Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with America DeLoach, Founder of Salsas Don Sebastian, located in Midlothian, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are a small salsa manufacturer. We make authentic Mexican salsas all day long. Our salsas are deliciously made with no sugar and no preservatives. Our customers are everyone that enjoys clean, Mexican, and fresh food.
Tell us about yourself
I started Salsas Don Sebastian in 2016 while working as a Spanish teacher in our local school system. I constantly overheard my family and friends wish that better salsa options were available on the market. As a result of this, my husband would make his own salsa from a recipe that originated with his grandmother in the 1920s — because, as he says, "Making it yourself is the only way to get fresh-tasting salsa."
As others around us began tasting this salsa recipe, they encouraged us to offer it for sale. Since my husband couldn't quit his job, it was he who dove into the entrepreneurial world and started producing and selling this salsa. I started with a very local test market... my neighborhood. I provided free products in exchange for honest opinions — all of which were overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. This motivated me to take the next step: launching my business by selling the products to local farmers' markets and grocery stores.
As a Venezuelan making Mexican salsa, I felt a little intimidated at first, but that feeling passed very quickly. Since the beginning, I have been committed to seeing how far I could take the idea and the recipe, which has resulted in multiple flavors and heat levels. The Salsas Don Sebastian line is ever-expanding, resulting in organic and consistent growth every year.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is to consistently produce thousands of high-quality salsas weekly and place them rapidly in grocery stores in the state of Virginia.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Learning to delegate is the hardest thing for a business owner. We want to keep doing it all.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Focus on your product, and do not compare yourself to others.
- Choose your team smartly and ensure they understand their importance in the company.
- Work-life balance is extremely important... do not jeopardize this...
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.salsasdonsebastian.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Salsasdonsebas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salsasdonsebastian/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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