We had the good fortune of connecting with Arnaldo Cepeda and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Arnaldo, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to take back control of my time. ArnaldoEvan.com is actually my third company, as I run a real estate investment firm, Cepeda Capital Ventures, and a digital nursing student training center with my Wife, The Nurse Sam. I used to work tirelessly as a sales manager in large franchise car dealerships and had very little life to live with super long shifts. I had a great career and miss the atmosphere and a lot of people I used to work with. I was very successful and smart with money so I was able to take the leap without financial stress. My title as Father and Husband are more important to me than anything, so I wanted to control my time so I can continue to make memories with my Wife and Son. Arnaldo is me, and Evan is my son in which inspired the brand and more legacy building down the line.
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?
Arnaldo Evan actually started as a sweatshirt I made to match a pair of creative recreation sneakers I bought when my son was a toddler. I worked in fashion retail for 10 years of my life in mid level and high end luxury brands and I always loved how the right piece can change someones attitude and boost their confidence. Clothing is a beast and I commend all those who are on that journey but I wanted to focus on accessories so I can coexist with brands I love. I’m a huge fan of some of the well known luxury brands and now I can put on a pair of my shades or my own book bag to compliment the look.
The internet is its own world and my goal was to leverage time. Fortunately, I’m very familiar with e-commerce, automation, and other great ways to keep everything running smoothly. The biggest challenge was finding reliable vendors that could translate the styles I needed and match the quality I wanted. My tenure in retail helped shape those requests and I absolutely love the team of vendors I work with for different items. We all communicate very well and I’m pleased with the end result 99% of the time.
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If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved to Atlanta from New York in 2012. I’m STILL finding new places to hang out so the possibilities are endless! The airport alone is like a mall with bars and lounges if you know your way around. I would definitely start with food, as any sane person would, right? I love First Watch, Breakfast at Barney’s, and Another broken egg for breakfast. Some of my favorite lunch places are Eclipse Di Luna, everything at Politan Row at Colony Square, and Tex Mex places like PURE. Dinner and drinks, the list is long, but I thoroughly enjoy Steak houses, specifically Steak Market and Hal’s.
Outside of food, The Battey/Truist Park is a great hangout and I’m a huge fan of Silverspot Cinema for movies. I gravitate toward outdoor spaces like the Avalon and Atlantic when the weather is right or Phipps Plaza when it’s not great outside.
I think shooting ranges always deserve a visit, and a good cooling off on the several rooftop bars in this city!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think every person whether it be in a corporate career or entrepreneur will be inspired by multiple things as they progress. Personally, I strongly believe anything is possible when you put God first and let him lead you. With his guidance I have been able to move rapidly into management over multi million dollar operations, lead large teams of people, and help propel others into their destiny. I’ve also been able to help others start their companies, inspire those close to me to focus on ownership, and elevate their thinking. I’m thankful for everyone I have encountered on my journey thus far and they have all inspired me in different ways. It goes without saying my Wife and Son are my biggest supporters and I’m dedicated to providing a life they can be proud of.
Website: www.ArnaldoEvan.com www.CepedaCapital.com
Instagram: @ArnaldoEvan @CepedaCapital