Patricia, Business Development

Patricia, Business Development

In September 2010, Patricia, a Mexican immigrant and doting mother of two, was one of the first entrepreneurs to start her business at El Mercadito, the business incubator at Plaza Adelante. El Mercadito is an opportunity for low-income entrepreneurs to start a business on the Mission Street commercial corridor. Patricia started Mystical Collections, selling holistic and New Age products as a result of her son’s adverse reaction to medication. She was able to move her business to nearby 24th Street after only 18 months located in El Mercadito, making her the first business owner to move out of the incubator. Using her newly learned business acumen from MEDA’s free Business Development program, she created a strong customer base, with her 24th Street location twice the size of her original space. Patricia’s daily sales have doubled and she has even hired a full-time employee, thereby creating more Mission District jobs.

See Patricia’s business featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.