Basic Information:

First and last name:    Anita Alfaro                                                    

Name of Business:  Anna’s Bridal Boutique           Date/Year of Establishment: 09/01/1999

 

Your Birthplace:  San Antonio in Michoacán, Mexico

Year arrived in Napa/USA: 1970

 

Immigration Background:

 

 

I grew up in a rural town in Michoacán, Mexico, my childhood was very happy although my father was not with us. While my father struggled to send money from the U.S., I remember seeing my mother’s worried face with the concern of an anxious mother trying to put food on the table for her children. She soon started to try to make ends meet, she began with buying 10 chicks which in turn produced eggs which she fed to us and sold to save for a pig. Once she saved enough for the pig, she bought it and fattened it up to be able to sell it. During this time that she was waiting for the pig to grow, she would visit the ladies who would sew dresses for the small town so she can learn to sew without telling them her intentions. Once the pig was ready she sold it and finally went to the big city (Zamora) and bought herself a sewing machine. I remember seeing how my mother turned in to someone who started from not knowing one thing about tailoring to becoming the best tailor in town. She would turn simple pieces of fabric into beautiful masterpieces, for me this was just like magic. It is one of the most memorable and great experiences that taught me that anything you dream can come true as long as you want it bad enough.

 

I was the daughter of an immigrant who was a bracero he was contracted by the U.S. Gov’t to come and work on the railroads earning a couple cents an hour. He came to the U.S. circa 1946, he worked for many years doing different other jobs and thanks to some of the landlords that provided my father with a letter of recommendation which in turn helped him legalize his papers and with this he began having a better income to send our family of seven in Mexico. Years later he was able to immigrate my oldest brother who came to work with him in the fields, after saving some more money he was able to immigrate my mother and my second oldest brother. At that time half of us were still in Mexico and were living with our grandparents. Five years later they finally immigrated the remainder of us at this time I was about 11.  Even though I came from an immigrant father I felt that my parents gave us the opportunity that a lot of other people did not have and thanks to that we did not have to deal with the struggles of crossing the border illegally endangering our lives. It was quite the contrary to most situations; the last of us came to the U.S. without fear and came happy because we were finally going to be a united family. And unlike many situations we were placed in to the school system right away. Although my oldest brothers and sister came straight to the hard work of the fields, so I feel very blessed.  I switched schools frequently because we moved to the city that had available field work for my parents and older siblings. During my sophomore year in high school my parents asked me to stop going to school and work in the fields to help with the family income due to a recent injury my mother had received from a car accident that made her unable to work. I dropped out of school and began working in the fields while dreaming of returning to school. Fortunately I did not last long in the field, shortly after I entered a program where I worked in a factory as a seamstress. A few years later I got married, and finally continued my education.

 

Today I can proudly say I am still a happily married woman to my amazing husband for the past 38 years, we have three wonderful children, my oldest Guillermo jr. works for the city transit system, he graduated from high school and finished his education in carpentry receiving the title of foreman and still has dreams to become a pilot. My middle son Rigoberto graduated from high school and continued his education and received his degree as an automotive technician, over the years he has perfected his skills by becoming a certified technician. He is married and has to beautiful kids. My youngest Olga Kristina also graduated from high school and continued her education at the Napa Valley College and Sonoma state university.

I am thankful that this career path has allowed me to be part of my children’s life and be at their side when they needed me the most. I am happy and thankful that I have a strong united family that I can count on.

 

 

*Yes, one of my brothers owned his landscaping/carpentry business he is now deceased.

Yes, first of all when me and my husband got married he always insisted for me to continue my education because when I was living with my parents I had to stop going to high school in order to help my parents with the income of the household. So once I was married I continued and received my GED through the adult school here in Napa and later I continued at the Napa valley college.

 

Questions about Your Business:

 

 

I used to sit down next to my mother when she would sew and I would do my homework. I remember dreaming that I was able to do the magic that my mom was doing and some day to become a store owner which I frequently played with my neighbors in which I always played the owner of the little store. Later in life when I settled down, me and my husband had a dream to open a shop at the time we weren’t sure what kind but I knew I wanted to dress people up and make them feel beautiful and happy.

I am currently the Owner of Anna’s Bridal Boutique and I am celebrating my 16th year anniversary this month.

 

 

I am a full service bridal salon, we carry bridal dresses, bridesmaid, mother of the bride, flower girl, ring bearer, tuxedo rentals, Quinceanera dresses, prom dresses, Communion and christening dresses, Accessory for all occasions and Alterations for all occasions. In conclusion anything you need for your future event under one roof.

 

 

So many….
But For the first 3 to 5 years it was mainly trying to be accepted by the community as well as the bridal market. With Every situation we encountered, there was always room for improvement, and there will always be more to learn.
A big challenge that we encountered the first years was discrimination, being a Hispanic Women, occasionally we would have situations where people judged our abilities to provide the service that they expected from a bridal boutique. I understand that it takes time to earn credibility and value in your business but I strongly believe that if we go back 16 years to when we first started I guarantee you that my values are still intact. I do believe that my self-appreciation in my work has gotten to the point where this no longer affects me, and others now acknowledge and appreciate our hard work.
Another major challenge was trying to stay in business during the economic downfalls.
With every business you face hardships as well as accomplishments and you just have to remind yourself that you’re doing this because you love to do it.

 
· What would your advice be for someone who wants to start or run their own business?

*Never give up on your dreams. Never stop Learning. Be ready every day for the best
*If you have questions or concerns on how to start a business go to the city of napa or the local business network.

 
·If you had to choose your proudest moment as a business owner, what would it be?

There are so many that it’s hard to choose one specific one, but something as simple as a thank you from the mother of a bride or seeing a bride cry because she found her dream dress with my help would definitely be some of those special moments. But also finding out that you have been chosen as the top bridal salon in the bay area is a huge accomplishment and proud moment for us especially five years in a row.  

 

 

 

At the beginning I was my own mentor, I had to learn a lot on my own. My mother and father were always the two people who I looked up to but in this industry I was on my own. My husband Guillermo Alfaro has always been there for me and continues with moral and monetary support for the family and the business, at the beginning his income was what pulled the store through. To be honest I really don’t think that the business would have succeeded without his help. My daughter Olga has been my right hand since she was 13 years old, she always came after school to help and learn the business and it helped her realize that she wanted to continue her education into the business world. After high school she put aside her education momentarily to help with the business. but now, at the age of 28 is graduating in April with a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance/Marketing and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish as well as a Professional sales certificate and plans to soon after complete her Master’s in Business at Sonoma State University. With this our dream is to become a chain store and start our own designer bridal line. Without the unconditional love and support from my husband and daughter, Anna’s Bridal Boutique would not be what it is today.

 

 

 

Unfortunately, no one gave me advice so I started with a dream and my dream included a small savings, my husband’s income, and my plan of action (find a small place, get a business license, find the product (travel), and target your market).

 

 

I remember when I had just been open for about 5 days I had a visitor from another boutique in town that told me that she came to welcome me into the bridal industry but she said she was going to give me some advice after seeing my small inventory she said… “Ana if you want to survive in this business, you have to have a million dollars in inventory.” And I responded calling her by her name because I knew her… “You know what… I do not have the million dollars but I have the courage and the dream that I will survive.”

… And look at us today

 

A moment that I will remember for the rest of my life is the day I sold my first dress, my store was very small and I could count the number of dresses in the store holding up the fingers on my hand and a small table with and adding machine. After she paid me for the dress she insisted I keep it in stock until her event so that I could show it as a sample and possibly sell more. That day I cried for the blessing that I was given because this day I became a business owner.

 

 

 

 

                First of all I would like to say it has been an honor to have been chosen to present you with my story, Thank you all for coming. I hope that with my story and those of others today you are inspired to follow your dreams. Never give up.

 

                As an immigrant from another country we come here with big dreams, with the fire to succeed in life knowing we must luchar (fight) to reach those dreams every single day. And although there will always be obstacles our perseverance is stronger.