We recently connected with Tiffany Hamilton and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tiffany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?
I am 50% deaf in both ears, I personally have experienced racism with my hearing loss. I have created a brand that brings awareness to the deaf/hoh community, and openly employs them.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I personally struggled with migraines and began experimenting with holistic treatments. I got results, and decided I wanted to bring it to the community. Covid hit and I was stuck at home, so I decided to open a doordash offering medicinal and living foods that could be delivered to customers doorstep. I solve the problem of allowing access to healthy foods to those who don’t have transportation, to ill to drive, etc. the doordash was a success. After coming off lockdown I successfully opened two locations, one in downtown Youngstown, Boardman, Ohio, and Coconut Creek, Florida. I educated myself first becoming a master herbalist, second a psychological Food coach, and lastly a holistic practitioner. I am set apart being a deaf melanated entrepreneur, inclusion is important to me. Young minority children need to see someone that looks like them in this field of holistics. I’m proud that I’m recognized as the owner of Fresh to Deaf, bringing a different genre of food and psychological services to inner city communities. My customers know my story across all platforms especially Facebook and instagram. I do live videos talking about my journey of hearing loss, what it takes to be a minority entrepreneur, and interacting with my followers for suggestions.. I want them to ask questions and know me as a person. I am the face of my brand, I run the cash register, I prepare food, I clean, I advertise, nothing is off limits for me. FTDM hosts daycare kids for the day and offer food lessons, we serve summer camps, church exercise classes, local barbershops, etc. I’m looking to expand and franchise in 2023 expanding the goodness of living foods and deaf/hoh awareness.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding a small business is no joke! I funded FTDM. I started drop shipping herbs, sea moss, oils, etc. to stimulate cash. Once a week I took a lump sum of money and purchased my Fresh produce to create the menu for the cafe. I worked alone so I didn’t have payroll. Once the traction picked up, I was able to pivot and expand the brand. It took about a year to eventually add employees and payroll, I definitely had help from family and friends, but no loans. So please take note it’s possible to be fully funded, but it’s not easy, but definitely worth it.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I wholeheartedly believe being a black deaf woman played a major role in my success. In 2019 not many black deaf women were operating plant Based cafes if any, brick and mortars or doordash. I created a comfortable space for not only minorities but the deaf/hoh community. The gratitude that I received at the cafe and online was breath taking. Customers would tell me stories about their family members who suffered from deafness, and how they loved the name Fresh to Deaf. Black and brown customers thanking me for being so brave to do what I was doing, being an inspiration to young minority children. I’ve definitely created a footprint that I want to expand as far as it will go.
Contact Info:
- Website: Freshtodeafliving.com
- Instagram: @freshtodeafliving
- Facebook: Freshtodeaf330