Meet Lily & Vince Matocha | Small Business Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lily & Vince Matocha and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lily & Vince, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When we built our stock tank pool four years ago, we could not believe how much we loved it. Although a stock tank is only 24 inches deep, we found that this is a perfect depth for our needs. It gives us a place to relax, play, and cool off for a fraction of the cost of an in-ground pool. I just love how stock tank pools make owning your own pool accessible. They are really changing who all can own a pool. We believe that being in the water can be a beautifully healing and transformational thing. Not everyone has the time and energy to do the DIY project, so we are grateful that we get to help people experience the water in their own backyards.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We started Stock Tank Love a few months into the Pandemic. My husband Vince had been recently furloughed, and we knew we needed to pivot quickly. We had built our own stock tank pool years before and always wondered if we could create a business installing them. We took a risk and bought three stock tanks and three pool pumps, which was a huge investment to us at the time! I posted ads on Craigslist and Marketplace, and things took off pretty quickly from there. The next challenge we ran into was sourcing materials. Tanks and pumps became early impossible to find. We worked hard to make sure this wouldn’t be a problem for 2021. We are grateful for the amazing connections we’ve been able to make during this past year. We’re proud to have some amazing partners who have joined us on the journey! More than anything, this business teaches us the art of going with the flow and trusting. As business owners, things are going to inevitably go wrong. We are learning everyday that the only thing we have control over is how we respond to challenges. We strive to do everything in love and trust that everything is working out best case scenario.

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.
Houston has such an incredible energy and is packed with so many unique experiences! I think if you’re coming to Houston, the trip should absolutely be planned around some of the incredible restaurants. I grew up going to the Ninfa’s on Navigation, and this would probably be our first stop. Another must-eat would be one of the Goode Co. restaurants. I worked at Goode Co. Seafood throughout high school, so it holds a very special place in my heart. Their seafood campechana is something I crave regularly. The BBQ location is right down the street, and it was always a family favorite. Other favorites are Ciros, Fuzzy’s Pizza, and The Dessert Gallery. As for non-food experiences, there’s nothing like watching an Astro’s game inside Minute Maid park. I also love visiting the Museum of Fine Arts or the Menil. The Memorial Park Aboretum is a fun place to walk around and enjoy nature. It may be a little cliche, but I think if you’re going to be in Houston you probably need a picture at the Waterwall too.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We have been inspired, encouraged, and loved by so many people during this last year. I’d like to give a some recognition to our families. As parents, the business just would not exist without the help from our families! We also have an amazing team of three of our friends. Together, we have created something really special.

Website: Www.stocktanklove.com

Instagram: @stocktanklove

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