Today we’d like to introduce you to Aracelis Martinez.
Hi Aracelis, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a Dominican-born New Yorker, with the vision to empower myself and those around me through community, and fashion. Aracelis Shoes and Clothing began in New York City when I was about 18. I would sell shoes outside of my friend’s Salon. When my friends were finishing high school, I was already working to provide a future for my family. While raising my son, German, and working two jobs I was able to buy my first storefront on 207th Street. I would travel from New York to Los Angeles even Peru to participate in conventions, fashion shows, and tour facilities where the shoes and clothing were being manufactured. Aracelis Shoes & Clothing has always been a place to find exactly what you’re looking for during any occasion. I’ve always felt the passion to be the caretaker for my family so I just kept working. I was able to open multiple storefronts from Dyckman all the way down to 30th street, with my own children often behind the register. After 20 years of operating in New York, I felt it was time to slow down and relax a bit more. I decided to move to the beautiful city of Orlando fl. and opened 3 Aracelis Shoes and Clothing storefronts. We have downsized throughout the years and we currently have one store located on the Oakridge Plaza, in between John Young, and Orange Blossom Trail. Today Aracelis Shoes and Clothing is more than just a clothing store, it is a powerhouse within its community and continues to shape the fashion world around it. We host fashion shows, and giveaways and recently had a festival in which we raffled a brand new 2021 Chevrolet Silverado.
I pride myself in being an independent woman and I hope to be an example for all women to shine. I started my journey through fashion to help people feel good and stride confidently throughout their daily life. Now we are working to continue that uplifting spirit by opening a non-profit for victims of domestic abuse. We understand that self-image is important in the process of self-love and building up the confidence to escape negative situations, and something as small as a new outfit can spark some joy in a person’s life. While the non-profit will be centered around women’s empowerment, we do encourage men to also learn and participate in the programs. What once started as a single person with a vision is now a collaboration of people celebrating both life and fashion. Aracelis’s clothing and shoes is a family, one that shares passion for the people around us and what they wear, we hope to continue to inspire both for many years to come.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I moved to New York City when I was 18 and worked as a waitress at two restaurants, where I made a friend who owned a beauty salon. I suggested to her to let me sell shoes outside her storefront. We negotiated a monthly rent and that was the beginning of Aracelis Shoes. I quit my daytime restaurant job, I went to Chinatown and got 6 big boxes of shoes and kept selling outside of that salon for a couple of years until I was able to save up enough to lease a small store on 207th street. It was definitely difficult to be a single mother in New York City in 1995 through 2000. We would encounter a lot of violence and drug abuse but we would just always find ways to adapt and keep showing up to work. Every day is full of challenges and all we can do is having fun playing with the puzzle pieces. The most difficult challenge had to be raising my two sons, German and Arisson. The business part kind of came naturally to me. My father used to own a colmado, a small grocery store, in the Dominican Republic, I was always a big saver and the numbers were almost like a game to me, and winning meant my family would have everything they needed, so I just kept playing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Aracelis Shoes & Clothing’s mission is to provide a confident style for any occasion. We want you to stride in our shoes, to feel comfortable enough in our clothing that you can succeed in all your goals of the day, and all your adventures at night. We get our clothing from New York and Los Angeles in order to keep up with new styles, fabrics, and materials to provide the best experience for our customers. We currently have one storefront located at 2372 w. Oakridge rd., Orlando fl. and we just started our website aracelisshoes.com.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
We love to be involved with the people in our communities. Aracelis Shoes & Clothing has always had a tradition to build a relationship with their customers. Every couple of months we do food giveaways, raffles, fashion shows, and festivals in order to bring the community around us together for a day of fun and celebration. Aside from the festivities our staff always treat our customers like family. You can find us at the store celebrating birthdays or just having coffee with our clients who decided to spend their days with us. Sometimes we have customers who are feeling down or going through some personal issues and feel comfortable enough to speak to us about them. We’ve been able to help multiple women escape abusive relationships just by providing that safe space. We love to help those in our community in any way we can, we are evening looking to start a nonprofit for victims of domestic abuse.
Contact Info:
- Email: arashoes5057gmail.com
- Website: www.Aracelisshoes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aracelis_shoes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aracelisshoes
Image Credits
Ashley Vargas
@photo_fiend
@k_sterling
@model_jennifer_rose
@Danilofortes91
@saucey_kustom_kreations
@roshbby13
