Comments on: A cult BBQ brand stages a comeback

By: Gary, Stafford, VA

Gary, Stafford, VA — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:30:15 +0000

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.

By: Doug Rubin, Princeton, NJ

Doug Rubin, Princeton, NJ — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:01:32 +0000

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?

By: James McLaughlin, Panama City, FL

James McLaughlin, Panama City, FL — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:20:15 +0000

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.

By: Erik, Chicago, IL

Erik, Chicago, IL — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:36:38 +0000

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.

By: Dreamland Hoover AL

Dreamland Hoover AL — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:15:46 +0000

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

By: jeff eilbeck flagler beach fl

jeff eilbeck flagler beach fl — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:24:38 +0000

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.

By: conrad,st augustine, fl

conrad,st augustine, fl — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:08:09 +0000

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….

By: Rusty, Baton Rouge, LA

Rusty, Baton Rouge, LA — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:26:58 +0000

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.

By: George Sutherland, Houston, TX

George Sutherland, Houston, TX — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:38:38 +0000

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.

By: davd rotter tampa fl

davd rotter tampa fl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:50:55 +0000

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

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:48:18 +0000

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.

By: Joann, Washington, DC

Joann, Washington, DC — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:07:27 +0000

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

By: Diego L.A., CA

Diego L.A., CA — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:42:01 +0000

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.

By: Thomas , Immokalee, FL.

Thomas , Immokalee, FL. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:25 +0000

Go on Oprah

By: Bill, Espanola, NM

Bill, Espanola, NM — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:40:16 +0000

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!

By: Jim Phillips Waxahachie, TX

Jim Phillips Waxahachie, TX — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:44:33 +0000

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.

By: Tom, Saline Michigan

Tom, Saline Michigan — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:17:20 +0000

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…

By: Michael, Columbus, OH

Michael, Columbus, OH — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:18:36 +0000

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.

By: Don Heegel, Rialto, CA

Don Heegel, Rialto, CA — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:31:00 +0000

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.