May 20, 2020
How do you adapt your business model when the world suddenly changes around you? Meet Ellen Chen, co-founder of Mendocino Farms, one of the most lucrative gourmet sandwich restaurants in California. In this episode, she shares just how she and her company adapted to these trying times to maintain their brand values, keep their customers and employees happy, and how to do it yourself! She shares strong words of encouragement and wisdom to help your business stay successful. Listen in!
Timestamped show notes
05:55 - Ellen shares how Mendocino Farms is handling the
lockdown
10:55 - Remind yourself: what is your brand’s purpose?
16:19 - Ellen shares what she thinks businesses will be like as
restrictions ease up
17:29 - She discusses how her company plans to pivot in order to
adapt to the current situation
19:07 - What is a “cloud kitchen?”
21:27 - Ellen talks about how she was able to break into the
industry by finding a niche
24:41 - Ellen shares how food has always been an important aspect
of her life
26:18 - Yin and yang in business
28:07 - What is it like being a family business?
31:03 - Ellen shares some of the other projects she’s working
on
37:10 - The benefit of being part of a network of driven,
hard-working entrepreneurs
38:52 - How to prepare for an uncertain future
41:32 - The tenacity to keep going
43:48 - As an entrepreneur, nothing is ever truly uncomfortable
anymore
48:08 - Don’t get too comfortable!
49:20 - Failure is not a bad thing
Links
Mendocino Farms: https://www.mendocinofarms.com/