We recently connected with Ashley Priest and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, so great to have you with us and thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with the community. So, let’s jump into something that stops so many people from going after their dreams – haters, nay-sayers, etc. We’d love to hear about how you dealt with that and persisted on your path.
While I have not been in business for very long, I have not had a lot of nay-sayers or haters yet to speak of. Part of the structure of creating a new food product is to give away samples to help people understand or educate them on something they may have never had before. The good and the bad with that is you get all the opinions of all the people sampling. There has only been one person who blatantly has had a negative reaction and was outspoken about it. His comments were welcomed but not appreciated. Which is to me a very important part of this business is having the wherewithal to hear the opinions of those who are trying our products but also know where to store that information where it will be helpful. The truth is, I knew nothing of that person, and they knew nothing of me or this company. His words while initially were hurtful the root of the reality is I have no idea what sort of day he was having, type of personality he has or if he felt like his words were helpful with a very poor delivery. Regardless of any negative feedback situation I think it is important to understand that everyone has a reason/rationale for why they say what they say. Looking deeper at the individuals to see why they said what they said I tend to empathize with people and try to see the situation for what it is. Someone is feeling out of control about some part of their life and by expressing negative words towards myself or my company are a way for that person to feel they have regained a bit of control. I created this company as a space for me to share my form of art with the world. Like all artist, it is not meant for everyone. My company and my condiments are for those who are willing and want to enjoy it, the rest are not my concern.
When all else fails I fall to a song lyric from Rupaul Charles “unless they are paying your bills, pay them bitches no mind’.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Saffron & Salt’s unique condiments awaken the senses, evoke nostalgia, and add a modern twist, constructing a refreshing and memorable dining experience. We are a woman-owned business that prioritizes community engagement, sustainability, and support for women entrepreneurs. We are currently making candied jalapenos, our signature product, available online and forming partnerships to bring them to local stores and farmers markets in the next several months. We seek funding to support our growth in the next 1-5 years, including the development and production of new condiments, increased market presence, and increased ability to minimize our environmental impact, such as a jar recycling program.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think my three greatest skills are those same things I use almost every day in my life. I am very detailed, organized, and know how to prioritize what is important to what may be a little less important. It is easy to be ahead of things but if you are not organized then you will essentially waste time therefore productivity by searching for the items. I keep detailed notes about who I speak with and plans that are made as well as keeping them in an organized filing system that works for me. Mostly I think the ability to see things that are coming in and categorize them with levels of importance helps keep me focused. The list of things to accomplish is often overwhelming and by keeping the priority list I can keep my vision going and take things on one at a time.
How would you describe your ideal client?
– Looking at how they can buy local products to support smaller businesses. – Looking to buy products that are interesting, something with a different take on the traditional.
– Doesn’t consider the cost of an item if it is something interesting to buy.
– Spends time on the internet learning new recipes and then trying them.
– Someone who looks for adventure in the every day or is willing to try new things.
– Looking for a good product for the cost.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.saffronandsalt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saffronandsaltcondiments/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saffronandsaltcondiments
Image Credits
Groovy Gals Photography
