Today we’d like to introduce you to Maleny Castro.
Hi Maleny, 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 backstories with our readers?
From a young age, I was always this optimistic and creative little girl. I loved the thought of growing up to change the world. Life, in general, started early for me when I became a mom at 17, and it almost felt like there was no hope for my future. Being a teen mom taught me many things. I didn’t want to be defined by it but to keep going and succeed from it. I went on and graduated from SLCC with an A.S and landed a decent job working at a hospital.
My business journey started a few years later in 2017, after giving birth to my second daughter and returning to my full-time job. During this time, I felt unfulfilled, was financially broke, and wanted more for my family. Building a business and brand is what I wanted to focus on, but with a purpose to empower change amongst people. It’s a mission statement of all the possibilities that are out there for you. This here is what I want this brand to represent, not just another clothing apparel.
After so much fear and self-doubt, I decided to return to school and study business. During my first semester back, I felt passionate, courageous, and was eager to learn more about the e-commerce world. Pieces were starting to come together like a puzzle, and I was so excited to get started. Curáge and Co launched online in 2020, and since then, it has been one of the most unreal experiences thus far. I took a leap and dived into a world I had no idea about, but you learn to adapt. You learn from your mistakes, and you get a chance to do something different, something life-changing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been everything but a smooth road. The biggest struggle at the moment (and I hear this a lot) is balance. I do work full-time, run a business, and take care of my family. It’s a lot to find the time to do it all and succeed at all three. The learning aspect of my obstacles has been my joy ride!
I love to keep up to date, learn new marketing techniques, and always try to improve in any way I can to remain different from other brands. Reading and staying educated about the ins and outs of your field is a master key.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My name is Maleny, and I’m the owner of Curáge and Co, a street and loungewear brand based here in Utah. Curáge is an online storefront that currently ships all around the U.S. with hopes to expand worldwide next year. Our company strives to provide consistency in a high-quality and sustainable fashion. Our pieces are limited edition; each collection is curated with versatility in mind to eliminate fast fashion.
Our goal for the next upcoming year is to establish a team from marketing to office support. We are looking to partner with a non-profit organization, and this is something I am excited to get started with, so be sure to follow along and subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about this project.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I consider invested time and money to be great risks. Every dime invested in a collection is money I’m taking away from my family, groceries, expenses, etc. Spending a few hours to attend seminars or package orders is time away from my other responsibilities. We wouldn’t reach our full potential if we don’t take risks. The biggest opportunities come when a risk is taken.
Another good one is not spending enough time educating yourself or “doing your research.” In today’s world, resources like the internet are so easily accessible. There are no excuses as to why something can’t be done. If there is something you want to do or pursue, you need to believe you can do it; and go for it.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@curageandco.com
- Website: www.curageandco.com
- Instagram: @curageandco
- Facebook: @curageandco
- Twitter: @curageandco
Image Credits
Melanie Moreno
