Meet Gabriela Chavez | Owner of Jade’s Bows and More

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

Hi Gabriela, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was simply doing more for our finances and saving for my daughter. I started my business when both my husband and I had been laid off due to COVID. We needed extra income, I was inspired by my daughter, she had received bows as a gift from her aunt and I decided to make them for her and extra to sell as well. Starting my business was for my family and my self. I was motivated to do more and to not quit. I didn’t want to depend on help.

What should our readers know about your business?
There are a lot of people doing the same thing as me, I’m not the only one who makes bows, headbands or jewelry. I can only speak for my self and say the I do it from the heart. I got to where I am today thanks to the support of family and friends, and strangers as well. I have received a lot of new support from new customers that I have met at pop up markets I have gone to. My business has gotten this far thanks to the people who have supported me, I’ve had people from California shop from me, and that to me is one of the things I’m proud of. I’m very sure there are bow makers in California, but it feels awesome that someone saw my page, liked my work and decided to purchase from me. It definitely has not been easy, like I said, I’m not the only person making bows but I didn’t quit. There were some months when I was depressed, and I wanted to quit, I was ready to close my shop and sell my inventory. I had spoke to my husband and I was ready to close. There were many personal reasons and there were reasons I made personal. I had felt disappointed when friends who would say they would buy from me, but they never did. I took those personally but I realized that negative mindset wouldn’t take me far, I would only be stuck in a cycle of misery that I had created my self. It wasn’t easy for me, falling into depression and feeling like I didn’t have the support of people I expected it from. I got up one morning and decided I didn’t want to be depressed and make my self miserable with my own thoughts, I had made it so far and I could go further. I learned to not let others peoples actions or I can say no action to my business affect me anymore. I came to the U.S as a child and I am very proud to say that I am an immigrant business owner who has gotten this far and will go farther. I’m proving the stereotype of “lazy, living off the government” wrong. I’m a hard working Dreamer who is working for her daughter and her self, I use a lot of hashtags to promote Jade’s Bows and more, #DACAbusinessowner is one of them. I’m very proud to be a dreamer and a business owner, I hope to inspire anyone to work with what they love no mater how may people are in the same field.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite parts of the city are the museums and parks! I’m not big on partying, I love peaceful places. I think the art museum and the science museum are fun places to go to. I love going fishing, one of my favorite spots is Galveston Fishing Pier. The quieter the place, the better it is for me. I recently went to The Color Factory with a friend and I highly recommend it! If you’re looking for some good Mexican food from a small quiet business I recommend Charros on 75th street. My personal top favorite food places are Pho Saigon on Milam, OK Dogs inside H Mart on Blalock Road, and Hopdoddy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shout out to my inspiration, to my daughter. She has been my rock and my reason to continue. I have never been one to make being a mom my only identity. I am a mother, daughter, a sister, and a hustler. I have accomplished a lot before being a mom, but this business is all due to my daughter. I wanted to work as much as I could for her, she deserves everything she needs and everything she wants. If I didn’t have a daughter I wouldn’t have started a business at all, I would have never came across bow making, or anything baby related. I can definitely say that having my daughter is the reason I was motivated to start my own business.

Website: bowsfromjade.com

Instagram: @jadesbowsandmore

Facebook: Jade’s Bows and More

Image Credits
picture of headband and earring by IG @neydi.photography