We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tara Grey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tara below.

Hi Tara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was living in NYC and working about 70 hours a week in fine dining. I was really struggling to find joy in my life, and decided that I needed some type of an outlet. I tried painting, and quickly realized that was not my calling. Then I remembered canning as a little kid with my grandma, and I also remembered making grape jelly as a group in fourth grade. So, I decided that I was going to make a batch of jam. I looked at a few recipes, and then decided to go to my local fruit stand. Apricots were on sale, so that’s what I bought. When I got home and relooked at the recipe, I was kind of grossed out by the amount of sugar that was called for. I decided to half the sugar, and see what happened. I figured that the worst case scenario was me tossing out a pot of fruit. Well, I made about 8 jars, and gave it all away to friends. About a week later all those friends came back asking for me. So, I started making jam to give away. No big deal, right? I had zero idea that I was laying down some incredibly sticky ground work for myself. My husband and I moved back to Detroit in 2011. In 2012 I was talked into trying my hand at a farmers market. in 2013, I decided to see what I needed to do to get licensed with the state and try to get into stores. So, I found a kitchen, did all the paperwork, and got my license. About a week later I got into my very first store, Devrise & Co in Eastern Market. Here I am today, in about 400+ stores and growing. I cannot imagine myself doing anything else with my life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I was raised in a small farming town in West Michigan, however, I always had big city lights in my eyes. i moved to NYC in Ja

nuary of 2001 to continue an acting career that started in Detroit. Well, needless to say, I became a server in a restaurant, and then work a million and half hours just so I could pay my rent. I ended up falling in love with the restaurant business and worked for some very famous chefs in nearly every aspect of the front of the house. During this time, I was able to learn about “exotic” foods – stuff you would never find in Montague, MI.

Working for two and three star Michelin Chefs – this teaches you about discipline, as well as an eye for detail and perfection. It taught me to always do my best and also do and be better than my best.

Along the way I met so many great people and learned so much, and I really believe that my life journey is part of my secret sauce.

With Gus & Grey, I still get giddy when people see my product. I am extremely proud of our packaging, and more proud of the actual product. All of our followers are completely organic (we don’t pay for followers). Our goal is to make a nationallyrecognized Detroit brand – and we are well on our way!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Gus & Grey started as a hobby, and then was a side hustle. In 2015 I was a catering director, and using the back kitchen of where I worked to make jam, when I wasn’t working. I really wanted to give it a go as a full time thing, but I just didn’t know how to make it happen.

On a beautiful Sunday morning in June, I slipped down a stair on my back deck, and as I was falling I heard “pop Pop”. As soon as I hit the ground I knew that I had broken an ankle. Well, it turns out that not only did I severely sprain my left ankle, but I also managed to completely shatter my right ankle. I was off of work for about 7-8 months with very minimal income.

The time came for me to return to my job. When I arrived, I actually didn’t have a job anymore. I had been gone for so long they figured out how to do it without me. Before I left, I asked if I could still use the kitchen, and they agreed.

So, I had a chat with my husband to give me six months to make a full go at Gus & Grey, and if I couldn’t do it in six months, I would figure it out. Well…that was 7.5 years ago, and I have never looked back!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a good reputation for you personally, as well as your business/professionally is one the the most beneficial things that you can do for yourself.

Make sure that you are involved in your community – as much as you can be. It ‘s really great to get to know other people/small business owners/makers. Be involved in various groups, even if it is on social media.

But the number one thing that helped me build my reputation was pure hustle. I worked hard to build the Gus & Grey brand. I worked hard for people to know that I make jam, and not jelly. I worked hard for people to realize that our product is simple, but delicious, and our ingredient deck is one of the cleanist ones around.

Being kind to people will go a long way…so will integrity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gusandgrey.com
• Instagram: gusandgrey.com
• Facebook: gusandgrey
• Linkedin: Tara S. Grey
• Twitter: gusandgrey
• Youtube: gusandgrey
• Yelp: gusandgrey

Image Credits
Myself