Elysia Guillen

Elysia Guillen, owner of La Segunda Estudio — a secondhand vintage home goods and clothing store—was born with an entrepreneurial spirit. Coming from a long line of business owners, Elysia shares that her family history has “been a major influence and I have a strong desire to succeed for a purpose much bigger than myself.” Though it wasn’t always easy, she persevered: “I started La Segunda Estudio without a background in business and made it work by constantly working, learning, and growing every day which was both exhausting and rewarding at the same time. However, I’ve realized that making time for my health and other important things in life is just as important to avoid burnout and keep the business going at a healthy pace.” 

Elysia learned about WEV through her friend Lili Muñoz, Owner of Colibri – and fellow co-founder of the Mujeres Makers Market in Santa Barbara.

Elysia has since participated in WEV’s LivePlan, QuickBooks and Digital Marketing courses. She found that “being a part of a community and sharing experiences with other women in the course and learning from one another” gave her a sense of belonging in the community. 

In addition to fostering a sense of community, Elysia shared that WEV has helped her grow her business “by offering me start-up information, guidance, and encouragement that has strengthened my skills and confidence”. 

With the recent addition of a new showroom inside Local Vintage (another WEV client business) in downtown Ventura, Elysia is hopeful about the future. She added “I am excited to see the growth of La Segunda and collaborations with like-minded businesses who share similar values with my own”. She is expanding her offerings: “I have recently added services such as prop styling, rentals and event styling incorporating our vintage goods. I look forward to offering seamless and one-of-kind experiences for intimate gatherings in the Central Coast.”