Today we’d like to introduce you to Norma Rivas.
Norma, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started when I was online browsing for Salvadoran inspired merchandise and was unable to find something that caught my eye. I also noticed there wasn’t much of a market for the specific merchandise I was searching for (pins, socks, stickers, etc..) I always wanted to start my business but again, since my interest was very specific, I didn’t know if it would there would be a demand.
After discussing with my family, I decided to begin my business journey. I chose Etsy as my marketplace since it is one of my favorite sites to find unique items. I had a difficult time picking a name and decided on Mimster, which is similar to my childhood nickname Mimi.
As a market tester, I decided to also add three pins that were inspired by my Vegan lifestyle, my love for Los Angeles, and makeup. Although these pins did not fit my market point, I decided to take a gamble. At this point, I knew everything I was doing was a gamble. Lastly, we have my popular Pupusas Por Vida pin and was ready to open my shop.
As it turned out, many of my followers shared my similar view of the lack of Salvadoran merchandise online and were excited to find another place to shop. My Salvadoran items sold out, and it answered my question of “Is there a demand?” I continued to focus on creating more designs in which us Salvadorans could relate to. Many of them being silly and like my mom would say “puras bayuncadas.”
My followers seemed to love my items, and it has truly made me ecstatic that I could offer funny illustrations and merchandise while representing our Salvadoran roots. In a few months, my account has grown more than I could have ever imagined. I credit this growth to the support from the Salvadoran Instagram community.
As a result, I have been able to add more pins, hats, stickers, socks, and shirts to my Etsy Mimster shop. I have many ideas for the future, and I am very excited to share them with all my supporters.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Working a full-time job while trying to grow my business has definitely been a challenge.
During the workday, I have to take notes of my ideas, and once I am home, I begin working on them. I can’t stop and frequently lose track of time because I get excited to see what they may develop into. It can get a bit hectic trying to balance work and interacting with my followers on social media, but I always seem to find a balance from work, personal life, and my business.
In addition, it was intimidating to enter the Latina/o market as a Salvadoran vendor, since there seemed to be a lack of items similar to a market of what I was designing. However, the uniqueness has allowed Mimster Shop to grow. Like many other new business owners, I’ve had my struggles, but I use them as a learning experience.
Please tell us about Mimster Shop.
Most of my ideas are from growing up Salvadoran. The designs I make are inspired by my culture with a fun twist. Like many other Salvadorans out there, I grew up listening to cumbias, eating Pupusas, tamales, empanadas, and being called bicha or cipota.
I use these popular food dishes, music, phrases and expressions to design pins, hats, socks, and stickers, or as we like to say “unos boladitos.” I would like to think I am known for my pupusas socks, which is the item that helped my shop stand out. I have always been a fan of funky socks which is why I designed them with pupusas all over. I taught myself the basics of graphic design, and I use my skills to create fun ways we can represent our Salvi pride.
Being a shop that mostly appeals to Salvadorans definitely sets me apart from many other sellers, since there isn’t many of us in the market. El Salvador is a beautiful country that holds a special place in my heart with beautiful memories of experiences that inspire me to keep designing. I am very proud of my roots, and I am grateful I’ve been able to show this thru my work.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories was a visit to El Salvador. My family and I took a trip to a tourist attraction, also known as a turicentro, to a place called Amapulapa. Amapulapa is a natural spring water park that sits on volcanic soil which is located in the department of San Vicente.
This water park isn’t your typical water park because it features very tiny fish that swim around you. While in the water, I remember my mom telling me to stay still and watch the little fish nibble on my feet. As a child, it was one of the most exciting and out of the ordinary experiences.
Growing up I later found out that the little fish are actually providing a pedicure to encourage growth of new skin. What made this memory extra special is that I got to experience it with my extended family that lives in El Salvador.
Contact Info:
- Website: MimsterShopCo.etsy.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mimster.shop
Image Credit:
@arelymrt,@christiesays, @cesarv11
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