Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Fernando.
Hi Jane, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Stupid Kitsch in the middle of the pandemic (just like a lot of new, small businesses). Call it a bucket list thing, but I always wanted to start my own business and with free time on my hands, I finally put in the work to get everything set up and I went for it. Two years later, the business is still growing and I’m continuing to grind on as the world starts to open back up. I’m balancing my online shop alongside local in-person events and doing the best I can to expand. I’ve made some great connections with local event organizers and am glad to be a part of a community that embraces my brand.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Running my business has definitely come with a lot of challenges, but the most difficult one to tackle is my imposter syndrome. I’ve always been my biggest critic and when the burnout starts to set in, the anxiety and doubts start to creep in. Every now and then, I have to remind myself that one of the best things about owning my own business is that I can go at my own pace. I take some time to reset and refocus on doing things one step at a time. When I do, the big picture starts to become a little more clear again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Stupid Kitsch?
Stupid Kitsch is an online shop of quirky clothing and accessories. Each brand we carry is either women-owned, BIPOC owned or LGBTQIA+ owned and carefully selected to fit our kitschy aesthetic. We want our customers to be able to express themselves through the way they dress in a way that stands out. We want people to feel confident in their individuality with every piece they purchase from us. The thing we’re proud of the most is being able to share the work of so many incredible artists and brands and to curate a collection that our customers really connect with.
How do you define success?
Success to me looks like being able to run my business on a full-time basis, hiring staff and being able to give back to my community. I want to build Stupid Kitsch to be the company I wish I could shop from – one that promotes inclusivity, equity, individuality, and supports artistic expression. And one day, I might even want to open a brick-and-mortar shop!
Contact Info:
- Website: stupidkitsch.com
- Instagram: @stupidkitsch
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stupidkitsch
