Meet Jeff Gibbs | Owner of El Squatcho Salsa

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeff Gibbs, Owner of El Squatcho Salsa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeff, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve slowly started receiving several requests from family and friends for my salsa so I thought that maybe I should start trying to sell it and get it out there to more people, which has gone really well. Coming up with the name took a little thinking, I wanted something different and catchy and not your typical ordinary business name and the logo had to be unique as well. I’ve always been interested in Bigfoot/Sasquatch and came up with the name El Squatcho Salsa. The logo was next and I came up with the image of Bigfoot wearing a sombrero. Once that came to be I quickly came up with, I guess you could call it, a business slogan and put it on a banner to help grab people’s attention, it reads “Salsa made fresh daily with ingredients hand picked in Black Forest, CO. by the legendary Bigfoot himself as he shares with you one of his favorite staples for surviving in the wild”.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been making my salsa for about 10 years now, started off making it for potlucks at my full-time job which I’m still doing while trying to start this new business, and it quickly became a hit and got to the point of when there was a signup sheet for what you’re going to bring to potluck my name was already written down to bring salsa. Then it slowly got to the point where friends were asking me to make salsa for them for their family gatherings so I started thinking that maybe I should start my own business. I make it fresh the day before each farmers market using fresh vegetables and no preservatives which everyone really seems to love. At first it was hard to get people to come over to my booth to try it, but I came up with the idea of offering “Free Shots, Free Salsa Shots” which helped to grab their attention! Once customers try my salsa 99% of the time, they will buy some. I’ve even made a couple of fruity flavored salsas which are very popular, a Pineapple salsa which goes really good on fish tacos, and a Strawberry salsa just because (it’s actually really good), and when Palisade Peaches are in season, I make a Peach salsa! Starting the business was a little hard, trying to figure out what all permits and licenses you need, insurance, finding a commercial kitchen, etc. The first day of the local farmers market out here in Black Forest I was totally not ready, and it showed but that first day was my biggest selling day right out of the gate! Ever since then it has been a very encouraging adventure week after week with nothing but positive feedback and repeat customers. It is a little scary thinking about trying to start my own business especially with the current situation of higher inflation and sometimes products being in short supply.

My Salsa is now available locally at Red Swing Brewhouse, Mission Coffee, and Bread & Butter Neighborhood Market. And this year I will again be at the Backyard Market in Black Forest every Saturday and the farmers market in Woodland Park on Friday’s. Also looking at possibly opening my own little retail store in Black Forest (fingers crossed). Along with my regular job and this salsa business I just started I also make, design, and sell die-cut vinyl stickers mostly on eBay.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
probably take them to Monument, CO. to Arlenes Beans to grab a bite to eat and take a trip up to Cripple Creek. Then the next day we would take a road trip to St. Elmo to check out the ghost town and feed the local chipmunk community. On the way back make a slight detour over to Breckenridge for lunch then head home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
my wife Andrea for encouraging me to pursue this new venture and helping and supporting me along the way.

Instagram: @elsquatchosalsa

Facebook: El Squatcho Salsa

Other: elsquatchosalsa@gmail.com