We recently connected with Ed and Ysante McDowell and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Ed and Ysante thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
It was a normal June day in 2015 at the McDowell home. Ed sat at the kitchen table and began to experiment with herbs and spices. He started creating a blend and called his wife into the kitchen to taste what he created. His wife, after tasting Ed’s creation, immediately knew that they had something of value and needed to go into stores. It was challenging to come up with a name for the seasoning. Ed never wanted his name on it. But his wife’s persistency caused Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning to manifest. The first and original Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning was born.
Ed and Ysante , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Ed and Ysante didn’t have much. Ed was a truck driver for the city and then began working for a manufacturing plant. Ysante had a couple of years in the auto finance business. They knew there was still more. With the cost of living rising. The income just wasn’t enough. The struggle was real. But they would always find a way to feed others outside of them and their two children. Ed always had a unique style of cooking that people fell in love with. We began in small trial size bags. We would give bags to church members, family, and friends for them to try. They began to fall in love with it and wanted more. In September of 2015, by faith, they took the seasoning to a local produce stand and pitched their idea. From there the owners fell in love with it and immediately put it on the store shelves. It started out being just a seasoning. Reviews began to come to us and we found out that customers were also using it as a meat rub, which led to Ed having created the first seasoning and rub in one bag/bottle. Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning and Rub LLC is all low sodium, no msg, and gluten free uniquely blended by Ed.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Being consistent, faith, and being thankful for each store that allows Ed’s on their shelves to each customer that makes purchases has helped us build a reputation in not only our community but even internationally. Treat others the way you want others to treat you. Never despise small beginnings.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Our business is self funded. We took what we had to purchase what we needed to create some of the most remarkable seasonings and rubs on store shelves today. We worked tirelessly to keep supplying our customers and keeping their tastebuds satisfied. There are now 8 flavor enhancers on more than a dozen store shelves.
Contact Info:
- Website: edsallpurposeseasoningandrubllc.Wordpress.com
- Instagram: Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning and Rub
- Facebook: Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning and Rub
- Twitter: Ed’s All Purpose Seasoning and Rub