We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marcus Donaldson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Marcus , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
One of the things I like most about GOOD AZ BBQ is that we have a “Donate A Meal” option where anyone from around the world can purchase a meal and have it donated to a local community member who may be experiencing homelessness and or food insecurity. Since launching last summer, we have donated dozens of meals already.
Our hope is that the generosity of others continues to be felt here as we try to feed more people in the Valley. It is one of our goals this year to partner with a local charity, shelter, or faith-based organization to provide food to even more people and on a more frequent basis.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Marcus and I am the owner of GOOD AZ BBQ, LLC, a Black-owned barbecue catering company that launched in the Summer of 2022. While I am new to the food scene I am not new to Arizona as I’ve lived here for four years.
GABBQ was born out of a desire to make good and affordable BBQ food. From the encouragement of my wife and close friends, they suggested that I created this business. It had been an idea of mine for half a decade but with some careful planning (and prodding) we launched last summer. This is a passion project and a part-time gig for the time being. We operate out of Mesa, AZ.
I think there are a few things that differentiate GOOD AZ BBQ from other barbecue places, the first being our blend of flavors and cuisines are not strictly Arizonian. We have adopted classic Cali’ flavors into our food but also hold true to the roots of Vinegar based sauces which hail from the Carolinas, we cook our Brisket like Texans, and make our chicken like Caribbean natives. It’s a melting pot of ideas, techniques, seasonings, and flavors. I think that’s what makes barbecue beautiful — everyone does it differently and there’s no “one shoe fits all” rule we have to abide by. It’s a creative craft and I appreciate the art of making good tasting barbecue.
The last thing that makes us different is that GOOD AZ BBQ consists of two people. Myself and my wife (who makes the sides and is my official taste tester), if you asked her, she would say this is a solo venture. Our small staff size allows us to make top-quality foods while keeping our overhead costs lower with is reflected in the price of our food. It also means that every single dish is treated as if it would be eaten around my own table — no corners are cut and only the best food is produced.
I think I’m most proud of the fact that we’re here right now. It’s not easy to create a business or build up clientele — it’s a grind. But it’s one that we believe is worthwhile and whether we feed 1,000 people or 10, we are grateful for each customer.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Social media is useful as is leaving reviews but ultimately word of mouth had by far been the most successful way in which we’ve gotten new customers an clients. We’ve been fortunate enough to provide food for family gatherings, birthday’s, holidays, and work lunches largely because someone in attendance shared it with a friend.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn that simply knowing a lot of people does not automatically translate to a lot of customers. When I first launched I thought “I know a lot of people in the Valley, I think we’ll be catering every other day. People will support this.” But then you have to check in with reality — do I eat or order from the same restaurant or catering service every day? Am I always in the mood for one specific type of food? Do the people I know even like barbecue? Why should they support my business, what makes it stand out?
I had to think of all these things and even change by business model and move away from selling individual plates each week to catering events only.
The backstory being, your friends and acquaintances can be beneficial to your growth – yes by by placing orders – but also by sharing your brand, recommending it to others, and giving sound business or financial advice. Support is not always financial (but it sure is appreciated!)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodazbbq.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodazbbq
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodazbbq
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@goodazbbq
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodazbbq
- Google Business: https://maps.app.goo.
gl/NJsqUqL8Lzw5Myfd8?g_st=ic - Business Phone Number: (480)-359-5753.