You've seen him in your neighborhood. You've probably bought steaks from the polite ponytailed guy in shorts. If you haven't, meet Andres Camero, the San Antonian who peddles choice beef cuts from one end of Laredo to another.
Camero is the owner and operator of Midwestern Meats who counts about 600 Laredoans in his customer base.
"Laredo is a wonderful place to do business," Camero said. "When I started the company, I would go to the same neighborhoods repeatedly, but now the City has grown and the market has just opened up, so much so that I do nearly all of my business in Laredo," he said. "The volume is everywhere, and I get referrals," he added.
Camero said he sells choice cut steaks. "It's all trimmed. There's no waste, and it's vacuum-sealed. When you break down the cost of my variety packs, you get down to $2 a cut, which is really economical whether it's for a large family or for an individual who lives alone," he continued.
"We offer the same kind of variety packs with chicken breasts. I provide the center of the plate entrée," Camero said, adding, "It's pretty easy to build a fast, healthy meal around that."
"I have found that persistence overcomes resistance. I get a lot of referrals. I'll knock on a new door and they already know someone I sell to. People know me. I'm Andy the Meat Man, the guy with the ponytail. I like the sense of being someone in particular in this town," he continued.
"I really like and appreciate this market for my products. Typically in this business, it's a one-time sale, hit and miss. But I've built up a business that I run as a route -- very customized. I check on my clients by the calendar. I know when it is time to go back," Camero said. "Now and then I run into people who don't know about the concept of doing business this way. Once they hear who my other customers are, it's pretty easy," he said. "They can buy with a lot of confidence because my products are guaranteed for tenderness and taste and against freezer burn for 12 months. My business is different from other door-to-door vendors of food. I don't sell the meal, I sell the deal," he said, adding, "There are others who do this. I'm the only one who has an established business, which I take a lot of pride in doing. I offer my products with integrity and honesty. Good products, good prices, good service -- that is how companies stay in business and this is how I earn my living and put my kids through school."
Camero's business partner is his wife Liza. For further information on Midwestern Meats, call (210) 734-5014.