We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff & Keisha Beasley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff & Keisha, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Recently both Jeff and I were both oil and gas professionals who were laid off from our jobs this year due to the pandemic. Instead of idly waiting for the industry to bounce back, we decided to launch our own business based on our love of cooking, hosting amazing gatherings with our family and friends and Jeff’s talent for making amazing Creole rubs, sauces, spices, gumbo, and homemade desserts. We were able to capitalize on our skills as capital project and product managers in the oil and gas industry and information technology. Using the agile methodology, we launched a minimal viable product (MVP) within two weeks of starting the business in July 2020. We will continue to use this Agile methodology to introduce new products to our customers and use social media as a platform for feedback so that we can pivot quickly to meet their needs.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Bayou Beaux Beez creole grilling sauces, rubs, seasonings, and homemade desserts demonstrate the best of Louisiana’s unique cuisine. It is the process and Creole style of cooking in small batches slow and low that set us apart. As former oil and gas professionals, our business savvy truly played a part in helping us to launch and grow our business quickly, however, it has been challenging with getting our products out to the public due to the pandemic. Right now, we sell our products online, at Farmers Markets around Houston and Louisiana. We also have pop-up shops every weekend at different shopping malls in the surrounding areas. We are now working with a great business partner that has 30 years of experience in the space we are trying to break into and their advice and guidance has been instrumental to avoiding the pitfalls that small minority owned business start-ups experience in the food and beverage industry. Our strategy in 2021 is to increase our online retail sales and expand our market reach to customers globally. We want our existing and future customers to know that we are just getting started and are excited about bringing an authentic Creole experience to their tables right from their pantry!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When our friends visit we always cook for them at our home an authentic Creole meal! We fry fish on Fridays, accompanied with boiled shrimp and crabs! We love Taste Bar and Grill for their Jerked Lamb Chops or Phil and Derek’s for some great music and food. Jeff and I both love cigars, therefore, we always go to one our favorite spots, Blend, located in The Woodlands, TX .  Here, we are able to relax, catch up with our friends or family and have amazing a few cigars and cocktails. If time permits, we will take them back home to Louisiana and visit one of our favorite mom and pop restaurants.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We want to give a shoutout to our family, friends, and former colleagues who have prayed for us, and supported us by purchasing our products and sharing their feedback and the amazing meals that they have created with our products on social media!

Website: www.bayoubeaux.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bayoubeaux_beez

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/BayouBeauxB

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bayoubeauxbeez

Youtube: Bayou Beaux Beez

Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/bayoubeauxbeez

Image Credits
Jeffrey and Keisha Beasley True Luxe Beauty and Photography

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