Exploring Life & Business with Andrea De Jesus of Tony’s Luggage and Bags

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea De Jesus.

Hi Andrea, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
(2000) Essentially we started first selling at a flea market called the LACC Swap meet on Saturdays. My dad had his job working in DTLA with his boss selling luggages wholesale and retail during the week.

Through out the years our merchandise was changing as the market changed. When we first started selling at LACC Swapmeet, we first sold denim jeans for woman. Later on we sold kids toys, white t-shirts, men jeans. As the years went by our merchandise changed and we eventually started to sell on Sundays, not just Saturdays. We would wake up at 2 AM, my dad loaded the car while my mother got our lunch and us ready for the day. It was tough working through the weather (heat & rain) but it was fun for my sister and I.

(2005)
As the years went by around the year 2005, my father’s boss was going out of business in DTLA. This was moment of an opportunity for my dad and my family. My mom and dad consulted with the boss and asked if he could sell my dad his business. It wasn’t much merchandise that was left for my dad to buy but he was left with the suppliers and a store in DTLA.

Although we had a small store, it was still tough to sell. My father always mentioned to us that sometimes he would not make enough to cover rent. But my mom was always saving money from the sells at the swapmeet. We still kept going on weekends and my dad still had to open the store on weekends. As my sister and I grew up we would help out my mom more at the swapmeet on weekends. While my baby brother accompanied my dad to the store on weekends.

(2019-2021)
Around the year 2019, we were offered an opportunity by the landlord to move a bigger store. This new store was a lot bigger and the best part was that it was right next door. As always my dad consulted with my mom and with us to decide if we take that risk. We did in fact get that store and sales for a while were getting better than ever. Until 2020 the pandemic hit. As you know we were forced to shut down for about a year. When eventually the city decided it was time to open up again, our landlord gave the tenants a discount on rent and gave us a couple months to get on our feet again. We survived the pandemic.

When the city opened up again business was picking up again little by little. My sister and I would help my dad at the store while my brother helped my mom for one year at the swapmeet . We eventually decided as a family it was time to stop selling at the swapmeet because for the first time sales at the swapmeet were not as good as years ago. We parted ways with the swapmeet, being very thankful for all the good sales we had and the fun memories we made as a family.

(2021- Present time)
As the city was going back to normal, the summer of 2022 the land lord offered an opportunity to get another bigger store in exchange to turn in our warehouses and the current store we were in. My dad once again consulted with my family and we decided to counter offer. We offered them to allow us to keep renting our warehouses and the current store and to allow us to rent the bigger store we were offered. The landlord agreed and so we now had a bigger store 3 times the size we were occupying.

Since now we have 2 stores that are right next to each other, it is a lot more work now but still rewarding. My dad is next door to my mom and I. I finished college already and I’m currently working with my parents family owned business. My brother is in college and coming after class to the store to help us out.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road for us, frankly nothing is easy about being an entrepreneur. Learning how to work with customers. The most challenging part is learning to be patient and having faith that our business will prosper. Sales may not be the best in many of our years in business, but learning how to manage financially our business had gotten us through many tough times.

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?
We are a family owned business that have been in business for over 10 years. We are a wholesale and retail business specializing in luggages and anything that is related to bags. We offer a variety of styles of luggages and offer the best prices in DTLA. Brand wise we are always working with our suppliers to manufacture and bring new items that sets us apart from our local competitors.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite child hood memory would be when my mom would attend my school field trips. She would always volunteer to go to my school field trips and bring me my lunch and snacks. Or another favorite memory would be when I played soccer in highschool and my family would come watch me play.

 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyluggageandbags?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
The only credit would be Google maps and credit to Wolf Kroeger on Instagram for capturing the picture of my mom and brother selling at LACC Swapmeet. His Instagram is Wolf Kroeger and LACCSwap on Instagram.