Meet Hansel de Haro | ALPHA Territory Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hansel de Haro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hansel, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
For me, success is health, happiness and the satisfaction that I did my best. I believe that success is a state of mind that exists when I feel truly happy and whole in the moment. Success may mean a specific goal accomplished or a certain amount of money earned to others, and that may apply in various areas of running a business. But I believe that mentality may lead to a slippery slope, where nothing is ever enough.

That’s why I like to see success as a state of being. Asking myself if I feel satisfied with who I am as a professional, friend, family member, spouse, etc. allows me to assess what really matters and appreciate where I am while also being ambitious and setting goals.

My dad taught me something when I was very little: Being successful and wealthy is not someone who has a lot, but the one that needs the least.

My biggest dream of success with ALPHA Territory is being able to look back in the future, alongside those that have believed in what we’ve started, and talk about how much we have advanced as a brand and a team. Moreover, nothing would bring me more satisfaction than being able to see ALPHA territory being able to give back to the people that have believed in the company and its mission and vision.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
– Starting a Business – I had started pursuing a fitness journey to feel and look better around 2012 and I became more involved with fitness events, expos, etc. During a 2016 expo, I started noticing too many similarities among numerous athletic clothing vendors – their aesthetics may have been nice, but upon further inspection, their quality missed the mark.

That led me to think about how I would do things differently, by trying to provide the best quality possible even though it would take a bit longer to develop. Also, I wanted to ensure that, no matter what I did, I wanted to treat customers like “real people”, which meant building a relationship with them instead of seeing them as dollar signs.

– Achieving Goals –
When our community of clients is victorious in what they set their minds to, that’s what makes us achieve our goals as a company. It’s about the little wins that we can play a role in and the difference that we can make in the lives of our customers.

We do so by reiterating our central message as much as possible. We are a brand that’s here to help our clients succeed and empower them to be the best version of themselves. We want to become a source for motivation and a positive mindset.

– Taking Risks –
Starting ALPHA territory in a market that has many athletic wear brands was definitely a risk. However, a saturated market should never be a reason not to build something that you’re passionate about. There is enough clientele to go around and, with the right business model, there can be a market for almost every idea or brand.

As an organization, a risk we will always bet on is providing good quality products without an excessive profit margin. This means more time in research and development and a larger amount of scrutiny going into material selection – a large feat for a growing business.

– Motivation –
Running a business is hard – there will be high highs and really low lows. A product I may think is a hit may not resonate the way I think it will with customers or outside factors like a pandemic or its aftermath can affect our bottom line. Our guideline regarding this is simple: as long as there are customers leaving reviews and telling us how much they love our products and their quality, it means we’re on the right path.

Like with life, in business, we have to remind ourselves that everything is temporary. If we really are invested in what we are doing and believe in the purpose behind it all, it will be worth all the effort.

– Balance –
Admittedly so, I’d say that business owners and entrepreneurs probably are the worst at time management- haha! I think that all of us who are passionate about building something are in a constant battle with and are aware of the importance of work/life balance – because of the many roles we play and the value of the time we dedicate to roll up our sleeves and work.

The importance of dedicating time to my family and having an optimal balance has increased over time, as I’ve gotten older. Reality is that one of the reasons (if not the main reason) I work so hard is for my family’s future. And that’s why I strive to find a happy medium between advancing my business and dedicating time to them.

– Social Impact –
We strive to portray the image of being a brand that is there for the average individual who is at any point of their fitness or growth journey. We want to show them that it is possible to achieve their goals by inspiring them to tap into their inner “ALPHA” selves.

As we continue to grow as a company, another goal we have is to give back to causes that mean a lot to us and our clients. From St. Jude’s to Wounded Warrior Project, we aim to give customers the option to choose to which non-profit a percentage of proceeds from their purchases will be donated to. This will further show how we truly aim to connect to our community and understand what their values are.

– Happiness –
From a young age, I’ve always enjoyed working on projects or ideas outside of work or school assignments. My background in graphic design and communications has really fueled that passion and has been a driving force that I have applied to any venture I pursue.

Family: I’m very family oriented. I was born in a very humble but united family. We’ve always seen life as: no matter how difficult a situation may get, by staying together as a family, there’s nothing that can’t be solved. Therefore, I combine work and family by passionately working hard on my projects with the vision for them to be fruitful enough to pass on to my family.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely Wynwood. From its fashion to its art to its food, it’s such a cool and different place that really inspires both creatives and business people alike to think outside the box.

If you’re looking for a fun night out, Mayami is a cool Mexican cantina bar/restaurant/lounge in Wynwood that offers great food and Tulum vibes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The most important factor in the success of this brand is building and maintaining a team of trusted colleagues.

We have an internal mantra: “You don’t invest in a company, you invest in people”. Working with committed individuals who have a genuine interest in your brand and what it is trying to achieve is key to the advancement of any company.

I would like to give a Shoutout to the amazing Alpha Territory team:

– Gus Baldor – Co-Founder

– Natalia Correa – Fashion Designer
– Milos Stojkivic – Copywriter
– Tamara Zivkovic – Ads Manager
– Shade Souc – Social Media Manager
– Shawn Ballance – Wholesale Executive Accounts Manager
– Natalia Correa – Fashion Designer
– Sarah Garcia – PR, Branding & Creative Direction

Website: www.alphaterritory.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alphaterritory/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanseldeharo