When I started The Board Barcelona,

I had no roadmap—just a great product, strong instincts, and a vision to bring people together through beautiful, unforgettable food experiences.

A couple of years later, we’ve opened our first shop, built a small (but mighty) team, and just wrapped up our best month yet. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:

Trust your gut.
Everyone will have an opinion. “Just use cheaper ingredients.” “You should raise your prices.”
But I’ve stuck with what I believe in—and that’s unmatched quality with fair pricing.
I chose to absorb the cost of higher-end, market-fresh ingredients so we never compromise on quality.
It’s what makes us us.
We source fresh, seasonal, local products—building something beautiful and delicious that I’m proud to put my name on. That conviction has guided every step of our growth.

Build a product that sells itself.
We’ve had a bit of luck—and also worked incredibly hard—to create a product that speaks for itself. Our PR & Marketing budget has always been minimal. Instead of investing big in ads, we’ve put our energy into developing a standout product that gets people talking. The design, the flavor, the presentation—that’s what brings people back.

You don’t need to do it all at once.
There’s so much pressure to have the perfect brand, website, and strategy—on day one. But slow, thoughtful, intentional growth has been our strength. We didn’t rush. We built a strong foundation first, and that’s made all the difference.
Staying true to our values has been key, and having our business principles in the back of our mind helps guide every crucial decision we make on a daily basis

You don’t need to be perfect to get started today. Write down your core values and let them guide you. The rest can be developed over time.

Spend money where it matters.
We firmly believe it’s the little details that make all the difference. We don’t cut corners, and it shows. It’s what makes people light up when they see our boards—and what makes them want to share them with everyone they know.

The “boring stuff” matters more than you think.
Systems and structures, internal policies, handbooks, guidelines and government compliance are crucial to day-to-day operations. Over the past two years, I’ve worked tirelessly to build the systems and structure that make everything run smoothly: handbooks, internal policies, trademarks, contracts. Back when I wrote our staff handbook, we were a team of one.
Now we’re four—and because that foundation was in place, we’ve had the space to grow well.

BONUS TIP:

KARMA IS REAL!
It’s easy to just be kind. Have integrity. Do the right thing. ALWAYS. Karma will work everything out, trust me.
Yes, you’re going to get burned—it’s inevitable. But everything will turn out to be the way it is meant to be.
Clients will see you. Your customers will see you. Your suppliers will see you. Hang in there.

Save this if you’re dreaming of starting something.
Send it to someone who needs a little encouragement.
And thank you for being part of this journey.

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