Daily Inspiration: Meet Tamara Konrad

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tamara Konrad.

Hi Tamara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I truly believe the creation of The Noshing Platter started a long time ago, long before my conscious knowledge of it. 

My parents opened a humble cafe when we moved to a small town in Texas in the late 90s. I started working with them at age 15. It was here that my first experiences in the service industry were made and continued in various breakfast joints, fine dining settings, late-night bar shifts, Beer gardens, hotel kitchens, catering gigs, etc., for the next 17 years of my life. 

It was a buildup of experiences, gaining knowledge in the restaurant world, the late nights of draining physical and mental labor, customer service, the challenges, the confidence I needed to build, the disappointments, rejections, self-doubt, accomplishments, encouragement, and believing in myself, that helped take the shape of what would become my first little business. 

Towards the end of 2019, I noticed more and more tension, weight, and irritability working in the restaurant I was in. I noticed myself becoming someone I didn’t particularly care for. I come home complaining to my S.O. every evening and feeling burnt out. Something drastic needed to happen to give me a push, for me to let go of all I was familiar with, and guide me to shift into a new direction. 

The pandemic hit and shut down my work for the unforeseen future. Even though this was a scary time of uncertainty, it somehow gave me the freedom to sit with myself and “figure out” how to shape my future and focus on what I truly wanted to do next. There was nothing holding me back now or excuses to be had. 

I was always more the type to want my “work” to have a creative outlet, adverse to a 9-5 desk job, finding something expressive and enjoyable. Although not exactly artistic in the more classic sense (painters, clothing designers, musicians, etc.) I enjoyed the creativity of making something beautiful that’s also practical. We all got to eat, right? 

I was the girl who brought charcuterie to the potluck, the book clubs, and girls’ nights. It was a crowd-pleaser because everyone could find at least one thing that could be enjoyed on this platter of variety. It was plentiful and could be continuously enjoyed through conversation, laughter, moments of bonding, and storytelling. 

Toying with the idea of “Hey, maybe I could make charcuteries,” I took some online courses and wrote down ideas floating through my head. Somehow, it became clearer and clearer that this could be something REAL, and excitement started brewing. I thought to myself, I could ACTUALLY do this. For real, there is something here. 

I wanted to be taken seriously and dismissed as being just a hobby or side gig. I didn’t want to look for another job to tie me over while I figured it out, no, I put all my eggs in one basket, I went all in. 

For the next six months, I gathered as much information as I could find on what it took to actually start a business, researched license requirements, took food safety classes, and looked for kitchen space. Then, I plunged into product testing, website design, logos, wholesalers, calculated costs/pricing, etc. 

It was a crazy challenge for someone who had always been “just a waitress” & wasn’t familiar with business, design, and logistics. However challenging and frustrating at times, the knowledge I obtained along the way was so rewarding that I felt I hadn’t learned or pushed myself to learn something new in many years, and this alone already felt like an achievement. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think my biggest struggle has been, and still is, figuring out how to get my business discovered. Breckenridge receives a great influx of tourists every winter and summer season. I do not own a storefront and can only be found online (orders are made through our website), so I have yet to learn how to market and reach the desired clientele and visitors. 

As we believe our charcuteries can be purchased for almost any and every occasion, we just need to find more ways to let people know we exist! We like potential clients to know they do not necessarily have to be the ones enjoying the snack but may order one as a gift! Say they can’t make the bachelorette trip out, but they can order ahead and have a box delivered to their friends with a gift note when they arrive. Or birthday gifts, a get-well treat, condolences, engagement, boys’ trip, congratulations, etc. 

Local businesses should also not overlook how we can benefit from each other. We’ve partnered with a few Airbnb owners/vacation rentals, as they love to offer high-end welcome gifts upon guest arrival, which goes over well with the overall experience. We have had wonderful and positive responses from those who order from us, even saying, “I wish I would’ve found you sooner!” 

It’s been a struggle to figure out how to advertise or go about it as I’m very unfamiliar with this aspect.  I do not want to dismiss the continuous overwhelming support from friends and our beautiful community. Still, I would like to express my gratitude to those who recommend my business and let other locals and visitors know about The Noshing Platter. 

Social media has also been tough as posting does not come easy or natural for me… it isn’t really enjoyable to me, and I much prefer to focus on other aspects of the business. 

Another struggle was finding a commercial kitchen to create and assemble my charcuteries. Starting my business solely with my savings, it wasn’t feasible to rent out a fully equipped kitchen in the town of Breckenridge with sky-high monthly rent costs. This also wasn’t necessary as I only needed water/sink, a cooler, and a small workspace. There was no need for me to pay for things I wouldn’t be using, such as ovens/stoves, as I wasn’t cooking anything. 

Having worked in several restaurants throughout Breck in the past ten years, I, fortunately, made connections with restaurant owners, and after reaching out to a few, my previous employer offered a little space in his restaurant kitchen for me to utilize. I honestly appreciate this generosity, as I would have truly struggled to figure out this obstacle. 

It is still my dream to own my own kitchen space to work out of that reflects my personality and business style and in which I feel 100% comfortable, but for the time being, this shared kitchen has truly been a Godsend. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
We create charcuterie boxes and platters that are not only visually appealing but also offer upscale and high-end quality items. We also offer “Grazing Tables,” which are large charcuteries set up at the client’s location on a table to create a spread that is enjoyed by a crowd while mingling. We stand out by making your food beautiful to look at and offering a variety of ingredients that may not be commonly or easily found at your local grocery store. 

The convenience of having our boxes delivered to your home gives our clients more time to spend with family on vacation, with their significant other on date night, or to entertain friends instead of time spent in the kitchen. Additionally, the practicality of having the charcuterie in an easy-to-carry box, clients can take them along on road trips, a well-deserved treat at the top of your hike, apres ski, camping, fuel after a bike ride, enjoy around a cozy evening fire, snack on the plane… the possibilities are endless. 

We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, strive to provide exceptional customer service, and put unique care behind each and every order. Even though there may always be times of doubt, I’m most proud of taking that leap, believing in myself that MORE is possible, and finding the courage and confidence to pursue something that was unknown to me (how to start/run a business). 

In turn, it is giving me the voice to encourage others that if I can do it, so can you… truly… it sounds cheesy and make-believe, but you can really do anything you desire… the first step is to believe that you CAN… and you will be overwhelmed by the continuous guidance, support, and opportunities that present themselves when you allow yourself to believe you deserve success, happiness, or whatever you dream of… just as much as the next person. 

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I don’t want to belittle the struggle or hardships many people in the world experienced when the pandemic happened, but for me, it was a great shift that allowed me to take the time and look inward. I want to be allowed time to sit still and focus (I don’t deny how fortunate and privileged I was to have been able to do so) on what is important to me and follow a new path versus going back to the old ways. It opened my eyes to the importance of TIME and how I use it. 

How do I want to spend my time left on earth, as no one is guaranteed tomorrow? Time to spend with my mom and dad who live in South America, where I was often afraid to ask for extended time off from work, time to spend with my partner as we love traveling, exploring areas to mountain bike and camp, the time creating memories with friends… and if I was going to have to “work” for another 30+ years, that I better figure out how to balance work and life that allows me to do all the things I love and which are important to me, while also loving whatever career path I choose. 

Even with all the wealth in the world, we cannot buy time, but we can choose how to spend it. 

Pricing:

• Small Charcuterie for 2-3 people $55
• Up to $305 for an XL Platter for 12 people

Contact Info:

• Website: thenoshingplatter.com
• Instagram: @the_noshing_platter