We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Castaneda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I think there are very important factors behind any brand’s success: the product/service, the customers, the team. While it sounds pretty obvious, a brand needs to offer something desirable in order to succeed. Whether you want to be the best, the cheapest, the fanciest, etc in your category, people still need to want it for the brand to thrive. Customers are very important, as they are the ones that will keep your company blooming. Treat your customers well and rest assure they will come back. The best marketing out there: worth-of-mouth – and it’s free! A company’s success KEY factor: its team. In order to get things done (and done right), a brand must have people that care to not only get the job done, but has pride to get it right.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Once upon a time (2016), a princess (Andrea) got the most beautiful Valentine’s bouquet in all the land from her hi charming prince (Justin) and she couldn’t stand the thought of her precious flowers dying and going away forever. She then stumbled across flowers in a book that Justin’s grandmother had pressed many years ago and was enchanted by the ideas that came to mind! Her Valentine’s gift was transformed into her first pieces and live on today. Her pressing, color enhancing and preservation methods have progressed and thousands of other princesses’ flowers will live happily ever after too. I own DBANDREA LLC (aka Designs by Andrea); a company that specializes in preserving bridal bouquets. While the journey to be where I am today has not been easy and has required a lot of sacrifices, I must say, that I wouldn’t change it for anything. Seeing the amount of joy we are able to bring into some people’s has been the most rewarding thing. When you know that you are bringing beauty into this world, and people appreciate what you are doing, in many different ways, you know you just can’t give up. I almost feel the responsibility of not quitting and giving my all every single day to see people smile the way they do when they get their pieces (pressed bridal bouquets) back after a few months.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I must say that due to the fact that we are almost always working, my boyfriend and I don’t really go out all that much (except for restaurants). I am unaware of the best bars, clubs, “it” places to go to right now, so this is where I would get @Dallasites101 involved. As far as food goes, some of my favorite places: Trulucks, Detour Doughnuts, Nori Handroll Bar, Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Mariano’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Justin Cole, with Accelerate Auto Group, hands down! He’s the best mentor out there, I swear. He finds a way to stay motivated, even when things are not going the way they should. He’s a huge believer of hard work, and that hard work pays off. He has tons of experience managing a team, and truly believes that the team is the most important factor of a company. The way he mentors his own people, and others, is simply amazing. THANK YOU, for being the best supporter out there!

Website: www.dbandrea.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/designs.by.andrea
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycastaneda/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pressedflowercrafts

Image Credits
dbandrea llc