Today we’d like to introduce you to Aurora Martinez.
Aurora, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am Aurora Martinez, a Salvadorian who decided to risk it and invest in starting her own business. Like all, we all have passion and a dream, and with that comes the burning desire to make it happen. I started my own business at twenty years old as a freshman in college. I began my 360 Photo Booth business. As many may ask, how did this idea cross my mind? Well, it all began by putting some money I earned from a part-time job to the side to invest in the future. First, I began by buying things and reselling them, from shoes to tires, among other things. Later my investing savings grew.
When I was going into my freshman year of college, studying business management, I had this burning desire to invest in something bigger than the things I was doing, and for months my head was spinning around just thinking, keep in my I did not even know how much money I had to invest. Many different things came to my mind, like investing in stocks, but I wasn’t 100% convinced, I wanted something that was going to challenge me, I wanted to start something, and test my entrepreneurial skills.
Therefore, one day I was on TikTok and I saw a video of an eighteen-year-old who rented bouncy houses, he said how much money he made in a short period, and looking at that opened my brain, and I said to myself, “I don’t want to just invest into something, but invest and start my own business.” So, looking at that video I thought of a Quinceañera I went to in Chattanooga in which they had a 360 Photo Booth, and I remember it being the best part of the party. Immediately, I contacted the person who rented it at that party and realize that he sells them, then I did full-on research on this, and completely loved this idea and thought, “I need to bring this to Memphis, people will love it.”
And so, I counted all the money I have been saving and risked it all into not only buying the 360 Photo Booth but creating my brand for it with the necessary marketing materials I needed. With that comes thinking about the name, and a logo to make it stand out. By the end of my freshman year, the 360-photo booth arrived and after practicing how to set it up and all, I thought of ways in which I could make my business known and get videos of people using it not only for my publicity but as a free trial and error for myself.
Therefore, I made the “grand-opening” event of the “Memphis360Booth which was perfect on the day I wanted to make it because it was around St.Patricks Day (2022), so I bought themed props and made an official invitation for close friends and family, and thanks to God it went amazing! Many people passing by tried it and took my business card with them. Furthermore, I made the Instagram and Facebook page with the videos I took on that day and introduced the “Memphis360booth.” I needed more content, so I partnered up with a man who is well known in Memphis for making decorations for Latino parties, thanks to him I was able to get my first official event. It was a success!
Consequentially, after rigorous work of making my “Memphis360booth” known, I started getting events, May was such a blessing for me as all my weekends were booked with graduation parties, weddings, and birthdays. I had events not only in Memphis but in Mississippi too. My Instagram and Facebook pages grew. This past July was also booked, and my business is growing day by day. I can proudly say that I started this without knowing a thing about it, but with a lot of optimism and faith that this will work!
I proved myself and will continue to do so. I could tell people around my age or any age to go after anything they want to accomplish. I could have waited until after college and start this business, but the eagerness to want this, and the thought of “why not now?” was greater than all the what-ifs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been as smooth. I started this business not knowing a thing about it, so I had to learn everything from 0. Spent hours trying to specialize in different areas for my business to grow and stand out. I spent hours learning how to market my service in a way that will target every audience. At my first 360 Photo Booth event, I learned so many things and wrote down everything that I can do better, or change to facilitate my job and better my performance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am proud to say that I am from El Salvador, a really small country. I came to the US when I was 13 years old, and coming here has opened several doors for me. It was not easy at all in the beginning, not knowing any English and adapting to a new culture can be very overwhelming, but I manage to strive and remain resilient.
I now have the opportunity to pursue my dreams, studying Business Management at Christian Brothers University, learning every day on becoming a great entrepreneur. I started my 360 Photo Booth business while a freshman in college, and now I am going into my sophomore year hoping to grow my business constantly, and one day come up with a new business idea!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I could say that sometimes your ideal mentor could be way closer than you think. In my case, I am so blessed to say that my mentor in this journey has been my dad. My dad is an incredible asset in life as well as my mom.
He has mentored me in several things, he is the one who pushed me into putting money to the side for investments. He and my mom have taught me to push and challenge myself no matter the circumstances.
My dad is the one I go to for any entrepreneurial advice. However, I do plan on finding a mentor besides my dad to guide me in other aspects of my career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memphis360booth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Memphis360booth-103544795626637/?ref=pages_you_manage
