Meet Richard Lopez jr | Creative & Small Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Richard Lopez jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Richard, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
I feel i have been able to succeed more so when I wake up early. Waking up between 5 and 6AM wake up allows me to get more work done. With waking up early also writing down my thoughts and goals for the day. Writing in a journal has helped me complete goals I set with writing them down, and also is therapeutic. Mental health is important to me and writing down my thoughts, feelings, and goals have helped me immensely.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is definitely in the beginning stages, but sets me apart because of my genuine message. Im not out here to be like others but just instill myself in the business with my beliefs and values. Im most proud that I had the courage to start my own business, and most excited for what is to come in the future. I don’t know what the future will entail, but i do know it’s something that will push me to keep coming with a positive message. Im not where I want to be today business-wise, but Im also not where I could have been. Starting a business is not easy at all, but just the support around me and willingness not to give up has helped me over come. Not saying that giving up has not crossed my mind as it has, but with the people I have around me it has helped me continue to strive for greatness everyday. I’ve learned that starting a business is not something that is easy and will take hard work not only to start, but to be able to keep and continue on with the business will be hard work as well. There are so many things that come with having your own business I can see why most people are comfortable with working for someone else collecting that pay check. When you own your own business you have to go out and get that paycheck because no one is going to give it to you, you have to work for it and continue to everyday there are no days off. As for what i want to the world to know about my brand.. It’s not just any other clothing brand, it’s about love, gratitude, being humble. Rich is not just that of the pockets, but that of life. Being rich with life is something we all take for granted everyday and sometimes we need to slow down and understand we’re rich with love, life, family, friends, blessed in different ways, being able to feel motivated when some days its not easy to feel that way or do so. We all go through our own struggles but understanding just that, we’re all going through it. Life can be hard and if we remember that we’re blessed to be here, not giving up believing in yourself and others life can be just a little bit better.

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.
For Tucson I would say there is a lot to choose from. With beautiful views and amazing locally owned food locations and many other staples in Tucson. With choosing of food there are many places to choose from for breakfast lunch and dinner, and also sights and locations not seen anywhere else in the world. I’ll name a few of my favorite restaurants in no particular order as follows. Kukai, Seis Kitchen, Prep and Pastry, Blue Willow, Time Market, Commoner, BATA, Tumerico, Ceres, to name a few. I would also say we would see a few different local small businesses and views you can only see in Tucson. We would visit ‘A’ Mountain which is a beautiful view overlooking downtown Tucson, to Gates Pass, Saguaro National Park, Tanque Verde Falls, Pima Air and Space, Biosphere 2 to name some cool locations. I would also say the location where I art, my vision, my reason for me being here, my clothing line. South Sixth Bodega is located inside the Tucson Mall. It was originally located on south 6th avenue on the south side of Tucson. The city is filled with really great people. It’s fun to connect with not only other locals but also tourist or snow birds that come around quite often.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give recognition to my brother Chris, small business owner himself of Third World Merchandise. And also my team at South Sixth Bodega. I am appreciative of them for the motivation they give and also they push me to be better. We all push each other to be better everyday and that is something I can’t thank them enough for. They provide positive feedback, but also are not afraid to say when something is not right. I would not have My Rich Uncle if it were not for Chris and South Sixth Bodega. With Chris he pushed me to start this brand to spread the importance of my message of positivity, love, family, friends, self motivation, mental health to name a few things. My Rich Uncle is not about being rich in financial wealth, but rich of love, life, family, friends, understanding things can be worse. Sometimes we don’t sit back and understand how lucky we have it compared to other places in the world or even within your own hometown. We take things for granted and My Rich Uncle is going to be there with a message to continue to push and work had only for yourself but for the people around you in your life. I’d say my family has supported me a great deal as well. The love I get from them keeps me focused with the task at hand, every day is a grind my dad works 7 days a week two jobs just to be able to take care of my brothers and sisters at home but he still is working hard. His work ethic is unmatched. My grandfather who is no longer with us always supported me and was a great mentor. He showed me to be professional even with something as small as a fold of a piece of paper. I remember being small and he asked me to fold up a piece of paper he needed for his class. ( he was the head welding instructor for pima community college) I just folded it real ugly like and he showed me make it look nice and don’t just do things nonchalant. At this time in my life I would give most credit to Chris as he has helped me everyday and showed me to be great in not only business, but family life as well. He is a loving husband and father to his wife and kids and its only something I can aspire to be. As far as someone I look up to as a mentor outside of anyone I know personally, i’d say that would be Ben Yang aka Ben Baller. I admit i do listen to his podcast since day one. He has put me on so much game, not just financially, but also just in life in general. He too is a family man and is always talking about his wife and kids on who he does it for and that in itself is inspiring and motivating to hear. His podcast helps me get through the week and I look forward to hearing what game he puts his listeners on next.

Website: https://southsixthbodega.com/search?q=my+rich+uncle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myrichuncle520/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Myrichuncle520/

Image Credits
4th image of myself is taken by Ashley Yanira