Today we’d like to introduce you to Trish Hines.
Hi Trish, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Barbecue has always been a way of life for me. I can’t imagine a time when we weren’t cooking outdoors, smoking some type of delectable meat, all while enjoying the company of family and friends. When you are raised in Memphis, TN, you develop an appreciation for barbecue at an early age. With so many local restaurants and backyard pitmasters, you experience many flavor profiles and techniques. I’ve been a Floridian since 2003, and you would be surprised how many of your neighbors you get to meet when you fire up the smoker! Being active in barbecue competition has provided an even greater education in the art of low and slow cooking, and inspired me to create my own Florida-based product line, Sassy Q BBQ Gourmet Sauces & Rubs. Barbecue sauces are typically sticky sweet, loaded with molasses and sugar, and I felt the need to try to make a healthier sauce while maintaining a great flavor. And Sassy Q products do just that! I shared them with friends and eventually started selling at the local farmers market, which I highly recommend to other people who want to promote their own food product. A new Whole Foods Market was coming to town and offered us a place in their store. So that got the ball rolling! Next, Publix asked Sassy Q to be a part of the Florida Locals Program and we continue to grow! The line has grown to 3 sauces, Original, Spicy, and Vinegar, and 4 different spice blends, Sweet Rub, Island Rub, Honey Jalapeno Rub, and Beef Rub.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No! The food business is an extremely competitive one. You really have to make yourself stand out. There will always be issues with costs of supplies and distribution, and you’d better have a good understanding of how those work. Every day brings something new. I laugh sometimes because I never thought I would possess the knowledge of logistics that I do! But if this is your passion it’s all worth it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In addition to being a sauce boss, I’ve also been a Florida Realtor for the past 18 years and am now with the Agentry Real Estate brokerage in Tampa. Owning my own businesses gives me the flexibility to do both of the things I really love. I have a lot to be proud of. Not only is it a very cool thing to walk into a grocery store and see something you created sitting on the shelf, but it’s also most gratifying to help someone find their home, oftentimes having overcome obstacles that would have prevented them from doing so. And I’m certainly proud that I do both well! Needless to say, I stay busy!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
There’s a lot to be said for being in the right place at the right time! Having the Whole Foods foragers show up at the farmers market that day was certainly luck! And it was also lucky that Sassy Q was selected to be in Publix when they see at least 85,000 product submissions each year. I’ve worked hard to create a quality product and a winning business model, in hopes that people can share the same joy of barbecue with their family and friends.
Contact Info:
- Email: sassyqbbq@gmail.com
- Website: www.sassyqbbq.com
- Instagram: sassyqbbq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sassyqbbq
