Today we’d like to introduce you to Brownie & Princess Sims.
Hi Brownie & Princess, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My sister Brownie Sims and I were born and raised in Berkeley, California. A total of three girls growing up on Delaware street during the 70s not far from our grandmother’s home. Both of our parents and extended families migrated from the south during the 50s and brought with them the art of southern soul food cooking. As a large family, traditions from generations passed down from the family to us included bringing family together and cooking good food. Something we looked forward to every year. During these years, our Aunt Marion Dixon managed a famous barbecue restaurant of more than thirty years ago in the Bay Area. Barbecue was always available and present in our home. I remember Mom bringing pans of ribs, chicken, links and the famous barbecue sauce to go with it for dinner. My favorite was the sliced beef.
As early teens, my Aunt Marion eventually left the barbecue restaurant after the owner died. Over the years, my sister Brownie would try to get my Aunt to teach her how to make the sauce but something always got in the way it never happened. Eventually, Brownie began to just “play” in the kitchen attempting to duplicate the sauce. After many burned pots of sauce, barbecue sauce smell lingering in the house for days, she developed a recipe similar to the restaurant my Aunt worked at. She let both Aunt Marion and our mom Jean Palmer try the sauce separately. They both thought the other made the sauce but Brownie gladly informed them “she had made the sauce” with a smile. Brownie took the baton handed from our matriarchs by carrying the family traditions of cooking and entertaining during holidays. She taught herself to duplicate the sauce my Aunt made many years ago but added her own twist. Friends and family would say, “you need to bottle this sauce and sell it”.
At the time, my sister was already a successful business owner of a hair salon for many years. But in 2013 ready for the challenge, my sister began the process of developing the sauce to bring to the market. She did her research, worked with a branding company creating the company name and found a commercial kitchen to begin making the sauce. In 2016, after living out of state for 12 years, I joined her by moving back to California to help run the business. I was ready to build a legacy with my sister.
The business started with one sauce in 2013, Original Mild. As of today’s, date, we have grown the business to include a total of 25 products – barbecue sauces, spice rubs, marinades and vinaigrettes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the obstacles and challenges we have experienced and persevered thru have been boot-strapping the business, looking for ways to raise capital to take us to the next level. Covid 19 didn’t slow us down as we pivoted our business to include food and catering. Current challenges are working thru rising costs for materials/ingredients and bottle shortages.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Final Sauce, we are 2 Sisters 1 Brand. We grew up together and today we work together sharing the same vision for the sauce. Our product is phenomenal and versatile with multiple uses even for our “vegan” foodies. Our work speaks to nostalgia, the experience of great food and bringing people together. All things our family did many years ago. We want to show family can work together, specifically women of color and convey a positive message all while enjoying our sauces, rubs and vinaigrettes. The Final Sauce is the only sauce you will need.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.finalsauce.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finalsauce/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFinalSauce
