Marani Soto, 28 years old, created ‘Las Plantas de Emilia’ in honor of her daughter. Las Plantas de Emilia has two branches, one in Ajijic and the other in San Antonio Tlayacapan.
Marani Soto Alarcón and her daughter Emilia, for whom the shop is named. Photo: Sofía Medeles.
Sofía Medeles (Chapala).- Despite being young, Ajijic resident Marani Soto Alarcón has achieved a balance between being an entrepreneur and fulfilling her motherly duties while following her vocation as a florist.
Marani is 28 and was born in Las Trojes, Jocotepec. She left her hometown to look for new opportunities, and eight years ago she arrived in Ajijic.
Soto Alarcón said she has always practiced entrepreneurship, from selling shoes in her hometown, to being a beautician, with food businesses and in her current and favorite business, the flower shop «Las Plantas de Emilia,» named in honor of her daughter.
“When I came to Ajijic, I worked in places where I was not as comfortable,” she said. “Since I was a child, I have had a taste for plants, a connection, though it was something I saw as a hobby, not as a way of life.» She recalled that a television program helped her get rid of her fear, and she decided to set up the business she loves so much.
Presenting a revolutionary proposal to traditional flower shops, fused with the sale of plants and accessories for them, Marani opened her first flower shop, motivated by the desire to have economic stability, both for her and her daughter Emilia.
“I found the perfect formula to work and live from what I like,” she said. “I started with nothing, with gifted furniture and a loan of 2,000 pesos that I still haven’t paid to my mom… but it’s nice to see the evolution of the business, and how it has been accepted and valued by customers.”
As for the challenge of being a mom, while holding the growth of her business hand in hand, she describes it as easy. She can manage her time and spend it with her daughter, fulfilling the maternal life as well as the professional life.
“It’s hard to have chosen a profession where holidays are the days with the most work,” Marani said. “One of the busiest days is Mother’s Day, and this is the first year I have seen my daughter. Previously I would see her the next day, but this is a sign that the business is growing and is on the right track.”
Despite her achievements, her professional path has not stopped. She says there are plans to expand Las Plantas de Emilia. Today, she has a branch in downtown Ajijic and one in the San Antonio Tlayacapan delegation, which she plans to move to a larger site within the same town. She may also open a flower warehouse and become a distributor, and there is an opportunity for a high-end line of floral arrangements, also called Boutique de Flores.
“I plan to continue educating myself, taking courses, because it is a business that renews itself, has trends, and needs innovation,” she said. “This is a town used to the traditional, but thanks to the foreign influence, it has become more open to new designs and ways of using flowers.”
Marani offered advice, both to young people and to enterprising mothers. First, lose your fear because it does not get you anywhere – it gets you stuck. Second, find your vocation and do things with pleasure. Third, and more focused on mothers, is to find trusted support to take care of the children.
“At the beginning, the business absorbs your time, so it’s good to have support,” she said. “If you have the potential and the desire, get rid of your fear. Approach people, knock on doors and be kind when you have your business.”
Marani reflected that there is no formula for success, since everyone must follow the path their heart and their decisions indicate. She invited people to visit her at the Ajijic branch, Carretera Oriente #18, or the San Antonio branch on Colón #117. She can satisfy a variety of tastes and work within any budget.
Translated by Mike Rogers
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