California SBDC
Tiendita San Juditas
“I’ve never had to think about whether we had the money to make it happen. Putting the whole business plan together with my advisor put things in perspective.”
From Seminary to Entrepreneurship:
The Spiritual Journey of Danny Quevedo and Gregory Avila
BACKGROUND
In mid-2022, Danny Quevedo and Gregory Avila opened Tiendita San Juditas, a religious store selling articles, devotionals, and gifts for the Catholic community in North Long Beach.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The community lacked convenient access to religious stores and was limited in their selection of Spanish-language items. Quevedo, who had studied at a seminary for three years, saw an opportunity to provide spiritual support and serve the community.
SBDC SUPPORT
The store was awarded a $10K Dream Fund grant, which allowed Quevedo to take advantage of the unique opportunities his store offered. He received training and advising through the Spanish-language Dream Fund program.
RESULTS AND FUTURE PLANS
Quevedo plans to use the grant to purchase more specialty inventory and focus marketing and outreach efforts to engage youth and the LGBT community. He will also buy ads in church bulletins to continue building relationships with nearby churches and install shelving and furnishings to enhance visitors’ experience. Although he has years of experience in business management, starting his own business presented new challenges, but the training and advising he received through the Dream Fund put things in perspective and gave him the tools to succeed.
