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Almost every idea behind a business begins with a passion, and it can take a lot of guts to act on it. This is Retail spoke with 8 Myles founder Myles Powell about the career change that led him to retail and what it’s like to start a small business from the ground up.
Powell pursued a career in civil engineering after graduating from college, but it wasn’t long before he realized his heart wasn’t in it and began exploring his real passion ― food. Powell compiled his recipes and started a blog, resulting in an appearance on Food Network’s “America’s Best Cook.” Despite not winning, he found his calling: Powell developed a sauce during his stint on the show that a celebrity chef loved, marking the beginning of his gourmet sauce brand 8 Myles.
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For every young entrepreneur, getting a business off the ground is no easy feat. “It’s a hustle for sure,” Powell says. His philosophy is that businesses must be proactive to be successful; waiting for customers to find them “only lends itself to a long uphill battle.” Powell is tireless, traveling around the greater D.C. area to sell his sauces and rubs at pop-up markets and outdoor events while meeting and engaging with the community.
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Powell’s journey from engineer to business owner inspired him to encourage everyone to truly embrace and appreciate every moment in life. His small business is known for gourmet sauces like Raspberry BBQ, Pineapple Buffalo and Mango Magic BBQ, but he also sees it as a platform to build a movement. Powell’s #EmbraceEveryMile social campaign highlights the importance of slowing down, taking time to reflect and recognizing the joys around us.
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