Check Out Kelly Schexnaildre’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Schexnaildre.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Kelly Schexnaildre, the founder and CEO of Merfs Condiments. Everyone always asked how I started Merfs, and there are two answers to that question. The short and simple answer is that I stopped talking about what I wanted to do (be a business owner), and I started doing it. The longer, more complicated answer lies in my story. I was born and raised in South Louisiana, and my parents are both incredible cooks.

They always encouraged me to participate in their cooking, and I took to cooking like a duck to water. I have always loved food, for the taste, the joy of making it, and the experience of community it offers. To share a meal with family and friends is truly the greatest gift. I cooked my first full meal at age 7, and I’ve been cooking and experimenting ever since.

I relocated to Denver, Colorado after college, and moved into a cute house with an enormous yard, where I built and nurtured a large garden. I grew many different heirloom varieties of tomatoes, chili peppers, cucumbers, squash, and lettuce. And just what exactly did I do with my large garden harvests? I made condiments, of course.

At the time, I had a friend with a peach tree in his backyard. He gave me half a bushel of peaches, and after much thought, I decided to make peach habanero hot sauce, Merfs’ very first recipe. My friends and family couldn’t get enough of this new hot sauce recipe, so I decided to write a couple more.

I started making two different types of sriracha, sweetened with fruit instead of sugar. And those were damn good, too. I had finally discovered a natural talent and one that could be turned into a business, hallelujah! I surveyed the Colorado market, wrote a business plan, and launched Merfs in January 2014.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s no such thing as a smooth road when starting your own company. Most of the time, you’re doing something that has never been done before, so you’ve got to start from scratch, and that was the case with Merfs. Entrepreneurship can be quite brutal, but the joy and the anguish come from all the learning along the way.

The initial struggles looked like this, where am I going to make the sauce? How am I going to bottle it? Where do I get my ingredients from? What’s the label going to look like? How many flavors should I start with? Do I have to pay taxes? What kind of business license do I need? And on and on and on.

Some of the biggest struggles I’ve had with Merfs are: scaling up production (without the money to buy a ton of fancy equipment), managing cash flow to fund new growth projects, acquiring and keeping new customers in every sector (retail, restaurants, e-commerce), and last, but not least, the COVID19 pandemic.

My plan from Merfs inception was to be THE hot sauce for restaurants in Colorado. When COVID-19 hit and restaurants shut down, 80% of my total revenue was from coming from the restaurant industry. The loss of restaurant revenue for an undetermined amount of time forced me to completely restructure Merfs.

I sold my manufacturing facility and let go of all my staff, and needless to say, I was heartbroken. Merfs sauces are now co-packed by C Vision Foods in Colorado Springs and fulfilled by NewTrac Fulfillment in Littleton, Colorado. Merfs restaurant revenue is still at 50% of what it was pre-COVID, and it’s climbing back up slowly, but surely.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

As the CEO of Merfs Condiments for the past decade, I’ve honed a diverse set of professional skills. My expertise spans business and management principles, encompassing product development, recipe creation, manufacturing processes, warehouse management, and sales strategies. I excel in leading teams, with strong communication skills and a knack for problem-solving. Over the years, I’ve cultivated fruitful industry relationships and demonstrated proficiency in financial analysis, driving company growth.

My journey began with a goal: to make the most delicious hot sauce, and to achieve full self-employment by age 30. I’m proud to say I met that milestone, sustaining seven years of self-employment through Merfs. What sets me apart is my unwavering determination to pursue my dreams relentlessly. With a background in the restaurant industry and a keen eye for culinary trends, I bring a unique perspective to the table.

As the founder of Merfs Condiments, I hold a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and certification as a Primal Health Coach. When I’m not immersed in business, you’ll find me enjoying life in New Orleans—writing, reading, playing softball, and indulging in my love for coffee and brain teasers. I am passionate about physical health and wellness; I believe that the foundation of a healthy life requires two things: a connection with your spirit (indwelling divine), and a diet that’s free from sugar, grains, and polyunsaturated fats. I lift weights 4 days a week, and I also walk, run, and do yoga.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me, above all other things, is staying connected and in the present moment. The present moment is where I can access an abundant well of peace and serenity; where I can be in my true being, my divine self. And when I can access my divine self, I experience joy no matter my circumstances. We (the collective, global ‘we’) spend so much time wrapped up in our egoic minds, our not-selves.

This attachment and identification with our minds and the stories it tell us is the reason for all our strife and wars with each other, our anxiety and depression, and our inability to care for ourselves. We have lost touch with our oneness, with our interconnectedness. And because we have lost touch, we are miserable.

Each human’s individual responsibility is to reconnect with themselves, their truest selves, their divine beings. In the Eternal Now, we access Spirit, and when we access Spirit regularly, we are born anew in love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.merfscondiments.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/merfscondiments
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/merfscondiments
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/84775901/admin/feed/posts/

Image Credits
JBS Productions