Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiera Chin.
Tiera, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a “Maryland Girl.” I grew up eating a lot of blue crabs, and I’ve always made a dipping sauce each time I ate them. A few years ago, I invited my mother-in-law to eat crabs with me and my mother on Mother’s Day. As usual, I made my sauce.
Well, if you knew my mother-in-law, you would know that she does not give compliments easily and is very picky when it comes to food. However, when she ate my sauce, she said “You should bottle this!” I laughed and quietly thought to myself, “maybe I should!” Several years passed. I was now a mother and had another little one on the way when my mother-in-law sent me an application for a grant funded by the SCORE organization.
I was not at all ready to apply for a grant, however, I researched SCORE and decided to sign up for a free business mentor. Through that process, I learned how to bottle a sauce. I worked with The Greenmount Collective, a shared commercial kitchen, and incubator in Baltimore, to work on a project to bottle my first batch. Once I had a proven concept, I launched my website and received immediate support from family and friends.
I attended my first outdoor market as a vendor and we sold out! I was beyond thrilled because that was the first time complete strangers tasted, enjoyed, and purchased my sauce. I offered free samples and watched the expression on customers’ faces as they were pleasantly surprised by this new flavor. It was that day that I knew I had a product that people would love.
Yorktown Spice has been my passion project since starting. Our mission is to create tasty products for everyday foods.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Building Yorktown Spice has not been a completely smooth road although once I started the momentum continued to build. When I started this business I had no idea what I was doing. I kept asking myself, “How do I get the sauce in a bottle?” For some reason, the idea of bottling it seemed like a huge obstacle.
Then, I had to determine how to make the business profitable. That has been my largest obstacle, especially as a self-funded startup. Building the brand has been fairly easy. I owe a lot to my husband who has been an amazing sounding board, kitchen assistant, taste tester, and creative director.
My cousin, Terrie, who is a photographer has been awesome in helping me with photoshoots that make my brand come to life. The hardest part is now generating sales and learning everything that I need to know about being a food manufacturer.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Yorktown Spice currently manufactures one product – Crab Sauce.
We have created a condiment specifically for the Maryland blue crab. I want readers to know that our sauce stems from a family recipe, and every batch is handmade with love right in Baltimore, Maryland. Marylanders know crabs, and this sauce is a must-have if you enjoy eating crabs.
However, you should know that our sauce is very versatile and has been enjoyed with fries, sandwiches, and even sushi! One day, I hope to expand our product line. I would love for readers to reach out to us with ideas on what to create next!
What matters most to you? Why?
As the owner of food business, quality matters.
It is important to me that I serve a safe, delicious, quality product to my customers. As a human being, respect matters. I truly strive to emit positive energy into the world.
If I can make someone’s day easier, that’s what I would like to do. One of my favorite quotes is, “In a world when you can be anything, be kind.”
Pricing:
- Crab Sauce – $11.99 per bottle.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@yorktownspice.com
- Website: www.yorktownspice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yorktown_spice
- Facebook: facebook.com/yorktownspice
Image Credits
Terrie Johnson Photography
