Today we’d like to introduce you to Gilda Mitat-Del Valle.
Hi Gilda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After my military career, I worked for corporate America mainly working in the global operations field. I had contracts in Brazil, Ecuador, Canada & Panama. Afterwards, I became a sales, profit and operations coach for a USA fortune 500 company. I was so successful and enjoyed that position so much, I left corporate America and started by own management and consulting firm called MD All Service Solutions offering consulting to struggling businesses. Simultaneously, we had become interested in the hemp industry since I had some personal experiences with how effective it could be with many ailments and started CBD Relief.
We started both our businesses in 2017 in San Antonio. CBD Relief, Inc started as a CBD same day home delivery business, and we were officially the first CBD company in San Antonio, and we were the first to offer same day home delivery. We started with deliveries and shipping, then we expanded into selling at farmer’s markets and finally we opened our store Wellness Wagon by CBD Relief in October 2020. Today we have 5 employees working with the CBD business.
MD All Service Solutions started with consulting in 2017. Then, in 2020, when COVID hit San Antonio, the outdoor market we had been a staple at selling our CBD products, closed due to COVID. We approached the previous market owner, made an offer and purchased the market from previous owner. We opened Bandera Market (a DBA of MD All Service Solutions) under new management starting May 2020. We were considered the safest market in town by many due to all the COVID protocols put in place to keep everyone as safe as possible. Keep in mind, farmers’ markets were considered essential businesses, so the shutdown didn’t force us to close. At the time of purchase, the market saw 25 vendors on Saturdays and about 10-15 on Sundays. By December 2021, we had up to 120 vendors on Saturday and around 75 on Sundays. Not only that, but the market was voted #2 farmers market behind the giant corporate machine Pearl Farmer’s by SA Current readers and SA Express News! We became a state certified farmers’ market and received numerous grants in 2020 & 2021.
Then in November 2021, we were approached by the largest HOA in San Antonio who asked us to open a neighborhood farmer’s market for their residents. We obliged and opened GNW Market located at 8809 Timberwilde with a soft launch in December 2021. Shortly thereafter, we lost the lease at the Bandera Market location and merged GNW/Bandera Market temporarily. We have been running both markets from the same location since 1/14/2022. As of this date, we are about to sign a new lease to split up the markets again! Looks like Bandera Market will be back on Bandera Road by April.
I originally left corporate America because I wanted to make an impact in my community. I have been able to accomplish this goal through both our businesses. With CBD we help people deal with their pain and anxiety mostly. While with our farmer’s markets, we have seen businesses grow right before our eyes. It is wonderful to see that because we were able to save the market, many locals benefited, who were able to survive, thrive and even start new businesses!
There are many examples of businesses that have thrived and were able to keep a roof over their head during COVID at our markets. From a flight attendant who was furloughed during COVID and came to our market to sell dog clothing, to a small fruit stand that was able to buy a food truck and hire employees, to a salesman that became a wood worker where eventually his wife had to quit to help him with the business since he couldn’t keep up!
Whatever the business is, my personal and business motto is we *lift as we climb, and I have certainly enjoyed lifting those around us as we climb!
*Mary Church Terrell. -women’s suffrage movement.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Certainly not!
With our CBD Store, we had started construction before COVID. When COVID hit, we had to repossess our store from contractor.
I have already mentioned the struggles of losing the lease IN DECEMBER 2021 for our successful market. After we left, another market signed a lease with shopping center accepting the terms of only 20 vendors and no food. Now our customers are confused about this new market. Many are not receiving our emails or on social media and just continued to go to the same location not realizing it is not us. We have received complaints about this other market and are trying to keep the public informed. But once we are back on Bandera, there should be less confusion. These are all growing pains for us.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wellness Wagon by CBD Relief?
We have three small businesses in San Antonio:
1. Wellness Wagon by CBD Relief:
11627 Bandera Road
San Antonio, TX 78250
210-366-4380
www.cbdrelief.care
Offering store shopping, in-store pick up, shipping and same day home delivery. All our staff are certified CBD consultants. We invest heavily in the education of our staff, so they provide the best and most up to date information about the best options available to customers. You will not find another CBD company that makes education the number one priority. We have always offered FREE samples. Veteran, firefighter, police and teacher discounts are offered.
Our markets are USDA certified farmer’s markets. We are invested in the success of our vendors are constantly supporting our vendors. One example is helping them with marketing & operations. I use my corporate sales, profit and operations coaching as the backbone to every interaction we have with our vendors. Remembering to always to lift as we climb.
2. Bandera Market
Bandera Market will be back on Bandera Road starting 3/25:
11851 Bandera Road
Helotes, TX 78023
New hours:
Fridays: 2-6pm
Saturdays: 10-5pm
Sundays: 11-5pm
www.banderamarket.com
740-563-2274
3. GNW Market
8809 Timberwilde
San Antonio, TX 78250
At the parking lot of the Silver Creek Soccer Field.
Next to Timberwilde Elementary
Soccer season starts April 2022-May 2022
From April to May, GNW will open Sundays only 12-4pm
June 2022-December 2022
Saturdays 11-4pm
Sundays 12-4pm
www.gnwmarket.com
210-774-2930
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My Mentors at Texas A&M McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship have been a fantastic support system for me. Since I am a disabled veteran, I qualified for and attended the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for veterans (EBV) at Texas A&M. The program is a fantastic program that offers mentorship and business training for disabled veterans. The program was created by the Institute for veterans and military families and have much more than just the EBV. This has played a huge factor in my success.
I would also like to give credit to vendors who followed me during the merge with the sister market. Without their belief in us, we would not have been able to move. Once we move back to Bandera Road, those vendors will see what a huge success Bandera Market will continue to be at any location!
A huge thanks to my mother-in-law and my uncle who gave me cash to start CBD Relief.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.cbdrelief.care
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbdrelief.care/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/banderamarket
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wellness-wagon-by-cbd-relief-san-antonio?uid=-_f0mHEiNINSw3Fut7NZkQ&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
