Meet Yennyfer Buitrago | Founder of Be U Instead

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

Hi Yennyfer, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As an entrepreneur, risks are necessary and part of everyday life. From starting a business to day-to-day decisions, you are constantly taking risks, some greater than others. I rarely took any if they were not completely necessary throughout my career. However, I quickly realized that I would have to step out of my comfort zone and start taking risks to reach my goals. That was the moment I decided to start my business, I knew it would be a significant risk, but if executed correctly, the rewards would outweigh the current risk. Very rarely will someone find out their greatness if they never take any risks.

What should our readers know about your business?
Be U Instead is an online swimwear boutique that focuses on making beautiful swimwear from Latin America more accessible and all in one place. We pride ourselves in only selling pieces we would buy ourselves, that meet our high-quality standards as consumers, style, and uniqueness. Some of the brands we currently carry are from Colombia and the Dominican Republic and will be expanding to other countries in the future.

My background is in business and political science. Since I was in University, I knew I might want to pursue owning my own business at some point in my life, but I was unsure of the industry. So, for about three years, I worked for a shoe brand, where I learned about running a business in the fashion industry. It was a fantastic experience because I was able to get involved in different parts of the company, from accounting to marketing, and learn. But, even though I learned a lot, it has not been easy, and I’m still learning.

My biggest challenge so far has been getting through the high and lows of business. Some days, you will get a lot of visitors and no sales, and other days it could be the complete opposite. Getting past discouraging days is a challenge when you are starting. However, I have learned that it helps focus on the bigger picture. Understanding that everything takes time and challenging days are perfect opportunities to analyze and decide whether to try something new or pivot slightly to improve results.

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.
Day at Fort Lauderdale Beach Breakfast at a little Cuban coffee shop called Colada
Head to the beach for a day in the sun
Late lunch and night out – The Wharf, the perfect place to grab a bring, walk the riverside, and get some food.

A day in Brickell / Wynwood / Design District
Walk and explore Brickell
Lunch – Casa Tua for fresh pasta or Mister O 1 for some amazing pizza
Head over to the design district for some shopping and browsing
Dinner – Lung Yai Tapas, a small Thai restaurant in Calle Ocho.
Head over to Wynwood and grab some drinks

Sunday
Brunch – Batch, new southern kitchen, great drink, and food selection. Tap 42 or Yolo
Spend the day by the pool at the Easton Rooftop pool + Lounge

Activities
Paddleboarding – Pelican Bay, Oleta River State Park, or Fort Lauder Intercoastal
Jungle Queen Riverboat, Fort Lauderdale
Riverfront Gondola Tour

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom. She is by far my biggest supporter, even when everybody else thought I was crazy for wanting to start a swimwear boutique. She has encouraged me to follow my dreams and has provided constructive criticism when necessary. Her encouragement and support is the reason I found the courage to start Be U Instead.

Website: beuinstead.com

Instagram: @beuinstead