Bears in Business: Know Your Worth

7th February 2019 Alexander Rodriguez

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough? Meet Fernando, as a young kid, he was shy, lacked confidence, acne ridden, crooked teeth and insecure. He could not read well or to save his life. Constantly teased, he felt he wasn’t good enough. Along the way he found people who believed in him and we quickly became a life learner of personal development – all from the Bear Community.

Fernando promotes health within the Bear Community, maintaining that while you might carry some extra pounds or don’t want to be in the gym everyday, you can still live a healthy live style in both body and mind.

Fernando has created BEARWORTH – a unique line of clothing for the everyday bear and their admirers – Bearworth is a reminder that if you’re struggling, whether in self-esteem, self-image, health, relationships, or life – that you are good enough and strong enough. With positive messages and clear Bear pride, he is doing his part as a small business owner to be involved in the positive attitude of our community. He runs the business on his own and designs all of the imagery himself.

I met Fernando at a fundraiser at The Eagle in Long Beach – his personality and smile won me over instantly. I sat down with him to talk about the Bear Community and running a business:

How did your attraction for the Bear World come about?

As a teenager, I noticed that I was always attractive to bears and felt happy being around them.

What attracts you most about the Bear community?

I love the friendliness and kindness of bears.

Where did the idea of Bearworth come from?

As a personal trainer, I’ve had several bear clients and I noticed that it wasn’t just about physical fitness but more about the emotional health/fitness and self-esteem of my clients. I wanted to create a brand that represented one’s inner strength and self-worth in the bear community…. and that’s how BEARWORTH was created.

What was your own coming out like?

I came out at age 19 and wasn’t sure how and when to tell my parents. When I told my mom, she cried and thought I was going through a phase. Two weeks after I told her that I was gay, we remained friends and are closer than ever now. I didn’t tell my dad until last year and he was more accepting and okay with it.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a small business owner?

Budgeting enough for marketing, stimulating new business and having expertise in every department

How do you come up with your designs?

I get inspired by everyday experiences and my surroundings.

As a fitness expert, what advice do you have for the bear community?

You’re not alone, it can be hard to live healthy for most people but if you can hire a coach to help you develop a health plan that will help you develop the healthy habits that will help you create a healthy lifestyle.

What has your dating experience with the bear world been like?

It’s has been wonderful!