Today we’d like to introduce you to Liza Naylor.
Hi Liza, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Absolutely, my name is Liza Naylor and I own Locally Seasoned located in York County, Pennsylvania. We sometimes say; “It’s a generational thing.” The expectation for young women today is to find careers. But there was a time when a young lady wasn’t asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. I remember sitting in our high school guidance office and hearing that I wasn’t college material. That my choice was to take a business or home economics track. That’s how it was growing up in Catonsville, Maryland.
My mother was an artist. My dad dedicated his life to helping displaced people find a future; we had a large home with many rooms. We housed political refugees and internationals seeking treatment from Baltimore’s teaching hospitals. As children, we saw the beauty of diversity. While we often didn’t speak the same language, we always spoke the language of food. I fell in love watching visitors find ingredients that reminded them of home. It seemed to rebuild their souls. I enjoyed pounding dough, chopping and stirring. By the time I was nine, I was rolling out chapati like a champ. The kitchen was a place to reconnect with loving ancestors, conjure happy times and find purpose.
As an adult my family came first. Yet my ambition was to share and honor the resilience of those who passed through our home as children. It was twenty years before the gate opened, and I burst onto our small city food scene. After all, I’d waited twenty years for this. York, Pennsylvania, was early in its promising food scene. There were so many delicious dishes to share. I turned every failure into a learning experience. Fall seven times, get up eight. That’s what we like to say.
It helps to work with incredible people. Food people are incredible people. I’ve learned so much while working on fundraising events and catering. I ran a meal delivery service for a while. I assisted in opening cafes and markets, taught cooking classes, and worked as a personal chef. I’ve been fortunate to cook in kitchens around the region. Even cooking for clients in Switzerland and Ecuador. My clients always enjoyed scratch-made sauces, chutneys, pickles, dressings, marinades, and spice mixes.
When the pandemic hit I once again relied on lessons of resilience learned in childhood. I went to work full-time for our local butcher shop in Loganville, Pennsylvania. It was there that the idea to create delicious pantry items took hold. Chutney is one of our favorite items to serve with roasted meats and cheese. So in January 2021, after working full time, Locally Seasoned began making chutneys in a rented kitchen.
Almost two years later, we have our own kitchen. Our chutneys are on shelves throughout the area, and we are growing. Everything Locally Seasoned makes includes an encouraging thought promoting resilience and life-long learning. The pandemic helped us find our voice and hone our craft. We’re focused on products that inspire our taste buds and our minds. That’s Locally Seasoned’s tagline; “Inspiration for your table and your life.”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Entrepreneurship is akin to a rollercoaster ride. Mentorship is key to overcoming challenges. On any given day, there are more reasons to give up than to keep going. Running a business is not for the faint of heart. Finding the right mentors and support is a must.
I’ve had to overcome the perception that you must have a formal education before starting a business. My resume includes “raising a family and caring for a dying parent.” Once a well-meaning person said, “At least you’re not that woman who raised her family and decided to become a chef.” I’m so glad I answered, “Yes, I am that woman. I am exactly that woman.” Experience is my greatest asset. Find mentors who can recognize talent, grit and determination. When you doubt yourself, find mentors who say, “Oh hell no, you’re not giving up today.”
Balancing business with family can create a lot of stress. I’ve learned that owning a business allows you to be more present for your family. The flexibility of running my own business means I can be there for them in ways I never dreamed possible. That alone makes juggling work and family more meaningful and fulfilling.
And finally, I had to learn how NOT to compete. The food business is very competitive. There’s tremendous pressure to keep up. I tried competing. It didn’t work. A mentor once said, “Why are you competing? Stop. Just do what you do.” Pivoting from trying to compete to “doing what I do” was difficult. There’s a risk in being authentic. It’s a choice to do something few others are doing. I had to overcome my fear of rejection.
Seek relationships with other business owners and community leaders. They don’t have to be in your line of work. I have found excellent mentorship through our local S.C.O.R.E chapter. I am involved with a few mastermind groups with other female small business owners. Listening to their stories of success and failure and success again. Letting them ask the hard questions. Make your own decisions; own your mistakes, fix them and move on. Early on, a mentor described entrepreneurship as anything but a straight line. More like a page scribbled with zig zags and sweeping repetitive circles. Little did I know how right he was. I would do it all over again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Locally Seasoned offers gourmet chutneys and pickled items to inspire your table and your life. We handcraft everything in small batches. Each of our chutneys compliments both hot and cold meats and cheeses. And they pair well with roasted vegetables and hummus. We are proud to be a small woman-owned business. We love being part of a strong, resilient community. We support like-minded organizations. Because everyone can make a positive impact.
Our commitment: Exceptional flavors. Nourishing thoughts. Delicious living.
What characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to if you had to?
At our core, we value integrity and flavor. We understand our customers are seeking unique flavors and textures. Locally Seasoned produces quality products that make everyday eating an extraordinary experience.
Pricing:
- Products from $8 to $16.
- Gift Boxes from $8.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
egphotostudios.com
Suggest a Story: VoyageBaltimore is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know
here.
