Meet Samantha Tafolla, a 16-year-old entrepreneur
Not wanting to just work for minimum wage, one local teenager has taken matters into her own hands.
Like many her age, 16-year-old Samantha Tafolla wanted some spending cash, but a summer job wasn’t really her style.
“In the summer of 2016, I didn’t want to work for anybody or have a summer job and get paid minimum wage,” said Tafolla. “So I decided buy my own clothes that I can resell.”
And thus Mas Vintage was born.
Tafolla started out with just a little bit of money. She took to her first flea market at Pasadena City College.
Her beginnings were humble, but they caught on.
“I just had one rack,” said Tafolla. “A lot of people seemed to enjoy my stuff and a lot of people were buying things from me…after all the positive feedback, I continued to keep buying, you know? It just became my hobby; I love it so much.”
Not only does she enjoy her new business venture, she is actually making profit. Tafolla now has several flea markets that she frequents, and a faithful following.
“I have people looking for me at certain flea markets,” said Tafolla. “A lot of people come to me for bulk buy, and just because they want to check out my stuff.”
She even shares her products and customers on an Instagram page dedicated to her business.
Mas Vinatge still continues to grow. While she doesn’t have a website yet, she says it is in the works.
She also plans to eventually go to school for business, once she graduates from Downey High School in a couple of years.
“I’m for sure going to go to college and get a major probably in business,” said Tafolla. “Just so I have a back-up plan.”
A happy customer who purchased a bomber jacket from Mas Vintage, a vintage clothing store owned by 16-year-old Downey resident Samantha Tafolla.
For now Tafolla hopes to find someone with a store space, who’d be willing to help her out by renting to her cheaper and on a month to month basis.
“I am a high school student, I’m just getting started,” said Tafolla.
Mas Vintage can be found on Instagram at masvintage0.