A cult BBQ brand stages a comeback

From Gary, Stafford, VA

Don't forget the military Commisary as a possible reseller. Military represent people form all walks of life, and from all corners of the globe. If they like it, they tell their families back home, and it can quickly spread the word about the product.

From Doug Rubin, Princeton, NJ

I am a fan of Texas Best from the 1980's so I don't mind buying 4 bottles every year or so and paying the shipping charges. The stuff is fantastic.
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If you all look at the ingredients of the sauces in your supermarket, you will see that EVERY OTHER SAUCE has the same first 4 ingredients – Corn Syrup, Tomato Paste, Vinegar and Pepper. They make be packaged and promoted as unique products, but they are all the same. Ketchup with spices.
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Texas Best is unique and different. Smokey flavor, no corn syrup (only molasses) – it is the good stuff. Great on chicken, burgers and especially cuts of beef.
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It may not be a mass market product (Coors wasn't for a long time) because it's very expensive to market a mass market product . . . and many folks might not appreciate the difference anyway. And the Smith's may be able to operate profitably selling lower volumes to connoisseurs. If they make a profit (including their labor), and have fun doing it, why not?

From James McLaughlin, Panama City, FL

Get your act together. People on the Internet forums are saying they are having trouble getting their orders filled and are receiving no help from the company. I did an E-mail to your customer service that was returned. If you want to stay in business these days, your company needs to become organized.

From Erik, Chicago, IL

I ended up reporting them to the Better Business Bureau as well as disputing my charges on my credit card with AMEX. They never shipped my order but did charge me for it a day after it was placed on their website. I called 5 times left several messages as well as 5 emails never to get answered. Stay away from this company. Huge disappointment. Ran like crap and they are still hashing out the recipe…so who knows if it was like the old one…at this point I dont care for what happens to them, with this type of service they wont be around long especially in this economy. Good Luck Reed and Alen you two idiots are gonna need it!! Way to bring back your product…I will make certain none of the grocery stores carry your product in my area, with the service you have demonstrated you don't desire to be in business.

From Dreamland Hoover AL

There are a lot of better BBQ sauces than Texas Best. If it had been so good it would be a top seller like Sweet Baby Ray's

From jeff eilbeck flagler beach fl

i ordered a case of the sauce. it was damaged in shipment and returned to the shipper. i tried to contact texas best to resolve the issue, including mr. smith's e-mail – no reponse, i had to go to the credit company to refund my purchase. i was really upset. if this is customer service then you might want to quit before your reputation is damaged.

From conrad,st augustine, fl

Ditto previous poster. Shipping costs are too high. I won't be ordering any time soon. But Publix is based in Lakeland so get on their shelves. Also, a video would be great…someone finds sauce on mom's kitchen stove, tastes it..and get the idea to sell it…catches on like wildfire…sleazy corporate man in tie offers briefcase full of cash for recipe…cut to corporate board room shot: ideas to make more money on this anyone? One guy pipes out, instead of cooking it, lets just mix the ingredients cold and bottle it…another one says use high fructose corn syrup….add preservatives to make it last a decade…etc.etc. then show brand fading into obscurity…people no longer liking the sauce, recipe tossed in a garbage can somehow ends back in owners hands and owners start making it the old way and customers coming back….kinda warms the heart to see normal folks doing better at something than the greedy corporations….

From Rusty, Baton Rouge, LA

As the owner of numerous web sites including http://www.brisketrub.com, the article is right on track. The advice Mr. Lawlor provides mirrors what I have building. Another approach is to review the search words potiential customers are using and then purchase those domains if they are available.

From George Sutherland, Houston, TX

You might serously consider getting someone from Texas involved in "Texas Best", this sounds like a Florida bunch that may be better qualified to advise on black beans but "don't know beans" about barbeque sauce.
George Sutherland, Houston TX, Home of the Worlds Championship Barbeque Cookoff.

From davd rotter tampa fl

I just sent a comment in and did not include my name and address. the home builder sorry

From Anonymous

As a president of a building company with 35 years of experience and still surviving. If you are serious about the relaunch you can not run a business like a hobby. Starting a new business is a serious committment of your time and effort. Working for a very short period for free is ok. You need a strong business plan that is well thought out. Listen to the experts it will save you time and money. Make sure that you have enough capital to make this happen.
questions you should ask yourself: At what point with current pricing will I reach breakeven with full overhead? What is the size of the market (regional) that I want to serve? Am I listening to the accountant?
Would you as an outside investor or banker invest money in a business without a complete business plan that the owners of the company and others believe in.
Good luck.. P.S. If you continue to work without a salary I Have a great position for you, of course at the same rate.

From Joann, Washington, DC

FIRST THING…I hope that you bought the rights to the correct spelling as noted in the AD writeup. Don't want someone to steal your name. GREAT ARTICLE, GOOD LUCK in your new launch.

bbqsuace.com

From Diego L.A., CA

Texas Best can look up local fairs and partner up with exibitors who will sell grilled beef or chicken. Sharing the costs of the booth and get more exposure.

From Thomas , Immokalee, FL.

Go on Oprah

From Bill, Espanola, NM

I am a BBQ lover – from Georgia. It is almost a religion down there, and I now am working in the SW near Santa Fe, so don't neglect us out here! GOOD BBQ is scarce around NM, and the notion of getting distribution into Sam's out here would work. Wal-Mart, even better!
Glad to be able to order online until it gets here!

From Jim Phillips Waxahachie, TX

As a small niche player in a major food category your story misses the biggest espense. Retail stores today want major up front commitments for shelf space and unit turns based off of the amount of shelf space you are "given". To launch the brand in one chain will cost $15,000 per SKU. Good luck.

From Tom, Saline Michigan

Great Story, I love BBQ. I am going to go out and buy one; I don't care what the shipping costs are. If your sauce is that good, it would be a bargain. Just remember people will always pay for quality, the better it is the more it should cost. The website made me hungry, WOW look at those Ribs! I BBQ all year round, even when its 20 degrees below zero…
I'll post a comment after I try it, I can't wait…

From Michael, Columbus, OH

I agree with the above. It is impractical to buy a bottle just to try the sauce to see if I would like it when the shipping is so high for one bottle. I would love to look for it in a store nearby, however it seems that function of their website has not yet been finished. That's disappointing.

From Don Heegel, Rialto, CA

After reading article, I went to Texas Best BBQ sauce website to order their BBQ sauce. I found standard shipping cost ($8.45) was two times the cost of one bottle of sauce ($3.99). I did not order anything. I do not think many others will either . . . too bad.