Today we’d like to introduce you to Ketrin Ofilada.
Hi Ketrin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story is typical for immigrants coming to the USA to fulfill “the dream”, which is a safe and better life. Not that my life in Brazil could be considered bad but I knew there was more. A couple of months after my bachelor’s graduation in business I sold my car, bought an airfare ticket, and decided that was time to get out of my comfort zone. I arrived in 2002 in Los Angeles, no English, little money, but my drive to succeed was immense! Through the years I went to school and worked in various fields from dishwasher, pizza driver and nanny. Every place I worked; I remember my father telling me to always leave a “door open” because the future is unpredictable. And I did, working with excellence, care, and honesty. I met my husband in 2003 and got married in 2005. Right after, I started working in an office as a financial assistance and soon worked my way up inside the corporate universe. During that time, I became a mother and concluded my MBA. Life was good but I felt that was time to leave my comfort zone again and became my own boss.
In 2013, I acquired a small ethical store; it was a start but much to be done. The store was remodeled, a vast variety of products well stock up on the shelves, and a POS implemented. Everything was organized, beautiful but I had few customers. I was active on business social media but that was not enough. After much thinking, I decided if customers were not coming to me, I would go to them. I started a quest of fairs, parties, events, anything that my public would attend. I would be there as well with my booth spreading the word of a renovated store full of great products imported from Brazil. Word-of-mouth is powerful, and little-by-little business is picking up. In 2016, my second child was born and at the same year I partnered to open an authentic casual Brazilian restaurant in Torrance called Brazilian Plate House. The business model from a restaurant to a market is very different and I had to learn, and I am still learning, to manage it. In 2018, my third kid was born and it was very challenging growing two businesses and attending three kids. I had to learn quickly to delegate and work efficiently to keep my mental health.
Currently, Hi Brazil Market is very known among the Brazilian community in South Los Angeles and our online platform grows month by month. Recently, I was able to rent a space next to the market in which I was able to move my home office well, expand the store storage and organize the receiving process.
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 path. In business there is no such thing as a shortcut, there is a need to walk the entire way to achieve a goal but it is totally worth it! The satisfaction and self-realization are what made me persist in what I believe. I faced many challenges, as a matter of fact we just passed the storm called Covid, a very complicated and unstable time. Now we have inflation, people are very concerned about their future. You will always find challenges and opportunities, regardless of the situation. I tend to look for opportunities and take action to minimize the conflicts. I deal with all types of people day-in day-out, from customers, employees, relatives, and what amazes me is the number of people that sabotage their potential with mental issues like anxiety, impulsivity, and self-pity. I dedicate part of my day to taking care of my mind and the rest follows the flow naturally, I realize that I am my emotions and I learned to control it. That is the key to success in anything in life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hi Brazil Market?
More than a simple commerce, we are an authentic Brazilian market that brings good memories to those who miss them. Our market was established in 1996 and our online platform in 2015. Each product in our store has a captive place in the hearts of Brazilians. The coffee with the smell of home, the biscoito de polvilho with the flavor of childhood, the candy that can’t be missed at parties, the flip-flops that everyone loves and uses, and the white rice that accompanies everyday meals. Just reading this makes the memory go far away!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The WHY in my life is my family! Everything I do is for their well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: hibrazilmarket.com
- Instagram: @hibrazil
- Facebook: @hibrazilmarket
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com.br/biz/hi-brazil-market-and-boutique-redondo-beach-5?osq=hi+brazil+market
