Description

Sometimes a simple idea can explode into a full-blown business.  Eddie Sandoval started Pinole Blue in his dorm room at Wichita State and now finds his products on the shelves of Whole Foods.  He also shares with hosts Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade some crazy stories around marking through TikTok.  It’s a business hero origin story in Wichita.  On this episode we discuss:

• The evolution of Pinole Blue through the initial inception
• Starting the business with a simple idea at Wichita State and working in his dorm room, bringing back his first load of blue corn in a truck across the border
• Going viral on social media fueling growth during the pandemic
• How TikTok is their key marketing strategy, allowing people to understand their business and products
• Allowing goals to evolve from the content creation and customer engagement
• As a new business, leaning on the resources that are available to you
• Leveraging influencers on social media
• Stress relief through running and reading
• The need for a local community kitchen in Wichita
• Finding inspiration in Toms Shoes

Learn more about Pinole Blue:

https://pinoleblue.com

316-760-5683

TikTok Profile

Facebook Profile

Instagram Profile

YouTube Channel

Podcast

Pinole Blue offers cookies, protein balls and different flavors of pinole (including pumpkin spice) in 300 stores across 18 states. Most recently, Whole Foods Market began carrying Pinole Blue Tortillas (which are also produced in different flavors---ask about the red tortillas they make for Cheifs games and Valentine’s Day). And don’t miss the delicious tamales and cocoa bombs Pinole Blue foods are organic, vegan, non-GMO, U.S. made, Mexican-sourced and gluten-free. Bonus: They offer free shipping and sell their own t-shirts.

Eddie Sandoval’s family is from Chihuahua, Mexico. Growing up, he would take trips twice a year to visit and bring home pinole, a multiuse, nutrient-dense mixture of roasted ground maize savored by his family for generations. It eventually became his life’s work.

Eddie and Pinole Blue believe in giving back. They financially support the Tarahumara people in northern Mexico in their artisan work.

Other Resources:

Pass the Chipotle (podcast)

Wichita Life (podcast)

WeGotGoals (podcast)

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This podcast is brought to you by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and is powered by Evergy.  To send feedback on this show and/or send suggestions for future guests or topics please e-mail communications@wichitachamber.org.

This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.  For more information visit ictpod.net