Today we’d like to introduce you to Itzel Rincon.
Hi Itzel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Mexico City but raised in Texas; my Mexican culture and traditions have always been in my heart. I have been a pet lover my whole life. I originally planned to go to vet school after receiving my Animal Science bachelor’s degree from Angel State University, but life had different plans for me. I worked at a pet boarding facility for almost four years. I loved working with pets. But now, being a full-time mother, I wanted to continue working with pets but from home. After traveling to Mexico several times, I was amazed with the beautiful artwork the artisans created, especially with the artwork they made for pets. I decided to present these original products made in Mexico to all pet lovers by founding Azteca Pet.
I started in February of 2022 with only a few collars and leashes. I would offer them to family and friends. On March 4, 2022, I decided to open my online shop and Instagram, Facebook and TikTok page. It took like three weeks to get my first order online, I was super excited; it was a collar for a cat going to Washington state. On April of 2022, I went to my first market in Round Rock, thank God it was a big success I completely sold out on leather collars that day. But having a small business always has its ups and downs. After that market, I contacted the supplier I started with and order more merchandise, until this day that merchandise hasn’t gotten here, several people told me to be careful with the suppliers there is a lot who take your money and they never send you anything. I massaged them several times they always had an excuse to send my merchandise. I was frustrated because it took me like a month to find a supplier and now I was back to the beginning I needed to find someone who I could trust.
After a whole week of non-stop searching and asking for references, I found three different people in Chiapas who are now my suppliers. One family makes all the bandanas, the other family makes all leashes, collars, and harnesses and the last one makes the ponchos, Verano and Oceano collar sets. When I wanted to lunch bandanas, my first order of bandanas was on hold by the USA inspection and It was taken away from me I never got my money back or my order. That was the second loss of money I wanted to give and stop my small business I had already lost over $1000, but I decided to keep going. On April, the easter weekend, I did another market but this time in Dallas, Texas it was a good turnout I haven’t gone back but I hope to go soon. In May, I did my first big event a festival in Taylor, TX the people in my city were super excited to have all this beautiful artwork in Taylor it was a huge success that day. I had ponchos, collars, leashes, and bandanas that day; the people love it.
The second week of May Azteca Pet Instagram account was hacked a third obstacle I had to face, like I said having a business has its ups and downs, every time I had an up moment a down moment would hit me. I only had like over 100 followers it was the platform where there was more movement I never got back my original page back I made a new one after trying a whole month to recover it. I did several markets in Austin and Round Rock that month of May they were all successful. On June was a big change I was about to shut down Azteca Pet it had been growing little by little but this time it was not an obstacle with my business it was with my personal life. I was really depressed I told my parents I couldn’t focus on growing my business I was really confused with all the changes in my personal life, that I would stop for bit with markets and put my shop on vacation mode until I was ready. I’m Catholic, I remember I spoke that night with God he told me look at all the things you have accomplished and the challenges you had faced by yourself and you had overcome them right now, I want you to be happy everything is going to be okay, I’m about to give you more blessings but you need to be strong and believe in me.
The next day I told my parents I was going to keep going with Azteca Pet and keep my mind busy but I needed their support. I did another big event a Pride Festival in Taylor, TX it was major success that day I thank God for his blessing. On July 9, Azteca Pet had a major blessing, I broke the Tik Tok algorithm, something I didn’t expect to happen one of my videos went viral 156.4k views. Orders were coming in I shipped to 16 different states in the US. I was not ready for my business to go viral I remember I stay until 4 am packing all my orders to take them to the post office the next day it took me 3 days to get all the orders out. It really helps me to keep my mind busy from all my problems. I was extremely happy. On August 19, Tik Tok did it again making my video reach 819.7 million views. My small business had its biggest hit making the most sales since it started. I’m proud of myself because I remember I was scared to lunch this business and only a few people believe in me. Until this day, I keep getting orders at least once per day. I keep doing events I’m getting ready for Hispanic heritage month in September. I have a lot of ideas of new products I hope to lunch in the next months. I’m extremely happy with all my customers they have been I big support I had a lot of returning customers. I’m thankful with God and my family for being my biggest support.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It was not easy to get where I’m at right now. I lost money twice trying to grow my business. My Instagram account was hacked. I wanted to stop my business when I hit depression when my life major changes. Thanks to God and my family, I have been able to stay strong.
We’ve been impressed with Azteca Pet, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Azteca Pet a small family business of handwoven products made in Chiapas, Mexico by the indigenous artesian community. Every product is made with love and dedication for our furry pets. They are unique products that come in a variety of colors and all sizes for our pets. My goal is to make known these original works of art. I offer three different styles of collars, leashes, ponchos, two styles of bandanas, matching sets and harnesses. There are a lot of Mexican artisan products for humans but not that many for pets, there are few businesses that focus on Mexican artisan for pets that had been successful.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
My role of luck has been God for me and my family, especially my parents and daughter, my biggest supporters. I do have pets of my own, three dogs and two cats that can be found on my Instagram page modeling products, my German Shepherds are a handful but I love them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aztecapet.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aztecapet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aztecapet/
