Meet Trailblazer Monica and Jose Alonso

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica and Jose Alonso.

Monica and Jose, please share your story with us.
Cacao has been a dream of ours for as long as we can remember. We’ve been blessed with being able to travel the world with our parents, and in doing so we met wonderful people and saw their amazing products.

Knowing how long it took to go to the origin of these products we decided that as soon as the time was right we would open a store with as many artisanal items as we could find. And now that we’re both living back in Houston, we’ve scouted for a location and have finally established our long awaited dream right here in town.

Our goal is simple, when you come to Cacao we want to you find something unique that will be that perfect item for any occasion. With everything from euroasian clothing to handmade stationery, we strive to be your one-stop shop for any need!

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?
It has defiantly been a fun but hectic road. I think the biggest struggle was just learning the ins and outs of the business trade. My brother and I have been very blessed to have our mother mentor us and really help us grow in the areas we were struggling in… if there’s any advice I would give to other women who are wanting to open up their store or really any business venture, it would be to stay true to the vision they want to uphold and keep going when it gets hard. Sometimes, you will feel like nothing is going the way you want and you’ll get overwhelmed, but that’s totally normal, because as humans, we always want things to be perfect and that’s not always the case. You have to keep going in order to pass that stump in the road. It will take some time, but when that time has come and passed, it will be the most rewarding feeling you can get! I’ve grown so much this past year and wish I could go back to my younger self and say “hey, you are doing great!

Don’t be so hard on yourself, keep your chin up and one day, you will have it all figured out. It won’t always be easy, but you will be a hard-working woman with a vision coming to life. You truly can make it if you dig deep and find that extra ounce of will to keep moving, keep building that dream, and having a bit of faith in yourself and believe in what you’re capable of accomplishing! Nothing will seem like a harder task until that one day comes to life and you can stand back and say “Wow, I really did it”. 🙂 And when that day comes, take another step back and realize that your momentum will never end as long as you remember why you started and what it was that you wanted to accomplish! So, go rock this world and SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE GOT!!! 😀

We’d love to hear more about Cacao.
At Cacao, my brother and I are in charge of scouting the world over for new products. We are constantly searching for new items, not only from international sources but also from local artisans here in the greater Houston Area! We couldn’t be happier that people have enjoyed our vision and have been returning to see what new items we’ve found. It’s one thing to sell an item, but hearing that a customer has truly loved something they found here is what we strive for. We do everything possible to make sure that every person that walks through our door receives a warm and friendly experience when visiting. And we love to search for any particular products that customers have requested! So, hopefully, every time someone comes in, they’ll feel like they’ve received a tailored shopping experience to fits their needs!

We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
I think the biggest barrier is having to work harder for people to not only respect me and take me seriously. People tend to underestimate my work at Cacao because of this, I feel the need to make myself heard and show them that I can be a boss, my brother and I are equals in the business and it’s a really great feeling to have.

Pricing:

• on the go Perfume for $2.50 Great for Gifts
• Gifts range from $2.50 Perfumes and stationary to Sculptures and Jewelry in the $1000+ range

Contact Info:

• Address: 4340 Westheimer Rd.
  Suite 140
  Houston, TX 77027
• Website: www.Shopcacao.com
• Phone: (281) 846-6464
• Email: Cacaohouston@hotmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacaohouston/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CacaoHouston/

Image Credit:
Jose Alonso, Monica Alonso

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