Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Galiano.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After graduating High School in 2008, I went to culinary school and began making wedding cakes for a reputable shop here in Houston. I did this for about five years and then began working as a procurement specialist for another five years. Working in an office, I knew I wanted to do more with my life and soon merged my love of animals with my love for the kitchen. I began making dog treats when my German Shepherd, Bullet, was diagnosed with a grain and beef intolerance. I first operated as Galiano Treats in 2014 but stopped operations shortly afterwards. Even though I was not selling anymore, I continued to make grain free dog treats for my pets. In June of 2018, my sister Helen Ruiz of Elestial Spa encouraged me to start back up and sell my dog treats. I was not sold on the idea since my first time around was so short-lived but she kept encouraging me.
In August of 2018, I decided to give it another go under a new name, Diogenes The Dog, named after the amazing philosopher who lived a simple life and believed that less was more. I began making grain free and gluten free dog biscuits with superfoods that provided pets with many benefits. My sister, who runs a CBD spa, kept encouraging me to make CBD treats and although I knew the CBD benefits were great, I did not know if people would be interested since I did not see many CBD dog treats for sale. So on the first local market I was in, I took half regular and half CBD treats and to my amazement, the CBD treats were a big hit. From that day on, I decided to offer the CBD biscuits to my community. In the last year, I have expanded to selling dehydrated one-ingredient treats, CBD salves, dog shampoo bars and handmade toys. Like myself, my shop is constantly evolving but I know the thing that will always be constant is my love of bringing a holistic alternative to pets across my community.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Naturally, there have been many struggles with this journey. I operate as a one-woman show and having to do it all myself can be very stressful at times but that only makes it that much more rewarding in the end. The main obstacle I face daily is balancing my day job at the office and running my business on the side. It definitely keeps me busy but I think that is what I like about it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Diogenes The Dog story. Tell us more about the business.
Diogenes The Dog LLC was founded on the basic principles of Cynicism. Cynics believe we should live as close to nature as possible. Diogenes of Sinope, the founder of Cynicism, believed that humans should live in the simplest way possible. He was well known for his dog-like behavior, living on the streets with nothing but the clothes on his back and a lantern and bowl. Cynicism is a way of life that makes us more in tune with nature and makes us think twice about the materialistic needs in the world. I believe this way of life is fantastic and we should take a second look at our pets and learn to live more like them. I take this basic principle and incorporate it in the way I make my products. There is no room for any ingredients in my products that do not derive from nature directly. I try to keep things as close to its purest form as possible.
I offer all-natural pet products that have been processed as little as possible. My treats have no artificial flavors, colors, additives or preservatives. I use the oldest form of preservation; dehydration. The one-ingredient chews I make are dehydrated raw and kept in their most natural state. What I am most proud of about my company is that I make and package everything myself. I sew, bake, dehydrate, and even render my own lard to make shampoo bars. I believe working with your hands to create something for someone keeps you spiritually connected with every product that goes out the door. The product that I am mostly known for are my CBD dog treats. They are full of superfoods like Chlorella, Spirulina, Turmeric, Cinnamon and Pumpkin. Besides the massive amounts of health benefits the superfoods bring, the CBD helps calm anxious dogs as well as help relief chronic pain and inflammation. The treats are vegetarian, grain free and gluten free so they can be enjoyed by even the most sensitive of stomachs.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe experiencing both good luck and bad luck situations has molded my business into what it is today. I believe luck is what you make out of it. I could sit here and talk about the flat tires I got on my way to an event, the time I showed up to a market with no tent, twice. Or the countless times I worried and slaved over an oven baking until 2 in the morning only to make it to a market and sell only one bag of treats. I could look back and think, “I must be full of bad luck, maybe the universe wants me to quit”. Instead, I think about how the situations I was placed in has tested my dedication to my business. Maybe baking too many this time around will let me relax before the next event. I think I am lucky to have encountered good opportunities and so many wonderful people during events and how fortunate I must be to have made it through my first year with so much trial and error. I am still learning a lot and constantly molding myself and my business closer to what I envision when I close my eyes. I know with hard work, and maybe a touch of luck, I will get to where I want.
Contact Info:
- Email: diogenesthedog@outlook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diogenesthedog_htx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiogenestheDogHTX
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DiogenesTheDogHTx
Image Credit:
Joanna Galiano
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