We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlisa Coleman-Harvey and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Carlisa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business was clear and thought through. I just knew it was time to make something out of my gift,craft,and passion that I had for cooking. I also knew being a mother of 4 beautiful children at the time now 5; that I wanted to start and extend to them something that would potentially create generational wealth as well for them now and in the future.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I believe what sets me apart from others is my ambition, love for my passion of cooking, and also where I started from. I am most proud of being able to relocate from my hometown; push my self to higher expectations and goals to further my dream, actually starting my business legally,and purchasing a mobile food trailer. It wasn’t easy at all but with a lot of prayer, researching, consistency, experience,and just not giving up got me to where I am today. Ive learned some great lessons along the way; like being patient, staying focus, learning, and researching as much as you can about whatever you want to do. It’s always ways to bring more creativity or quality to your craft. I would like the world to know that I started off selling plates from home in my hometown as just another way to make money, with little to no knowledge on the business side of things. As I grew to take my craft/gift of cooking more serious I put my mind/self to work by researching as much as I could to be able to turn my passion into a growing awesome business. When I relocated to a state I wasn’t known I put my foot to the metal by getting out doing pop up shops and getting my products out for people to taste. Now my brand Rudy’s Touch will go on to do great things and I pray that I can reach/feed as many people as I can with all the great food I love to make. My brand slogan is “Great food made with real love”. I plan to turn to my business into a chain of restaurants one-day. I believe you stick to bettering your love/passion of something you can do great things.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take my best friend to The colony’s grandscape , go to savory’s kitchen in little elm, check out a few bars down town Dallas, check out the food truck park in Dallas, and hit up strike n reels in garland.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give recognition,glory and honor to The Most High God; for blessing me with a gift/talent that I will carry as long as I am an able body. Also to him for setting opportunities in front of me and opening doors through people to really make this all possible. I have had tremendous support/encouragement through family,friends, and customers from supporting me at pop up shops, ordering caterings, putting in money to go towards my mobile trailer build,words of encouragement,sharing my content on social media, and just offering helping hands. My father and mother also plays a big role on my business mentorship being entrepreneurs their self in the barber& cosmetology industry now and throughout my upbringing.
Instagram: Realrudystouch
Facebook: Rudy’s Touch