We recently connected with Jennifer Arias and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was dealing with depression and anxiety, then both my dad and my boyfriend decided to come together to gift me a dog. My dog made such a huge difference in my life. I don’t know how I could have gotten through without him. Then I realized, other people must feel this same way about their own pets. I also started working at a Latino media company as a content creator. One big thing about me is that I am sooo incredibly proud of my culture, people, traditions, and where my family and I are from – León, Guanajuato México. I have such an immense love for my cultura Latina and all of the beautiful things that make it up. One thing I noticed about working at the media company I was working at is that the content of people showing love to their pets and their culture does extremely well and that we Latinos really love our pets like they are a member of our very own family – which they are. Then I thought… wait… I don’t really see pet supplies that represent our culture that we love so dearly. So I thought why not start a pet supplies business with great quality pet products that represent and highlight the beauty of our culture. We need more Latino representation in the pet supplies industry. So that’s why I started Mejor Amigo Pet Supply. It’s for ANYONE who loves our cultura Latina!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Jennifer Arias, Jenny for short.😊 I am a proud Latina and I started Mejor Amigo to bring more Latino representation in the pet supplies industry. Taking the culture that we love and grew up with and mixing it with the love we have for our pets. Not only is the quality of our pet supplies top tier, but so are the designs!😍 We have our Pan Dulce Collection which consists of pet collars, leashes, harnesses, bandanas, bow ties, and poop bag pouches that have the design of some of our favorite pan dulces (sweet breads) like the famous concha! We also have a Dog Lotería Collection with those same pet products, but with our design of the dog version of Lotería. Also our Elote Cart Collection that has a design of elotes, esquites, raspados, rueditas con chile, and churros!🤤 I can’t wait to create more pet supplies inspired by our cultura Latina! I literally sold my car to start this pet supplies small business of mine. I believed in my vision so much I sold my own car to invest in it. Sometimes you have to take risks to get to where you want to be and that’s exactly what I did. I miss my yellow Jeep Wrangler so much!🥺

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My dad had actually set up a work station for me in his own shop. I had all of my merchandise, packing supplies, and everything I had for my business there. One night at around 2am his shop had caught on fire. So many things were lost in the fire. Almost everything… except for my merchandise, packing supplies, and everything I had there for my business. Literally everything around the boxes of my merchandise was melted and burnt. My boxes of merch remained intact as if an angel or something was protecting them. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This showed me that I am meant to carry on. That I can’t quit. This was such a hard time in my life because it was such a huge loss for my family and I. My dad was grieving the loss of everything that got lost in the fire and we were grieving there with him. Despite of everything, my dad and I moved forward and things are looking up! Months later my pet supplies are now sold in a shop called “Oh Comadre Candles” in Downey which is down the street from my dad’s shop. My dad’s shop is now repaired and he is back in business. We can’t give up.💪

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I left my full-time job as a social media manager. I had to pivot because I was sitting on the idea to start my pet supplies business for years, it was either I start it now or I’ll keep leaving it for later and possibly never do it. What had triggered me to start it now was when my grandma passed away suddenly to cancer that went undetected. She had always wanted me to go stay with her in Mexico and I was always telling her I would go and visit her and stay over there for a couple months. Work had taken over my life and I was always blaming it on work as to why I couldn’t go visit her in Mexico. Long story short… my grandma passed away only a few weeks after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. When I knew of her terminal cancer I had planned to finally go visit her in Mexico a month later. She did not make it to the next month. It’s one of my biggest regrets and it makes me tear up to think about. It was at that moment I decided to put in my two weeks as a full-time social media manager, because not only was that a difficult moment in my life, but it was also a lesson learned… not to wait and put things off. If you really want to do something, then do it now. So that’s what I did. I pivoted and took the leap! Left my full-time job and the very next day applied for all of my business licenses and permits and finally started it! I knew my grandma was with me every step of the way.🤍🕊

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mejoramigopetsupply.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mejoramigopetsupply/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mejoramigopetsupply
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mejoramigopet
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mejoramigopetsupply