Meet Alfonso Medina Charles Moran | Los Tortilleros
We had the good fortune of connecting with Alfonso Medina Charles Moran and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alfonso Medina, what is the most important factor behind your success?
There are over 12,000,000 products on Amazon right now as I type… The success of our brand has been that we are two humans selling to other humans. We are not some big factory or manufacture in another country pretending to be a small business in America. We are the small business in America and I think it’s vital people know where they are buying from. We do a really good job letting our customers know who we are and the story behind our tortilla mission and I think that’s the secret sauce. People buy from people.
What should our readers know about your business?
What sets us apart from others: I think it’s our soul… This is part of culture both Mexican and American – we are constantly living in two worlds and we can relate to a huge group of people like ourselves. We understand the importance of tortillas, the people who love tortillas and the people who eat tortillas. You can say we celebrate tortilla culture and hope we can keep our traditions alive and start some new ones along the way.
Most proud of and excited about: There are so many aha! moments along this journey but the thing we have been most excited about is representation in countries that are something like 16 hours ahead of us. We get orders from all around this earth and we light up every time we someones name in Korea or a small town in Texas. You can say we get excited that someone would take interest and believe in something that was created Christmas morning when we were missing Mami Chelo and her tortillas recién hechas con sal y mantequilla.
How did you get to where you are today business-wise: TAKING RISKS! You have to be a little crazy and just do it… Alfonso has always had a “Go big, or go home” attitude and when this all started he was the one pushing us to just learn along the way and ask a lot of questions and ask again. We have so much work to do for Mami’s and we are not even close to where we want to be yet. We are constantly evolving, making mistakes, making wins, making more mistakes and laughing at ourselves along the way.
Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges: No, it hasn’t been easy. Have you ever had to cook hundreds of tortillas to pick one just so she can be the face of Mami’s? We are self taught with a little grit and street smarts. I think Alfonso and I have been groomed to overcome challenges our entire life and we just walk straight through the fire now rather than dance around it.
What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way: If you’re not learning, you’re not going anywhere. Every inch of product development, manufacturing, sourcing, art direction, branding, copy writing, photography, sales, customer relations, PR, logistics and operations has been all us. Our biggest lesson take-away has been to be kind to yourself – you made it this far, keep going, keep being inspired and ask for help along the way. People want to see you succeed and if they don’t want to see you succeed they ain’t your people.
What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story: I want people to know that anything is possible, like literally anything. You need to show up and get that energy moving. I want people to know that they too should find that fire inside that makes them feel inspired and use that passion and inspiration to try your idea, that pop-up, collaboration, small business venture – whatever it is that makes you excited to wake up for in the morning.
Charles and I both come from a family of small business owners with his dad owning a restaurant in Mexico City during the 60’s and my Grandparents with their paleteria and antojitos shop in rural Idaho during the 80’s. I think it’s the Mexican in us to do our own thing, call the shots and serve our community.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
7 days with Los Tortilleros
Day 1. Thrift finds of all kinda at retro row on 4th St. in Long Beach, CA
Day 2. Theres this unofficial Taco truck alley that happens in Santa Ana every weekend and the thing is massive! No official name or anything just go! Can be found on the corner of Broadway Ave. and W. Central Ave. Very reminiscent of the taqueria carts that go for miles in CDMX.
Day 3. El Mercadito de Los Ángeles – Take cash, lots of cash and your appetite.
Day 4. Dodgers Game then the New Jalisco Bar in DTLA after.
Day 5. Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) – Long Beach, CA
Day 6. Downtown Santa Ana, CA – DTSA Art Walk, Burritos Las Palmas, 4th St. Market Place
Day 7. Griffith Observatory at sunset -because stars, and views of LA as far as you can see.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Mami’s was born from yesteryear and is dedicated to those who raised us while working their late nights, double shifts and second jobs just to put food in our bellies. It’s dedicated to our brothers and sisters who had to be mini moms and dads and care for us kids – while trying to figure out how to make a quesadilla with Kraft cheese slices, a weenie and Mom’s salsa roja – with just a microwave.
Querido Mexico, where taking risks, finding ourselves, finding what we are capable of and having a year of yes would lead us to where we are now. Gracias por recibirnos con los brazos abiertos.
For Mami Chelo, the greatest storyteller, keeper of traditions, bare hand tortilla flipper and abuelita to many. “Aquí no hay tortillas frías!
Website: https://tortillawarmer.co/
Instagram: @tortillawarmer
Facebook: @tortillawarmer
Image Credits
Alfonso Medina
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