Due to the pandemic, they closed their first location, but Showcase 593 remained and has been a showcase for hundreds of entrepreneurs for eight years.

In 2015, Liliam Leones and Daniela Guzmán realized that many new products and national brands coming to the market from small businesses were only visible at fairs that lasted two or three days. Vitrina 593 was born out of this need, which from that moment became a showcase for hundreds of Ecuadorian entrepreneurs and has been on the market for eight years. Daniela Guzmán talks about how the business developed and her future plans.

How did Vitrina 593 start?

It started in 2015 on the way to the coast with the idea of ​​creating a space where local entrepreneurs can market their products every day of the year. We soon realized that the biggest challenge was to get consumers to prefer and choose the products of local entrepreneurs. This is how our main goal was born, which is to raise awareness of the benefits of local consumption and thus encourage people to appreciate it, to be proud of what is local and to choose and consume local products.

How many entrepreneurial brands did you start with, and how many are you now showcasing?

We started with about 20 brands, today we have more than 80, we could have done more, but our physical space was too small.

How many entrepreneurs have passed through Vitrina 593 in these eight years?

There have been many, in fact, few ventures that have managed to sustain themselves over time. Starting a business is a big challenge, it is not easy, it is a big school of patience, discipline, persistence and a clear goal. Those brands that have managed to sustain themselves over time are those that treat their venture as a true company, but a company with a purpose, the purpose is the engine that drives the desire to fight for their dream.

Laguna Plaza has a showcase for Ecuadorian entrepreneurs

What type of product is preferred according to demand?

In Vitrina 593, the favorites are clothes, sportswear, accessories and women’s shoes, as well as everything related to cosmetics. In cosmetics and food products, consumers are looking for vegan options that are environmentally friendly, made from natural raw materials, etc. The less toxic chemicals, the better.

What does Vitrina 593 earn from the sale of the entrepreneur’s products?

We charge a sales commission, this commission includes a percentage of the credit card, all the work of the sales team and being at a location such as Plaza Navona, but this amount is not charged to the customer, as the price is the same outside the store.

How has Vitrina 593 developed in these eight years?

It was quite tiring. We started in a small bar on the top floor on the way to the coast, without much decor and staff. Soon after that, we moved to one on the ground floor, then we opened a space on Av. Samborondon. Then the pandemic came and we faced the difficult decision that we had to close the store on the way to the coast, today we stay on the avenue. Samborondón in Plaza Navona.

What do you think are your most important achievements?

At the beginning of 2023, we realized that through the brands that are part of Vitrina 593, we are creating about 600 jobs, and that thanks to our environmentally friendly packaging, the use of more than 8,600 plastic bags has been avoided, and that in one way or another, three goals of sustainable development General assemblies of the United Nations, 5, 8 and 12, are fulfilled.

Have you always worked with environmentally friendly packaging?

What’s happening is that there’s been an evolution in packaging, there’s always thinking about being eco-friendly, the material has to be eco-friendly, but we’re a bit dependent on what’s in the market. One time it was prat paper, another time this sugarcane paper, which is what we normally want, but is not always available, we don’t use plastic wrap.

Do you have expansion plans?

We currently have only one location, in Plaza Navona on Av. Samborondon. Yes, we would love to be able to expand and take our concept to different parts of the city, it would even be nice to take it to other cities in the country, but that’s a long-term plan.