We had the good fortune of connecting with Tanna Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Tanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Do what you love. At a very young age, 10 to be exact I started selling snow ones and hosting movie nights in the trailer park I grew up in. While going to school to become a Physical education teacher I also coached middle school and high school sports and would always take home made snacks to the kids I coached. I made my boys soccer team “spicy candy” that I coated, they loved it so I decided to post it to sell on my social media accounts and the rest is history! My thought process while starting my business has always been “do it anyways” I used to ask people their opinion on my new ideas but soon realized people don’t always want the best for you so now, I make new items that I myself would want to buy, I don’t tell anyone I just post it. If it sells it sells and we keep it on the menu if it doesn’t sell, try something else!
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have always been pretty creative, now I just use what I have been doing my whole life into my business. I think what separates me from others is I will give 100% every single day even after I reach my goal. I remember as a young kid my only goal in life was to have a foodtruck, many people will reach their goal and stop. I got my foodtruck at the age of 20 fully paid for and now we have a food truck, three stores, a factory and we actually have a foodtruck franchise. I am never satisfied, once I reach a goal I’m already planning or trying to reach and do something bigger and better. Challenges come with every job, BIG challenges come with running your own business. Not even 5 months into having my first brick and mortar we got broken into and our whole cash register was stolen. A few months after our main plumbing lines was hit by a power pole and left us with a $32,000 bill or we would have no running water. These setbacks could have made me give up but I decided to work through them and we are up and running 5 days a week! I’d like the world yo know about me and my brand that you can do anything you put your mind to. It might look like we have it easy but I work roughly 14-16 hours a day on my business if you love what you’re doing give 100% and you’ll get what you want!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First off, I have no friends. I have decided to give my business 100% of my time and energy. So, if I took myself on a date we would stop at Tannas botannas el patio! 4426 S. 6th Ave and have a snack at the “el patio” then we would go to market Mexicana 314 e. Sixth st to grab some candy bags and PURO ice! For lunch I would go to back top grill! Then I would go check out our franchise on ina and see how they are doing! Maybe stop at our factory to drop off some stuff and
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Anita Cole, “mama botanna” also know as my mother. I started my business out of her kitchen. Now she helps me when she can at my factory.
Alberto Navarro my boyfriend of 10 years. He has put his barbering career on pause to help me run our newest business “PURO Ice” works at our factory and helps me restock all stores to keep them running smoothly!
Website: Www.tannasbotannas.com
Instagram: Tannasbotannas
Facebook: Tannasbotannas
Yelp: Tannas botannas