Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Helena Quesada. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Helena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think folks should manage their own social media or hire a professional? What do you do?

I manage my own social media! It feels more genuine, and it’s helped build a community, not just customers. I love when a customer turns into a friend and we keep can up with each other on socials! If you’re doing it on your own, I’d say just be yourself and actually talk to people. It makes all the difference!

Helena, 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’m a first-gen Cuban American from Miami, FL, and I run Hell Yeah Helena! It all started during the pandemic when my restaurant hours got cut and I started slinging Cuban ‘sanguiches’ out of my apartment. Now, I do pop-ups and catering events serving up Cuban ‘sanguiches’ and empanadas!
What started as selling 20 ‘sanguiches’ a week has grown into catering events for over 300 people! I’m still in awe of how this little idea turned into something real, all thanks to the love and support of my community!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word-of-mouth has been everything for me! When people love the food, they tell their friends and that’s how this whole thing has grown. I focus on keeping things fun and personal, from chatting with people at pop-ups to making sure every event feels special so they walk away excited to share it with others. Showing up and engaging creates an experience people want to talk about. It goes a long way!

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Hell Yeah Helena started as a side hustle when my restaurant hours got cut during the pandemic. I began making Cuban ‘sanguiches’ and empanadas at home, and it quickly grew into pop-ups and catering gigs.
The turning point was when I realized that the demand was there, and my little side hustle had potential. I went from hosting small pop-ups to catering larger events, and before I knew it, I was managing bigger orders and even bigger crowds! Moments like these were the ones that pushed me to go all-in.
It’s been a wild ride, and I’m grateful for the community that’s been with me from the start!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @hellyeah.helena

Image Credits

Hannah – HB Photos
Isabella – All People Around