Meet Amanda Flores | Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I find that in the craziness of life, there is a simple solution to give up. However, the reason any of us keep going is because there is genuine purpose to what we do. Whenever I feel like giving up, I think of where I started.There’s a rush when you see someone’s positive reaction to something you created is indescribable. It’s simple occurrences like those that bring me back to the “why” of what I do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a creative, it was really inspiring to create a brand aesthetic. Although it is consistent, I like to think that the earrings we create grow with us. It is a reflection of what inspires us during that time of our life. I think the things we create as a creative outlet where we can extend our personalities and our own experiences on to. To get to where I am professionally it was quite a journey. I had graduated last May, and as a new graduate amidst a global pandemic it was hard to find a purpose/place in the world. I could say it was a smooth transition, but I think creating and starting a business where me and my sisters can express ourselves was the easy part. Once you kind of set a goal for yourself it’s easy to hit the ground running. That is why I express value in remembering where you started. It wasn’t easy to find where I was going professionally, but once I did it was a fun journey and still is.
I want the world to know that no matter what field you find yourself, as long as you do what you love and spread genuineness means you are accomplished. Sama Sama is small, but I would like the world to know that the measure of small, grand, extravagant is all relative. I would like others to see our brand as inspiration to be free and to know there is always something to be inspired by.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love South Oceanside. It is the perfect beach city, that gives off a small town vibe. I love that it is a community and also happens to be a hub for so many local businesses. I would start off going to Captain’s Grounds coffee and get their delicious dirty chai latte with oat milk! Next, is an amazing consignment shop Captain’s Helm, which is beautifully attached to the coffee shop. I love to shop secondhand, and this store has the best curation of clothes. Next, I would go and grab a bite at Best Pizza, another local business which serves literally the “best pizza”. Then further down the road is Landmark Plant Co, where I bring almost every friend because the shop is insanely amazing. I am also a plant lady, and Landmark is the place to go because they have the best customer service and can help anyone with their plant needs. Lastly, did I mention that this is all adjacent to the beach?! So of course to end my day I would head to the beach to watch the sunset because there is nothing like a SoCal beach sunset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to dedicate my shoutout to so many people that have inspired me throughout my life. First of all, my family is a driving force that keeps me motivated and excited to continue my business. I love that our business is a sister group and we truly have fun creating earrings together. So most importantly my sister Camille and her best friend Xyza are deserving of a big thank you in terms of the success of this business. Also, my boyfriend Jake who not only helps me get through rough patches but is always supporting me in any endeavor. Lastly, I’d like to thank the North County small business community, whom I had love to shop from and have inspired me to start my own small business.

Website: https://shopsamasama.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop.samasamaa/