Meet Margaux Wong

 

We recently connected with Margaux Wong and have shared our conversation below.

Margaux, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from my grandparents and my ancestors watching over me. My grandparents were both Holocaust survivors – they endured a lot to help bring me here. I’ve always had this go-getter energy within me – to continue to do better and consistently grow. My daughter helps me stay resilient as well 🙂

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

When I was 17 I started my first business — Mom’s Nom’s. I was infatuated with all aspects of what it would be like to get pregnant and give birth. Mom’s Nom’s was a cookie company made with special ingredients to help Mothers increase their milk supply while breastfeeding. I was always interested in working with gluten free & vegan baked goods. I went Vegetarian at a very young age, forcing me to cook for myself because my mom had no idea what to cook for me.

I struggled with a lot of allergies and wanted to indulge in all these delightful treats without the stomach ache. After completing culinary school in 2011, I came out to Portland; just a few days before my 21st birthday, with just a duffle bag — and started my journey in the Gluten Free/Vegan world. I worked my way around town working at some of the best establishments in Portland — waking up at 3AM to hop on my bike & catch the morning bake offs.

I was working three jobs when my boyfriend at the time (now husband) promised me we’d make it out together.

We started Best Friend Juice Truck in October 2015 — we drove all the way out to Sandy Oregon to pickup this cute little trailer — we had to haul this huge trailer back to Portland, driving on super curvy roads to make it back into town.

Margalaxy (Best Friend’s Sister Brand) has always had the intention to complement Best Friend’s menu. We started off offering the Moon Bar (an energy bar) to act as a Grab n Go offering for our customers to nosh on while waiting for their pour-over coffees.

Lots has changed since 2015!
We offer a whole extensive coffee and smoothie menu, easy for our customers to grab something healthy and be on their way in the world. My husband and I are both from the east coast, we have always been interested in the easy, fast-paced, g-n-g lifestyle.

Constantly growing + changing.. Margalaxy now offers a range of treats like a Gluten Free Granola that’s served on top of all of our smoothie bowls at Best Friend. We have a line of superfood snacks like Snick’rz Cups, Samoa Cookies, Halva Balls, Moon Balls, and offer a range of assorted goodies in the pastry case at Best Friend’s second location, our Brick n Mortar, opened in 2020.

The strength of Best Friend + Margalaxy, is that we constantly continue to grow and shift while serving our community.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1 – working for terrible bosses pushed me in the right direction, to set a good example of what a good and intentional boss looks like
2 – getting my culinary degree was really helpful for me, as I knew it would bring me great places in the food industry.
3 – work hard when you’re young, you’ll never get this time back. it only gets harder as you age.

Keep growing, and don’t be afraid of change. No one is going to do the dirty work for you.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My biggest supporter, and my confidant — has been my husband Chan. We have grown so much together over the last 11 years. He helps keep our businesses balanced. While I’m always dreaming of a new idea or concept, he is usually my “no” man. He has helped me stay on track, and grow bit by bit over the years. He reminds me and encourages me on ways to stay grounded. I have had many opportunities to work with larger companies, but they have always asked me to lower my prices in order to work with them. I never want to sell myself short. Chan has always encouraged me to take risks, but not if it belittles you or your work. You never want to grow too big, where your business is something you cannot manage. Growing little by little, being there for your community, and showing up, are simple and easy skills, which I have always had within me. We are constantly finding ways to keep our employees happy. If the people that work for you are not happy — your business will suffer. I don’t think I could run a business without a business partner. I definitely would not be where I am today if I hadn’t met Chan.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Yasmin Alishav
LAURA KARPINSKI
Daniela Lais

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