Meet Gabriel Lopera | Father/Husband Entrepreneur

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

Hi Gabriel, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born in Hoboken NJ. Then lived a few years in Jersey City NJ and then my family moved to Bayonne NJ where I lived until 2002 when I moved to Florida. I was raised by Colombian Immigrant parents. They split up when I was 10 years old & then raised by our mom. We had very little money growing up but my Mom did her best. Most of my childhood she worked 3 jobs. We didn’t see her much growing up because she was always at work in order to be able to pay the roof over our head. That is where I saw for the first time what it was like to have amazing WORK ETHIC! So that forged me from a young age to always work your ass off. Seeing her as an example on what it is to work hard but then also wanting to do better for myself and do what I had to in order to not live as financially strapped as we did. I always tell our kids I appreciate growing up the way we did. I wouldn’t trade it for the world! It taught me to value things it is also what taught me my GRIND! In the end that is why we named the company GUSH. It stands for Grind Until Something Happens and that is how i live my life in relationships, work everything!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are an apparel printing business that help businesses, artists, retail clients with their merch needs. On many different products such as tees, hoodies, masks, socks, etc.

The # 1 thing that sets us apart(and you can verify this with the people that do business with us) is our customer service. I do what I need to in order to make sure each client knows how much we value and appreciate them, that they are satisfied with the communication and product they receive from us & that we help their brand or business stand out!

I got here by sheer GRIND! I knew nothing of this business when I left the corporate world as VP of Operations but I dove in full force and have taught myself this business and will continue to learn each day! No, it has not been easy. When you leave a 6 figure job for 0 figures that is a HUGE jump to take. Especially when you knew nothing about said business! I have been able to overcome by my GRIND, my angel of a wife who supported me on this crazy move, my partner Brandon Gomez, mentor like John Santos & again our clients!

One thing i learned along the way, which i do not regret, but I do advise people who reach out to me is DO NOT leave your current job like I did. Learn the business, build a clientele then as it starts to prosper if you want to make the leap of leaving your day job then do so. Even though I don’t regret what I did because I believe everything happens for a reason, I did make it more difficult on myself and my family along the way.

What I would want the world to know about our brand is that there will never be a brand working harder for your brand than ours. That I want people to know when you entrust us with your brand I will create products and go after it the same way as it is my brand, because I believe in the end the success of your brand will be the success of ours!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ok so the 1st thing to know about me. I am not a materialistic person at all. The 2 things i truly enjoy and care about are family and vacations(experiences) So we live in Miami Florida so if friends were coming for a week. This would be a week heavily based on sight seeing.

So I would start by taking them a couple of days to see a few of the Florida Keys. It is such a relaxing a beautiful place. Great views, great wildlife, great places to eat and relax. Then i would take them the next few days to some of our favorite sites such as Marco Island, Sanibel, Siesta Key. If they have never been to this state then of course I would have to do Orlando so they can see the magic of the theme parks and then end it back in Miami so they can have some of the best Latin food they will ever taste! Such as some of my favorites like Colombian, Peruvian, & Nicaraguan foods!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First & foremost God. Of course my mom for sacrificing her life in order to give her 2 sons a chance at a better one. My dad, who is no longer with us but taught me to be a better man. My brother who is a living example of what an EXCELLENT father needs to be. My wife & kids who are my “why” without them my life has no meaning. My partner Brandon Gomez who has been there for me, not only as a business partner, but as family ever since we were kids, as well as, my handful of friends I grew up with that at one time or another were there for me when I had nowhere else to turn. Big shout out also to John Santos that has mentored me from the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey that started back in February 2019. Lastly, my clients and other small businesses that I have had the pleasure of doing business with. Some have been with me since the beginning & always look out for me by referring to other businesses they know or advice or just the continued support of using our services! Without them we would not have a business at all & I make sure I never forget that and I am GREATEFUL for it EVERYDAY!

Website: www.gushapparel.com

Instagram: @gushapparel

Facebook: GUSH Apparel