Today we’d like to introduce you to Pj Rosen
Hi PJ, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
How I got started… That’s an open question and I am not sure the answer will be brief, but I will try! For as long as I can remember, I have loved food and how it sews relationships. Whether it’s a first date at a restaurant, dishes brought to you when you are sick or grieving, or even a spread at a birthday or family gathering, food is central. I am a very social person so it gives me a great amount of joy to share meals that bring people together.
The COVID-19 pandemic struck while I was living in New York City with my family. Those that were not in NYC really don’t grasp how bad it was during that time. The culture of the city where everyone goes out for meals instead of cooking was reduced to 4+ hour long lines to get into grocery stores and 2 week grocery delivery lead times with 50% or more of the items missing upon arrival. Impossible wait times and supply chain disruptions forced me to get creative in the kitchen, leading to the birth of @PandemicFoodie. It was really a way for me to show friends and family that we were not starving but it shifted into a space to share resourceful recipes using pantry staples and readily available ingredients.
After leaving NYC and returning to Florida, I noticed a downturn in patronage at local restaurants, so I pivoted the focus of @PandemicFoodie to highlight my favorite local eateries, providing them with valuable exposure during a difficult economic climate. A few people must have noticed because I was awarded Tampa’s 2023 Best of the Bay Foodie Instagram. It wasn’t just a personal victory for me, it fueled my desire to create a wider impact. I then began to look beyond my Instagram for ways to help small businesses. I work with a few organizations that help businesses with brand visibility and I also accepted the role of Director of Partnerships for Dessert Wars, the largest dessert festival in America. Each year, we give hundreds of small dessert businesses a chance to compete for $10,000. They also get valuable exposure, industry contacts, and feedback from successful professionals in the dessert field. Dessert Wars is another tool in my arsenal to help small businesses.
@PandemicFoodie has transcended its roots, venturing into more Florida cities and embarking on adventures up the East Coast. Throughout my travels, I foster connections with local business owners and fellow food lovers while continuing to build my network and forging lasting friendships. My platform isn’t just about showcasing my experiences – it’s about guiding others to the best food, festivals, and fun.
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?
Is anything ever truly a smooth road? I mean, the challenges are what help you realize what to do better, right? But, I do run into things that are frustrating.
Once @PandemicFoodie began to grow and brands started reaching out, I asked other creators questions in an attempt to gain knowledge of a world I accidentally fell into. I wanted to make sure I did the right things for brands that were asking me for help. Most of the creators I contacted were reluctant to answer questions or give any information. Now that I am a little more in-the-know, I do not abide by this gate-keeping mentality. To overcome this struggle, I try to help my fellow creators whenever asked, whether it is being a plus 1 for them, providing contact info or rate suggestions, being the photographer for their content, or just listening to their venting. We all have unique and creative abilities that can help brands get visibility and essentially, that is the end-goal for me.
A huge struggle that I have no control over is the platform. Algorithm changes and bugs happen OFTEN making things quite difficult for a creator. A piece of content that I work really hard on will sometimes get terrible reach while a 2 second piece will go viral. It is a conundrum. Even taking a break is not a good idea. Everyone needs breaks, right? But if you do not release content consistently, engagement numbers decrease, you lose followers, your reach goes down. We are at the mercy of the platform every single day, 365 days a year.
Another big frustration for me is when brands ask for help but are not willing to compensate. I know this is a struggle for most other creators, as well. The creation of content takes a lot more than most people realize. For example, creating content for a restaurant includes driving time back and forth, gratuity, content editing time, and that is not even considering the years it has taken to gain followers and the time it takes to engage with those followers to keep them interested in your page. Many restaurants think the comped meal is compensation when in fact the food provided is needed for the content. Do the same brands ask for free commercials and pay the staff with free food? No, so why ask a content creator to work for food? The best way to overcome this is to have a rate and stick to it. Educate the brand and if they are still unwilling to compensate you, you do not need to work with them. I had to learn that it is OK to say “no”. That said, there ARE several organizations I will support for very little or nothing. Nonprofits that are supporting efforts I believe in will often get pro bono work from me and I usually support at least a few per year.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I help businesses reach their target market in several different ways, all with the intent of giving the businesses extra visibility so they can thrive. When I started, the @PandemicFoodie Instagram page was the only way I could help. I use that for influencer marketing so fans of @PandemicFoodie can find restaurant highlights and product endorsements for places and products they might never have known about. After a few years of that, I looked into additional ways I could help businesses. I accepted the position with Dessert Wars as a way to help the hundreds of businesses that participate in the events every year. Dessert Wars has helped so many business owners grow and I am so excited to be part of that. I am also partnered with a few different organizations that help boost visibility for businesses.
I specialize in anything related to food but I have worked with all sorts of brands. I also know my limits. I will not suggest @PandemicFoodie is the best page to highlight a brand in the beauty field, for example. However, I have a network of amazing influencers that I work with and am happy to call friends. I have paired up influencers with brands that are a better fit when it isn’t an ideal fit for @PandemicFoodie.
At the risk of sounding cliché, I am most proud when I see a business I have worked with do well. It gives me the best feeling! I cannot take credit, but I can always sit back and say, “Wow! I got to work with them and look how far they have come!”
I think what sets me apart is that I have so many different partnerships and opportunities to help businesses gain access to their target market. I also have a wide network of associates all over the US and beyond to offer brands that are not solely local entities.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
That’s a leap! haha You’re really making me dig for this one! My late grandfather was one of my favorite people ever when I was growing up. I was the first grandkid so I was spoiled with a lot of attention from my grandparents. My mom put herself through school while working when I was younger so my grandparents would help out with me. My grandfather would pick me up from school and take me to the best local donut place in town, Winchell’s. I would order a bear claw or an apple fritter, or a cinnamon roll, all of them were about the size of my head, and we would sit and talk about my day. The time I would spend with my grandfather is a lot of the reason I insisted on having dinner together at the table when my children were born. It also contributes to the 7 at 7 dinners I make for our extended family of 7 (my husband, kids, mom, in-laws, and me) every Sunday. The Winchell’s location my grandfather would take me to is no longer there, sadly. Maybe this is part of why I try to support small businesses. It always breaks my heart to see a good, local place close their doors.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pandemicfoodie/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=ZDqYBzL1_rp2LE_amVXsKw
