Get to Know a Latina Thriving with her Baby Products Brand

Let’s continue to celebrate Latino entrepreneurs featured on our Latino Alternative Business Forum. Meet Neshme Alvarez! She founded the baby clothing brand, Baby Bloom Organics, which launched in 2021. Interestingly, the Perú native is the only one in her family who lives away from her country all while thriving in the baby products industry bringing her family-oriented background forward. Get to know this Latina Powerhouse who’s actually expanding her product line. Neshme is about to launch an extended line of 24 months!

What have been some defining moments in your career?

I found getting a job in LA very challenging. I wanted to work on something that fulfilled me while making me feel proud. So that is when entrepreneurship became an attractive option. Meanwhile, the first baby girl in my husband’s family was born after almost 100 years. As a Peruvian, I wanted to give her a hand-embroidered outfit made of Pima cotton. In searching for gifts in the US market, I could not find what I had in mind. That was when I realized I had found my opportunity!

Tell us about your background and experience

I have studied business administration and I have done a master’s in marketing and sales. I have mainly experience in retail and jewelry.  While I’m not a designer, nor an expert in baby clothes, I’ve been learning a lot along the baby clothing journey.

How have your different projects helped find inclusion for the Latinx community?

Through Baby Bloom Organics, I’m empowering mothers in Peru. Our female artisans work from home which allows them to take care of their children while they generate their own money. They have the opportunity to be independent as well as provide for their family. Moreover, I’m sharing my country’s gems with the world.

Tell us about the biggest struggles/obstacles in your career, and how you have overcome them.

Starting a company in the middle of the pandemic while expecting our first child was scary.  As with any start-up, keeping an open mind and the flexibility to change course based on market demands is crucial.  For example, in the beginning, our sales strategy was 100% direct-to-consumer. However, I found investing in google and Instagram ads expensive and I didn’t have much success. They keep asking you to increase your budget and for a small business owner it is hard to keep up. It was overwhelming and discouraging.  I thought of giving up several times.  But instead of giving up, I kept an open mind and pivoted our strategy to focus on marketing channels that yielded results such as influencer marketing, and also started to focus on B2B sales.  Since this switch, we’ve seen a nearly 10x increase in sales, targeting small boutiques in the Southeast.

What makes you most proud of the work you do?

Helping Peruvian women and sharing our culture outside of Peru.  I’m happy that I’m able to support female artisans in Peru.  Also, I love spreading the word about our Pima Cotton – the highest quality in the world. It’s the softest and purest cotton on the market. Finally, sharing our tradition of hand embroidery with the US market makes me proud.

Do you have a mantra, piece of art, person, or ritual that has helped you in a proud way that you would like to share?

If you work hard and with passion, you will see results. Always give back to those who need it more.

Stay tuned for more on Neshme’s story on our Latino Alternative Business Forum Special.