How long have you been a BAMA member?
We have been a BAMA member for 1 year.
What do you like most about being a BAMA member?
Since the establishment of our company, we have been interested in connecting with other businesses in our area that conduct manufacturing activities like ours. Our products are very unique in nature, so liaising with other local manufacturers, and learning from their Best Business Practices, is an added value to our operations. Being a BAMA member has facilitated our relationships with other businesses in our area.
Tell us about Carvalho Naturals.
Carvalho Naturals was founded by the Carvalho family, Tampa residents for over 20 years. Our prior business experience in food management and manufacturing as well as the high demand for a healthier lifestyle in the region, sparked in us the idea of offering to consumers products not readily available in the East coast of the United States or grown at a large scale in the country. After learning more about the origins and nutritional benefits of cacao, we started our journey by sourcing the BEST qualified cocoa ingredients in the market, and soon made it available to all consumers in the United States. Following customers’ wishes, we soon incorporated the making of wooden handcrafted products to our repertoire. For a little over two years, , we have been servicing many industries in the United States such as Organic coffee shops and bakeries, Chocolate makers, Manufacturers of organic, plant-based or allergen free products, Health fitness coaches , Jewelry designers, Food establishments, Hotels, Bars or lounges, etc. Local establishments and manufacturers have found the right partner in us! We provide hands-on services to our customers, and continuously embrace the perks of being local by providing flexibility, shipping costs savings, face-to-face interactions, reduction in supply chain costs as well as connecting them with our community in any way we can.
How has your involvement with BAMA influenced your career?
Learning about the opportunities that our region offers to local manufacturers has been key to us. Leveraging the knowledge and resources already available to small businesses like ours have helped us in focusing on the next steps and safely achieving our business goals.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?
It would be positioning our company and products beyond the Tampa Bay area in such a short period of time via online platforms, and being able to assist other local businesses, including manufacturers, in facilitating the acquisition of high quality products locally.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
We have received many good advices [laughs]. It is hard to say that one is better than the other because they all have different business perspectives. However, there are two things we have learned from others that have stayed with us: (1) “It takes boldness, it takes craziness and it takes a Yes I can!” We all have that in ourselves; and (2) “Be the Spielberg of your objectives” [laughs]; indeed, we are all about innovating, creating, and sharing our story in our own style.
What is the most important skill you have developed in your career?
Customer service with no doubt. We have worked very hard in providing the best customer service possible to our clients, including business partners. People like to do business with friends, so becoming a trusted partner for our clients has been paramount to our business operations.
What are your hobbies or interests?
We love traveling and learning from other cultures. We are always in the lookout for the unknown. Learning, adapting, sharing, and caring is simply part of our DNA. As founders of an ethically driven company, we are deeply committed in making informative decisions about what we source, what we sell, and how we operate in general. We are big in people relations and are incredibly involved with our community wearing different hats. We are so grateful for landing not only in this country, but in the Tampa Bay community; so giving back to our people is a way to thank this wonderful place.
