Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Ford and Tasia Ford.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Paul and Tasia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We got into the hot sauce business by accident. Prior to getting into the hot sauce business, we probably enjoyed hot sauce four times out of the year.
Paul is a great cook and enjoys gardening and one evening when a neighbor tried Paul’s food, he invited us over. We were surprised to find hot sauce where furniture should be in his home.
When we got home, Paul began to research like crazy. Come to find out the hot sauce industry was a pretty big deal!
Our neighbor at the time, had been wanting to get into the Hot sauce business for some time. He’d asked Paul to be his partner. Paul got to work quickly. In fact, one of the first sauces we ever created was born when he went out to his garden and created a sauce.
Seeing as though we’d never made sauce before we had to get some feedback!
He took it to his job and I (Tasia) took it to mine and all we did was ask for feedback in exchange for a free bottle of sauce.
After we distributed the hot sauce, people continued to ask to buy it. It was then that we knew we were on to something.
Paul left his 6 figure income as a driller and we invested our life savings into this idea only to find out that I’m pregnant with our first child.
Due to personal matters Paul’s then partner decided that he needed to move out of state, and was no longer able to work the business. Paul and I were left with a choice.
We could either call it quits and go back to work, losing our life savings, or we could go all in.
We decided to go all in! It was tough, but with the refusal to give up we are proud to say that seven years and many awards later were still here.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Paul: The financial struggles of maintaining the lifestyle you once had. Other obstacles included the realization that you’re not guaranteed a dime. Not to mention the struggle of starting a business and a family at the same time. I don’t recommend anyone do this! Lol. Being an entrepreneur is already challenging, but add being a new dad and also a husband. Understanding that you have to have time to shut off! Lol.
Tasia: Noooo! There was nothing smooth about the road. We felt every bump along the way! Lol. I had “0” Experience running a business, although I’m not a stranger to hard work. I was comfortable in corporate America. I had a role that played into a much larger picture. In the past, I would show up do my job, and go home to enjoy my family. Now my life was changing! I was now the one creating the bigger picture and delegating tasks for myself to complete.
No one could have prepared me for the challenges of motherhood. I had a fear that I never had before. There was no sick time or vacation! Lol.
After daycare expenses, we decided it was more cost-effective for me to stay home. I stayed at my job six months after my maternity leave was over. My husband and I were totally reliant on our business!
Along the way, two more children came along! Lol, we’re thankful for the family helping to watch them for us!
Big Red’s Hot Sauce – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in full-flavored Arizona Style Hot Sauces. The difference is that we are non-vinegar-based. Only natural ingredients are used, and just enough vinegar to naturally preserve it.
We still make, bottle, and package ourselves.
We are known for THE FLAVOR TOUR! And having unique flavor combinations with a variety of heat levels. Out of the ten flavors we currently have, they are each completely different. You could easily own them all and use them for every occasion. Big Red’s Hot Sauce has something for every heat tolerance. We want people to rethink “Hot Sauce”.
We are most proud of the fact that we’re still a part of our process. We had the opportunity to use a co-packer to make our products, but it just didn’t feel right. We love the fact that you can see the flavor in the bottle. We also like the fact that we know what’s in it!
As a brand, we’re happy to be customer-facing. I love when we take customers on the “flavor tour” and see their faces as they enjoy something that we are so passionate about! Work is fun! Our kids get to experience it with us! They see mommy and daddy, and they know that what we have will be theirs!
Is there a specific memory from when you were younger that you really miss?
Paul: Family vacations were a highlight of my childhood.
Tasia: Road trips! We didn’t eat a lot of junk food or fast food growing up, however, road trips were different..we would look out the window at the mountains, sleep and eat! I love spending time with my siblings!
Pricing:
- 3 for $22
- Flavor Tour Pack $50.00 ( all 8 hot sauces)
- Detour Pack $60 (all 8 hot sauces and both smother sauces)
Contact Info:
- Address: Bigredshotsauce.com
Facebook/bigredshotsauce - Website: Bigredshotsauce.com
- Email: bigredshotsauce.com/contact us
- Facebook: Facebook/bigredshotsauce
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