Today we’d like to introduce you to Wynnona Loredo
Hi Wynnona, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
“What will you do with a photojournalism and economics degree?” my dad often asked while I studied at CSUN. If you’d told me then that I’d be an anime merch business owner and content creator in 10 years, I would’ve brushed it off as an April Fools’ joke. I never imagined my passion for anime would become a successful anime business.
I’m Wynnona Loredo, the founder of KaBabaeyan, an online anime store on Etsy and Shopify, and the creator behind @akashi_adventures, a growing influencer account on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. My content blends anime, lifestyle, and travel, with occasional touches of luxury that resonate with anime fans worldwide. It all began with a simple desire to share my anime adventures, though I was too shy for selfies!
At age 5, living in the Philippines, my aunt introduced me to iconic anime like Voltes V, Gundam Wing, and Cardcaptor Sakura. My love for anime continued, but it wasn’t until after college, with a stable job and resources, that I truly immersed myself in the anime world again. This led me to Japan, where I explored the real-life locations of my favorite anime characters.
To document my travels, I used an Akashi Seijuro plush doll as a stand-in for selfies, and after his action figure dropped, that soon became the star of my Instagram. During the pandemic, I expanded to TikTok and YouTube, where I grew my audience by sharing anime haul videos, reviews, and merch recommendations. My growing presence social media presence led to collaborations with brands like Wayfair, Blue Apron, and QuillBot on sponsored campaigns and user-generated content (UGC).
As I watched more shows and gained new favorite characters, my anime merch collection grew. I founded KaBabaeyan, which specializes in rare, unique anime items for US audiences. The name is the combination of two Tagalog words: “kababayan,” which means “fellow countryman,” and “babae,” which means “woman.” My shop features both official merchandise and fan-made creations inspired by popular anime like Nana, Given, Haikyuu!!, Yuri!!! On Ice, Free!, Blue Lock, Sk8 The Infinity, and Kuroko no Basket. KaBabaeyan also occasionally participates in in-person events, so if you see us, please be sure to stop by and say hi!
Alright, 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?
On the @akashi_adventures influencer and content creator side, navigating the algorithm can feel like playing a slot machine. Sometimes a video unexpectedly goes viral, while other times, content you’ve poured hours into receives only a handful of views. My ultimate goal is to grow a community of millions across all platforms, collaborate with more brand partners, and eventually become a full-time content creator!
On the KaBabaeyan anime store side, the business faced a setback a few years ago when I pre-paid for supplies from a company that went out of business before they fulfilled my orders, resulting in a loss and no refund. Fortunately, that has been my only major hurdle so far, and I’ve been able to keep the business thriving!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Managing both @akashi_adventures, my anime, lifestyle, travel, and luxury page, and KaBabaeyan, my anime merch business, brings me immense joy because I can improve people’s lives in multiple ways.
As an anime influencer and content creator, I’m known for my playful, relatable anime videos, extensive anime merch collection, reputation for being easy to work with, and proven success in delivering results for brand partners.
My shop, KaBabaeyan, specializes in making rare and Japan-exclusive anime items accessible to U.S. fans. We also offer affordable fan-made merchandise, allowing people to express their love for their favorite anime shows without breaking the bank.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Taking risks is essential when pursuing your passions and growing a business, but I always carefully weigh the risks against the potential rewards.
This year, I made a strategic decision to heavily invest in merchandise featuring Gojo Satoru from the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen. I knew the potential payoff could be significant, but it required pre-ordering again. To mitigate risk, I diversified by ordering from multiple suppliers in case one went out of business. My hunch was right—Gojo Satoru’s merch outsold all other characters!
It’s crucial to focus on the positives and find ways to move forward, even in challenging situations. I view risks as opportunities for learning and growth, not something to avoid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kababaeyan.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akashi_adventures/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Kababaeyan
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@akashi_adventures
Image Credits
Momoko Fleming
Daniel Son
