Meet Dionne Ray of Mikes Flavored Pickles in Union City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dionne Ray.

Dionne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I moved to Atlanta, GA in 2011 from St.Louis,Mo. Growing up in St.Louis, we experimented different ways to eat pickles. Migrating here to Atlanta, I wanted to bring some STL culture to the city. So I thought it would be an awesome idea to introduce the city to the “Flavored Pickle” crave. However in 2014, I suffered the tragic loss of my mother, which pushed me into a deep depression that caused my idea to remain idle.

August 2016, I told myself it was time to get the ball rolling on my idled idea. So Mikes Flavored Pickles became more than idea, it became our reality. Naming the company after my only child, I was compelled to succeed. At that time, I didn’t have an indication on how or where I would sell them, but always recalled vendors in and out of beauty and barber shops. I used that recollection and started there.

Since “Flavored Pickles” wasn’t considered a norm in the city, we started with the sell of them for 1.00 in 4oz containers to get the word out. Eventually, I started at little league football games and became the “Pickle Lady”.

It wasn’t until February 2019, that my business took a turn for the best. Instagram influencer, James Wright Chanel (Patti Pie Eater) inquired about the product and wanted to taste them. To our surprise, he did a review video on Instagram and he changed our business forever. With the help of James, we indulged in shipping which we had never done before. To date, we have shipped over 300 orders.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When starting the company, I didn’t think for one second that it would be costly. I was coming out of a depression state, which consumed all of my money paying bills because I didn’t work. It was rough at first, but with God and the determination we figured it out.

Mikes Flavored Pickles – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our goal is to change pickle minds everyday. What sets us apart from others is that we understand every walk of life and we are here if you need us. I want all my customers to feel as if they can relate to us and we can relate to them.We also have amazing products and we are constantly evolving with more flavors and ideas.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Knowing that something birthed out of so much pain, gives my customers so much joy! I couldn’t ask for a better reward in this business.

Pricing:

• 8.00 16oz
• 11.00 24 oz
• 25.00 64 oz
• 35.00 128oz

Contact Info:

• Phone: 678-964-7086
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: MikesFlavoredpicklesatl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikesflavoredpicklesAtl/

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