We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oscar Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oscar below.
Hi Oscar, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience has been ingrained in me from a young age, shaped by the invaluable life lessons that surrounded me. Witnessing my family conquer difficult challenges during my formative years profoundly influenced my perception of achievement and the art of moving forward. For instance, my paternal grandfather’s strong minded spirit left a permanent mark on me. Despite a life-altering accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, he defied the odds, proving doctors wrong when they predicted he’d never walk again. Those weekends at the ranch, where he and my grandmother ingeniously fashioned a makeshift “rehab center” from steel bars, tires, and cinder blocks, etched a powerful image in my mind. His relentless dedication enabled him to walk for another remarkable 25 to 30 years. Every dawn you could see him embarking on his routine, a testament to his persistent resolution to walk again. This anecdote, just one of many, has become a cornerstone, fortifying my resilience in both life and business alike.
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?
A little over 5 years ago, I started a salsa company out of my apartment kitchen. I took my grandmother’s family salsa recipe and learned how to process homegrown vegetables into jars. The name of the company came very naturally when I combined a few words. ‘Pelon’ is my nickname, which was given to me by my friends here in San Antonio, TX. By the way, this name resonates with almost everyone in the Hispanic or Latino culture. Why? Because everyone has a friend or family member they refer to as “Pelon”. It translates to ‘baldy’ in English, a playful nickname given out of love. During that time, my only sister had recently gotten married and was going to have a baby. So, I combined my current nickname with the name I would be given in the future by my niece – Tio. That’s how the brand was born – Tio Pelon’s Salsita.
Creating something from scratch gives me a lot of satisfaction, and the outcome is definitely something special for me. It’s like cooking a full meal from scratch – selecting and mixing your ingredients and seeing it all come together. This experience makes me feel good. Everyone has something that makes them feel this way. I created a company that produces products that people eat and enjoy in many settings. It creates family meals, dinner gatherings with friends, and even barbecues. It brings unity. That’s what motivates me to keep creating different products for people to enjoy.
And, of course, it makes better tacos too!
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?
Thinking back, there are serval skills that I feel have impacted my journey in the field I’m in.
WORKING WITH MY HANDS: Given that I am in manufacturing, the ability to work with my hands holds immense importance. Knowing the inner workings of the machines that produce my sauces is imperative. As a small company, I often find myself functioning as the mechanic, machine operator, plumber, electrician, and more. My advice to others is to gain an understanding of how things operate. Don’t hesitate to disassemble objects manually and examine their inner components. You’ll likely find that you can diagnose and resolve issues effectively.
LEARNING A COMPUTER SOFTWARE: During my eight years in the field of architecture, I garnered a valuable set of skills—proficiency in design softwares. Through college and professional experience, I became well-versed in programs like AutoCAD, creating comprehensive sets of construction documents. Expertise in Adobe software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Character Animator, and others, which are high-demand skills, also became second nature to me. Furthermore, I became proficient in 3D modeling software and architectural renderings. My suggestion is to acquire skills in softwares with high market value. This has not only saved my company money by obviating the need to hire a designer initially but also allowed me to put my training to use when I need extra income.
PEOPLE SKILLS: Lastly, the importance of interpersonal skills cannot be overstated. Engaging with people is paramount. Attending business mixers and conversing with strangers can yield surprising results. This skill has proven to be a powerful door-opener on numerous occasions.
In summary, possessing these three qualities—manual dexterity, proficiency in valuable software, and strong interpersonal skills—has been instrumental in my journey. I encourage others to cultivate these skills to enhance their own paths to success.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Over the past year, the most remarkable area of growth and improvement for us has been the expansion of our manufacturing capacity. By incorporating automation into our production line, we’ve managed to optimize our operations. This progress has empowered us to produce a greater volume of products more efficiently, all the while maintaining a compact team. Furthermore, we’ve diversified our activities by engaging in the manufacturing of products for other companies. As a result, our reach has extended to encompass over 1000 grocery stores across the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tiopelonsalsita.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiopelonsalsita.inc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiopelonsalsita/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oscarjavierperez/
