1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Hello, Discover here to explain our cash back Match. Here's 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: how it works. We give you cash back for using 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: your Discover card on the things you were going to 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: buy anyway. Then we match that cash back in your 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: first year, and that's why we call it cash back Match. 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: Now to recap and say cash back one more time, 7 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 1: we match all the cash back you've earned at the 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: end of your first year automatically discover exceptionally common sense. 9 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: Learn more at discover dot com. Slash match limitations apply. 10 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: Look for your children's eyes and you will discover the 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: true magic of a forest. Find a forest near you 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: and start exploring it. Discover the Forest dot org. Brought 13 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,280 Speaker 1: to you by the United States Forest Service and the 14 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: AD Council. Hi, I'm Sarahcustack. I'm b NBA analysts for 15 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: the Yes Network, and I'm hosting a new podcast called 16 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 1: NBA Flashback. NBA Flashback takes you back to the best 17 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: moments in NBA history through exclusive archival audio from the NBA, 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,200 Speaker 1: and each week we'll have new interviews with the legends 19 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 1: who were actually on the court. Check out NBA Flashback 20 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever 21 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:22,240 Speaker 1: you get your podcast. Welcome to Money Making Conversations. It's 22 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: the show that she has the secrets of success experience 23 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: firsthand by marketing and Brandon expert Rashan McDonald. I will 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,240 Speaker 1: know he's given me advice on many occasions. In occasion 25 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: didn't notice, I'm not broke. You know. He'll be interview 26 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 1: with celebrity CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision makers. It's what 27 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: he likes to do. It's what he likes to share. 28 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: Now it's time to hear from my man, Rashan McDonald. 29 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations. Here we come. Welcome to Money Making Conversation. 30 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: I am your host, Rashan McDonald. I said every time 31 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: this show starts, it's time for you to stop reading 32 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: other people's success stores and started writing your own. I 33 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: always talk about gifts and passions. If you have a gift, 34 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: lead with your gift and don't let your age, friends, family, 35 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: or co workers stop you from planning or living your dreams. 36 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: My interviews are with celebrities, CEOs, entrepreneurs and industry decision makers. 37 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: They give us their nuggets, their secrets of how they've 38 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: been successful over a period of time. Maybe you can 39 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,920 Speaker 1: grab onto that information and be successful to. My next 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: guest is Philip Ashley Rex. Philip Actually Chocolates is one 41 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 1: of the world's premiate pre eminent they put that were 42 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: right there, pre eminent chifts and designers of luxury chocolate. 43 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: He is an award when the chocolate Chocolate Tour is 44 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:38,519 Speaker 1: that that is that correct, Philip Chocolate Tour founding in Memphis, Tennessee. 45 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,120 Speaker 1: That's right up in Atlantis. That's just a little bit 46 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 1: of no. You know, we all know about the barbecue. 47 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: We know about that hot chicken in Memphis. Now you're 48 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 1: about to find out by Philip Ashley Chocolates in twenty 49 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,160 Speaker 1: that's when it all start. The brand has an international 50 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: following and is retained by high profile clients, top corporations 51 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,799 Speaker 1: and major events to offer premium gifts. And we all 52 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 1: know at the COVID nineteen pandemic shut down this country. Well, 53 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: in February, prior to the COVID shutting down a company, 54 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: he had a lot of major vs on it. He 55 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: was on the Food Networks Chop Sweet Shoose the Finals 56 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: and then in November that same year, Oprah's Favorite Things 57 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: to Listen to buy the boot to putting your gifts 58 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,919 Speaker 1: for Christmas or whatever you wanted to do. Philip is 59 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 1: also known for his branding and marketing expertise that checked 60 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 1: this out. In one he found an Uncommon Hospitality Group, 61 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 1: a real estate development company focused on driving imagination, innovation, 62 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: and impact in the mixed use commercial real estate space. 63 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: Please welcome to the show. An innovator. I want to 64 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: I wanna call him an instigator because he got chocolate, 65 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: you know, but he looked like a little twin brother. 66 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: But believe for the show, Philip, actually Rex, how you doing, Philip? 67 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: How you doing? Thanks for having me? You know, a 68 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,120 Speaker 1: good looking guys. So I got I got thrown that 69 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: that right now, you know, I got the big got 70 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: the glasses you sigh. So so but every every week, 71 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: every week, and people don't understand, you know, women, women, 72 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: was like like, it's hard, looking like us, it's hard. 73 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: You gotta keep you gotta maintain this. This is a 74 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: weekly process. I go to the barber to get a 75 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: straight raised every Saturday morning. So you know, that's why 76 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: I just want to let everybody know because I got 77 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:21,159 Speaker 1: an identical looking guy on the phone on video on 78 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: my on my talk show today. It looks like me. 79 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 1: I put in the work every day to just get up. 80 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: I wish I could just walk out of that door, Philip. 81 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: But people were like, I'm broke. They were looking like 82 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: I'm sick. They won't ask me what's wrong? All those things. 83 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 1: So you are a brand, correct fellow, Yes, sir, yes, sir. 84 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: And and like you said, they think that you know 85 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: everything takes you know, curation management, you know. So like 86 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: I said, if we I don't have hair, you don't 87 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: have but that there's a process to this. It's not 88 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:55,479 Speaker 1: you know, because you come out there with a little 89 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: scattered hair, people act like, what's wrong, man? What you do? 90 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,360 Speaker 1: You have time? You have time. So because we just 91 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: started out like that talking about image, talking about brands, 92 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: talking about because that's part of what you are pursued 93 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: about marketing and branding. And a lot of people throw 94 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: those words out because you hear but which because you're 95 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: branding a lot, and some people just saying they don't 96 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: even know what that means. And then because sometimes they 97 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: put the word branding they're marketing together thinking it's all 98 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: one world and that's not true. You know, brand you develop. 99 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: Marketing is what you do to get the word out 100 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: about your brain so talking about being one of the 101 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: sought off most sought off people in that area, and 102 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: how did that really start launching your own brand? How 103 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 1: did that manifest itself into your brand? Philip? Yeah, so 104 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: really it started in two thousand and seven. I was 105 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: living in Baltimore at the time, living in Baltimore, working 106 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: in corporate America. Uh, three o'clock in the morning, woke 107 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: up from the dream. It was like, Okay, I'm gonna 108 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: be a chocolate tear for the rest of my life 109 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:02,360 Speaker 1: and make chocolate for living. And and that's literally how 110 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: it happened. Uh. And from there it just became an obsession. 111 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: You know. I was already in the consumer packaged goods industry, 112 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,919 Speaker 1: moving product working with companies and individuals. Uh. And and 113 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: I've been cooking for a long time. I was I 114 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,119 Speaker 1: started learning how to cook from my grandmother at five 115 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: and so I was always a really good cook. But 116 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: you know, so a lot of things kind of fell 117 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: into place, ended up, you know, pursuing chocolate. And so 118 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: I spent the better part of five years, the first 119 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: three in particular, teaching myself about chocolate, learning everything about food. 120 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: You know, how do you taste? Uh? You know, the 121 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: zones of the palette, studying herbs, spices, proteins, you name it. 122 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: And then you know, my main goal was to recreate 123 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: that stick of gum from Willy Wonka. I was always 124 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 1: fascinated with that story, um, and particularly that concept where 125 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: he had the roast beef, the blueberry pie and the 126 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:08,680 Speaker 1: potatoes in one fate. You know, It's like, I want 127 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: to do that in real life. Uh. And so subsequently, 128 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: that's what we've become known for and putting blue cheese 129 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: and chocolate one of our most popular flavor. One we've 130 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: won a Good Food Awards, which is kind of like 131 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: a Grammys for food, um, you know, and that's the 132 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: thing is our French blue cheese chocolate calls some boy. Uh. 133 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: And you know we've won awards for a number of chocolate, barbecue, chocolate, 134 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: sweet potato chocolates, you know, chocolates that really tell stories. 135 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: And so you know, what does your show takes like? 136 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 1: And so we create something that has your personality, your DNA, 137 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: your favorite foods, your favorite colors, and we kind of 138 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: create and craft and extract the flavor and turn it 139 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 1: into a bon bon. Well, you know, we we always 140 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: um switch grabs anybody's attention, you know their palate, as 141 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: they say. And chocolate is also you know that that version. 142 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: My wife loves chocolate. She but but there's a different chocolate. 143 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:11,679 Speaker 1: You don't have to do. And because you're gonna educate 144 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: me here a little bit, Philip. Okay, because you have 145 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: your premium chocolate. My favorite premium chocolate candy is turtles. Okay, 146 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: I love those. Now. By the way, I went to 147 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: your website now and you out of turtles, So I 148 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: was mad at you, Philip, because I like that that. 149 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: We just started background all the day. So it's finally here, 150 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 1: the season of celebration. And no matter how you celebrate 151 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,120 Speaker 1: with family and friends, whether you're preparing for reys magos 152 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: or Karamu lighting the Manura, are going to midnight mass, 153 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: Coals has just what you need to make those traditions special. 154 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,880 Speaker 1: Plus you'll find gifts for all your loved ones. Send 155 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: warm wishes with Cozy Fleece's sweaters, loungeware, blankets and throws. 156 00:08:56,520 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: Support minority owned or founded brands by giving gifts from 157 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 1: Human Nation and Shame Moisture, or treat them to everyone's 158 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 1: favorite active wear from top brands like Nike, Adidas and 159 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: under Armor, and in the spirit of giving, Coals Cares 160 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 1: is donating eight million dollars to local nonprofits nationwide committed 161 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: to the health and well being of our communities. No 162 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 1: matter how you celebrate, when you shop at Coals, you're 163 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: right where you belong. So this season give with all 164 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:29,079 Speaker 1: your heart with great gifts from Coals or coals dot com. 165 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:32,840 Speaker 1: What grows in the forest trees, Sure no one else 166 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: grows in the forest. Our imagination, our sense of wonder, 167 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect 168 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 169 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 170 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I Discover the Forest dot 171 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:56,559 Speaker 1: Org brought to you by the United States Forest Service 172 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: and the ad Council. Hi everyone, Al Roker here as 173 00:10:00,400 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: a guy with his own catchphrase. I appreciate that Smokey's 174 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: only said only you can prevent wildfires, But I'm filling 175 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: in because there's a lot more to reporting, like when 176 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 1: they're parched or windy conditions out there. You gotta be 177 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: extra careful with things like burning yard wage. After all, 178 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: wildfires can start anywhere, even in your neck of the woods. 179 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 1: Go to Smokey bear dot com to learn more about 180 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: wildfire prevention brought to you by the U. S. Forest Service, 181 00:10:26,520 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: your state Forrester and the AD Council. Because what I 182 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: try to do filling when I interviewed somebody like you 183 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: have food, I always like to test your product and 184 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: just the whole system. How does it work? So I 185 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:39,400 Speaker 1: go online and order and I said, okay, it came. 186 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: I got notifications and can I lets me know where 187 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: they stay in as far as trying to get the 188 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: product to the customer. Because we're coming on my show 189 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversations, I can assists of who you are. 190 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: And so I went on there and I said, so 191 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: turtle Oh made out of turtles because that's my favorite man. 192 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: So so you have something on the way, so we 193 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: will be I'll be very happy and I'll be posting 194 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: it on my social media to me eating that you're 195 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 1: through Philip Ashley chocolate turtles, because tell us why what 196 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: differ between me just grabbing something off the shelf and 197 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,079 Speaker 1: let me just know not just being derogatory like a 198 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:18,719 Speaker 1: Snicker's ball has chocolate around it or anything like that 199 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 1: versus your premium chocolates that you serve. Yeah, no, that's 200 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: a great question. We what we really focus on, like 201 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: I said, is that storytelling element. And so it's not 202 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: just chocolate or a box of candy. It really is 203 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,960 Speaker 1: an experience. You know, where else are you gonna find 204 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,880 Speaker 1: a chocolate that has sweet potato in it? Or in particular, 205 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 1: we have chocolos that are a collar green and corn bread. 206 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,960 Speaker 1: Chocolate tastes good and taste like the things that we 207 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: say are in it, and so, you know, truly handcrafted 208 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 1: like we are in here in Memphis. I'm in my 209 00:11:55,800 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: chocolate factory, the two point o version of it. Uh, 210 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: and we make everything by hand. I'm sourcing the best ingredients. 211 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: We're constantly scouring the earth for the best cocoa beans 212 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 1: out of Ghana, out of coach before you know, where 213 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:15,000 Speaker 1: can we get the best strawberries from? Whose farm do 214 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: we need to go to? Um? You know, it's just 215 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 1: always in this constant, perpetual state of daydreaming new flavors 216 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: and new ideas and then how do we bring those 217 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: to fruition uh in the chocolate And and so that's 218 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: what you're getting different from your standard variety chocolate on 219 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: the shelf. You know, we we have chocolates, something else 220 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: that's on its way to you. We do a collection 221 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 1: for Uncle Nears, which is a premium whiskey, the amazing 222 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,200 Speaker 1: whiskey makers. That distillery is here in Tennessee, not too 223 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: far from us, just out of side of Nashville. And 224 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 1: so we have an entire collection that captures the whiskey 225 00:12:56,880 --> 00:12:59,440 Speaker 1: as they have, but not just that. We didn't just 226 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:02,679 Speaker 1: throw whisk be in the chocolate. We said, okay, what's 227 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: the story of Uncle Nears, what's the story of Lincoln 228 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: County and the process that differentiates Tennessee whiskey from bourbon? 229 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: How do we convey that through a bond bond? And 230 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,880 Speaker 1: so that's really what you're getting now when you when 231 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: we talk about you, you based in Memphis, Tennessee. Like 232 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: I said earlier, barbecue, chicken, you know the little ducks, 233 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:31,319 Speaker 1: you know music, and then you the chocolate tier. Now 234 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: you said you was in Boston, you need two thousand 235 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: or seven. He was in Boston, Baltimore. Now you're down 236 00:13:38,679 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 1: in um Memphis. What made what inspired you to go 237 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: in this direction? Other than the fact it was a passion, 238 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: It was carried off from a childhood dream Willie Wonker. 239 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 1: Because a lot of people adupt you, a lot of 240 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 1: people tell you, man, you know that you need to 241 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 1: be making a soul food restaurants. Some of the people 242 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: gonna buy a lot of because people don't conceptionalize this business. 243 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: Like I always tell people, people understand the ninety five 244 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:04,800 Speaker 1: when I left my job to tell people I wanted 245 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,559 Speaker 1: to be a stand up comic, when how are you 246 00:14:06,600 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 1: gonna make money? Well, quite frankly, I couldn't really tell 247 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: you either, but I knew this is what I wanted 248 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 1: to do for my life, my dream. And so when 249 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: you made the decision to do what you had to do, 250 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: there was a lot of doubts. Talk about walking through 251 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: that process and then when he started clicking for you professionally, Yeah, 252 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 1: and I believe you can attest this. I think when 253 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: when you really are driven by you know, purpose, passion, 254 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: in a in a real desire like you said with comedy, 255 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 1: you know, and you've obviously learned this that you know 256 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 1: that's gonna make way for you and make room for you, 257 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:46,520 Speaker 1: particularly when you're you know, you're like I was just driven, 258 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 1: like I couldn't do anything else if I wasn't doing 259 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,120 Speaker 1: this simply and I can do a lot of other 260 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: things just by the means of survival, so to speak, 261 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: but you know, to truly live, and it didn't matter 262 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 1: about struggling or not struggling, you know. It was like, Okay, 263 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,480 Speaker 1: this is something that I have to do. Uh and 264 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:09,640 Speaker 1: and so through again, you know, and I've always just 265 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: been different and I learned real early. I think like 266 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,120 Speaker 1: my sophomore year in college, I was working a part times. 267 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: I've been a call center, and I knew then that 268 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: entrepreneurship was the way I was going. And again and 269 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: I'm I never I'm always and for and understand the 270 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: need for nine to five. Heck, we have people that 271 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 1: work for us, you know, and and that's we love 272 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: our employees were working well and hard for them to 273 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: make sure that they make a living wage and all 274 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:46,120 Speaker 1: of that. But I knew for me personally, I wanted 275 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 1: to be the employer. And then I wanted to create 276 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: something through the talent and then and the imagination and 277 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: the gifts um that I've been fortunate to be blessed 278 00:15:56,800 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 1: with and and chocolate again was that medium. And like 279 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: I said, you know, they're writers, their directors, there's actors, 280 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: there's all sorts of storytellers, and I've always been fascinated 281 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: by the storyteller world, playwrights, etcetera, etcetera, you know, just 282 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: growing up. You know, I've written plays in school and 283 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: all kinds of stuff. And I was like, you know, 284 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: but I wanted to marry three things. You know, my 285 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:26,840 Speaker 1: passion for storytelling, my love of food, and in my 286 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:31,640 Speaker 1: deep interest uh in the consumer package goods industry. And 287 00:16:31,680 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: I understood very early on that creating a product, in 288 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: being able to move product across the supply chain, and 289 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: then creating a sustainable one is where it's at. Uh. 290 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: And so I wanted to bring those three things together. 291 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,040 Speaker 1: Look to your children's eyes to see the true magic 292 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You 293 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face 294 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They 295 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,280 Speaker 1: see treasure and pebbles, They see a windy path that 296 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,719 Speaker 1: could lead to adventure, and they see you. They're fearless. Guide. 297 00:17:07,920 --> 00:17:11,199 Speaker 1: Is this fascinating world? Find a forest near you and 298 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: start exploring a Discover the Forest dot Org brought to 299 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: you by the United States Forest Service and the ad Council, 300 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 1: and we're live here outside the Perez family home, just 301 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: waiting for the And there they go, almost on time. 302 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: This morning. Mom is coming out the front door, strong 303 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: with a double arm kid carry. Looks like dad has 304 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: the bags. Daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh but 305 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: the diaper bag wasn't closed. Diapers and toys are everywhere. 306 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,560 Speaker 1: Oh but mom has just nailed the perfect car seat 307 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: buckle for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who 308 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 1: looks to be about nine or ten, has secured herself 309 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: and the booster seat. Dad zips the bag clothes and 310 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: they're off. Ah, but looks like Mom doesn't realize her 311 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: coffee cup is still on the roof of the car. 312 00:17:56,600 --> 00:18:00,280 Speaker 1: And there it goes. Oh, that's a ship and that 313 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 1: mug was a fam favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff, 314 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: just nail the big stuff, like making sure your kids 315 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: are buckled correctly in the right seat for their agent's eyes. 316 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: Learn more than n h t s a dot gov 317 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:14,600 Speaker 1: slash the right Seat. Visits dot gov slash the Right 318 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: Seat Brought to you by NITZA and the AD Council. 319 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: What grows in the forest trees? Sure you know what else? 320 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 1: Grows in the forest. Our imagination, our sense of wonder, 321 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,200 Speaker 1: and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect 322 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. 323 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:39,479 Speaker 1: The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest 324 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,120 Speaker 1: near you and start exploring. I discover the forest dot Org, 325 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: brought to you by the United States Forest Service and 326 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: the AD Council. Now, in bringing those things together, two 327 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 1: things have happened to you in and I'm just gonna 328 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 1: break it apart. One with the parents on Food Network, 329 00:18:56,920 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: the competition and then Oprah's Favorite Things List. Now me 330 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: if I was your manager, sir, and I go, okay, 331 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:08,200 Speaker 1: you you have a popular brand out there. Why would 332 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: you go on a competition show where if you don't win, 333 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 1: you know you considered a loser. Okay, So you made 334 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: the finalist Food Network? Hey, we know I watched the 335 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: Food Network all time. I know who you are, Okay 336 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,880 Speaker 1: because I saw you a Food Network Okay, Chops, which 337 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,640 Speaker 1: one of my favorite shows. So when you start that's 338 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:28,679 Speaker 1: the part of the brand. We're talking about your marketing, 339 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:32,160 Speaker 1: your branding. Okay. So when you made that decision, what 340 00:19:32,280 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 1: was the idea and the concept? Because it was about money, 341 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: So What was that about, Well, just a general spirit 342 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: of competition, you know, I wanted to go on what 343 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: I feel like, it's a big stage for food and 344 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 1: for for chefs and compete. You know, I played sports 345 00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: and it's rare nowadays that we actually have a chance 346 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: to at least for me to compete against others in 347 00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: in a true arena, so to speak. And so I 348 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: thought that was fun. Then of course it's Food Network. 349 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: I mean love Food Network. Grew up watching it, always 350 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,720 Speaker 1: been around it, you know, particularly at you know, at 351 00:20:09,720 --> 00:20:13,720 Speaker 1: its hype. Uh and socht was has definitely been a 352 00:20:13,760 --> 00:20:16,160 Speaker 1: favorite of mine. And so when they came out with 353 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: the sweet version, I was like, yeah, of course I 354 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,640 Speaker 1: want to do it. You know, I do the regular one. 355 00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 1: So the original so um that was that was really 356 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 1: the thought process behind that. Um, you know, losing or 357 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:34,359 Speaker 1: not finishing was never entered my mind. Uh, you know, 358 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,719 Speaker 1: and I even think you know, and and and my 359 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: friend Amberkon who I know, uh show, Yeah, you know, 360 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: she did a fantastic job. You know. Of course, the 361 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: competition or the competitor in me is like, yeah, I 362 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: should have won. At the same time a great job 363 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: as well, so you know, she's very talent. Amber, I 364 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: know it very well. Uh and so so so that. 365 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: But what didn't do it far as your popularity? Did 366 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: he bring? Visual recognition? Did it bring did it bring 367 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: sales to your brand? News articles of course, especially in 368 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: the market of Memphis, talk about that part of the 369 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:15,359 Speaker 1: the the blessing. Yeah, it was definitely one of the 370 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 1: those things, you know, continue to seek national uh acclaimed visibility, 371 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,280 Speaker 1: which leads to growth. And that was the real motivation 372 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: behind it. This is a large stage where I get 373 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: to showcase not only my talent, but talk about my brand, 374 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: my business uh and my product uh and and on 375 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: in a um media or a medium that put us 376 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: in front of tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions 377 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,439 Speaker 1: of people viewers around the country and even the world. 378 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 1: And so you know, we we shipped internationally and so 379 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: you know, I've always been thinking beyond the four walls 380 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 1: of Memphis, you know, And and that's really the main thing. 381 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: And like I said, my goal was to uh, you know, 382 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: win of course, but if not, when have a good showing, 383 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,719 Speaker 1: and I felt like that would then accomplished, would know 384 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: who we were and what we do here. Absolutely and 385 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: you you've accoplisated, like because you came on my radar. 386 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,240 Speaker 1: You came on my radar. And so so now we're 387 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,399 Speaker 1: talking to Philip. You know, he's de found in CEO 388 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: of Philip Ashley Chocolates. Now that's fast forward to November 389 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:35,080 Speaker 1: that you know Oprah's favorite things. That's a definitely different conversation. Now, 390 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:38,479 Speaker 1: you know the beauty of life man, Oprah. There's two 391 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:40,480 Speaker 1: black people in America that you always want to be 392 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 1: associated with, Tyler p If Tyler Perer call you and me, 393 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,920 Speaker 1: you gotta acting job. If Oprah call you and me, 394 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 1: she likes something you're doing. Okay, In this case, op 395 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: op people call you, contact you say hey, man your chocolates. 396 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: What was your reaction to that man? And what did 397 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: you do to capitalize on that opportunity she gave you 398 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:02,440 Speaker 1: to be on that list? Yeah, well, first of all, 399 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: I was just grateful and and and you know, I'm 400 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:10,120 Speaker 1: all about, you know, setting goals, creating a vision, working 401 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,479 Speaker 1: to manifest it, and you know, and a lot of 402 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: it is, you know, timing opportunity, um favorite look, whatever 403 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:19,959 Speaker 1: you want to call it. And so you know I 404 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:22,360 Speaker 1: said eight years ago when I found it, the coming man, 405 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: we should be one of Open's favorite things. Clearly, we 406 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: weren't ready then even when we got the call, which 407 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: would have been this time last year, when we got 408 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: the original call saying, hey, we're looking at you. Uh. 409 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:36,800 Speaker 1: And then when we months later when we got the 410 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: final hey, you know you're one of them, and we 411 00:23:40,359 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: want the perfect turtle uh that product and we make 412 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: a really good turtle. I think you'll enjoy it. Uh. 413 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: And so it was a huge thing. Of course, it's oprah, 414 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: you know, the amount of attention. UM. Of course, we 415 00:23:55,600 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 1: had to also contend with the pandemic. So uh in 416 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:03,280 Speaker 1: a year where one of the biggest things that could 417 00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: happen to us, the world is essentially um on hold 418 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: and you know, all the things that all the challenges 419 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:14,480 Speaker 1: that came with that, I'll tell you was you know, 420 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:18,400 Speaker 1: but ultimately that was it was a great opportunity, huge 421 00:24:18,440 --> 00:24:23,639 Speaker 1: momentum generated behind that, which put us again on an 422 00:24:23,720 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: even bigger, more national and international stage than Food Network. Uh. 423 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: And then that led to other opportunities and other visibility UM. 424 00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: You know, and we also I'll tell you we had 425 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:42,719 Speaker 1: some some mighty challenges um navigating uh that world because 426 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: as you know, growing, growing really really quickly is difficult. Uh, 427 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: it's even harder when you know, again not to make excuses, 428 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: but the pandemic created challenges that you know, I had 429 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 1: to figure creative ways around, and so dealing with backlog, 430 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,679 Speaker 1: dealing with uh, you know, only being able to have 431 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,400 Speaker 1: so many people uh in in an area for so long, 432 00:25:08,880 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 1: that kind of thing. Uh, you know, so it was tough, 433 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: but I'll tell you what, it definitely taught me a lot, 434 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: not only about myself, but how I see the business, 435 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: how I operate. And we've been making some incredible enhancements 436 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:30,600 Speaker 1: to our operations to increase production, to um communicate with 437 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 1: our customers more efficiently and effectively, and really again just 438 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:40,959 Speaker 1: make the experience from start to finish that much more favorable, 439 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 1: uh and and more enjoyable. So ultimately, I'm super grateful 440 00:25:47,200 --> 00:25:50,280 Speaker 1: there she found us, even with the challenges that came 441 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,760 Speaker 1: our way and the things that we have to navigate. 442 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: You know, I think you learned the most kind of 443 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,560 Speaker 1: things like that. You know, if it were just oh, 444 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,399 Speaker 1: you know, over colt us up. You know, we saw 445 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 1: and we did well in sales, but also if there 446 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: was no challenge behind it or nothing that really pushed me, 447 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:13,040 Speaker 1: and you may we may not be talking and it 448 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: would just like another thing, you know what I mean? Well, 449 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,399 Speaker 1: you know the thing about it. I think from a 450 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 1: standpoint of we all know how minority business, of business 451 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 1: of color and African or were impacted by COVID, But 452 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,760 Speaker 1: the blessing of it is that I think as restaurant 453 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: owners and entrepreneur, we learned, we learned, we learned that 454 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: we will kind of like cheating ourselves on how we 455 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,239 Speaker 1: should be doing our business model. And COVID and all 456 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,080 Speaker 1: the pandemic said, Okay, there's a model to win with 457 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: long term and you need to have a plan BT, 458 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: and the plan B should move you forward. The plan 459 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,920 Speaker 1: B is not a plan. That's to say you're trying 460 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 1: to short change yourself. Is to let you know that 461 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 1: the perfect world does not exist, and you should have 462 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,080 Speaker 1: options of how you sell your product. And when he 463 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: was saying what Philip was saying about it that you 464 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: could be selling is is, but that doesn't mean when 465 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:04,000 Speaker 1: you're selling stuff, that means that your your dollar comes 466 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 1: back to you as fast as you sell it. So 467 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,159 Speaker 1: that means when somebody like an Oprah and have a 468 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:09,919 Speaker 1: massive business come and say we want a lot of 469 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: your products. Okay, there's a payment period that you gotta 470 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,719 Speaker 1: also also be able to deliver to the people and say, hey, 471 00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: I got to buy the product, I gotta make the product, 472 00:27:19,880 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 1: and I gotta shift the product. So you got to 473 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: have revenue or income sitting there or some type of 474 00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:27,879 Speaker 1: investor to come in and be able to help you 475 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:30,000 Speaker 1: move that product to the level so you can deliver 476 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:33,719 Speaker 1: on time and be and be recommended as a company 477 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: of choice and also be recommend as a company that 478 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: can deliver what they say. That's what people have to 479 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 1: understand when you're talking about these products. And that's what 480 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:43,080 Speaker 1: just one of the great skills that you developed that 481 00:27:43,160 --> 00:27:45,640 Speaker 1: you talk about and people come to you, right Philip, 482 00:27:45,840 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 1: in regards to these levels of conversation, talk about that. Yeah, 483 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, just talk to Shelby County government Mayor Lee 484 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: Harris had me talk to his folks about that very thing. 485 00:27:56,280 --> 00:28:00,359 Speaker 1: And really, you know, focusing, um, you know, and and 486 00:28:00,359 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 1: and that's what we've had to do. Focus and me 487 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 1: personally as the business owner. There's so many things, and 488 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:08,720 Speaker 1: you know, people are always kind of coming at you 489 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 1: with this or that. You know, really focusing on ensuring 490 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: the long term success of the business. Uh. And and 491 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:21,440 Speaker 1: part of that is is really being agile and and 492 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: and how to pivot you know, and and create opportunities 493 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: out of even you know, the rest in a sense, 494 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: you know, well, what are the difficult things that have 495 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:36,479 Speaker 1: come via uh this opportunity? What mistakes did we make? Uh? 496 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:38,920 Speaker 1: And how can we improve on them in hands and 497 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:42,959 Speaker 1: then prevent those same things from occurring next time? And 498 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 1: so um, that's again just just understanding how to develop 499 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: the business to scale it, you know, because you know, 500 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 1: I'm trying to five x tenets this thing and beyond 501 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: and so how do we improve our standard operating procedures, 502 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:03,040 Speaker 1: how do we bring in employees, trained them more effectively, 503 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: how do we refine our product? You know, how do 504 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: we communicate and market and even beyond stages such as 505 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: this and on your show, then let people know that, hey, 506 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: you know, we are small business that's growing, we are 507 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:20,160 Speaker 1: black owned business, but you know we we do an 508 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 1: amazing job at what we do. Let let's talk about 509 00:29:23,440 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 1: because you kind of walking about which I which I 510 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,720 Speaker 1: want to lend into my next question is about putting 511 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 1: young black men and women in this in the craft 512 00:29:30,440 --> 00:29:33,440 Speaker 1: trade environment. Talk about that, and then I want to 513 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:38,240 Speaker 1: close what you're talking about your uncommon hospitality group. Yeah, so, UM, 514 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: it's really important. And I mentioned, you know earlier about 515 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,680 Speaker 1: just uh curing a sustainable supply chain, and for me, 516 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 1: that's both in sourcing UM raw materials so from O 517 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: our Coco beings and things of involvement in Africa and beyond, 518 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 1: but also with our employees, with our with with the 519 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,280 Speaker 1: Faber UH and particularly being in Memphis, Memphis, like a 520 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:07,360 Speaker 1: lot of other cities, UM, we have a we're seventy 521 00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: African American. You know, seventy percent of Memphis is black. 522 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,360 Speaker 1: And so with that, you know, my focus from an 523 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:20,480 Speaker 1: employment standpoint has really turned the focus on young men 524 00:30:20,520 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: and women African American and of color between the ages 525 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 1: of eighteen and twenty one, specifically because these are folks 526 00:30:28,440 --> 00:30:32,520 Speaker 1: that you know there if they're not going to college. Um, 527 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: and and these just hired another young man yesterday, he 528 00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: started today eighteen, just graduated, wasn't going to college. But 529 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: of course high schools aren't really focusing on trades anymore either. UH. 530 00:30:43,640 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: So bringing them in, showing them a craft trade uh, 531 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,440 Speaker 1: and then saying look, you know We're gonna pay you 532 00:30:50,560 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 1: fifteen dollars an hour for the first year, but by 533 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:56,640 Speaker 1: the end of the first year you will be upwards 534 00:30:56,640 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 1: to twenty dollars an hour. So at nineteen barely twenty, 535 00:31:01,120 --> 00:31:03,880 Speaker 1: you're gonna be making forty plus thousand dollars in a 536 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:06,959 Speaker 1: city where the median income or the proberm lines like 537 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: thirty five. So we got you above that at a 538 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 1: young age. But I'm also working with UH folks like 539 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: my friend up in Pittsburgh, nya Erick Um that will 540 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:24,880 Speaker 1: help with financial planning and doing all those kind of things. UH, 541 00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: that will work with these young folks to not only 542 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:32,320 Speaker 1: make money, but when they're twenty five, thirty five, and 543 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:36,040 Speaker 1: forty five, they understand the value of the dollars that 544 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: they've earned and they can go off and do investing 545 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,080 Speaker 1: and do other things. And so that's the bigger picture, 546 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:44,120 Speaker 1: not suggest employ them today and pay them fifteen bucks 547 00:31:44,160 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 1: or twenty bucks, but really set them on a course 548 00:31:48,160 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 1: of success and and and honestly, looking at some of 549 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: the things that I had to navigate between eighteen and 550 00:31:55,680 --> 00:31:58,640 Speaker 1: forty two, UH, and if I can knock out a 551 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: few of those road black, you know, then you know 552 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: hopefully it's it's a good thing. And uh the Uncommon 553 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:11,239 Speaker 1: Hospitality Group, Yes, Uncommon Hospitality Group is something that you know, 554 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: is really a part of me in my next kind 555 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 1: of phase of of bringing a real chocolate factory to life. 556 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,680 Speaker 1: But again, I'm all about the experience, you know, So 557 00:32:23,760 --> 00:32:27,840 Speaker 1: I curate things like a Grand Masterade ball in the 558 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:31,200 Speaker 1: uh in November. You know, we do all these really 559 00:32:31,200 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: cool tastings, virtual tastings, live tastings. Uh. So you know, again, 560 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 1: the chocolate is a big experiential element. And so taking 561 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: that field and that brand to commercial real estate where 562 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 1: mixed use, um, you know, so then bringing in black 563 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:56,760 Speaker 1: owned businesses, wine companies, restaurants, uh, you know, commercial businesses 564 00:32:56,800 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: and even residential And so that's what it's all about, 565 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: starting here in the heart of Memphis, working to source 566 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: several properties to put together just a really cool experience 567 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 1: for people to come not only experienced philip Ashion chocolates. 568 00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: But that's that's the anchor or core. But then just 569 00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:19,800 Speaker 1: kind of see a community uh that that is business 570 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: oriented uh and focused on consumer goods and focused on 571 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:28,760 Speaker 1: consumer experience. Uh and and and and living in a 572 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:32,440 Speaker 1: downtown community. Uh and just kind of showing people that 573 00:33:32,480 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 1: there are other folks that can develop, you know, really 574 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,840 Speaker 1: cool things, uh in a city as well. Say it's beautiful. 575 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 1: He's based in Memphis. Uh. You can buy his products 576 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:46,560 Speaker 1: online international, domestic. But more importantly, when you go to 577 00:33:46,600 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 1: Memphis nowadays to go out for the blues, go there 578 00:33:49,520 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 1: for the hot chicken, going there for barbecue. Now you 579 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:55,160 Speaker 1: go up there for the turtles, the perfect turtles down 580 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 1: there that Philip Astley chocolate. Hey, Philip Man, Thank you 581 00:33:57,920 --> 00:33:59,600 Speaker 1: for Philip. Thank you for coming on my show man 582 00:33:59,600 --> 00:34:04,760 Speaker 1: money Making Pasu. And you know it's always nice looking 583 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 1: at my twin brother too. I love I love you. Well, 584 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get up to Memphis man, and you're said 585 00:34:13,160 --> 00:34:15,200 Speaker 1: the fall you do some things I want to call them, 586 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:17,920 Speaker 1: be part of it. Just hang out with love to 587 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:20,120 Speaker 1: have you out. And also when you do the next 588 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,040 Speaker 1: virtual test in center to me so I can post 589 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,080 Speaker 1: them on social media and put my newsletter. Okay, we'll do. 590 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:27,000 Speaker 1: Thank you, my brother, Thank you Philip for coming on 591 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:28,960 Speaker 1: Money Making Conversation. If you want to hear or see 592 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,480 Speaker 1: any of my interviews, please go to money Making Conversation 593 00:34:31,560 --> 00:34:34,360 Speaker 1: dot com. I'm with Sean McDonald I am your host 594 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,439 Speaker 1: in this season of giving, Cooles has gifts for all 595 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:42,080 Speaker 1: your loved ones. 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