Let's meet Erika - and Nick ;), the charming souls and brilliant minds behind Casa Del Sol. They are rocking their business and are curating all the details from modeling, photographing, marketing, launching new trends, and supporting our lovely community.
Casa del Sol Boutique was founded in 2023 with the urge to shape a brand around a life in the rays. 'We wanted to be a store where goods from around the world could be bought, with products ranging from the USA, Portugal, Thailand, Australia, and even our very own Sarasota.'
When I met Erika and Nick, an amazing and cute couple, they were really involved in their full-time jobs. Now they are engaged, own their very own shop, and are working on launching their own brand of apparel and accessories called Casa Costera! What a success in only 1 year.
They do have a special place in Olala's success and in my heart.
Let's discover their inspiring journey.
How did everything get started?
After college, I was looking to start a career but was unsure what I wanted to do with my life. I had studied biology and psychology in college, and I hadn't found a place in healthcare that felt right, so I started working for Beach Bazaar on Siesta Key.
Although I had thought it would be a temporary thing, I enjoyed so many things about working in retail, the fashion aspect just being one part of it. But more than that, I was really able to tap into my creative side when ordering merchandise and creating displays. Then, a few years later, Neeko joined me, and we started working for their sister boutique island trader to help with their online presence and marketing, which really lit something inside me.
It was all my favorite things in one: photography, displays, and fashion, and I was doing it with the love of my life. Then, when we were given the opportunity to purchase the store, I knew right away we had to do it! Best decision we've made yet! :)
What was the next step ?
They are now the happy owners of Casa del Sol, one of the best fashion and accessories boutiques in Siesta Key Village, and just launched their own brand of t-shirts and accessories.
Our past lives were full of traveling and living abroad, and with every place we traveled to, we returned with a special keepsake. Every single thing we've purchased during our travels still gives us joy to this day. We wanted to give people a chance to purchase not just things but apparel and goods that would last just as long as their memories made from their time spent under the siesta sun.
Keeping with the theme, we offer goods made for life in the rays. From reef-friendly suncare to linen shirts to splashproof beach bags, we can take you from the sandy shores of Siesta Key Beach to wherever the rays take you.
As we grow and learn, we strive to continue bringing you goods that align with our philosophy of sustainability, community, and a life well lived under the sun.
In addition to continuing to improve our boutique, Casa Del Sol, daily, we are launching our very own brand called Casa Costera. We wanted to build our own line of apparel and accessories that would give back to the beautiful sun coast where we reside! To give back, we've partnered with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program to donate 1% of all Casa Costera sales towards restoring and protecting our very own Sarasota Bay! We're excited to partner with them and have already helped them build and deploy 30 vertical oyster gardens!
Why do you like working with Olala?
We absolutely love being a part of Olala Events and how it enables us to meet more customers face to face but also meet tons of other small business owners and entrepreneurs like us.
The community Amelie has built is so welcoming and supportive, and it's wonderful to be among like-minded people who are venturing through similar careers and lifestyles!
Do you have any advice for a Woman that want to start her own business? Just start! No matter how little time or resources you have, start where you are and build your brand slowly! There's so much to learn along the way, and everyone's process is different, so don't wait for the perfect time because it will never come.
Find something that you enjoy doing and slowly try to do more and more of it! And most importantly, don't be afraid to believe in yourself!
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