how to go from side hustler to jefa in 12 months
how to go from side hustler to jefa in 12 months
for actionable steps y inspiracion - keep reading.
We’re celebrating a huge win this month.
In case you missed it on socials last week, Bonita Fierce Candles, is the first Latina-owned and inspired candle brand to hit the digital and IRL shelves of NORDSTROM.
And I can’t stop crying about it.
Here’s why:
The founder of BFC, Melissa, came to me in the summer of 2021 on a mission to grow her business. In just a few weeks after our first session, we had a rebrand underway, made a marketing and PR plan and she hit the ground running.
Looking at the notes from our first session, Melissa’s ultimate goal was to make her first 10K in revenue by the end of 2022. This made sense for her because at the time, Bonita Fierce Candles was a side hustle. But it was a side hustle with a very ambitious vision - and not only did I see the vision, I understood it and saw beyond it before she did.
From the moment we started working together - I knew that within just six months, with a little bit of strategy and accountability, her business could completely change.
Six months later she was on her way to a six figure business with national press features in Cosmo, Buzzfeed (to name a few) and a loyal B2B and B2C customer base.
And less than a year later, she signed a deal with her first national retailer - Nordstrom.
Now, she’s fundraising on IFundWomen to hit her next goal - fulfilling her (already interested) additional retailers and building her team.
Melissa is paving the way for more Latina-owned companies to break into national retailers - I could not be more proud of her.
And I’m positive she is just getting started.
how we got here
Our weekly sessions over the last 12 months covered a lot of ground, from diving into the foundation of her business, revamping a lot of it, crafting pitches, mind-mapping partnerships,creating sales strategies, developing tools, systems and setting goals.
But everyone knows that having the proper strategy and someone to guide you is only half the battle.
The other half, is having an incredible work ethic. That drive, dedication and passion is something Melissa showed up with on day 1 and brings to every single meeting.
Here are some things I’ve loved about working with her and why I think she’s seen so much success:
She asks a lot of questions and takes suggestions very seriously. We have detailed agendas and make the most of every minute of our calls. She also took advantage of the WhatsApp “on call” service I provide, and was able to make more efficient business decisions because of it.
She wasn’t afraid to put herself out there. Was it scary at first? Definitely - but she used the fear to fuel her. Her media background prepared her well for cold-pitching and after just being on one call with her for guidance, she was rocking partnership calls on her own left and right.
She did the work. Period. If you’re my client, you get homework. Not only does she do the homework, but goes above and beyond so that we have plenty of ground to cover by the next week.
if that inspired you, here are your next steps
Support Melissa. If you’re able to give to her crowdfunding campaign, check it out here. Or, if you’d prefer to support her at Nordstrom, you can buy online or at flagship stores in Seattle, NYC, Chicago, Dallas, Aventura and Canoga.
Book an intro call with me. I’m bringing on clients for Q4 and I’d love to see how we can work together. Whether you’re looking for a one-off strategy session or ongoing strategy, accountability and direction, I’m here to help. See more info here.
Come with us to Mexico next month?! I still have one spot available for the Jefa in Training retreat from October 24 to 31st in Morelia, Mexico and the last day to apply is 9/11. We’ll be developing business growth strategies and eating our way through Mexico - join us? More info here.
And adelante, jefas! Que si se puede.
xx,
Ashley 🧚
PS: I finally did the thing and started posting on TikTok. Catch my video series #HotGirlBusinessWalks on Mondays, Wednesdays and maybe Fridays, in which I attempt to walk my dog who hates everyone, Henry, and give business tips.