Meet Arrica Afton | Stylist , Designer . Vintage Curator . Mompreneur

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

Hi Arrica, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
Honesty, communication and kindness will go a long way and help you get a lot further. Most people can be patient in any situation if you just communicate the truth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Today, I am employed by a great company that allowed me to adjust my schedule for my little one. They are family owned and that has made all the difference in unexpected situations that come up being a parent. As a divorcee years ago, I had to make huge life adjustments and ended up going back into the workforce after working for myself for years. At the time it felt like a huge set back, it turned out to be a blessing. Prior to that I helped run my husband’s company’s in the automotive industry while I was working on my own “”small business ” so to speak at the time. Becoming a single parent under one roof, I realized quickly I need yo make some adjustments in order to get back to square one and create a new life for me and my children . Becoming an employee for a company, allowed me to clock out at the end of the day, leaving work at work, earn an income and create a schedule where I could spend more one on one time with my children. Year after year, recovering from financial and emotional struggles from divorce, I had finally felt like I was on solid ground again. Having that income allowed me to start small at first when I decided to open up my own business again. I would slowly build my businesses back, while maintaining my role with the company. Now, I don’t want to paint just a pretty picture here- being a present mom, working a day job while trying to run multiple businesses can feel like a train wreck and some days I wanted to throw in the towel. As cliché as this sounds, it’s blood, sweat and tears all the way. There were times when I had to put one business on hold and take on more projects than I would have preferred to handle in order to reach my financial goals. One thing that is so crucial is a SUPPORT team! You have to learn to choose your circle wisely! If it isn’t supporting your goal, drop it! I make sure I surround myself with individuals that have the same mindset and goals. I’m not up for small talk. I’m very intentional with my relationships. Another important thing would be prioritizing, it is everything. Set a goal! To each that goal there has to be an action plan. The pandemic really made me focus on what I wanted, needed to do and how to stay afloat. I had a board above my desk I would post a number on each month, break it out it to weeks and I knew if I didn’t hit my number that week then following I would have to double it up. That would become my mindset, and I realize very quickly shift and how my thought was what was going to change everything . I started hitting those numbers and very quickly I was growing, adding people, plus myself to the payroll. There would be many long days and nights. People try to derail you , they don’t understand your goal and that’s fine. Stay focused! Working in a retail industry while running a business, you learn a lot. How to really serve customers and understand at the end of the day everyone is human. Be kind, as transparent as possible and communicate. Communication has been the biggest thing I’m my experience that solves so many problems. I keep it broad because I work in the automotive world , I have a small landscaping business along with a creative business where we design space and creative clothing from recycled textiles. I would say as a brand my motto is refuse, reuse and recycle. It kind of plays into both, I don’t go after all business. I’ve learned the customer or client I’m trying to attract. They have the same mind set! I apply the same mindset and practices to each as an employee and as a business owner and boss my self. Those have been me keys to success so far. These last two years have really shown the results of that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As a native Houstonian, who’s traveled the world, I can say I absolutely love Houston and all its diversity. Houston will always be home. Some hidden little must try places, for Persian food I would say hands down Darband. Best little coffee shop, still is Agora. It was popular score all the new coffee shops. Anlttile upscale, I love The Traveler’s Table and for a rally cool ambience, Musaafer is such a beautiful place and great Indian Cuisine. We have some great museums and green spaces! My favorite lately is Houston Botanical Garden, but I love plants so maybe that’s why! Outdoor shows and music festivals and Miller Outdoor Theater are always fun too. We are growing by the day, and I try to always find a new place to eat or drink a coffee each time I’m out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think my success has come from the adversity I’ve faced and the individuals that had the ability to see something in me and giving me that chance. I lacked formal education so I was always eager to learn from anyone and everyone. Each set back I always tried to see how I could learn from it and what I could do differently to try and avoid the same mistake. My first real boss at HEB hired me at 17 years old as a cashier not knowing I was pregnant, 8 months later she saw I was going to be a young mother and needed to earn a livable wage to support my child. I had no business at the time being a bookkeeper for such a large store, she trusted my drive to support my child and gave me an opportunity that no one would have looking at a blank resume. At 18 when my friends were out exploring young adulthood, I was putting in double shifts learning how a store ran and going home to take care of a baby. That Book Keeper / Assistant Manager position was going to look a lot better than a Cashier on a resume. I just kept reaching from there and never settling. I went on to work as a receptionist for an attorney, not knowing how to turn the computer on. I did not have the wardrobe to work in an office like that. I recall them sitting me down and explaining I needed to dress better for the face of the office. I went home upset, called my mom and told her I needed heels and some “grown up clothes”. I was a sponge from then on, I learned everything I could from paralegals , the attorneys. That would then lead to another stepping stone up. There would be several people along the way that would not give me the opportunity for lack of formal education but there would be those that opened a small door allowing me to show them what I was capable of. Later on down the road, my husband at the time, really encouraged me to get away from the paycheck mindset, I was always trying to grow my paycheck because that’s what I was taught. He taught me that working for yourself, although risky would be far more rewarding and allow me to create a life I want. All those things combined have molded me to be the person I am today, as a mother, employee and as a business owner myself. I give grace, I look past the lack of education , sometimes ignorance and focus on the drive and passion an individual has or desire to do better and be a part of something. I think I have this gift where I can identify talent in others and I try my best to help them grow that. For the most part I can say it has worked out, and feels good to help contribute to another’s success. Whether it was an employee or a contract worker. or even a work opportunity for myself. I’m willing to start at the bottom to reach the top. I try to give individuals the same opportunity I would have wanted to be given. Now as a mother, I give my kids the same advice.

Website: https://www.arricaafton.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arricaaftonandco

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/arricaaftonandco

Other: https://agclandscapingservices.com/

Image Credits
The second picture of all the women in bright colors was photosynthesis Douglas Marquez. My go to photographer in Houston. All other were shot be me or my daughter.