Meet Luisa Potenza | Breeder & Pet Store Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luisa Potenza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luisa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always loved animals, knew I eventually wanted to run my own business, and thought it made the most sense to combine the two. But I will say, when we first began it wasn’t with the intention of creating a real business. Breeding animals and finding them good homes was just a fun hobby, which eventually became an actual business. We started off very small, selling online and out of our home, but eventually moved into a physical retail location in Arlington, Texas.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting where I’m now, even just moving to the United States was an incredible journey. Definitely not an easy one, but well worth it! I moved here from Venezuela in 2016 with plans to get my degree from TCU and ideally worth with horses in some capacity. Things changed a bit after meeting my husband in 2016 and deciding to open a retail pet store, which is now Potenza Exotics.

The challenges in the early days were really about finding enough time in the day to get everything done and stretching every dollar to make it last till the next month. With money so tight we really had to work from sunup to sunset to keep the store alive. Cleaning and caring for my animals was always the number one priority, followed next by the store but with enough work we made it through.

I was incredibly lucky in both my personal and professional life, and that set me off to a good foundation for starting a business. It still takes a lot of work, and I truly believe anyone can succeed here in the United States, but it’s definitely not easy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The stockyards is always at the top of my list when new people come to visit for the first time. Good food, a show, and a cattle drive is always a good time! I’d also want to take them around West 7th street, or the art district, for the bar scene and the great food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Benjamin Sheely, has been incredibly supportive and encouraging since first opening. It was definitely rocky during those first few months. We happened to be unlucky enough to open right towards the beginning of the COVID Pandemic which was definitely a stressful time for everyone. From the very beginning, Ben has been in the trenches with me through everything.

Website: https://potenzaexotics.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potenzaexotics/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/potenzaexo/