Listen to Their Stories - Deana and Sue Morrow

Today, I’m continuing my celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a profile of two of Marriott International’s exceptional suppliers – Deana and Sue Morrow. 

I mentioned in a previous blog that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are such an important part of our network of owners/franchisees and suppliers, as well as our global workforce.

We simply can’t compete in a global marketplace without diverse perspectives, experiences and voices powering our business. In a series of profiles this month, I am delighted to share some of these diverse voices – people who are generally out of sight to our guests but who are very much a driving force for our business.

Here now are Deana and Sue Morrow.

Deana and Sue Morrow 

Who:

Deana Morrow and her parents Dean and Sue Morrow, co-owners of Torn Ranch in Sonoma, California.

Their story:

My mom spent her early childhood in Taiwan before moving to the United States when she was 12 years old. When I was 12, she and my dad purchased a local business in San Rafael that was known for its gourmet gift baskets with nuts and dried fruits. The baskets were sold to department stores. My parents didn’t have any prior experience in specialty gifts, but they always wanted to own their own business. My dad has a finance background and my mom worked in retail. That translated into my mom heading up sales and my dad doing the accounting functions, while he worked another job. I tied ribbons and helped pack boxes. It was a family effort. 

What key decision propelled you forward?

In the early 1990s, we were selling one-pound bags of jumbo cashews. The San Francisco Marriott called one day and asked if we could make jars of nuts that it could place in guest rooms. We now provide dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, cookies and more to hotels for VIP amenities and minibars throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Most of our customers are hotels and we also continue to sell gift baskets to high-end retailers.

How has COVID impacted your business?

Torn Ranch has been impacted, being a hospitality partner. We are now starting to see positive signs of recovery. 

What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs?

Be prepared for a lot of ups and downs. There is no day that’s average, it will likely either be phenomenal or quite rough. Be prepared to hear a lot of people say “no,” and listen, most importantly, to yourself.

The Morrow family story warms my heart. With little experience and against the odds, they bought a small, local business – selling nuts and dried fruits – and converted it, over time, into an international enterprise. Like most great companies, their top priorities have always been quality products and excellent service – and that has brought them success. COVID-19 has not made the journey easy. I think we all must stay positive, innovative and hopeful as the world begins to travel once more.