Meet Angela Rodriguez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Angela Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Angela below.

Hi Angela, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?

I realized early on that a strong communication is the foundation of successful relationships, both personally and professionally. This realization came while working on group projects in FFA, where I saw how clear communication made a huge difference.
In my previous professional roles, I was responsible for coordinating with both facility managers and regulatory authorities. I learned to listen carefully, ask the right questions, and tailor my approach depending on who I was speaking with. I also took time to ask for feedback from colleagues to understand how I could improve.
I make it a point to practice by participating in meetings, sharing ideas clearly, and attending workshops. I’ve found that learning is ongoing for ways to improve.
I know communication is especially important in a small business, where collaboration and understanding are key. My ability to adapt my communication style to different situations, helps me to provide great service to customers.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

In July of 2023 my husband and I rescued a dog from a very bad situation. “Vincent” the Catahoula became the newest member of our family. We were so excited to have a new pup in our home and we wanted to give him the best food and treats available. We started with a variety of store-bought food and treats, unfortunately Vinny had negative reactions to many of dog treat products. This triggered me to research dog’s digestive system and the benefits of different ingredients to incorporate into their diet.

I started purchasing all natural ingredients from local farms and stores in my area, and baking dog treats the in small batches at home. Vinny quickly showed signs of improvement (higher energy, less skin irritation, shinier coat, and regular sleep and bowel movements)

I was so excited about the results; I sent some of the dog treats to friends and family to try out. Their feedback was so positive and encouraging I decided to research the process to sell my all-natural dog treats.

After several months of completing all the regulatory requirements and obtaining applicable licensing from the state of Texas, “Vinny’s Munch & Play” was officially approved to operate in June of 2024.

The journey has been amazing. Since launching in June, my brand has taken off. I am now in hundreds of homes, multiple stores for retail, and offer custom dog treats for multiple Chick Fil A stores across the country.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I believe the three most important qualities for this journey have been adaptability, strong communication, and customer -focused mindset.

(Adaptability) Small businesses often require team members to wear multiple hats and adapt quickly. When beginning our business, the recipes were trial and error. I had to see which ones were liked most by the pup customers and provided the best health benefits.

(Strong Communication) Clear communication is essential in building trust with customers and other small business partners. I’ve learned to adapt the conversation to enhance the products I’m providing based the needs of the customers and retail business partners.

(Customer Focus) Customers are at the heart of any small business. By providing a personalized experience, and going above and beyond, I have seen a 25% increase in repeat customers over the last 6 months.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

Like most small business owners, my journey has had its ups and downs.
Building something meaningful always comes with challenges. In the early days, one of the biggest challenges was building awareness and trust as a new brand. It took a lot of persistence and creativity to get our name out there. We focused on connecting with our local community and leveraging social media to reach more people. We also applied and are registered as a GO TEXAN company through the department of Agriculture.
Overtime, those efforts paid off, and we built a loyal customer base.
While the road hasn’t always been easy, every challenge has made us stronger. Today, I am proud of how far we’ve come and excited about what’s ahead!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vinnysmunchandplay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinnysmunchandplay/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VinnysMunchandPlay/