Meet Karen Sauceda | Mom & Co=Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Sauceda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
Listen to your children!! Here’s why:

Our 8 children created 8ight Spoonz one summer while playing in the living room. Listening to their ideas lead us on this journey and here is what we learned:

1 Teaching Responsibility and Entrepreneurship: By starting a food trailer with our children, we’ve provided them with a hands-on experience of running a business. This has likely instilled in them a strong sense of responsibility, an understanding of hard work, and the entrepreneurial spirit, which are invaluable lessons that will serve them well in life.

2. Promoting Education: By offering free ice cream for good grades, you’re emphasizing the importance of education. We’re encouraging other children to strive for academic excellence and rewarding their efforts, which can motivate them to continue doing well in school.

3. Instilling the Value of Giving Back: Our policy of giving back $8 for every $50 spent is a powerful lesson in generosity and community support. This teaches our children the importance of giving back to society, which can shape them into compassionate and socially responsible adults.

4. Exposing Them to Cultural Heritage: By serving Korean food, we are also connecting our children to other cultural roots. This can foster a sense of identity and belonging, which are crucial for personal development.

5. Encouraging Teamwork: Running a family business requires teamwork. This is an excellent way to foster strong relationships among your children, teach them how to work cooperatively, and handle conflicts in a healthy manner.

6. Modeling Resilience and Perseverance: As a parent of eight and a business owner, you’re undoubtedly faced with numerous challenges. Our ability to persevere and remain resilient in the face of adversity serves as a powerful model for our children.

All these actions contribute to creating a solid foundation for our children’s future, equipping them with the skills, values, and mindset to navigate life’s challenges and succeed in their endeavors.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our food establishment is not just a business; it’s a testament to our family’s resilience, unity, and entrepreneurial spirit. What sets us apart is our unique approach to food and community. We offer a rotating menu every week featuring innovative Korean corn dogs, an exciting culinary experience that keeps our customers eagerly anticipating what’s next. Beyond our food, we’ve implemented a cashback rewards program, a rarity in food establishments, particularly food trucks. This program is a way for us to show appreciation to our loyal customers and give back to the community that supports us.

The heart and soul of our business, and what we’re most proud of, are our children. This is their creation, their vision. We, as parents, are merely the hands bringing their ideas to life. They’re the bosses, and we work for them. Every success we’ve had is owed to their creativity and belief in this venture.

Our journey to where we are now has not been a smooth one. We started in Baytown, Texas, where we faced financial difficulties and stiff competition. But we took the risk, moved to a different community, and dedicated ourselves to this venture full time, for our children. We faced financial hardships, even losing properties and assets. The challenge of starting in the food industry while simultaneously offering a cashback rewards program was daunting. But despite the physical and mental exhaustion from working over 100 hours a week, despite feeling like we were on an impossible journey, we didn’t give up. We wanted to teach our children the value of perseverance, not quitting when things get hard.

Through this journey, we’ve learned invaluable lessons. We’ve weathered adversity, seen relationships tested, and discovered who our true supporters are. But at the end of the day, we find strength in knowing that our children and family are rooting for us and understand the reason behind our sacrifices.

We want the world to understand the potential impact a food establishment can have when it’s more than just about food. We’re not just serving Korean corn dogs; we’re encouraging education by offering rewards for good grades, supporting the community with our cashback program, and promoting the value of small businesses. We believe that this concept can have a profound impact on any community, and we’re proud to be pioneers in this endeavor. Our story is one of resilience, family, and the belief that a food truck can be a platform for positive change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think we should answer this in a way that our children would enjoy:

Day 1: Start the week with a visit to the local park in La Porte. Spend the day enjoying the outdoors, perhaps with a picnic featuring some of our family’s favorite Korean corn dogs and desserts. (They always love eating their own food)

Day 2: Visit the local library or a children’s museum. This would be a great opportunity for them to learn something new in a fun, interactive environment.

Day 3: A day dedicated to food exploration. Visit different local food establishments, perhaps even other food trucks. This could provide them with inspiration for their own business.

Day 4: A day of local sightseeing. Visit the landmarks and historical sites around La Porte. It would be educational and help them connect more with their community.

Day 5: Organize a family game day. This could include board games, outdoor games, or even a friendly cooking competition.

Day 6: Take them to a amusement park. Since they love Disneyland, they would likely enjoy the rides, games, and attractions. Ensure to try out different food stalls and rate their offerings – a fun and delicious activity that ties back to their food business.

Day 7: End the week with a community service day. Perhaps they could host a special event at their food trailer, like a fundraiser for a local charity. This not only allows them to give back to their community but also teaches them valuable lessons about social responsibility.

Throughout the week, ensure to try out different local restaurants for meals. Encourage them to observe the service, food quality, and overall dining experience. This could be a fun way for them to learn more about the food industry while also enjoying delicious food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, we would like to dedicate this shoutout to our remarkable children. Your unwavering belief in us, your creative minds that birthed this wonderful idea, and your enthusiasm which fuels our daily operations are the heart and soul of our food trailer. We could not have brought this dream to life without you. Thank you for inspiring us, believing in us, and walking with us on this incredible journey. This is as much your achievement as it is ours.

We extend a heartfelt shoutout to the vibrant community of La Porte, Texas. Your warm welcome, your support, and your appetite for our Korean corn dogs and desserts have been instrumental in our success. We are profoundly grateful for your acceptance and patronage. You’ve not only supported a local business but also nurtured a family’s dream. Thank you for being a part of our story.

Lastly, we would like to dedicate a shoutout to our fellow entrepreneurs, especially those in the food industry. Your spirit of enterprise, your resilience in the face of challenges, and your stories of success have served as our guiding light. You’ve shown us that with passion, perseverance, and a dash of creativity, dreams can become reality. Your journey has inspired ours, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Website: https://www.8ightspoonz.com

Instagram: 8ight Spoonz

Facebook: 8ight Spoonz LLC

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Other: TikTok: 8ight Spoonz LLC

Image Credits
Image Credits=Karen Sauceda owner