An Interview with Mompreneur Joyce Miranda Romualdez, Proprietor and Executive Taste Tester of Almost Gourmet
I love Joyce and the food from Almost Gourmet! My first encounter with Almost Gourmet was when I ordered food for our house blessing party for the family. I saw their page in facebook and I decided to try them out. I was so impressed with the food that I wrote about them in Manila Reviews: House Warming with Family: Thanks, Almost Gourmet! Since the food has captured my heart, I always order from Joyce for the workshops that we organize. I later got to meet her family and saw that she was a mompreneur.
Mompreneur Joyce Romuladez
Here is my interview with Joyce.
Ginger: Hi Joyce! Can you tell my readers a little something about yourself?
Joyce: I am a 33-year old WAHM with a home-based food business. Before starting my own business, I was a manager at a French company that taught English distance learning to companies in Europe. I got married in 2009 and gave birth to my first and only child (for now!) in 2011. I love to travel and discover new places and learn new cultures. I’m battling a never-ending love-hate relationship with food (and gaining weight). I am proud to say that I am still exclusively breastfeeding my daughter. 16 months and counting!
Ginger: Wow! Congratulations on that, Joyce! I also plan to EBF Zeeka when she’s born! Now, can you tell us more about this business of yours.
Almost Gourmet: Joyce’s Business
Joyce: My business is called Almost Gourmet. We provide party trays, packed meals, dessert like cakes and cupcakes and C.I.Y. (Cook-It-Yourself) frozen food. I started the business in August of 2008.
Ginger: With all the food businesses out there, who are you tapping? Who is your market?
Joyce: My market is anyone who wants delicious, affordable food delivered to their doorstep (or office lobby).
Ginger: How did you come up with this idea? What made you decide to start this kind of business?
Joyce: I started this business when I was still working in the corporate world. My office mates, who tasted my “baon” daily, thought the food was great, so I decided to sell packed meals to them first and then venture out to other offices and eventually homes when I quit my job.
Ginger: Were there any obstacles that you faced when you decided to pursue becoming a mompreneur? What are these?
Joyce: In starting any kind of business, the most difficult part is the beginning. Once you get past that, then things will be easier. Also, when I started Almost Gourmet, the money wasn’t as good as working in an international company. It’s still not, actually. Getting to hug and kiss my baby girl anytime I want to is what makes it so worth it.
Ginger: That’s nice! Nothing will ever compare to the time that you get to spend with your kid. What are three traits that you think a mompreneur, like you, should have when starting their own business?
Joyce: Courage, patience and perseverance.
Ginger: Any Unforgettable lesson that you learned as a Mompreneur?
Joyce: Accept your faults. No one’s perfect.
Ginger: And lastly, what advice can you give to other Mompreneurs?
Joyce: If I can do it, you can too! Same with breastfeeding, it does get better!
Ginger: You see why I find this lady so amazing and endearing! 🙂 Thank you so much, Joyce, for all your words of wisdom!
Almost Gourmet Contact information:
a. Website: www.almostgourmet.com.ph (under construction)
b. Email address: almostgourmet@gmail.com
c. Mobile Number: +639178100110
d. Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/almostgourmet
e. Twitter account: www.twitter.com/almostgourmet
