We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mariana Álvarez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mariana Álvarez , appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

My name is Mariana Álvarez de Cervini.

Wife, Mother and Daughter.

I arrived in the United States in 2018 with many dreams and desire to get ahead.

Since I was a child I always loved cooking, it is something that I am passionate about and to which I give myself 100%.

In 2020 I started making food from home for my friends and close acquaintances, and then I started making new customers, everyone who tried the food asked if I didn’t plan to open a place… and although it was something that was not in my plans, there came a time when I could no longer with so many orders, and I needed to do something to be able to grow…

That’s how that desire began to grow to look for a place where I could do what I like the most and reach more people, and only God could make it possible, because he put the right people in my way who guided me in this arduous process… I began to investigate the steps I should follow and the first thing I did was register my brand, I created my logo myself, and then everything happened. I had the great support of my husband, and of the University of Arkansas (ASBTDC) there they advised me and guided me on all the movements we had to make to be able to materialize this idea.!!

In April 2022 we did our Grand opening and it was really an unforgettable success, and today almost 4 years later, we are grateful for the loyalty of our customers and for the customers who add to this dream every day… Each customer makes it possible for us to continue and bring to each table Authentic Venezuelan Food, full of flavor, tradition and culture, like being in Venezuela.!!!

I think it was worth all the effort, and every day we give thanks for every person we have met on this path, for all those who have helped us with advice with constructive criticism, we owe ourselves to our customers and they are our engine.!!

We thank God for keeping us and sustaining us and for opening our way to new opportunities.!!

With the passage of time we have been growing and in July 2023 we opened our second food truck of Venezuelan burgers and it has also been a hit, liking our community.!!

We ask God to allow us to stay longer to make our gastronomy known more every day and contribute new and different things to our community.!!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Como mencioné anteriormente desde niña As I mentioned before since I was a child I was passionate about cooking, and it is something I really enjoy doing. Our products are 100% Authentic Venezuelan Food, made with traditional recipes, always fresh food, made at the moment.

In Na’Guará you can get from a delicious lunch, a snack or a dinner, you can also surprise your guests with our 100% personalized catering service, with typical Venezuelan products made with Love, culture and traditions.

Na’Guará is a Food Truck full of essence, here food is not overheated, it is one of our main approaches “food always fresh” from very early we work to provide the customer with a really wonderful experience.

By 2026 our customers will be able to enjoy our frozen products so that they can prepare them at home at any time so stay tuned for our publications.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Making a sale is easy, but keeping the customer is the basis of any business and is the truly important and vital thing to maintain and achieve customer loyalty.

I particularly like to be close to customers, that the client knows you, that he sees in you in you marks the human and real part. I think that gives a different magic to each brand, and I also have as a basis of thought that maintaining the quality of the product is essential.

Behind the success of any company or business is definitely a great team.!

It’s not all rosy, there are its thorns in the way but when something you are passionate about you give everything in each installment.!!

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Definitely when I had to make my first video to promote my brand and make myself known I was really scared, nervous, but then I received so much support from so many people who didn’t know me but who wanted to try something new, and this helped me and taught me that you have to take risks, and it also taught me that you don’t have to like everyone, you just have to be original – authentic, don’t copy not imitate, give your essence, what you are, I think that’s the secret of success, do what you like, love what you do and make every time someone tries your food they are really pleased.!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Naguaralovers
• Facebook: Na’guara