2020 Reflections: Our Experience Running A Small Business in this Pandemic Year
Karen and Nyana holding pumpkins from Soilful in Washington, DC.
Can you imagine that we’re at the end of 2020? And what a year it was! We’d be lying if we didn’t’ say that this year was tough. In a year that felt like many decades rolled into one, we’ve gone through so much as a collective: illnesses, losing loved ones, job losses, racial injustice, and the list goes on. This stretched us until we felt like breaking. But we didn’t break. Instead, we kept going. We found ways of doing things differently – from habits, to operations, to the ways in which we interacted with each other. That resilient nature was at our core.
We at Camella’s Kitchen embodied that resiliency. We’re two women who started this small family business as a way to share a bit of our West Indian culture with our neighbors and community in the DMV (Washington, DC metro area). When we embarked on this journey in 2019, our goals were small. But what started as a side hustle for us soon became so much more. It took the events of 2020 for us to realize that.
The Power of Community
In this pandemic year, we learned not only about the power of resiliency, but also about the power of community. As we could no longer connect with you all in-person at festivals and fairs, we had to find other ways of expanding our reach. We pivoted and found new ways of establishing connections. We brought you into our kitchen – literally – and started posting recipes on our blog and adding bonus videos to YouTube. We even connected with other food bloggers, resulting in a very enriching experience for us. As an added value, many of them also crafted recipes that have also appeared on our blog. And then, as a means to make ourselves even more accessible, we beefed up our social media and connected with many of you all through those platforms – primarily on Instagram.
Karen poses with farmer Doug Adams at New Brooklyn Farms in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Offline connections were also essential for us as well. We do our best to show a behind the scenes of our operations – but with limited bandwidth, it is not always possible. A key ingredient of what we do hearkens back to the very people who are the lifeblood of our communities – local farmers. We’ve been so lucky to have partnered with some really amazing small Black-owned farms in the region. It is because of them that we’ve been able to bring you so many amazing and unique flavors this year – like our Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce and Roasted Huckleberry Pepper Sauce. It was a thrilling experience to be able to visit many of these farmers and see how they were growing food for their communities, in spite of the challenges of this year. They’ve in turn inspired us to keep on doing what we do. It is because of them that we’ve been able to provide you with the fresh and locally sourced sauces that you’ve come to love and enjoy.
Bringing It All Together
And somehow, you all noticed these elements coming together. This year marked many firsts for us and we’re so glad that you’ve been along for the ride. From newsletter features, to blog mentions, to our first TV interview – we have so much to be thankful for. We’ve received tremendous support throughout the year, and even more so during the holidays. This has touched our hearts. We at Camella’s Kitchen would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to you all for this outpouring of support. And we will continue to thrive. We will do our best to serve you in the coming new year. Look out for new products as 2021 progresses – all we can say is get ready for even more bold Caribbean flavors. We will continue the goal of bringing you high quality products made with ingredients from local farms.
If you’d like to help us to be vanguards of sustainable change in our community, and bolster the local green economy in the DMV, consider contributing to our mission. You can show your support by purchasing our products, buying a gift card, giving a review, or by sharing about us with family and friends, and on social media.
Once again, thank you all! On behalf of Camella’s Kitchen, we want to wish you all a happy, safe, and healthy New Year. All the best for 2021. Let’s continue to spread our message of hope!
With blessings, Karen and Nyana
Camella’s Kitchen is run by two ladies from Trinidad and Tobago. Based out of Prince George’s County, Maryland, we’re living our sauciest lives by bringing our bold Caribbean flavors to you! How will you #BeCamellaSaucy? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube!
