Today we’d like to introduce you to Todd McKinley.
Hi Todd, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was on my dream job as North American Director of Business Solutions for a diagnostics lab until the pandemic in early 2020. Being laid off due to the pandemic was life-changing. I was at a crossroads between remaining in corporate America or fulfilling a dream (set aside climbing the corporate ladder) toward starting my own brand.
Southern Roots Spice is a dream realized. I have always had a love for cooking and flavoring food, but I held myself back. Shackling myself to a paycheck, the “inner sabotagers,” and having a few luxuries in life prevented me from venturing much beyond ideas rolling around in my head.
Losing my job allowed me to unleash myself. Over my almost 30 years in medical sales, I had developed business strategies my entire career. So, I convinced myself I could use that same god-given skill to create my own business. In my daily affirmations, I frequently thought about the type of experience I wanted associated with my brand. This helped me to align my vision and ultimate branding strategy.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I think anyone embarking on a new idea, major life change, including starting a business, would agree it never happens without obstacles. Although I felt spiritually guided starting Southern Roots Spice, there were many times I faced the biggest obstacle of all -myself. In the beginning, I questioned myself around the long-term likelihood of business success and how I could possibly do it all. Then I realized I was armed with skills based on my years in medical sales. In mediation, I kept reminding myself of all assets the holy spirit had bestowed on me in my career, and I used them. I implemented a clear branding strategy on social media with weekly social engagements. I developed marketing material and messaging highlighting key differentiators for Southern Roots Spice. Finally, I create the most delicious spice blends. If I stayed focused on what I needed to do and not what was not happening- like more sales coming in, I felt free to continue to create, to thrive and be joyful because I know what is ultimately coming- GREAT THINGS!!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Southern Roots Spice Shop?
Southern Roots Spice opened online on July 2nd, 2020. It was my goal to create a customer experience in the “spice game” like no other. Southern Roots Spice is a modern spice shop focused on helping you understand the world of spices and layering flavors. Our products are carefully selected from all over the US, with a mission of sourcing from independent sellers who focus on natural and organic products free of chemicals or pesticides. Whether it is garlic from Gilroy, CA or sage from Idaho’s Purple Sage Farms, you can be assured our products are the best of the best. We want to help you get rooted in spice!
We offer more than 300 global spices and blends along with handcrafted tea and coffee. Our online customer receives a black-tie Kraft wrap and a complementary spice tasting with every order. Our unique seasoning system helps all spice lovers to “level up” their meal experience with more flavor. The system ranks spices and herbs based on their level of complexity and richness, letting you start at whatever level you feel comfortable with.
By signing up for our newsletter, customers get access to special offers, private discounts and earn points on every dollar you spend when you join our Loyal Seasoner program. These customer connections gained an overwhelmingly positive response. Customers rave about our packaging and often place new orders for the complimentary spice tasting they received. Anticipating the opening of my flagship store and coffee café, it was my goal to expand this customer engagement with in-store customer experiences.
I opened Southern Roots Spice Shop and SRS Coffee Café on March 27th. We are located at 3701 Clairmont Road, Chamblee, GA. Our 3,000sq ft. location brings together our “speakeasy” themed coffee shop and spice pantry. Enjoy the ambiance of SRS Coffee Café relaxing in one of our velvet chairs or leather sofas with a delicious cup of our signature coffee or tea. Southern Roots Spice Shop awaits you with tasting throughout the store, more than 300 spices and blends, artisan teas, tasting kitchen, special in-store offers and events.
What’s next?
For the future, we will be scaling up, adding coffee to our online store offering in June 2021. Additionally, I am always working on new spice blends. Get ready for “Garlic Garden” and “Love Bell Pepper”- coming June 2021. These new spice blends are killer!!
It is also my hope we continue to support other small businesses with “pop-ups” in SRS Coffee Café. Please reach out to us at info@southernrootsspice.com if you have brand and want to “pop up” with us and other small businesses.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@southernrootsspice.com
- Website: www.southernrootsspice.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernrootsspice/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernrootsspice
Image Credits
Photographer: Ralph Edward theredbrand.com
