We were lucky to catch up with Erika Lorenzo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Erika, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I currently have two companies, and I came up with both their names.

First one: “chewithme” my personal food + lifestyle blog (2014) — This was the first thing that popped in my head. I have always enjoyed taking photos of my food, and I had many food pics on my camera roll. I was having lunch with my mom one day at Houston’s restaurant in North Miami, and, as per usual, I took a photo of our food. She suggested I should make an album, a book, or something with all my food photos. I though “that takes a long time, and I would have to be printing books all the time” so I decided to open another Instagram account, just to post all my food pics and share with my closest friends and family, I did it while at the restaurant and called it “chewithme” chew with me, but all together, only one w. Inviting my followers to come chew the delicious food I share on my blog. @chewithme

My second company is called “The Barzaar” a pop-up market fest mixed with food, music, entrepreneurs & their brands, activities. The Barzaar first launched in 2018 in Miami, FL by me and my business partner. I came up with the name The Barzaar when we did our first, small event in Wynwood, Miami. A bazaar is a market, selling all types of goods. Our events have a DJ, drinks, food, so I said, let’s call it The BAR.ZAAR (get it? a bazaar with a bar!) and we loved it. Follow us to find out which cities/countries we will pop-up next! @thebarzaar

Erika, 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?

I am Erika Lorenzo, born in Caracas, Venezuela but grew up in Florida since I was 9. I have always been a fan of hosting/attending events, restaurants, fashion, fitness, and travel. When I was in college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was into so many things and couldn’t find a way to focus or choose only one.

After many internships during college in magazines, PR & Marketing firms and a 9-5 job, I realized I definitely did not want to work for somebody. I don’t like people telling me what to do or following someone else’s orders to grow someone else’s company. I love to innovate, create, and host events, my way. I first started my food blog, chewithme, and by the first year I had my first 10k followers (this was a time where really Instagram was not really used for blogging) This was a hobby at first, and then I started to get invited to restaurants to post on my page (yes, for free! I had a blast). Brands then started reaching out to work with me, and I have slowly and organically grown chewithme. I have gained my community’s trust by exposing myself, sharing more details besides where to eat. What I wear. I love to eat out, but I also enjoy working out, staying in shape, and I have created a community of almost 50k people who share my same interests. I love what I do, and my blog helps me share information about @thebarzaar as well.

In the other hand, The Barzaar is a place for entrepreneurs, networking, a fun time, a whole experience. It is a place where brands meet their future new potential customers, with a side of music and fun times. Our vendors are our core. We carefully curate which brands will participate in each event to offer clients a variety of products to shop. Clothes, swimwear, candles, jewelry, food, you name it. We love to be in the path of upcoming brands and love to see our brands grow! We are slowly growing, each event is different and a challenge, we learn from each event and we learn more from our customers/vendors every day.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Make it personal! Don’t be afraid to talk to the camera on your social media. It feels weird at first, but customers like it. People love to relate to a brand, and by giving your brand/business a personality, your customers will consider you friends.

@chewithme is me talking behind the camera, posting y recommendations, adding a little sense of humor and giving some personal tips here and there. @thebarzaar is also a reflection of me and my business partner, we curate brands, add a little of personal touch to our decoration, vibes, guests, music.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

for @thebarzaar / word of mouth from one vendor to another, positive feedback, and of course, social media & Ads.

@chewithme: posts sharing (you can say think of this as WOM as well), the reels option has played a role in reaching more accounts and making my posts more visible for the brands I have worked with.

Contact Info:

• Website: thebarzaar.com
• Instagram: @chewithme @thebarzaar

Image Credits
@pictoriag