Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesymar Claro.
Hi Jesymar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Alright, I’ll tell you a little bit about my story… I was born and raised in Venezuela, a beautiful country in South America. And something I always remember from my culture is that it is common to give lovely surprises on special days. Actually, my cousins and I started the tradition of giving personalized handmade gifts to each other on our birthdays. Time passed, we grew, and I moved out to the United States in 2016 (I was 16 years old at the time). I had to adapt to a new life with a different language and traditions. Since I didn’t have my family members nearby anymore, we stopped making handmade gifts for one another.
One day, my mom told me that one of her friends was looking for someone to make a life-size custom box for her daughter’s birthday. Well, my mom told her I could make it, so I took the challenge. Without even thinking, that was the beginning of my journey.
Later, in 2018, after almost a year of babysitting an 8-year-old boy, I was granted some time off for vacations that resulted in unemployment. I was not too worried because I had saved up for the worst-case scenario. Besides, I believed all that was happening for a reason. I knew I would find something better that would adapt to my college schedule as well.
After months of brainstorming and job searching, my mom (knowledgeable on digital marketing strategies) encouraged me to publish the pictures she once took of her friend’s box on facebook‘s marketplace to see if someone else would be interested in those types of gifts. After almost a month of not getting a single response from anyone, finally, a lady wanted me to decorate a candy table in a Mexican Style for her husband’s birthday. Because of my lack of knowledge of customer service, I remember giving my mom my phone and letting her handle the situation so the lady could say yes.
The day came! Thanks to my mom for helping me set everything up. Although the lady was happy, I figured that decorating that kind of event was not something I was interested in. At the time, I did not have a car. Instead, I would ride the bus everywhere! And I would rely a lot on my parents. I also did not enjoy investing time to contact vendors, create a budget, and then have clients either approve it or not. And I am not underestimating the job of event decorators or planners, but my reality did not allow me to do that job.
I remember a few days after, from the same posts from Marketplace, people would ask me if I had anything for Valentine’s Day, which I did not. But I immediately went online to find ideas for gifts I could make. I knew the box I was advertising initially (valued at $300 at the time) was too big (over 40 inches tall) and demanded a lot of working hours. I needed something more commercial and easier to make, ship, and carry. So, I came up with the idea of making small box versions (about 4×4 inches) still decorated with custom phrases, pictures, and some candies.
Valentine’s day came, and I had about 15 different orders! (I even shipped some to San Diego and LA). I could not believe it!
Little by little, I started getting more clients who would bring their ideas. I haven’t said this publicly, but the idea about custom balloons came from a client who sent me a reference picture. After all, the client did not buy from me, but I’m grateful to her for opening my mind. So, I started offering balloons. The same has happened with my flower arrangements and even my classes. They all have been through my audience and clients’ requests.
I also owe a lot to family members who have supported me differently. In 2019, I remember even creating my first logo with little design knowledge. But one day, one of my uncles, a very talented graphic designer and photographer, surprised me with a more professional logo.
In 2021, I started offering classes, and currently, I have five classes available to purchase. All of them are about different subjects that I know will help the community increase their skills and confidence. Jesy Decorations has also opened doors to work and collaborate with amazing brands such as Colombina and Don Roberto Jewelers.
I know the story is still ongoing. When I started, I did not want anything else but to create gifts for people and make them feel good. Today, I want to impact the community, teach them how custom gifts can change their life, guide other colleagues that are starting, and prove that dreams can always come true with lots of work and effort.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say I like the work struggle; I would instead call it a lesson. I heard Jennifer Lopez once say, “No is not an answer; it’s a new opportunity.” And that’s part of my mantra. Having a business is knowing the road will be rough, but no matter what, you have to keep going. Still, I’ll share a few of the things that I’ve faced thus far:
In the beginning, back in 2019, I was from the team quantity vs. quality, so after the first Mother’s Day, I had intense back pains and little monetary reward. Ever since I decided to work smart and plan strategies that will allow me to make a profit not only during the special day but throughout the season.
When I started selling balloons, I would have to walk 30 minutes to the store to inflate them with helium and then come back home to personalize them. Sometimes, the balloons would pop up along the way. So, imagine the time I would spend only picking up supplies. With time, I bought a car and all the equipment to do the entire process from home.
As months passed by, it was so hard to find helium. And my best seller was the single helium custom balloon with confetti. So that led me to start creating arrangements with natural air balloons. It might seem like an easy fix, but it took me time to think about which products would replace the helium balloons.
There is another aspect that only a few people understand about entrepreneurs. Indeed, I don’t work 8-5 types of job, but I work even more. I shower thinking about JesyD, eat thinking about JesyD, and even dream about it. And I have to be honest; sometimes, I barely have time to keep connected with friends or family. I have lost a few friendships because of focusing too much on this and their lack of empathy.
Another challenge has been building trust in people so that they value my work. You see, giving a gift is so easy; what’s difficult is giving a gift with a purpose, and that’s where I and Jesy Decoration stand. Customized gifts are exclusive and unique. They can’t be found at the store, which has an extra exceptional value. It’s not a secret that I’ve had a lot of nos in the past due to the lack of empathy towards the industry of handmade items.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
JesyDecorations is where I create everlasting moments through customized gifts. I have three main categories: custom boxes (with pictures, text, balloons, flowers, candies, personalized decoration, and more), arrangements (mainly with balloons and flowers), and single customized helium balloons.
Something I want to highlight from my culture is that we are not ashamed of expressing our feelings openly when giving something. In the American culture, it is more common to give a gift card on a birthday, for example. And I appreciate that because there is still intention and time invested. However, my gifts have a part of myself and the person who receives them. Before designing, the client is asked to complete a questionnaire to design a gift representing the person who will receive it.
One of the things that makes people remember me is that I speak both English and Spanish on my social media. My audience appreciates the fact that I serve both communities. Additionally, JesyD has allowed me to help others. It is satisfactory to see clients smiling because of my designs and witness how other colleagues improve their techniques after watching my classes or videos. When I started, I never imagined this type of business’s impact.
You are welcome to follow me on social media to see more of my work. I try to vary my content between lifestyle, tutorials, and even tips or tricks throughout my journey. If you want to order a special gift for your loved ones, my catalog is also available on my Instagram bio. I take orders through dm with delivery options. There, you will also find information about my classes. Currently, I have five available in both English and Spanish. The subjects vary from cutting machines, balloon customization, flowers and balloon arrangements, how to make a catalog of products, and more! As a heads up, after you buy the first class, you get a student discount for future ones! Contact me for more details.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I recently realized that my superheroes are not necessarily Superman, Batman, or Black widow. The great, fantastic, and supernatural stories my mom would share with me were about great CEOs, businessmen, and women. I grew up in a place where the story I was constantly told was that I am capable of doing and achieving anything in life, and although I’m not there yet, that is the story I repeat to myself every day.
In the same way that soccer players, swimmers, or any sports athletes work out and train their bodies, I also do but to my brain. My vitamins are podcasts and videos about people that I consider successful. A pattern I’ve found after watching these is that no single one has made it without persistence. The other aspect is the passion because when you are passionate, it is easier to be consistent, even when you want to quit. Alongside this is discipline, which can take you further than your talent. The last one is education, and I don’t necessarily refer to a degree or master’s. To me, education is an everyday thing.
Passion makes you ambitious; however, knowledge would bring your feet down to earth so there will be balance. Success is an uneven road, but it will prepare you for the most challenging circumstances.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesydecorations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066764833345
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jesydecorationss?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
