J.P. woman turns love for sewing into business success

J.P. woman turns love for sewing into business success

Shaun Taylor

When Patria Valenzuela was a young girl in the Dominican Republic, sewing was something she loved to do under the guidance of her mother. Little did she know, being a skilled seamstress would one day give her the opportunity to own a business doing what she loves to do -- creating beautiful garments for others.

"I always loved to sew," she says.

In 1987, Valenzuela was facing a business opportunity she could not resist. The owner of Sonia's Bridal, a shop in Jamaica Plain's Hyde Square business district, was selling. The shop sells and rents tuxedos, gowns, costume jewelry and other items for weddings and sweet sixteen birthday parties.

"I heard some people were selling this business," Valenzuela re-calls. "I figured I had nothing to lose so, I found out how much it was to buy, then went out and raised the money."

The price was set at $35,000. Patria had just $48 dollars to her name. But she also had a network of family and friends.

Within a week, she had the money.

"Back in 1987 banks were not trying to loan minorities any capital to start a business, and they certainly did not consider me a good risk because I had no college degree and no tangible business background," Valenzuela says. "I went to the people who believed in me, my family and my friends."

Unlike traditional lending sources, however, some of Valenzuela's friends placed challenging conditions on their credit.

"The last $4,000 came from a friend on a Thursday who had to have it back the following Monday," Valenzuela says.

By the end of her first business day, Patria sold enough to pay her friend back. Since then, Sonia's has been doing brisk business, catering primarily to the city's Latino market.

The 59-year-old mother of four has taken the traditional bridal concept and expanded it to a successful full-service operation.

She caters mostly to the traditional Sweet 15 and 16 birthday celebrations in the Latino community.

"We did about 14 to 16 parties that first year," she recalls.

These birthday parties were usually no small task because Valenzuela would have to custom make up to 14 gowns for the girls and 14 tuxedos for the boys, plus a flower girl, the birthday girl and her boyfriend.

In addition to outfitting the party-goers with the correct clothing, Valenzuela has integrated other services into her operation, forming a one-stop party shop. Her son/store manager, Jesus, who graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Business Administration, has helped Valenzuela branch out.

"Why should we be like the rest of the department stores?" he says. "You only have one sweet 15 or 16 birthday, you only have one first marriage in life, that day must be extra special, so to customize everything for our clients is what we do best."

In addition to the limos and catering services Sonia's provides, Jesus himself brings his music and turntables to events.

"I like the opportunity to play music because it allows me to see how some of our events and music bring life to any party, so you can imagine the fun I have," he comments.

Sonia's Bridal Shop now does a minimum of 50 full weddings and 15 to 20, sweet 15 and 16 birthday parties per year. When asked whether or not expansion is in the immediate future, Valenzuela responds, "Yes, but not immediate, we feel stabilizing our current location is our priority, before we expand."

"I realize that I am the next generation and I must keep the torch burning bright so, I must continue to be innovative and make sure we incorporate new technology into the business," Jesus adds.

For more information call at (617) 522-6961 or visit the shop at 351 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain.

Photo (Patria Valezuela)