Martha Stewart American Made Awards

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

Via Bom Dia was started artificially when company founder Rachel Gutierrez was home for the holidays in Michigan, she noticed her entire family pouring flavored creamer into their morning mugs of Pumpkin Spice coffee. Wanting to partake in the holiday treat, she poured herself a mug too. Then she turned around the bottle and read the label. In shock of what she found, she then read the label on the flavored coffee beans. Same thing! More than 10 unrecognizable ingredient names, no real pumpkin, no real spices, and many artificial flavors. She knew there had to be a better way, she set herself on a mission to create naturally flavored coffees using the best real ingredients and the highest quality beans she could find. She brought her idea back with her to New York and quickly started roasting beans, grinding spices, and making blends. Almost all flavored coffee on the market is artificially flavored. We've re-invented flavored coffee and we're doing it naturally.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORKSPACE, SHOP, OR STUDIO.

I roast & pack my coffee products in a coffee roaster facility in Brooklyn, NY - the epi-center of food innovation & trends!

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

I am inspired by other powerful young women entrepreneurs. I am also dedicated to changing the food industry and educating people on why eating natural, real foods is so important. Educating and helping people learn more about their health & nutrition is very special to me and makes me excited about my company's mission.

WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS STAND OUT?

Being a female Hispanic entrepreneur is only the beginning. I think being a women in the coffee industry is also very unique. I was noticing all the hype around coffee focused on 'male hipsters with beards' that were roasting single-origin coffee for coffee snobs. This is super cool but where where all the women? And where are the new products/innovation in coffee for the general public? I wanted to create a product that my family would enjoy and would be proud of. No one has innovated in the flavored coffee market in a long time - why is everything artificially flavored? We are on a mission not only to reinvent flavored coffee but to make every morning a NATURALLY GOOD MORNING!

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

It never gets easier, it just gets better. I also contributed to an article for Inc.com that has my top 10 TIPS for Young Entrepreneurs! http://www.inc.com/peter-economy/10-powerful-lessons-from-a-young-entrepreneur.html

HOW HAVE YOU USED SOCIAL MEDIA TO START AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS?

I dedicate a lot of my time to social media content. I think it is vital to any food company to have beautiful shots of your product and to create a lifestyle brand that people can relate to and aspire to. I also believe in the power of the blogger network and I have partnered with several healthy living/eating blogs to get the word out on my product.

WHAT DOES AMERICAN MADE MEAN TO YOU?

Being American is very meaningful to me because I come from a hard-working Mexican immigrant family. My family came to America for a better life and everything I've learned along the way is solely due to my family taking a chance and believing in the opportunity of the American Dream. American Made means made with blood, sweat, and tears...and a lot of HEART! Nothing would be possible without hard work, dedication, & tenacity. It also takes a dreamer and a believer to make the dream come alive. American Made also means taking pride in local artisan-ship and high-quality. I am proud to say that I hand-make my products in Brooklyn, NY and take pride in only using the highest quality ingredients. Making something you can stand behind, take immense pride in, and make your family proud!