Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Santiago Troyano.
Sara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I still feel like I’m just getting started. I knew I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I became a single mom in 2002 and just had to get to the grind work hard to take care of my little family. Over the years I had tried different things from direct sales to starting a “magazine” to starting anything that I could call my own, but it seemed like life always gotten in the way or maybe it was just me telling myself that. I think I lacked a lot of confidence for a long time. Could I do this? Did I have what it takes? I was my own worst enemy for years.
I decided a couple years ago to take a step back and really think about what it is I desire out of becoming an entrepreneur. I knew that quotes were something that always held me together when I was having a tough time and I knew that I love to be creative and design things. One day about 4 years ago, my husband‘s like you should throw your love of coffee in with your quotes and I thought he was crazy. Lol
After some though and decided I’m not getting any younger…I decided designing mugs was something I truly enjoyed so here I go! i’d always known about Etsy. I had shopped on there many times before so I decided to open my store. Let’s just say it didn’t go well at first and there’s still some days that it’s tough but I thoroughly enjoy what I do. Come up with designs, ideas, quotes, gift ideas it’s fun!
I have even opened a couple of other stores now and created Sara‘s etsy collective. Thoughtful gifts with inspiration and coziness in mind. I wanted something just a little bit different meant to inspire people in different ways because everybody is inspired by something different.
As Sara’s Etsy Collective started to grow I noticed that SST coffee and quotes quickly blossomed into so much more. It’s now social media where I do a quote a day. I just recently started a YouTube channel about reinventing yourself using my quotes as my inspiration. Hoping to inspire other people my age that it’s never too late!
I’ve always been a positive person, but I didn’t know that this would become who I am and what I do, but I’m sure glad it did because not only do I feel like I give my own self some confidence and inspiration. I’m hoping that maybe I could just help one other person get inspiration when they need it, then life would be good.
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?
No, it has never been a smooth road. I feel like I was my own worst enemy. My insecurities or my fear that I would fail(which I did several times) those crippled me into stopping things quicker than I started.
But one day I just told myself enough of the BS! I was tired of a dead end job doing something I didn’t enjoy, and I wasn’t getting any younger ! I used those bumps and curves to tell me that I am confident and that I can do this, and that if I could get through the bumps in the road of a business, I can get through the bumps and the road of life.
I failed at my first store on Etsy, I had designs that I thought would be fantastic and never sold a single one, I had people tell me my ideas were stupid and that nobody needs that much positivity and nobody will buy it. there’s always a lot of adversity when you go to work for yourself, but I think that’s part of what strengthens us if we lett it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sara‘s Etsy collective started it all, known for cozy gifts but I’m most known for SST coffee and quotes on Etsy & Social media. I create and design mugs with quotes that inspire people or make people laugh and genuinely try to make the world a better place. I believe in positivity, but not blind positivity. I believe that you should work hard to make your life the best it could possibly be.
SST Coffee and Quotes has been my social media that is daily quotes that are meant to help others and and somehow became my other brand (not even sure how that happened lol) I call SST coffee quotes my alter ego because it runs alongside Sara’s Etsy collective and it makes my ADHD happy!
I don’t know if it actually sets me apart. I think everybody is truly unique, but we all have some great qualities together.. I think my favorite thing that I love is designing a mug that I know is gonna sit in somebody’s house or office that inspires them when they look at it or even makes them laugh. I think laughter is a good inspiration along with a good motivational quote!
Honestly, the thing that makes me the most proud is a simple fact that I did it. I overcame my fear and my insecurities to be sitting right here today.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I feel like my positivity, and my ambition are my best qualities because it’s what pushed me past my fears and insecurities and do it anyway. I think that everybody has unique qualities that if they really pursue, it could find their passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/sstcoffeeandquotes?igsh=ZnA3MWFmbGU4eXpp&utm_source=qr
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saras_etsy_collective?igsh=ZTRjOGYzbm9sbXBl&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DNgvMpndv/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-santiago-troyano-b9183a38b?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Twitter: https://x.com/bombshell77?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sstcoffeeandquotes?si=vqXqYvK7Ai3C2axV
