Today we’d like to introduce you to Mari Duran.
Hi Mari, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Maria Duran, better known as Mari. I went to college to pursue a Business Administration degree, but I didn’t complete my studies at that time due to not having the funds to pay for my education. But I always knew that I wanted to have my own business. Throughout my life I’ve always been in the direct sales field like selling vitamins and home and beauty products as a side job. I couldn’t find the right product to sell until I started buying several hand made products from Mexican artisans. Thats when I thought, “if I was consuming those products, why not offer them as well?”That’s how I got to the idea of opening an online business with products from Mexico.
I had been working full time at a Financial Institution for 14 years when I then started with Del Pueblo Boutique. It had been hard working a full time job and taking care of the business, but I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and knowing that this is the career that I’ve always wanted.
The business took a different direction. I lost both of my parents due to Covid and then lost my sister. I almost lost my husband as well, all within a timespan of a year. My mental health was in jeopardy so I had to take a different approach to take care of myself. I had to quit my full time job and dedicate time for myself.
At the same time that I started Del Pueblo Boutique, I had also started an Instagram page called @Sa210popupmarket, where we highlight small business owners and community popup markets. We opened the page to give the community the opportunity to share their events and have small businesses take advantage of those events. This was to support small businesses like mine.
Then, came the idea to create a second page called San Antonio Empowered Women where we highlight empowered women in San Antonio, Texas. I started this page just to continue to support small businesses.
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 support small businesses by offering a space in our Instagram pages to promote and provide exposure to their business, all free of charge. This is due to my willingness to support people and to provide help where it is needed.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Helping others is the source of my happiness. It’s a great satisfaction to me when I help others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram:@SanAntonioEmpoweredWomen | @sa210PopUpMarket | @DelPuebloBoutique
