NAWILIWILI — Jhonatan Figueroa and Megan Spurlock may look like your average 20-somethings, but their age hides remarkable ambition. Before their college diplomas had a chance to collect dust in the closet, the two opened a store at Harbor Mall
NAWILIWILI — Jhonatan Figueroa and Megan Spurlock may look like your average 20-somethings, but their age hides remarkable ambition. Before their college diplomas had a chance to collect dust in the closet, the two opened a store at Harbor Mall in Nawiliwili dedicated to bikinis, clothing and jewelry.
The three-month-old store, called San Lorenzo Kauai, is an extension of Figueroa’s family business, based in his hometown of Lima, Peru. His sister runs three stores carrying San Lorenzo merchandise on O‘ahu, and his mother, Fidelia Moreano, runs the manufacturing operations from Peru.
Currently the couple are adding their own stamp to the San Lorenzo brand with a line of eco-friendly, organic cotton bikinis. The fabric is 95 percent cotton with 5 percent spandex for stretch — and they’ve proven popular so far.
Figueroa, 23, came to Hawai‘i to study and recently graduated with a business degree from Hawai‘i Pacific University. Twenty-two-year-old Spurlock, his business partner, is also a recent grad, with a degree in environmental science from the University of Hawai‘i. The mix provides a good balance, they said, as Spurlock brings the creativity and concepts, while Figueroa brings practicality to the business plan.
“I like to be creative … and put it into something an everyday person can use,” Spurlock said of the bathing suits she helps design.
Spurlock noted that her science-based degree is helpful in understanding the technical side of the eco-friendly and organic industries — a theme weaved into the store and its merchandise.
Figueroa, on the other hand, said his degree has helped in terms of management and sales strategy — but there’s always a learning curve from classroom to real world.
“The best school is to work in a place,” Figueroa said.
Both said they were surprised by how much work goes into starting a business. They spent five days and nights painting and designing the store before it opened.
“When you really want something, you just don’t feel like sleeping,” he said of laboring around the clock.
While the long hours can be a drawback, the two enjoy the freedom of their arrangement and take the accompanying responsibilities seriously.
“The most important part is (that) your business turns out to be your life,” Figueroa said. “It’s like my baby, but I have to wait until it walks by itself — wait and see the results.”
The biggest challenge so far, Spurlock said, is figuring out what customers want — as demand can run contrary to their expectations. For that reason, they’ve learned the importance of diversifying the merchandise to avoid putting all their eggs in one basket.
So far, the band style bikini has been the most popular. They’ve also received feedback that the garter style, which bunches on the side, is great for surfers because the suit stays put. For the 2008 line, they are working on a Rasta-inspired line of black, yellow and red bikinis.
The store also carries a few of their own top and dress designs, though the emphasis is on bikinis. Other items include jewelry made by Figueroa’s mom, bags, blankets from Peru and select clothing from local designers, including Femme Bazaar on Kaua‘i and Roberta oaks from O‘ahu.
The couple are very receptive to local designers showcasing their merchandise in the store, and they hope to expand the selection of eco-friendly items. Spurlock said the emphasis is incorporating more products made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton or bamboo.
San Lorenzo bathing suits run $60 to $68 for a set; other brands cost anywhere from $75 to $130. All styles and sizes are mix-and-match.
For more information, call the store at 245-2324.
• Blake Jones, business writer/assistant editor, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or bjones@kauaipubco.com
