Meet Rich Rodriguez | Shopkeeper

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

Hi Rich, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak even when I worked within large companies. But the idea for having my own shop and brand started back in the early aughts when I was living in Brooklyn, NY. There are so many small, independent shops with their own unique collections and I always loved stopping by not only to browse and but, but also to talk with the owners. I really loved getting to know the people who owned the businesses and many times they were my neighbors!

I started daydreaming about opening the shop’s doors in the morning, getting it all set up for the day, and talking with customers as they came to shop. I didn’t quite know exactly what I would sell, but I loved the idea of curating a collection of goods to share with people. I think of myself as both a shopkeeper and curator.

While still in Brooklyn, I wrote a business plan for a store but was never able to get it off the ground. This time, I wanted to be sure I found an experienced business advisor who could help me write the plan, create the financial projects, and ultimately get some start-up funding. I also looked for other experts and advisors who could assist me along the way with different aspects of the business. It really made the difference.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve worked in PR and communications my entire professional career. As I mentioned, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak even when working for brands. One of my most impactful experiences was opening the PR office for Levi’s in New York with a desk, phone and a few rolling racks of clothes! This experience taught me so much about being diligent and resourceful and building a brand through storytelling, media, partnerships and events. From that point on, I brought this unique perspective to other companies and now to MASAYA.

I think one of the most important lessons I learned along the way is to try new things even if you’re not sure it will work. There’s a lot of competition for customers’ attention these days and we’re all fed things they think we want. The brands and shops that give customers a fresh take, fun collaborations, and memorable experiences will stand out.

When I was developing the MASAYA brand, I was clear that it needed to be experiential in all aspects because masaya means “joyful” in Tagalog (I’m Filipino-American). I wanted to tap into people’s senses so they could feel and touch the brand in different ways. This approach also gives me the freedom to try unexpected partnerships and brand executions, such as events with fresh floral bouquets, art, natural juices and even Filipino desserts!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely grab our bikes and head to the beach to ride along the bike path! While there we could stop and take in the beach volleyball or take in views from the Peninsula all the way to downtown Long Beach. For lunch we could grab a quick bite at Saltwater Deck along the trail or lunch at Claire’s at the Museum located at the Long Beach Art Museum. Claire’s sits on top of the bluff and has stunning ocean views. Once we’re finished with lunch, we could take in some of the exhibits or bike over to Retro Row along 4th Street between Junipero and Cherry Avenues. There are a bunch of cute, independent shops, bars, and eateries such Little Coyote and Social List, and the historic Art Theatre with its beautiful Art Deco design.

After Retro Row, we would head west on 4th Street all the way to downtown Long Beach. Set along the Promenade are some really good restaurants like Portuguese Bend, Lupe’s Del Mar, Michael’s, The Ordinaire. From there we would head west to historic Pine Avenue and dessert at the Pie Bar (their ube pie is fantastic). On the next block, we would stop, of course, at MASAYA! We would the head south on Pine Avenue to Shoreline Village where we would catch the bike trail home at sunset.

On Sunday we would grab brunch at Ubuntu Cafe which is by the Colorado Lagoon on our way to the weekly farmers market at the Long Beach Marina for fresh produce and delicious scones from Sconeage Bakery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have helped me (and still do) but the most important person is my husband, Kalil aka my Senior Advisor! He’s been the greatest support both emotionally and strategically since he runs his own brand consultancy. He’s the person I turn to when I want a second opinion or need to think through a challenge with the business.

There’s also the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Long Beach where I attended workshops and was assigned a business advisor. Karie Armstrong is my advisor and she guided me through the business plan development all the way to the funding. The structure of the program and my work with Karie got me across the finish line.

Website: https://www.masayastore.com/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Masaya-Store/100069070663429/