We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tara Grey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Tara, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I can give credit for my work ethic to only one person: My mom!!
She raised my brother and I as a single parent. There were definitely some tough times growing up, and to this day, I still do not know how she did it.
I grew up in a very small town in West Michigan (Montague), and it was a big farming community. So, if I wanted a little cash I would often pick blueberries, or asparagus. When I got a little older I became a pretty popular babysitter around town.
My mom always said that if I wanted something that she could not provide, I had to work and pay for it myself.
She taught some really good life lessons along the way.
Always do your absolute best the first time – so the chances of having to do something over were slim.
Always work with integrity, never be lazy, a sneak or a thief.
Always treat everyone with the same amount of respect no matter who they are.
I have to admit though – I do have a little bit of a competitive streak in me, so that helped as well!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Gus & Grey has been around for about 10 years, and I still cannot believe that this is what I do for a living.
We specialize in jam/preserves that are all low in sugar, no pectin, no preservatives, and are all naturally gluten free, as well as vegan. Every jar has about half a pound of fruit – and you can really taste it in the finished product.
One thing that we started doing last year was doing collaborations with some of the more “famous” people that I know. The idea behind this was too not only help raise a little bit of brand awareness, but to also be able to give back to the collaborators charity of choice. We have done four so far and and working on more.
Scott Conant (Celebrity Chef) – FIGGETABOUTIT, which is fig, honey and chamomile jam. www.childrescuecoalition.com
Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas (HGTV Bargain Block) RAISIN’THE ROOF – Cranberry, jalapeno, raisin jam – The proceeds went into a fund that they are doing outside of HGTV to help Detroiters in need with roofing issues.
Marc Evan Jackson (Film and TV actor) IMPROV JAM – Triple Berry Jam- Marc started the Detroit Creativity Project, which helps kids learn improv, which is a great learning tool for all of life’s situations.
Wayne Kramer (International Musician) – RAMBLIN’ ROSE – Raspberry Rose Preserves. www.jailguitardoors.com
I have always wanted to be able to give back in some way – but, since I make jam, I am not rich! This has helped people learn more about what the collaborators care most about, and we can give back at least in a small way!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I started this, it was as a stress relieving hobby. I never had any inclination that this was going to become a side hustle and then a full on business. I did know at the time that I was deeply unhappy and unfilled in my work life, and wanted a change – but had zero idea what that was going to be.
Looking back and my path, it all “kind of” makes sense. LOL
I have always had a great interest in two things: knowledge and food.
For years I spent my life in the F&B industry. I worked for some of the top chefs in the world, and with that, I was able to learn about food and wine that I would never be able to have access to otherwise. So many people through that time are still like family to me. So many people have also reached out to see how they can help, to purchase and use Gus & Grey on their menu. It’s been great.
I would say have to say that one of my greatest qualities is meeting new people. Not just meeting them, but getting to know them, listening to what they have to say. Hearing and learning about how they grew up and their journey to where they are now – and where they want their personal journey to end up. So, listening to people – not just listening, but hearing them as well. There is a big difference in the two!
Skills along the way were just a part of wanting to learn more, observing, researching…and practice, practice and more practice. While I know that I make a great product, I can assure you that their have been some stinkers along the way!
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
2023 was an incredibly tough year. The economy was a mess, and everything slowed down. I had two employees and now it is currently just me.
The thing that has been the toughest is the cost of the product once it hits the store shelves. We have a low wholesale price, and then it goes to the distributor (we have two) – they mark it up, then it goes to the grocery stores and they mark it up. All the stores have different pricing – so, I have seen that I have been outpriced/overpriced on shelves, to the product just hangs out. We changed the pricing structure with our smaller distributor to help get the grocery store pricing down – just working on the bigger distributor now.
Also – we live in a world on convenience. We do not sell on Amazon – although I am thinking about it.
I have seen a lot of small food businesses around me go under this past year – and it has been tough to see.
I have a few tricks up my sleeve for 2024 – so, looking forward to see where everything goes.
My motto in life and business is “Just Keep Swimming” – direct quote from Dory the fish.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gusandgrey.com
- Instagram: gusandgrey
- Facebook: gusandgrey
- Linkedin: Tara S Grey
- Twitter: gusandgrey
- Yelp: gusandgrey
