Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Plimmer-Fernandez.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
About 9 years ago Richard my business partner/dad was leaving the event planning industry. He was interested in selling “one product” he wanted to simplify his life. One day when he was in a catering kitchen, he was asking everyone of any ideas they had for this “one product”. One of the chefs came up to him and said “Grandmas dying and were buying” confused by his answer, he elaborated. His Abuela was getting older and no longer wanted to make tamales, and all the kids were too busy to make them. So, they started buying them and he said there wasn’t a lot of good ones out there. Unfortunately, tamales have become somewhat of a dying trade in the younger generations and there wasn’t a lot of tamales out there in retail.
Around the same time, I was graduating from El Centro Culinary and I needed to have an internship. I saw something that seemed like an easy way out of an internship, but here I am 9 years later. I went to culinary school because I wanted to know more about the food industry, but my passion was food branding. I love when I find an amazing product that needs the right “look” to get people’s attention. We live in a time where there are thousands of food options, so branding is extremely important to us.
Now 9 years later we have various stores in the DFW area, we ship nationwide, supply restaurants and hotels all over the United States, fundraisers, farmers markets and catering.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Its honestly been a pretty smooth road, it wasn’t a road of riches : ) and the struggle is real when it comes to working with your Dad and your Husband, but I still love ’em.
We have really focused on keeping our overhead low, so financially that’s helped in that aspect of struggles. Another is meeting your larger clients time lines and price points, all while making it worth your time. I have learned the value of my time and what its worth over the years.
The last one is it’s so easy to hide behind social media for networking, and I am a very social person who loves to talk, but I always feel like I am a very “sales person-y” when I bring up my company out of work. So, I need to work on more confidently networking for my company when I am at personal events.
The Tamale Company – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We offer a Lard Free and Gluten Free Tamale with a traditional approach that preserves authenticity. Our consistency, and attention to details shows the personal touch that sets us apart. But with that said I love all tamaleros and I mad respect for anyone out there trying to push tamales!
Our company main focus is to be consistent to the customer and grow organically to what our customers wants. In the beginning, we made a bunch of fancy tamales, and people loved them but always ended up buying pork. So now we keep to simple flavors. People wanted us to come to their house and cater, so we bought tamale carts. People were tired of selling cookie dough for fundraisers, so we started doing fundraisers.
Proudest Moment… Anytime I see peoples face light up when they take the first bite of the tamale and it takes them back to a memory. Tamales are very nostalgic for many Texans.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I don’t have one definition for that. It’s more of feeling that you get when you get to cross something off the list. In such busy world, I find success in having a simple life while doing the things that make me happy.
The success of word of mouth, when your clients love your product or services enough to recommend it to their friends and family. It means so much more than a google search.
Not that I want to base success from social media, but there is something special about seeing your product on someone else’s Instagram. It gives you all sorts of “feels” when you see a happy misplaced Texan in New York eating your tamales for lunch! It so much more rewarding than a good financial quarter.
Pricing:
- $14.00-$14.95 per dozen
- Catering starts at $350.00
Contact Info:
- Website: thetamalecompany.com
- Phone: 214-233-6392
- Email: contact@thetamalecompany.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/thetamalecompany
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetamalecompany/
Image Credit:
Elizabeth Plimmer-Fernandez
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