We were lucky to catch up with Ryan Stevenson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ryan, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
One thing Shore Smoke Seasonings has always done is try and give back to the community no matter where we are. Nicole and I have been from Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina and a few other places in our time together but one thing has always been at the forefront is giving back. I wish I could say that I was always this way but in reality that’s not true. It wasn’t until I met my wife Nicole that she showed me it was better to give than receive. From the first day I met her she was always looking to help people no matter what the situation was and when you are around that kind of person constantly you start to realize youve been doing life all wrong. The first Christmas we were together she adopted a few families and bought gifts for them and their entire families. The joy and tears on the faces of everyone was a feeling that is unmatched and what began as a small holiday gesture began to become tradition.
A few years into our relationship and well before Shore Smoke Seasonings, Nicole started a free community page that allowed members to giveaway items they may not need that others may. During COVID this became such a life saving group for people who needed food, clothes, personal care items, among other things. We began to giveaway food gift cards, seasonings, grills and other cooking related items in the group as well to encourage more people to join and share in the giving spirit.
The True Smoke BBQ Facebook group was also very instrumental in helping pass the kindness along. We joined this group in July of 2020 and it has become a family of over 32K members who encourage each other to ask for advice and try new techniques in all sorts of cooking methods. With FREE events multiple times a year for everyone to come and camp out and cook in various free competitions and win prizes and money from sponsors of the group was something we were all about and still continue to be a huge part of the group to this day.
In 2023 Nicole and I launched our charity called The Stevenson Foundation which our main goal is to help the younger generation become more involved in the culinary world. The Stevenson Foundation offers scholarships for kids, cooking classes, cooking competitions and much more to help make it easier for our future cooks of tomorrow to learn the tricks of the trade. In its first months The Stevenson Foundation has donated to local youth organizations and other various organizations,
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
When Shore Smoke was launched back in 2020 the hope was to make a few extra dollars for spending money and a vacation fund. After a few short months we realized that we had something here and that this had the potential to be much much bigger. In 2021 my company released me from my contract due to COVID and our entire team was dissolved. This was one my lowest points in life but Nicole told me its time to follow my dreams and live our best lives. We began a mass marketing campaign and went full Shore Smoke Seasonings in late 2021 and have never looked back.
The most exciting and rewarding part of this entire ride has been all the wonderful people we have met along the way. Yes, this industry can be very cutthroat and the copycats are a dime a dozen but when you have original ideas and the business just runs through your veins the sky is the limit.
People think the best compliment we receive is our seasonings taste best but when in reality that’s not it at all. The best compliments we have received are the ones you don’t expect such as “Best Random Purchase Ever” or “I have health problems and your seasonings have allowed me to enjoy cooking and eating again” . These type of reviews are what keep us going and loving what we do.
One of the biggest thrills was getting official word a few months ago that the major grocery store chain Food Lion was interested in carrying our products. Shore Smoke Seasonings is now available in all 73 Food Lions in Maryland and Delaware with expansion to other states to come in the future. With now almost 200 retailers nationwide and located in over 25 states across the United States, Shore Smoke Seasonings is one of the fastest growing craft blend seasoning companies in the world.
Current projections show that Shore Smoke Seasonings will be in over 600 retail locations and in over 40 states by the end of 2024. With new seasonings coming out monthly and new retailers being added daily, the hope is for Shore Smoke to be a household name for years to come.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Many things have been learned throughout the years being in business but a few really stand out as what has helped us along the way.
Customer Service is and will always be our #1 priority in this business. Having good or bad customer service can make or break a business and the reality is you need to put this first and foremost every time. Human nature is you will always share a negative experience before you do a positive one and that’s one thing we have tried to do to change the narrative of. Posting positive experiences can really help a small business grow and in the same effect a negative review can cripple a business. Having excellent customer service will set you apart from your competition and power you to the top and so may businesses fail to give the appropriate attention to this vital part of business.
Patience is another critical skill any small business owner should try and develop. This is an area I need to do better at but am learning over time. Some times what you may constitute as a priority or emergency in the business world may not be something someone feels the same way about and it may be 7th on their priority list for the day and that’s something you need to understand. In the business world there are hiccups and issues that come across your desk daily but having patience and being understanding will get you farther then screaming and causing more of an issue.
The one area of knowledge I can share with other business owners is realizing your day is never done. Sometimes things pop up and what you thought was an easy planned out day can lead to the most hectic day of your life. You must learn to roll with the punches and not sweat the small stuff because if you let the little things bother you it stops or delays you to getting to your ultimate goal. Realizing what is actually an issue and what can be dealt with at a later date and time is vital in the success of growth.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Shore Smoke Seasonings is and always will be interested in partnering and collaborating with other small businesses. One thing we have done in the past is search out other local small businesses and find out what their goals are and if they align with ours we begin to map out a plan on how we can help each other in different areas. We are always looking for companies who are interested in marketing together, holding events together and doing things for the community. We are always open to ideas and as Nicole and I always say “Thinking big is a lifestyle not a dream”.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shoresmokeseasonings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoresmokeseasonings/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shoresmokeseasonings
Image Credits
Nicole Stevenson Nikki & Jay Plough
