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

Hi Ray, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
To take it slow. When I started I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect. I just wanted to make authentic hummus and share it with everyone so that people didn’t have to settle for Sabra. I didn’t know anything about running a business but the idea was exciting and after a lot of encouragement and support from family and friends I decided to make it official.

It was overwhelming at first, and it didn’t help that the pandemic started days after getting our LLC, but we learned to adapt and overcome. We took the challenges that came with the pandemic shutdown as an opportunity to adjust our business model by featuring our hummus on grazing tables and platters, which helped increase our sales, exposure, and opened up a new door for me to share my creativity and love for food styling.

What should our readers know about your business?
Starting an LLC right before the start of a pandemic was not how I pictured our first year, but in a way, it’s exactly what we needed. It made me realize how innovative and resilient you have to be when you are working for yourself. Finding balance between taking care of my family and running all aspects of a small business as the only employee can be very stressful and overwhelming at times. You learn to prioritize, make some sacrifices, and figure out what you can delegate when possible. That’s why it’s really important to find a support system and to have a growth mindset; it will pay off.

I’m proud to say that after 2 year of hard work and determination, you can now find our hummus at The Nook CKMC in Celina and Didi’s Downtown in Frisco. We also have an online store that features all the different hummus flavors that we offer and our grazing gallery of platters and table spreads..

Our hummus is what sets up apart from the other guys! It’s preservative-free and made to order in boutique batches, so its always fresh. We use the best ingredients and technique to create a creamy, smooth, and delicious dip in 5 flavors: authentic, artichoke, jalaparsley, spicy roasted pepper and herbs, and chocolate. We love featuring our hummus on platters overflowing with charcuterie, a variety of cheeses, organic seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts and sweets, but the crackers are always on the side, so you can eat your veggies first. Every request is tailored and unique and we never repeat the same design. I love what I do and work hard to show that through my presentations.

The main lesson I’ve learned in life is that self-discipline is key to accomplishing your goals. To get results, you have to be consistent and to be consistent, you have to be disciplined. Disciplined people don’t give up. So dream big and go make it happen today. There’s no perfect time to start.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We actually just had my best friend visit us this past Christmas from Colorado. We started our day with donuts and coffee at Detour Donuts. Then we took the kids to Hope Park to burn off some energy before heading out for lunch at Didi’s Downtown because they have the best Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls and Tuna on Fire appetizer. Then we went home to rest before taking them out to Legacy West to have dinner at Mesero.

Unfortunately, they were only visiting for one day, but if we had more time we would’ve taken them to Monster Mini Golf, Jurassic World The Exhibition, and the National Video Game Museum, We also love dinning at Mirch Indian Cuisine, Frisco Sushi, Gallo Nero, a cozy little Italian restaurant that has some of the best Italian food in, Meso Asia has the best authentic Chinese food, and B’s Sweet Macarons are a must.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m forever grateful to my family, friends, and community (locally and online). Raynbow Eats would not be where it is today without their support. I was lucky to join a pod of bloggers who have been amazing mentors in helping me with building our presence on social media. Our neighbors had a major impact on our success especially at the beginning when no one knew who we were. Actually, one of my neighbors helped me fill out the LLC application, and whenever we are trying out a new menu item we test run it with the neighborhood to get feedback. It’s a blessing to be a part of such a supportive community.

Website: www.raynboweats.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raynboweats/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/#!/Raynboweats/?ref=bookmarks

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