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

Alright, Heather thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.

A few months throughout the year, I do donate a percentage of sales to an organization called the Helene Foundation. This foundation is local to the Raleigh area and helps mothers who are going through cancer treatments. They are able to help with groceries, gas, daycare expenses up to a certain amount for approximately six months.

This organization is so special to me because I have experienced cancer first hand and they were the only foundation willing to help me when I needed it the most. I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer at the age of 34 and with two kids and a family, I wasn’t sure how I was going to be able to manage. Traveling twice, every week in preparation for chemo and treatments truly took a toll on our finances. With the help of The Helene Foundation, we were able to obtain gas gift cards and gift cards for groceries so that the weight and burden was lifted.

I will forever be thankful for this foundation for all they did for my family and me, and will do all I can to support them. As young as I was and knowing that there are other mothers going through what I experienced, it is the least I can do to help.

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.

My name is Heather and I am 38 years old. I have a wonderful husband- we have been together for 10 years and married for almost 4. I have two amazing children- a 12 year old boy and a 6 year old girl.

I have always been fascinated with cooking since I was little, helping my family in the kitchen. I consider myself to be a creative person, so having the ability to show that within my food is something I strive for.

I graduated from Walters State College in Sevierville, TN in 2010 where I obtained my Associates in Culinary Arts and Hotel/Restaurant Management. Throughout school and after, I worked in the food service industry, starting as a hostess and moving through all positions from server, kitchen prep, line cook, even dishwasher, until finally I became a hourly manager. It was here where I gained most of my knowledge and knew that this was something that I wanted to do for the long haul.

When you think you have it all figured out, you don’t! From 2010 until 2024, life was a rollercoaster for me! Family, children, life experiences, unexpected circumstances, and all the in-between came and went. At the end of the day though, I still felt that I wanted to pursue my dream. Since I had graduated college, it was to own my own restaurant- a warm place where all were welcome and wanted to be! So I began the search. As I started, you realize just how difficult some dreams can be to achieve. A building was almost impossible to find, and if there was one that could work, money didn’t grow on any trees that I owned! PIVOTAL MOMENT: If not a stationary building, let’s make it move! I shifted and researched everything I needed to know about food trucks and FELL IN LOVE with this! What better way to reach everyone than for me to go to them.

I came up with a concept that I believed would stand out and be different than anyone else! Who doesn’t love a great sandwich. My menu is constantly changing with every season so this allows me to continually use my creativity and bring new items all the time!

It has been a long journey to say the least, but BOY was it worth it all in the end! I officially opened B’Wiched Gourmet Sandwiches food truck October 2024 and it truly was the best decision I could have made! We are a Woman-owned and operated truck that serves Harnett and surrounding counties.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I started my business social media months before I ever launched and opened my food truck, My thought process for this was to get my name out there, what I was trying to do, and almost gauge how people reacted to it! I would drop little hints of my big news, announcements, or any little information that I could give so that my audience stayed engaged. When I bought my truck, it was in Washington DC. So the little pictures of the plane ride going and driving it home were so exciting for me, that I shared it with my followers. As we approached opening night, I continued to post menu items and ideas!

I think the best advice I can give (as I am still new to my business social media side) is to keep it updated! If there is something that you are working on or getting started, let them follow you in your process and journey! They connect with you and truly share in your achievements and victories.

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

I believe the best source of new clients has been word of mouth. As a food truck, we are constantly on the move, parking in different locations, etc. so unlike a restaurant, we have to make sure we are telling people where we are. Some of the events that we have booked in the past have been for other new business owners. This has helped us so much because we are constantly meeting new people and new clients who come back to us to book just because they have heard about us from others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bwichedfood.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwiched.gourmet.sandwiches/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bwiched.gourmet.sandwiches/
• Other: https://www.streetfoodfinder.com/bwichedgourmet