURE WITH JAZMIN MONTALVO (PART I)

08/14/24 • 54 min

This episode is sponsored by Patrick & Company, a wholesale sales agency proudly representing nationally and internationally branded companies. Located in the Dallas Market Center, for over 30 years they have been the go-to source for retailers helping to discover those unique, sought-after, and stylish brands.
Jazmin Montalvo is the passionate owner of Frida Bae Co., a vibrant brick-and-mortar boutique where creativity and culture intertwine. As a mother and bonus mom to four daughters, Jazmin is dedicated to raising strong, fearless, and outspoken women, infused with pride in their Mexican heritage.
Jazmin's journey to entrepreneurship was shaped by her deep-rooted creativity and love for art, prominently displayed on the boutique's walls through her own artwork. Her career began in nursing, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2016 and later a Masters in Nurse Leadership in 2021. However, the challenges of working on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a pivotal shift in her life.
In October 2022, Jazmin realized her dream with the opening of Frida Bae Co., a size-inclusive women's boutique offering an array of customized products including jewelry, home decor, and apparel like t-shirts and wood signs—all handmade with love. Through her boutique, Jazmin continues to celebrate her culture and empower others to embrace their roots while pursuing their passions.
In part one of this conversation, Jazmin shares the adventure of moving into a new retail space. She walks through her journey of becoming a nurse and her transition to boutique ownership. Jazmin also shares her experience at Dallas Market Center, how she built an amazing table from scratch (with no experience!), what life was like working in nursing during COVID, and more.
What’s Inside:

Jazmin’s transition from nursing to retail
What it was like working in nursing during COVID
How Jazmin’s immigrant parents influenced her career journey

Mentioned In This Episode:
Fridabaeco.com
At Home with Jazmin on Amazon
Frida Bae Co. on Facebook
Frida Bae Co. on Instagram
Frida Bae Co. on Pinterest
Frida Bae Co. on TikTok

Jazmin’s transition from nursing to retail
What it was like working in nursing during COVID
How Jazmin’s immigrant parents influenced her career journey

Mentioned In This Episode:
Fridabaeco.com
At Home with Jazmin on Amazon
Frida Bae Co. on Facebook
Frida Bae Co. on Instagram
Frida Bae Co. on Pinterest
Frida Bae Co. on TikTok

Previous Episode

EP 164: HOW A SIMPLE GIFT BECAME AN EMBROIDERY BUSINESS WITH MICHELLE GALLETTA

MC Design Academy is designed to be a space where I get to share my expertise with you, where you'll get to learn all about visual merchandising, design, display, retail, and everything in between. Come along as I practice my craft and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow our socials to keep updated. See you in the merchandising land of MC Design Academy!
A printmaking graduate from the Ontario College of Art and Design, Michelle Galletta is the founder of Kiriki Press. The idea was inspired by Michelle wanting to make her niece Madeleine an embroidered doll but couldn't find a pattern anywhere. Michelle decided to learn how to embroider so she could make her a set of three owl dolls to play with.
It was difficult to find contemporary embroidery patterns that weren’t overly simplistic, let alone embroidered doll patterns, so Michelle ended up designing her own. As she was making Madeleine’s owls, she became fascinated with embroidery: the vibrant colors, the countless variety of stitches, and the calming effect it had on her.
After several years of improving her embroidery skills (and a ton of design work), Kiriki Press was born. It was developed in the hopes of giving others the chance to make something precious with their own hands. Kiriki Press was launched in December 2012 with seven patterns, and the collection has grown over the years and is currently expanding to include a range of other DIY products.
Michelle was chosen as a featured seller on Etsy and has been a contributor to Mollie Makes books and magazines. The company has been featured in Uppercase, Canadian Living, Chatelaine, Bust Magazine, and Homespun, as well as many other print publications and craft blogs.
Here, Michelle takes us inside her shop and shares how she moved from her prototype dolls into full production. She also talks about how she transitioned from what she thought was her dream job into starting a business of her own. Michelle shares her experience at her very first show, how she handled business growth through the pandemic, and where she finds inspiration.
What’s Inside: