Journal Staff
The island’s Instagram entrepreneurs find ways to turn likes and follows into sales, and for the most part, run their business through their phones. While pop-up shops and meet-ups are how some of these businesses operate, the dream does not stop at social media with some wanting to see their product in a store.
When Antonio D. Francisco opened Dirty Laundry, a vintage thrift and consignment store, he started by attending pop-up events to sell the items he had curated. Francisco would post onto Instagram where and what times his shop would be set up so that those who follow the account would know where to go.

Francisco told the Journal that Dirty Laundry only exists virtually on Instagram and that the majority of its operations hinge on the platform.
“[Social media] has played a very big part in our business culture. Everyone is on social media,” he said.
Dirty Laundry posts content, showcasing its products and entertaining skits or videos which appeal to a young audience. According to Dirty Laundry’s Instagram analytics, the majority of the account's interactions stem from 18-year-old to 24-year-old users.
In November, Dirty Laundry moved into a small space on the second floor of the commercial building in Tamuning, sharing a space with the New Waves Studios Guam recording studio.
Francisco said that it “felt like the next big step our business could take.”
The transition took a lot of cleaning and adding fixtures and decor which Francisco paid for. In addition, he told the Journal that Dirty Laundry does not pay rent to the owner. Instead, 10% of each sale goes to the owner.
Since the move, Dirty Laundry saw an increase in revenue.
“I’d say revenue has increased [since] having a physical store, whereas before I relied on just pop-ups and meet ups for the items I had inventory,” Francisco said. “Now I’m able to have people come in and shop at our store.”
In Dededo, a new business opened with the goal of helping businesses get into a retail space.
The Gallery Guam was opened by Vincent Herrera with his business partner Alex Velez as a consignment shop for local businesses and artists to get products into a retail space without rental or shelf fees.

Herrera said they had the idea for the shop for about a year and it took only a month and under $3,000 to renovate and get the 1,000 sq ft shop built at the Dededo Center.
He told the Journal that originally, he wanted the shop to feature mostly his other venture, GU’d Buds 671, and several other of his friend’s products, but realized that it would be difficult to completely stock the store with the inventory he had, so he reached out to other local brands.
“It feels good to provide an opportunity for local brands to get into a store without having to go through all of the expenses like I just did,” he said.

The Gallery has about a dozen brands and artists whose products are on display which range from apparel to art pieces Herrera told the Journal, but more are expected to be included when they get more inventory.
One of the challenges Herrera identified with some of the micro-businesses on the island was the cost of entry into a brick-and-mortar location.
“Your rent, your deposits, getting your utilities, and then the build out is just so much costs,” he said.
Herrera said that pop-ups are one of the popular options these brands gravitate towards for selling their product. However, they are a hassle logistically. While some of these businesses still attend pop-up events, he said that having products at The Gallery makes their product more accessible in the event they run out at an event.
For businesses wanting to get added to The Gallery, Herrera said the process is simple.
Owners would sign a consignment agreement of 30% of the sale price to The Gallery. For artists selling their art, the consignment percentage is at the standard 30%, but if a buyer makes an offer, The Gallery will help the artist in mediating and negotiating the sale price of the art piece.
Sidney Acosta is the CEO of Leche Drip, a local street and swimwear brand who underwent the Guam Unique Merchandise and Arts’s Training and Mentoring program.

The Journal had spoken to Acosta in October about her growing business and she has since became a consignor with The Gallery. Read story here.
Acosta has several products for sale at The Gallery and told the Journal that plans for having her clothes in a storefront were years down the line.
“I didn’t think I would have [products] available in a physical location. I was looking at maybe three to five years, but then six months later you find out it’s in a physical location.”
While Acosta has not seen a change in revenue, she said it helps to have her items in the shop to get other people to know the brand when they visit.
Beyond the retail storefront, Herrera is developing the space further to cater to hosting events for artists for their exhibits, content creation, or performances.
When the Journal visited the shop, The Gallery was in the process of building a stage and had equipment on hand to support businesses with their content creation needs.
The Gallery will host its grand opening on Mar. 15 where it hopes to have more vendors ready to showcase its products and will feature a car show and live entertainment. mbj