Meet Laura Tidmore | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Tidmore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
On Board Denver was born out of COVID! My family relocated to Colorado from South Carolina during the pandemic (because, why not?!). I am a former teacher, but wasn’t ready to return back to the classroom with so many unknowns. Sure enough, my oldest daughter was on a hybrid schedule and I had to step in as her “in person teacher” three days a week. I absolutely love teaching, but teaching my own children just isn’t in the cards for me. I began to think about starting my own at-home business. Aside from a teaching degree, I have a degree in Interior Design and an affinity for browsing Pinterest and Instagram for “pretties”. A self-proclaimed foodie, I came across beautiful charcuterie boards and it hit me. I love food, but I’m not the best cook, but I know how to make food look good! On Board Denver was envisioned to meet the needs of people in the moment – quality food straight to your doorstep. We create boards and boxes and deliver them to people all over Denver! I ran this initial idea by my husband and my entrepreneurial-minded friends and the demand seemed to be there. I reached out to my graphic design friend from back home in Alabama to create my logo (from my sketch, no less), created some Instagram worthy pictures, fired up the social media accounts, and the rest is history!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Gourmet charcuterie delivery is not a brand new concept, but the demand is there- which is why I decided to run with it! A brilliant idea to come out of COVID is the individual charcuterie cup. I can’t take credit for it’s origination, but it has been one of my bestsellers, and the possibilities are endless! People are starting to gather again, but not everyone wants to share food. I’ve put together charcuterie cups for wedding showers, realtor open houses, bunco groups, farmers markets, you name it! It is the perfect individual snack to complete any event. I have even mixed it up and made candy cups for a neighborhood movie night! I also offer a variety of boxes (as well as disposable boards) that can be delivered as a birthday box, a teacher appreciation box, a new homeowner box, a just for you box! I am starting to get into assembling charcuterie on boards for larger events. Can you say grazing table without drooling? I am still new to owning a business and learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be successful. It’s ok to start small and dream big. I have so many ideas for what my business could potentially be, but I know realistically it takes time to build. Overall, I am so proud of myself for taking the leap into business ownership!

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.
This is fun, because it’s the first time I’ve lived near a big city! I’m in a suburb of Denver, and driving distance to so many cool spots. In Denver, I would take them to Uchi for the most incredible sushi. RiNo Beer Garden looks deceiving from the exterior, but it houses an extensive draft beer selection and the cutest outside patio. Cholon is another amazing Asian restaurant. The French onion soup dumplings are to die for! The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a must do, as well as catching either a Rockies, Broncos, Avalanche, or Nuggets game depending on the time of year. Moving on to Boulder, I’m a big fan of My Neighbor Felix for their authentic Mexican food and hand crafted cocktails. A stroll on the iconic Pearl Street is also on the agenda. Pasta Jay’s is another family favorite, as well as Gelato Boy for dessert. In Golden, you can’t miss floating down Clear Creek (yes in your own inflatable tube, yes it’s cold). After, take a short walk over to The Golden Mill Food Hall for your choice of food and drink and even some live music. Just south of Golden is a little town called Morrison in Jefferson County that boasts one of the best amphitheatres around. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is an iconic concert venue, park and amphitheatre in a spectacular setting. Obviously, I could go on and on about the endless amount of opportunities for food, drink, activities, etc. Colorado is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever laid eyes on, and now I have the privilege of calling it home. Last but not least, a quick trip to Vail is on my list. No matter the season, Vail is beautiful and has so much to offer. Incredible snow skiing, hiking or biking, a stop in at Yeti’s Grind for coffee (and bacon for my pup, also Yeti), a delicious French breakfast at Vintage, a German brunch/lunch at the charming Alpenrose Vail, drinks at Fall Line Kitchen and dinner at The Fitz.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge “thank you” to all of the Charcuterie queens in the Instagram world, the book “Beautiful Boards” by Maegan Brown, my daughters Madison and Londyn for their motivation and lending helping hands, my dear friends Julianne and Joe for their words of wisdom and encouragement, and my husband Jansen for wholeheartedly supporting my idea and growing business. I love you more than you know! My life is so blessed with some of the most amazing people. Thank you for being part of my journey.

Website: www.onboarddenver.com

Instagram: @onboarddenver

Facebook: On Board Denver

Other: email: laura@onboarddenver.com