JZD latina owned brand takes on Target
By: Silvana Villarreal
Jen Zeano Designs (JZD) has been a latinx empowerment symbol for people around the internet, but the overnight success really happened over a seven year period of hard work, sweat and tears.
The creators of JZD, Jennifer Serrano and Veronica Vasquez started their small business journey on Etsy, and the brand bloomed after it was stocked on the shelves of Targets around the nation.
“They sent us an email, and we 100% thought it was a scam,” said Serrano about Target reaching out, interested in their brand. “This can’t be real. No way Target knows, even, who we are.”
Their business started as a two-woman team and for five years, the pair had to screenprint, market, deliver, create designs, pack orders and wholesale their business themselves.
“At some point or another, we did every single part of the job,” said Serrano. “And now that we have our team, we know how to do everything,” said Vasquez.
With absolutely no experience in business or marketing, their brand rose with the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
It all started back in 2016. Serrano quit her day job at a foster care facility, and focused on the business, but it wasn’t until 2020 that it became prominent in the co-founders lives.
“We literally put all of our energy,” said Serrano. “It was, we wake up, JZD. You go to bed, JZD. I was dreaming JZD,” said Vasquez.
The community built around the brand has shown incredible support and has been a part of the decision making process, according to Serrano and Vasquez.
“You guys are amazing and such an inspiration,” said user @guiselapc (Guisela Pinto Caballero) via Instagram. “Son un orgullo latino.”
“At the end of the day, the community that we have built, their support has remained since the beginning,” said Serrano.
JZD will soon be out of stock in Target, but you can find them at their brownsville shop in 800 Frontage Rd Suite 12, or online at shopJZD.com
To listen to the full interview, click below:
