We were lucky to catch up with Carmen Medrano recently and have shared our conversation below.
Carmen, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
This is our mission statement “More than just a Paleta. Loteria Paleteria not only provides a quality product, but memories made over a paleta. We serve the Taos Community and visitors alike. To introduce our Mexican culture that nurtures the human spirit.”
When I was a child my family would go shopping in Mexico. My mom, sisters, and brothers would go on their separate ways while Ingot spend time with my dad. He would buy me a Paleta and put me on his shoulders risking melted Paleta on his. As the youngest of five spending time alone with my dad meant so much to me. Memories I cherish. I often see many fathers with their children creating the same memory.
When I sell our paletas we are not only selling a quality product made from quality ingredients, but I get to share my culture through food. Many Taos Visitors and locals do not know what a Paleta was. I absolutely love seeing when the taste it. They are experiencing reel fruit and some of the ingredients they experience are from are locally grown produce. Our paletas contribute far more than just our customers but our community. When you purchase a Paleta from us you are not only supporting us but New Mexico businesses and farmers.
Carmen, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The memories I have spending time with my dad made me want to recreate that for others. These are memories that I hold close to my heart. In 2021, I put $1K from the COVID Relief Fund into the stock market. I turned that $1k into $10k and then used that money as seed money to start Loteria Paleteria. I wanted to share paletas and provide similar memories to the Taos community. We purchased a paleta trike and sold paletas at the John Dunn Shops, a location in the Taos Historic District. We served locals and tourists alike. The following year we began selling paletas at the Taos Ski Valley in addition to Mini donuts and Mexican Hot Chocolate. It been 2 years and 3 months since we started with one trike and now we are moving into a brick and mortar location. We are extremely excited because not only will we be selling paletas but raspados, aguas Frescas, Mexican Street Food. Not only do our paletas made from natural ingredients; chopped fresh fruit; lemons, limes & oranges that are freshly squeezed set us apart but soon bringing authentic Mexican street food flavors will set us apart. We also collaborate with New Mexican small businesses such as Zia Beverages to create a root beer float paleta, Tea.O.Graphy to make a bizcochito paleta with their Matcha Tea, & Taos Herb Co.’s to create a Lavender Lemonade paleta. When you purchase our product not only are you supporting us, but many small businesses and farmers in the state of New Mexico.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I wish I could say none, but issues arise. In one week, we lost $500 worth of product due to melting, a broken piece of equipment, three flat tires one on our vehicle, trailer, and trike, and backed up pipes. Even though all of this happened our clients had no idea. We readjusted and still met our orders, showed up to our events, and kept our clients happy. We didn’t have time to ask questions like, “Why me?” We focused on what we had to work with where we needed to go. I believe if you stare at the wall you’re going to hit the wall if you look past the wall and where you need to go you’ll get over the wall.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to learn is not taking employees leaving personal.
Prior to staring my business I often listened to people complaining that businesses weren’t paying enough. Major corporations paying so little that their employees were barely scraping by. So when I started hiring people I paid them at least four dollars above minimum wage for our entry level position and was recognize by the New Mexico economic development as a high wage business. Not only did I pay well but I often worked with my employees when they couldn’t find chid care allowing them to bring their kids to work. I have always been a working mother and balancing both providing for your family and being present can be difficult. I wanted to contribute in making their lives comfortable so they would have less worry when they came to work. When an employee quit I went back in fourth through my mind what did I do wrong. I gave her time off, paid well, accommodated her needs etc and she quit. I at times blended over backwards to help her. I didn’t want to be that employer that doesn’t value their employees. I realized it wasn’t about me. People have their lives and major decisions to make that I’m not aware about. People are going to come and go and that’s ok. They were here when you most needed them and that is a blessing.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @loteriapaleteria
- Facebook: @loteriapaletera
Image Credits
Gabriella Marks