EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A Juárez native has started and guided not one but two successful businesses here in the Borderland, showing you can overcome obstacles on your journey.
Toro Food Imports products. Photos by Luisa Barrios – KTSM
Her love for her business career and public relations made Isabel Plascencia create Toro Food Imports. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she decided to take the chance to create her second business, Perfect Spaces.
KTSM.com is profiling Hispanic business and community leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Plascencia graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Technological Institute of Ciudad Juárez (Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Juárez). After getting her degree, she worked as a supervisor and purchasing manager for many years in Juárez.
She said she moved to the U.S. back in 2004 when her children were kids, dedicating her time to being a full-time mom.
Isabel Plascencia is on the far right. Photo from Toro Food Imports.
“For a few years, I was thinking about what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to go back to an office job because of the lack of time and me being a full-time mom,” Plascencia said.
Plascencia said that between 2010 and 2012, she found a red chile (chile colorado) in Juárez that she really liked and decided to import it into El Paso since she couldn’t find that product on this side of the border.
“I contacted the product’s owners, and they said, ‘Yes.’ So, we started bringing the product to El Paso and I opened a small business to import just that one product. Of course, all this after going through all the regulations needed,” Plascencia said. “Everything started going well but still I didn’t have any experience with importing food, so I started attending fairs and familiarizing myself with more products.”
Plascencia said that at one of those fairs, she met a Canadian businessperson who became her client. By then, she was importing the chile in the El Paso region, some parts of California and Canada.
“Even though one product was good but not enough, I didn’t want to take risks and take more products. This is because I was still a full-time mom and that was my priority,” Plascencia said.
Before the pandemic, Plascencia said she attended a commercial fair in China and was able to make a million-dollar deal for the following year. However, the pandemic hit, and when the borders closed, she lost her contracts in Canada and China.
“I thought that maybe that was it with that business. What needed to be done, it was done,” Plascencia said.
That was the moment when Perfect Spaces came to light.
“Perfect Spaces specializes in a range of services including professional residential and commercial cleaning, expert space organization, and custom storage solutions. We tailor our services to each client’s unique needs, ensuring a personalized approach to every space,” according to the business website.
Plascencia said this business started because it was easy for her to organize spaces. She started organizing her family and friends’ closets.
“This business is very personal because you are going into your client’s personal space. We have full access to their personal belongings, and we need to be careful and respectful,” Plascencia said. “I’ve noticed that sometimes we keep stuff we don’t use that maybe is broken, or we don’t need anymore. Those are the things I encourage clients to get rid of. I believe in energy and what you give away will get back to you. Donating is a good way to go.”
Plascencia said this business is very comforting to her and she has made many special connections with her clients.
However, two years ago, Plascencia said that she decided to bring her import business back but took a different approach.
“Now we have more products, and we are focusing on finding unique products you don’t usually find in El Paso — either if it’s organic, or authentically Mexican, products from small businesses in Mexico, you name it,” Plascencia said.
Plascencia said the strongest market she has right now is Canada. However, she wants to expand to anyplace that’s interested in her products.
“Talking about Mexican entrepreneurs, many of them don’t know that the American market is not difficult. It’s just a little bit complex because you have to comply with the rules and regulations when it comes to importing products. So, I’m very interested in Mexico right now because we have an extensive list of amazing and original products that people are unaware of here in the U.S. I’m dedicated to searching for good products in Mexico to import to the U.S., and we are looking into both sides of the border,” Plascencia said.
Plascencia said that even though starting out was difficult, she’s been blessed with meeting good people along the way.
“It was very different when I first started because in Juárez, I was the one ‘buying’ and deciding which products I wanted to get for the company. Here in the U.S., I was the one ‘selling’ and knocking on doors. But even then, I feel very lucky because I met good people along the way that didn’t hesitate to give me a chance and try our products,” Plascencia said.
Plascencia continues running both her businesses and keeps aiming to be better every single day.
You can learn more about Toro Food Imports here, and Perfect Spaces here.
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