El Sol Entertainment thriving in the Quad Cities with the help of the SBDC at WIU-QC
In this world, there are people whose lives inspire, people who share the particularity of having overcome adversity through their work, ingenuity, creativity, effort, discipline, perseverance, and optimism, and people whose value is one of the conclusive factors of their success. Such is the success story of Tomás Miranda and Lupe Filio, and the creation of “El Sol Entertainment.”
Their success story begins in their native country when they began to forge their paths from a very young age. “Entrepreneurship is something that I carry in my DNA. When I was about ten years old, I used to sell homemade Kool-Aid popsicles. At age 17, along with my sisters, we started a small photography and video recording business with a camera that my dad brought from the United States,” Lupe remembered.
On the other hand, Tomás had always been a very friendly person and rarely had a hard time socializing. Whenever there is a family gathering, the party begins with Tomas' arrival.
Lupe and Tomas met during their teenage years in the northwest suburbs of Chicago and got married in 2008. Lupe worked as a cashier for a fast food restaurant, and Tomás did deliveries for a furniture store.
It was during a family gathering that Lupe's mother suddenly told Tomás that he had the personality of a clown and she encouraged him to do it professionally. Tomás’ mother-in-law knew from the beginning that his personality could lead him to success and offered him to buy his first clown outfit. Encouraged by Lupe's mother, the "Payasito Churrumais" was created.
In 2013, due to financial reasons, Tomás and Lupe decided to leave the suburbs and move to the Quad Cities, making it difficult to continue with the clowning business due to the distance between Tomás and his clowning partner.
Something inside Tomás kept him from giving up on the entertainment business and he continued pursuing his passion in the Quad Cities. Following in the footsteps of his role model DJ Tiesto, Tomás decided to become a DJ. “I acquired some debt through credit cards. I bought my first DJ mixer and decided to create our own entertainment company," Tomás recalled.
Tomás and Lupe contacted the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities (WIU-QC) on the recommendation of a friend who had previously been assisted. “Through the SBDC, I was able to acquire advice on how to start my small business. They guided me on how to obtain the proper licenses and permits required for this type of business. They helped me obtain an EIN, commercial insurance and more. I also wanted to mention that in addition to the aforementioned services, the SBDC at WIU-QC made a big difference in my personal life. There had been a history of cancer in my family, which made me susceptible to contracting the same disease. In addition to information about the process of starting a business, I also received information on how to be proactive and get the right preventive testing. I'm thankful for this information that can save lives," said Tomás.
Lupe wants to emphasize that their business wouldn’t be the same without the help and support of her family, especially their son Tomás A. Miranda, who, despite his young age, is a hard worker and a great support to his dad. "My son Tomás has brought fresh ideas, dynamism, and innovation to our company, and my sister Elvia Filio has also been an unconditional support. I want to take this time to especially thank my mother, who was always there to support us when we needed her the most,” Lupe mentioned.
The Mercado on Fifth also welcomed and supported their business by offering their space during the beginning stages of the nonprofit organization.
What they enjoy most about owning their own business is being able to do what they love and are passionate about while generating income. “My passion is to make people smile and make them forget their problems. It is satisfying knowing that through our music, along with my staff, we can cause an overflow of joy and happiness, even if it is just for a couple of hours. At the end of the day, we know that memories last forever," Tomás mentioned. Lupe and Tomás are a dynamic duo who push each other towards success to make their dreams come true. "Everyone has dreams, but if it is possible to dream, it is also possible to make it come true. There is no worse attempt than the one that is never done. Never give up," said Tomás.
The Chamber partners with the SBDC at WIU-QC to provide consulting services to small business owners, including minority entrepreneurs, on all aspects of operating their business as part of the Small Business Administration.