Amanda Garibay | Content Creator & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Garibay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from being an entrepreneur, and working in social media is that it is important to be patient and stay consistent. Nothing happens overnight, it’s important to keep waking up everyday and trying again until you find what works for you.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a content creator on TikTok and I am a Co-Founder of my fragrance business, Fragrance de Flor. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, in high school I was selling clothes to raise money for my prom dress and something inside of me just clicked. I went to school at the University of Houston and majored in Marketing. I took several classes in entrepreneurship and I fell in love with it! Being a content creator was always my dream job so I decided to start posting on social media. I would post anything from outfit ideas, to vlogs, to makeup. At first it wasn’t easy, I was not the best at speaking in-front of the camera and I didn’t know how to edit. To be honest, I was also scared. I was scared of being judged by my hometown and scared of being made fun of. But I saw a quote online that said something along the lines of , “don’t wait until you’re ready to start, just start scared.” That quote really spoke to me, so I just started posting despite all of my worries. Within a year I had reached ten-thousand followers and began traveling, and working with my favorite brands. I was amazed. I am so happy I started posting when I did. I learned it’s better to start scared than to never try at all.

That quote really did stick with me, in fact it’s also part of the reason I decided to co-found my fragrance business. While learning my ways through the social media world, I was offered the opportunity to be a co-founder in a business startup with some college friends and my boyfriend who was also attending the same college. Our business, Fragrance de Flor is an independent retailer that sells fragrances. Now I have never started a business before and I learned how to make websites in college so that helped but I was nowhere near a professional. I’m not going to lie, it was very challenging at first, the legal parts and the coding were some of the hardest parts. But together my colleagues and I got together and started researching everything! We really wanted to do this so we gave it everything thing we had. We watched YouTube videos on how to code and we researched web design. I even looked back at my old college notes for the marketing of the website. After 8 months, we uploaded our website and I learned how important it was to network, make connections and have good friends. I posted my business page everywhere and all of my friends and family were so supportive in reposting, telling their friends and following our business pages.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start with my favorite cafe, Anonymous! I love working at coffee shops and they have the best coffee and the cutest restaurant. For lunch one of my favorites spots to eat is Postino! They have the best cheese boards. My favorite place to hang out is the POST. I love the view of the Houston skyline and there are so many cool restaurants there for anything you are craving. They also have the best dessert spots. Speaking of dessert spots, I would have to recommend my favorite bakery, Awesome Bites! They are a vegan bakery (I’m not vegan) and I’ve tried everything, it’s all delicious!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my parents and my Fiancé. My parents have always supported me in anything and everything. They told me I could accomplish anything as long as I worked hard. I have them to thank for always lifting me up and supporting my dreams. My Fiancé has also always encouraged and believed in me, and he is always there for me. He has been my biggest cheerleader, photographer, personal assistant, driver, videographer and so much more. With out my support system I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: https://fragrancedeflor.com/?fbclid=PAAaYts_A9i1hB2PZCqzPTCg4O1a1chhpHWqR2JQv2StjkPYKlSGxv03gEtj4

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandagaribay_/?hl=en

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandgfa?_t=8byKbbqi1hz&_r=1