We recently connected with Bre Via and have shared our conversation below.
Bre, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
Our BBQ journey began in 2020. Brad and I first met in July of that year, and he invited me to my first BBQ competition in August. At that time, Brad was competing with another BBQ team, and I attended to see what the experience was all about. I vividly remember driving into the competition and being in awe of the various types of smokers and trailers. Once we were set up, I took the opportunity to engage with other teams about their setups and what had drawn them to the world of competition BBQ. The response was overwhelmingly positive—everyone was incredibly welcoming and took the time to answer all of my questions (and I had many!). One team even extended an invitation for dinner. It was at that moment that I truly fell in love with competition BBQ and the incredible BBQ community.
The people we met on the BBQ circuit were, and continue to be, absolutely amazing. In the winter of 2020, Brad proposed the idea of starting our own BBQ team. We brainstormed several potential names and ultimately decided on Black Magic. We were drawn to the name’s mystical connotations and saw it as an opportunity to bring some fun creativity to our team branding.
2021 marked our first year competing as Black Magic. It was a year of growth, with many lessons learned as we navigated the challenges of refining our flavor profiles and cooking techniques. In the winter of 2021, we dedicated significant time to practice cooking and focused on enhancing our social media presence. Our goal was to establish ourselves as BBQ ambassadors, creating a welcoming environment for fellow teams, judges, and the general public. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable approaching Brad and me with questions and to share our passion for BBQ with others.
In June of 2022, we had the honor of winning the Made for KC BBQ Championship, an experience that profoundly impacted our lives. This victory not only earned us a $25,000 prize, but also a one-year licensing deal to feature our food and products at the Kansas City International Airport. Throughout this journey, we developed our own line of seasonings, sauces, and our signature Competition Bloody Mary mix.
This experience was a pivotal moment in launching our brand. The year leading up to the opening of our Kansas City Airport location was a thrilling and intense journey. Despite the challenges and exhaustion, we embraced every opportunity, understanding the limited window we had to maximize the exposure from being featured in an international airport. In addition to this milestone, we were also fortunate to compete in a BBQ competition at the 2023 NFL Draft.
As our time at the airport comes to a close, we are shifting our focus toward expanding our brand both nationwide and internationally. We are doing this by enhancing our social media content and have hired a social media manager to support the development of our website and online presence. Additionally, we are preparing to sell our products directly through our website, marking a significant milestone for our business. Starting in January, we will begin releasing weekly recipe videos. Our products are now available in hundreds of stores across the country, including Scheels, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. We couldn’t be more excited for this upcoming year! We have big things to come in 2025!
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?
Our BBQ journey began in 2020. Brad and I first met in July of that year, and he invited me to my first BBQ competition in August. At that time, Brad was competing with another BBQ team, and I attended to see what the experience was all about. I vividly remember driving into the competition and being in awe of the various types of smokers and trailers. Once we were set up, I took the opportunity to engage with other teams about their setups and what had drawn them to the world of competition BBQ. The response was overwhelmingly positive—everyone was incredibly welcoming and took the time to answer all of my questions (and I had many!). One team even extended an invitation for dinner. It was at that moment that I truly fell in love with competition BBQ and the incredible BBQ community.
The people we met on the BBQ circuit were, and continue to be, absolutely amazing. In the winter of 2020, Brad proposed the idea of starting our own BBQ team. We brainstormed several potential names and ultimately decided on Black Magic. We were drawn to the name’s mystical connotations and saw it as an opportunity to bring some fun creativity to our team branding.
2021 marked our first year competing as Black Magic. It was a year of growth, with many lessons learned as we navigated the challenges of refining our flavor profiles and cooking techniques. In the winter of 2021, we dedicated significant time to practice cooking and focused on enhancing our social media presence. Our goal was to establish ourselves as BBQ ambassadors, creating a welcoming environment for fellow teams, judges, and the general public. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable approaching Brad and me with questions and to share our passion for BBQ with others.
Today, we proudly offer an award-winning line of three seasonings, three sauces, and a Bloody Mary mix, available for both retail and wholesale distribution. Our passion for teaching is reflected in the BBQ and grilling classes we offer, as well as our mentorship of local high school BBQ teams in the Kansas City area. Additionally, I contribute a monthly recipe column to the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s publication, The Bullsheet, and write for both the National BBQ Association’s monthly newsletter and The SmokeSheet.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building a social media audience takes time, strategy, and consistency. Here’s how we built our audience and some advice for those just starting out:
How We Built Our Social Media Audience:
Content Consistency: We committed to regularly posting high-quality content that resonated with our target audience. This included recipe videos, behind-the-scenes looks at our BBQ process, and personal stories about our journey in the BBQ world.
Engagement: We made it a priority to engage with our followers by responding to comments, answering questions, and participating in discussions. Building relationships with our audience helped foster loyalty and encouraged word-of-mouth promotion.
Collaborations and Partnerships: We partnered with other BBQ enthusiasts, influencers, and brands to expand our reach. These collaborations introduced us to new audiences and helped us gain credibility in the community.
Hashtags and Keywords: We researched and used relevant hashtags and keywords to increase the discoverability of our content. This helped us connect with people searching for BBQ-related content, recipes, and products.
Storytelling: Sharing our journey and the passion behind our brand allowed followers to connect with us on a personal level. People love to support brands they feel an emotional connection with, and storytelling helped us build that connection.
Advice for Building a Social Media Audience When Starting Out:
Start with a Clear Brand Identity: Know who you are, what your values are, and what message you want to communicate. Consistency in your brand’s voice, look, and feel helps establish recognition and trust.
Post Valuable Content: Focus on creating content that offers value to your audience, whether it’s educational, entertaining, or inspiring. Share tips, tutorials, or insights that your audience will find useful and relatable.
Engage Authentically: Social media is not just about posting content; it’s about building a community. Respond to comments, ask questions, and interact with your followers in a genuine way. This helps to create a loyal, engaged audience.
Leverage Multiple Platforms: Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. Use a mix of social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.) to reach different audiences. Tailor your content to suit the platform, but maintain consistency in your messaging.
Collaborate with Others: Network with others in your niche. By collaborating with people who have a larger or complementary audience, you can tap into new followers and expand your reach. Look for opportunities to cross-promote or collaborate on content.
Use Analytics: Pay attention to the analytics and insights provided by each platform. These tools will help you understand what’s working, what’s not, and what your audience wants. Adjust your strategy based on this feedback.
Be Patient and Persistent: Building an audience takes time. Don’t get discouraged if growth is slow at first. Stay consistent, be authentic, and keep engaging with your followers. Over time, you’ll see the results.
By focusing on high-quality content, authentic engagement, and strategic collaborations, we were able to grow our social media audience. The key is to stay patient, be consistent, and always stay true to your brand’s message.
Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.
When we won the Made for KC BBQ Experience, we were faced with the challenge of transitioning from a fun competition BBQ team to a legitimate business in just nine months. This required us to establish an LLC, hire legal counsel for contracts and trademarks, and navigate legal and business requirements—all areas in which we had no prior experience. We leaned heavily on our BBQ community for guidance and support throughout this process.
As part of our journey, we needed to develop our seasonings and sauces to be suitable for both retail and wholesale production. After evaluating several co-packers, we chose to partner with Old World Spice. From the outset, they made us feel valued, treating us as more than just another account. They provided both dry and wet production services and managed distribution, which was a significant advantage for us as we were just starting out. We appreciated the convenience of working with one company that could handle all aspects of production and logistics.
For anyone considering a co-packer, we strongly recommend asking the right questions to ensure they align with your business goals and can meet your specific needs. Below are some important questions to ask before making your decision:
1. What are your minimum order quantities (MOQs)?
Understanding their minimum production requirements will help you assess if they can handle your current needs without committing to excessive inventory.
2. What is your pricing structure?
Request a detailed breakdown of pricing, including any setup fees, production costs, packaging fees, and shipping costs. This will help you understand the total cost of working with them.
3. Do you have the capacity to meet our production needs?
Ask about their production capacity to ensure they can handle your order volume, especially if you anticipate growth or large orders in the future.
4. What is your lead time?
It’s important to know how long it will take for the co-packer to produce and ship your products. Be sure their lead times align with your business needs and customer expectations.
5. What types of certifications do you have?
Depending on your product, you may need specific certifications (e.g., FDA, USDA, GMP, organic, kosher). Ensure the co-packer meets these industry standards and regulations.
6. Can you handle custom formulations or changes to the product?
If you plan to customize or change your product formulations over time, ask if they can accommodate those changes and what their process is for doing so.
7. What is your experience with our type of product?
It’s important that the co-packer has experience with the type of product you’re making (e.g., sauces, beverages, snacks). Ask for examples of similar products they’ve worked with to ensure they understand your needs.
8. How do you handle quality control?
Inquire about their quality control processes to ensure your products meet your standards. This includes checking for consistency, taste, packaging, and labeling accuracy.
9. What is your inventory management process?
Understanding how they handle inventory will help you know if they can efficiently manage stock levels, product shelf life, and reorders.
10. What is your process for packaging and labeling?
Ask if they can meet your packaging and labeling requirements (e.g., design, size, materials) and whether they can comply with any regulatory requirements specific to your industry.
11. How do you ensure compliance with regulations?
Make sure they are knowledgeable about relevant regulations (e.g., food safety, labeling laws) and can ensure compliance with those laws.
12. What happens if there is a production issue or product recall?
Discuss their processes for handling production delays, defects, or potential product recalls to ensure you are prepared for unexpected challenges.
13. Do you offer storage and fulfillment services?
Some co-packers may also provide warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment services. This can be helpful if you’re looking for a one-stop-shop solution.
14. Can you provide references or testimonials from other clients?
Asking for references will give you an opportunity to hear directly from their other clients about their experience with the co-packer and the quality of their service.
15. What is your payment schedule and terms?
Make sure to clarify their payment terms (e.g., upfront costs, deposits, net terms) so that you can budget appropriately and avoid any surprises down the line.
Asking these questions will help you evaluate whether the co-packer is a good fit for your business needs, both from a production and logistical standpoint.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smokenmagic.com
- Instagram: @smokenmagic
- Facebook: @smokenmagic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@smokenmagic9100
- Other: TikTok: smoke_n_magic_bbq
