By Karen Vazquez, Owner and Founder of LoSoCal In 2011, Felena Hanson founded Hera Hub, a co-working space for the women of San Diego County. She launched her brand in the Sorrento Valley area, and within a very short time, the visionary concept of Hera Hub exploded with several locations throughout San Diego County. Each co-working space has a spa-like ambiance with classy decor, inspirational art and a feminine touch. In these venues, there are conference rooms available by appointment for members to use as well as many other perks like a full kitchen for entertaining during events, quiet areas for business tasking, community rooms and many other features that assist members with their productivity. Hera Hub monthly member events and weekly, educational business boosters are the basis of the brand, because the founder, Felena, felt that many women entrepreneurs who work from home risk experiencing too much isolation and as a result... a lack of inspiration and motivation. She wanted women in the entrepreneurial realm to have a community based support system as they embarked on their personal business goals. Her tenacity from overcoming severe trauma and injuries after a tragic car accident, mixed with her passion for knowledge and love for women in general, led her to create Hera Hub as a vehicle for women entrepreneurs. Her mission is to grow Hera Hub globally and she has a goal set with launching another 200 locations worldwide by the year 2020. To learn more about this project, click here: http://herahub.com/expansion/ She has already franchised the brand, and the entire purpose of Hera Hub is to support LOCAL women entrepreneurs! She hopes that women who are part of the Hera Hub community choose to learn all they can during the weekly business boosters, so they are educating and empowering themselves as they build their brands and become "bad ass" business women in the modern world. Another amazing component of being a part of the Hera Hub community is collaboration and mentoring opportunities. Several days of the week there are experts available on site for scheduled Q & A "Guru Hours" with leading entrepreneurs in areas ranging from SEO optimization, social media marketing, branding, intellectual property, legal copywriting and trademarking, pricing and profitability and so much more! Felena Hanson, Founder of Hera Hub and Owner of the Sorrento Valley and Mission Valley locations. Photo credit: Nikkie Achartz This is an inspiring video. Click above to learn more about why she created Hera Hub. Her personal story shows that we can overcome setbacks and reach our life and business goals! Felena has her Masters Degree in Business Administration. She is a published author with her book, Flight Club- Rebel, Reinvent, and Thrive: How to Launch Your Dream Business,'' and a plethora of published material that she has written over the years for many magazines, both online and in print. Essentially, Felena set the tone at the onset of creating Hera Hub around what a shared workspace for women should look like regarding values, education, creativity and inspiration, supportive collaboration, productive feedback around business goals, strategy, networking relationships and authenticity in the business world. Her brilliance with business strategy, branding and marketing, has always been an underlying theme of the success of Hera Hub and what it has become as of today with locations worldwide. Each venue whether in the United States or abroad is operated by a private owner. As I mentioned before, Felena owns the Sorrento Valley and Mission Valley locations. Initially, the Carlsbad location was also owned by Felena, but in the summer of 2016, Lisane Basquiat, became the new sole proprietor. I have had the opportunity to work with Lisane at Hera Hub Carlsbad for almost three years, and I recently had a conversation with her as to why she bought the business from Felena in the first place. Her response: “It was in line with where I was in my life. I was looking for an opportunity to empower women on their entrepreneurial journey and I made a decision to invest in that via Hera Hub Carlsbad. I was already an established business owner, and I wanted to create an environment at Hera Hub Carlsbad where I was encouraging women to not only have a dream about owning a business of their own, but to take it a step further where they were educated, supported and ultimately in the “driver’s seat” of running their own businesses.” Lisane is launching her new podcast on iHeart Radio, Shaping Freedom. Click on the photo above to visit her new website and to contact her with any questions. In addition to owning and operating Hera Hub Carlsbad, Lisane Basquiat is an empowerment coach, certified Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming and mom. She lives in San Diego County, but also spends time visiting with her daughter and family on the East Coast. Lisane’s passion for women, entrepreneurship and creating an inspiring and encouraging environment at Hera Hub Carlsbad is a direct reflection of everything that the brand represents as a whole. Women. Collaboration. Community. Empowerment. Education. Essentially, Hera Hub, whether in California, Sweden or Georgia, is and always will be about female entrepreneurs having the opportunity to build their brands fearlessly in a safe community space with business education training at the core of their business practices. I acknowledged this from the beginning when I became an Ambassador for the brand back in August of 2016. At that time, I had already been blogging for over a year with LoSoCal and I was HUNGRY for knowledge about how to be an entrepreneur. Due to my career experience in the field of management, I was already somewhat familiar with many basic business concepts and best practices, however Hera Hub offered me everything that I was looking for and more. It was very different learning about how to be my own business owner versus having a J-O-B! When I was initially offered the opportunity to become a part of the Hera Hub community, it manifested in the foyer of Hera Hub Carlsbad with Felena interviewing me and asking me questions about LoSoCal and what my goals were with my brand. I was wearing yoga pants per my usual and my hair was tied back in a less than fashionable manner. Thank goodness she didn’t judge me based on my appearance, and to her credit, that was exactly why I appreciated her during our interview. She saw right through me. I could have been wearing a full blown designer outfit and it would not have mattered to her either way. She wasn’t interested in what I was wearing or how I looked, because for her it was more a matter of whether or not I had a brand that I believed in and she was more curious about “why” I wanted to be an entrepreneur. It has taken me almost three years as a member at Hera Hub to finally realize that is literally the “magic question” behind any successful brand! If the answer is money, it may be a tricky road at the start for a business owner with that mindset. In my humble opinion and after being exposed to so many entrepreneurs at Hera Hub, the BEST reason, the only reason to truly start a business is pure passion for what your business offers to the world!I had a mentor years ago tell me that "passion leads to success" and I agree wholeheartedly. LoSoCal has taken so many twists and turns. I have experienced many wonderful successes and many epic failures. Creating and building LoSoCal as a blog and brand that reminds people to shop local and support our local businesses, entrepreneurs and artists has been one of my greatest life accomplishments. Passion for what I do with LoSoCal and the knowledge and support that I have gained from Hera Hub Carlsbad, has driven me to always hold on and move forward with my business goals. Thanks to the amazing people in my life who have encouraged me to keep on keeping on with LoSoCal! I am also currently facing some health challenges which have prevented me from blogging as much as I would like to on a regular basis, but it is because of the women at Hera Hub that I have learned that it is alright to have setbacks as long as I’m doing the best that I can with my business day by day. Felena and Lisane have both played very large roles in my life as the founder and owner of LoSoCal. I created LoSoCal almost four years ago, and in the beginning I had no idea what I was doing as an entrepreneur. Felena planted the seed when she saw my potential and hired me as an Ambassador for Hera Hub to represent the brand almost three years ago, and Lisane has helped me to water and grow my garden with LoSoCal. These two women, along with many others who have become my dear friends and supportive business mentors, are the reason why I still keep putting one foot in front of the other with LoSoCal. My relationships with the women of the Hera Hub community have changed my life and my business forever! If I had the opportunity to talk to a female entrepreneur who is just starting out on her journey as a business owner, I would tell her heart to heart that the BEST decision she could ever make for herself and her business is to become a part of a community like Hera Hub at the onset. "Hera Hub, is a spa-inspired shared workspace and business accelerator for female entrepreneurs. This as-needed, flexible work and meeting space provides a productive environment for growing businesses. Hera Hub members have access to a professional space to meet with clients and to connect and collaborate with like-minded business owners, thus giving them the support they need to be prosperous. The business supports hundreds of freelancers, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits in over 16 industry segments." Thanks for reading friends of LoSoCal. Please like this article below if you enjoyed reading about Hera Hub... and as always remember to shop local as much as possible to support our local communities and business owners!
Karen Vazquez
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by Karen Vazquez People ask me all of the time: “What is LoSoCal?” The answer is simple. I am an advocate for our local Southern California small business owners and artists. LoSocal is the brand that I created about three and a half years ago as a way for me to share my favorite aspects of the local scene in Southern California through photography and the written word. What I love the most about the local vibe here in SoCal is the shops, restaurants, artists and events!
For me, shopping local is a way of life. I try my best to shop local and utilize local services and products as much as possible. I have heard from several people that it’s simply too expensive, especially with Amazon and a great deal of inexpensive stores and resources out there that bombard our lives with their “sales” and “promotions.” I am not against shopping at franchises and chain stores, however I am aware of the positive impact that shopping locally can have on our communities, and so it is something I focus on quite a bit when I am shopping, dining out or hiring someone for a service. To highlight a few important aspects of shopping locally and using local services and tradespeople, I figured I would offer a list of HOW this practice positively impacts and enhances our neighborhoods. First off, it benefits the environment by minimizing the mass transport of many products we order or use. It’s an undeniable truth with semi trucks, vans and oversized vehicles buzzing around always in route for deliveries. By shopping locally we literally reduce fuel consumption and air pollution from vehicle emissions. When we shop at our local grocery stores and farmers markets, we are benefiting the environment because many of the local farmers and distributors of products are not transporting their food and products to far distances. What they grow, create or manufacture is provided to local stores, shops and consumers and the quality is usually exceptional compared to other mainstream chains. Another benefit of shopping in our local SoCal communities is accessibility. It’s as simple as that. In many areas of coastal Southern California we can walk outside to a neighboring farmers market, ride a bike to a coffee shop or a cafe or if we do drive somewhere… there are so many local stores and boutiques that the options abound. In my personal opinion, it is a matter of investing a minimal amount of time doing research on the internet either before hand or even on the go and you’re on your way! By utilizing the local small businesses in our neighborhoods, we automatically contribute to our communities by increasing the value of these local companies and brands. Every local purchase we make provides income for our community shop owners and entrepreneurs. That is why I regularly emphasize on LoSoCal how crucial it is to take our daily purchases off of “auto-pilot” mode and convert them into regular acts of consumer awareness and mindfulness. So many of us forget that by shopping locally we also create and sustain jobs in our communities. This is perhaps the most obvious reason why we should shop in our local villages and communities. The more we create a demand for local goods and products, the more we proactively develop a thriving workforce in our local cities and towns. I could go on in more detail about how we can impact our communities with making locally sourced purchases, but the reasons are quite obvious. Here is a list of my favorite reasons to shop local: it helps the environment, it is convenient, it boosts our local employment opportunities and local economies, the products and goods are generally of higher quality and the service at our local stores and shops is customarily better than at chain stores. And, by supporting local tradespeople, artisans, musicians and other local people who are experts in their crafts, we are essentially investing in the families of our local friends and neighbors! That is always a good choice. Thanks for reading! Karen Vazquez #losocal by Chris Morrison I'm a North County local, born and raised. I had never lived anywhere except beautiful Oceanside CA my entire life. When I graduated college in May, I got a new job and had the opportunity to move an hour South to San Diego! Having spent time in San Diego city before due to its close proximity to Oceanside, I had originally wanted to move to North Park or even PB for the incredible nightlife and easy walk-ability. But, I quickly found that both were extremely crowded and anywhere from slightly to astronomically out of my price range. I eventually was able to get my hands on a small apartment in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego. (The struggles of trying to find and rent an apartment in the city could be a whole other article.) I was iffy about the location and apartment at first, but I want to show you why, over the last two months, I have fallen in love with this eclectic little neighborhood. From Victorian homes to punk rock shows to art and young professionals, the history of Golden hill is as varied and colorful as the people who live here. Golden Hill started being developed in the early 1880's and some of those first houses are still around! In the early 1900's the area was known for large Victorian homes and wealthy San Diego natives that moved here to enjoy the view and ocean breeze. During the late 80's and 90's the neighborhood swung in the other direction. An increase in drugs and gang activity drove many families away and the neighborhood became a little less family friendly. This resulted in a decrease in rent that allowed for artists and other communities to move in, and this launched a pretty heavy punk music scene. One of the best known venues of the time was at 2144 E street which ran DIY punk shows until 2002. Over the last decade the hood has bounced back quite a bit. Rent is still relatively low for the location (a feature I am pretty happy with!) and this has allowed for an influx of young professionals, families, and college students to move into the area. Golden Hill has some amazing restaurants, bars, and coffee shops spread out over its rolling streets. Food: Pizzeria LuigiFeatured on an episode of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, Luigi’s is a neighborhood staple. Known for their New York style pies and friendly staff, Pizzeria Luigi makes some of the best pizza I have ever had. You absolutely must try this place if you are in the area. Their prices are amazing as well, since you can get two huge slices of pizza and a beer for under 10 dollars. Their pizzas range from traditional pepperoni to a potato and cheese creation called the “White Girl," which I highly recommend. A word of warning: If you are planning on going around lunch or dinner time, be prepared to wait a bit as they often have lines out the door! Coffee: KrakatoaKrakatoa Cafe is the epitome of a friendly neighborhood coffee shop. They have a wide variety of fresh made coffee, tea, and "kick ass" sandwiches. The thing I like most about Krakatoa, however, is the patio. The coffee shop is located in an old craftsman house that is overshadowed by a collection of large trees. This makes the patio a lovely place to escape the San Diego heat and relax with a good book and some coffee. The inside of the shop is just as cozy with relaxed seating and friendly staff. The staff and shop place a large emphasis on "keeping it local" and Krakatoa is actually owned by the same people who run The Casbah music venue. Definitely check out Krakatoa- It's one of my favorite, chill places in the neighborhood. Drinks: CounterpointBilling themselves as a “place for people,” Counterpoint is a friendly little bar on 25th street just North of the 94. They offer a wide variety of seasonal meals and an even larger variety of beer, wine, and cocktails. Their featured cocktails change often and the food menu seems to change about once a season, so be prepared to try something new during a visit there. They are the priciest option on this list by far, but their food is worth the price. The cocktails are priced right for the area and I was impressed with the selection of local beer and wine. Make sure you talk with the bartender or waiters if you go in, since they are mostly locals and have some interesting stories to share. As they say on their site, “Counterpoint is- first, foremost and always, about our 'hood, and the people who give it life." New to the area: Mutual Friend Ice CreamThe three other places in this article have been around for years and are staples of the neighborhood. I wanted to give a special shout out to a newcomer, Mutual Friend Ice Cream. They opened their doors about a month ago and are already making headlines. Located right across the street from Counterpoint, Mutual Friend specializes in small batch handmade ice cream. Their flavors are creamy and delicious and their fun colorscheme and goofy logo will make you feel right at home. Thanks for reading, friends and supporters of LoSoCal! The next time you are in San Diego be sure to explore this local SoCal community. Gather together in Golden Hill this holiday season and you'll definitely have an enjoyable and memorable time with family and friends. The culture and exceptional food and drink in this neighboring community of Downtown San Diego make it worth stepping outside of the Gaslamp and Northpark! Happy Holidays. AuthorChris Morrison is a local California native who enjoys writing about local San Diego musicians, restaurants and more. He loves supporting local small businesses by helping them to create practical, articulate marketing strategies for their brands. He has his degree in Marketing from California State University San Marcos and he is a natural at his craft. Reach out and say Hello by clicking on the button below! Contact Karen Vazquez, creator of LoSoCal, by clicking the button above if you are interested in learning more about how to become a guest blogger. We aspire to highlight many more secret spots and favorite destinations throughout this gorgeous area, and guest blogging is a HUGE part of our overall goal and mission at LoSoCal! Spread the Local Love of Southern California by sharing your stories and your voice. As always, remember to Shop Local. Eat Local. Spend Local. Our local communities and small business owners need the extra support! #losocal #losocalstyle #localsandiego #localsocal #goldenhillsd #sdliving ***Ad space options available! Contact us for pricing*** Thanks for reading. Please "like" this article and comment below if you enjoyed it. We appreciate your feedback and support! |
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November 2019
Owner, Lead BloggerHello, my name is Karen Vazquez. I have lived in Southern California for over thirty years. I realized about four years ago that it was time for me to give back to this wonderful community by supporting local SoCal businesses, performers, restaurants, spas, boutiques, fitness studios, farmers markets and more. My support shines through here by highlighting these fabulous local SoCal spots. You can also follow me on Instagram, Twitter, PInterest and LinkedIn. I will be featuring many local destinations in the area that have been my personal favorites for years and am currently recruiting guest bloggers to expand the voice of LoSoCal. I have had guest bloggers in the past, but aim to incorporate local SoCal bloggers on a regular basis as a fun, creative and collaborative way to connect with the community here. Essentially, LoSoCal is a community blog, and it is meant to be resource to locals in this area and visitors from around the world. Please like or follow LoSoCal on the social media business pages and tell your contacts about the blog. Thanks for stopping by... ©️2020 LoSoCal and Local SoCal Lifestyle. All rights reserved.
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