CREATIVES: Entrepreneurs to Watch – Tracy Blanchard from Charleston, SC

In the South, our family heirlooms are so important to us and that often includes our treasured recipes. Our friends Tracy and Tony Blanchard from the South Carolina coast took one of Big T’s family favorites and launched a business from his inherited crab dip.

We have loved getting to know Little T, Tracy, and watching Big T’s Coastal Provisions take off and become a Southern staple in entertaining. It’s been such a treat to begin to find their offerings in more and more grocery stores (St. Simons friends- yes Harris Teeter!). We sampled their Shrimp Dip that is about to hit stores soon and it is absolutely going to be served at all of our gatherings. It is an instant favorite….we like it even better than the Jalapeno Crab Dip and that is saying a lot!

We asked Little T to share some of her entrepreneurial spirit here–

Inspiration:

Inspiration comes in many forms everyday and in different ways. Of course my family is a big inspiration, my husband, Tony (aka: Big T), and my children Katherine and Bennett. We live in a beautiful city (Charleston) that provides inspiration at every turn, especially being on the water. Also, travel, books, movies….anything that takes you out of your normal element and to other places is inspiring.

Theme Song:

Anything by The Killers! And I love a little Dirt Road Anthem by Jason Aldean on Friday afternoons!

Fave book or author:

I love to read and I wish I had more time to get to all the books on my list! If I’ve got to pick one, I would say East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I’ve read it a number of times…it’s an epic tale! I’m also a cookbook nerd.

Favorite charity:

I have done a lot of non-profit work over the years but two of my favorites are the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Pattison’s Academy. Komen helps women during a very uncertain time in their lives and Pattison’s helps psychically and mentally disabled children and their families that need more help than any of us can imagine on a daily basis.

#1 skill/attribute needed to be an entrepreneur:

I think passion and pride in your product is so important. We have a small business that we are building and growing. Our family recipes are very personal for us. We have to let both our customers and consumers know about our pride and passion for those recipes/our products. It’s one’s ability to convey that excitement about their product that can really make all the difference.

Role model:

Of course my parents have always been great role models throughout my life. I’ve been blessed with many strong women to admire over the years…special friends and family and many women in our community who have contributed so much to make Charleston an incredible place to live.

Favorite social media:

Instagram (@bigtcoastalprov) lately. I love the images that show such creativity, especially in the kitchen!

Favorite quote:

Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill

Interesting tidbit about you or your business:

Tony started making our crab dip for me when were in college. His family had been making it for many years before that. Would I have ever considered that it would be our business twenty years later….no way!!

Big T Coastal Provisions
“A Coastal Carolina entertaining favorite”
www.bigtcoastalprovisions.com

The Southern Coterie is a social network (tscoterie.wpengine.com) with events (thesoutherncsummit.com) that connect influencers, entrepreneurs and marketing professionals with an affinity for the South.

Enjoy this series where we introduce you to Southern creatives we find inspiring-

• Nan Myers, Jay Ducote and Jane Pope Cooper
• TJ Callaway, Natalie Evans and Javacia Bowser
• Marquin Campbell
• Putt Weatherbee
• Jamie Meares
• Molly Jane Gravitt
• Ursula Reynolds
• Claire Bruce
• Ashley Schoenith
• Hillary Crittendon and Laura Martin
• Sarah Almond
• Louise Van Winkle Breen, Carrie Van Winkle Greener & Chenault Van Winkle James

CHERI HARDEN LEAVY

Co-Founder of The Southern Coterie

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Co-Publisher guide2athens & Bulldawg Illustrated