THE TEO SPACE
Teo Elizondo · Building business between Mexico, the U.S. and Asia

I find where your business is losing money. Then I fix it.

One operator, nine products. Almost everything on this shelf is something I’ve built, launched or fixed in the real world. One of them is me. The packaging is a joke. The results aren’t.

Bring me the challenge →Step into the shop →Executive summary →

Number of cans may vary. Your numbers shouldn’t.

Seen in the wild

This stuff actually happened.

+90%SuKarne · Japan & KoreaSales growth after opening both markets for Viz Cattle Corp.
1,000+U.S. supermarketsIn-store marketing activations, nationwide.
40+StoresStore branding, rebranding and multi-location implementation.
100+Trade showsJapan, Korea, Russia, Canada and the U.S., incl. Mexican Beef & Mexican Pork.→

Strategy with dirt on the boots.

Design with sleeves rolled up.

Most businesses don’t need more ideas. They need someone who knows which ones are worth executing.

The problem machine

What’s broken? Push the button.

Pick your problem. The machine picks your product.

Pick up here
▼Push a button. Your product drops here.
The full line

Nine products. Every one is a service.

Didn’t push a button? Here’s everything I can take off your plate, with the proof that I’ve done it before.

  1. TEO-001TEO Prime CutMarket entry
  2. TEO-002TEO Condensed OperatorDiagnosis
  3. TEO-003Hotel TEOHospitality & short-term rentals
  4. TEO-004TEO TagProduct development
  5. TEO-005TEO BoothTrade shows
  6. TEO-006TEO In-StoreRetail & activations
  7. TEO-007TEO Friction RemoverCleaning & maintenance systems
  8. TEO-008TEO Business Unit in a BoxNew business units
  9. TEO-009TEO WheyThe method: KPIs + ROI
TEO Prime Cut
TEO-001 · 01/09

TEO Prime Cut

Market entry, cut to order. I take brands across borders: into the U.S., Mexico, Japan, Korea, or wherever your next market is. I don’t just translate words; I figure out what each side really wants and build the bridge.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 new market
Home turfU.S. · Mexico · Japan · Korea
Sales growth after opening Japan & Korea for SuKarne+90%
Trade shows, 5 countries100+
Ingredients: Positioning, distributor search, trade shows, cross-cultural negotiation in Spanish, English and Japanese.
Hire it as: Export →
TEO Condensed Operator
TEO-002 · 02/09

TEO Condensed Operator

Just add problems. A deep diagnosis of where your business loses money and where it could earn more. I go into every department, listen to the people who actually run it, and come back with numbers, not opinions. I find the point where the operation went on vacation and forgot to pack its brain.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 company
Prep time4–6 weeks
Field workEvery department
You getReport + ranked plan
PriceFixed, agreed upfront
Ingredients: Interviews with owners, managers and frontline staff (the voice of the field) · store, plant and site visits with photo audit · P&L, sales and margin by location, product and SKU · pricing, portfolio and product mix · supply chain, sourcing and production · waste, out-of-stocks and lost sales · customer base, CRM and complaints · marketing, social media and online reputation · competitor and market benchmark · KPI baseline · gap map · risks · prioritized opportunities · decisions for leadership.
Hire it as: Sample pack →
Hotel TEO
TEO-003 · 03/09

Hotel TEO

Do disturb. Problems welcome. Short-term rentals, a hotel and a hostel, built and run with my own systems, from the listing to the checkout.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 portfolio
Units built and operated46
ChannelsAirbnb · VRBO · OTAs
MarketsL.A. · Palm Springs · Joshua Tree
Ingredients: Listings, pricing and revenue management on Airbnb, VRBO and the OTAs · sales and direct bookings · guest communication and customer service · reviews and reputation · guest disputes and damage claims · cleaning and turnover operations · maintenance crews · check-in, keys and access · safety and security protocols · automation and in-house operations software · hotel and hostel operations.
Hire it as: Subscription →
TEO Tag
TEO-004 · 04/09

TEO Tag

Designed from zero. Got a product idea? I take it all the way: design, software, factory, packaging, suppliers, logistics, online sales and promotion. Proof: Argus Tech Tag, a smart pet ID I built from the first sketch to the first sale.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 product, idea to market
Stages coveredIdea → factory → sales
Built for realArgus Tech Tag
Sales channelsOnline + live commerce
Ingredients: Product design · software and technology (NFC + QR) · supplier and factory search · molds and manufacturing · packaging · logistics and fulfillment · online store and sales systems · marketing and promotion · live selling on TikTok Shop.
Hire it as: Private label →
TEO Booth
TEO-005 · 05/09

TEO Booth

A booth that sells. One trade show or a full circuit: I develop the concept, design and build the booth, produce every piece of collateral and run it on the floor, in the U.S., Mexico, Japan, Korea, Canada or Russia. Big-show results, with your budget treated like my own.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 show or a full circuit
Shows produced100+
Countries run5
ProductionIn-house, cost-controlled
Ingredients: Show selection and circuit planning · concept development · booth design and fabrication · large-format printing and installation · collateral, samples and promotional materials · shipping and logistics · on-floor operation · teardown. Past shows in Japan, Korea, Russia, Canada and the U.S., including the Mexican Beef and Mexican Pork export associations.
▶ See the real work at Awesome Stuff →Hire it as: Export →
TEO In-Store
TEO-006 · 06/09

TEO In-Store

In store now. Need your brand to show up and sell in stores? I design the point-of-sale, signage and marketing materials, send the crews that install them, and run the promotions, activations, tastings and events that move product. One store or a thousand.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 store or a full rollout
Grocery stores activated1,000+
Stores40+
CoverageMulti-state, U.S.
Ingredients: Point-of-sale design and production · signage and in-store branding · marketing materials · installation crews · in-store promotions · activations and happenings · tastings and sampling · events · multi-state logistics.
▶ See the real work at Awesome Stuff →Hire it as: Export →
TEO Friction Remover
TEO-007 · 07/09

TEO Friction Remover

Removes friction. I build the whole system that keeps your place clean, safe and in order: cleaning, disinfection and maintenance protocols, plus the tools to schedule, monitor and audit that they actually get done. Commercial or industrial, one site or a hundred. Proof: CrossClean, servicing multi-location stores across the U.S.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 site or a full network
FormatCommercial or industrial
ControlMonitored + audited
Built for realCrossClean
Ingredients: Cleaning and disinfection protocols · preventive and corrective maintenance programs · checklists and schedules · monitoring and audits · cleaning and maintenance crews · supplier and supplies management · safety protocols · food safety and sanitation protocols, if you need them.
Hire it as: Subscription →
TEO Business Unit in a Box
TEO-008 · 08/09

TEO Business Unit in a Box

Turnkey. Not a product: a whole business. I build the complete unit, from the model and the numbers to products, suppliers, brand, stores or online channels, team and systems. Then I run it until it works, hand it over and help it grow. Right now I’m doing exactly this for a U.S. retail meat chain, expansion included.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 business unit, zero to running
ScopeModel → launch → expansion
Delivered withManual + trained team
In progressU.S. retail chain
Ingredients: Business model and financial plan · market and location analysis · product portfolio and pricing · suppliers and sourcing · brand and marketing · stores and/or online store · inventory and logistics · hiring and training · operating systems, KPIs and controls · launch · operations manual and playbooks · expansion plan.
Hire it as: Private label →
TEO Whey
TEO-009 · 09/09

TEO Whey

The method: KPIs + ROIMeasure. Adjust. Repeat. Applied to businesses.

Rebuilt at 40+. The method behind everything on this shelf: measure where you are, set the KPIs, build the system, track the ROI and walk you through every step until the results hold. Big-firm rigor, operator speed. I tested it on myself first, in public.

Proof Facts
Serving size 1 company (or 1 operator)
MethodMeasure. Adjust. Repeat.
TrackedKPIs + ROI
Hand-holdingEvery step
DisciplineIncluded
Ingredients: Baseline and diagnosis · KPIs and scorecards · ROI tracking · targets and milestones · operating system and routines · weekly reviews · course corrections · coaching your team · patience and showing up again the next day.
Hire it as: Subscription →
How to order · Four ways to work together

Start with the diagnosis. Then pick what comes next.

Not actual products. Four ways to hire me.

1Start here
Sample pack

Find the money

A focused diagnosis of your business: where you lose money, where you could earn more, what customers complain about, quality, product mix and pricing.

Length
4 to 6 weeks
You get
A written diagnosis with numbers and a ranked action plan, presented to you in person
Fee
Fixed fee, agreed upfront
Ask about this format →
2Then pick what you need
Subscription

Transformation lead

I lead the change inside your company and report to you. My team at Awesome Stuff executes marketing, retail, operations and suppliers, so you don't hire a department.

Length
Six-month minimum, then month to month
You get
A senior operator plus an execution team, with monthly results you can measure
Fee
Monthly retainer
Ask about this format →
Private label

A new business unit, from zero

Products, suppliers, pricing, brand, online store, inventory, logistics and launch. I build it, run it until it works, and hand it to your people.

Length
Set by scope, with dated milestones
You get
An operating unit with documentation and a trained team
Fee
Project fee by phase
Ask about this format →
Export

Market entry and launches

Taking a brand into the U.S., Mexico, Japan or Korea: positioning, trade shows, distributors, retail rollout and in-store activation.

Length
By launch or by market
You get
Product on shelves and buyers at the table, not a market study
Fee
Project fee
Ask about this format →

Warning: not for you if

  • You want a report and no one to execute it
  • You're looking for a full-time employee
  • You want someone to agree with you. I'll tell you what the numbers say.
How it ships

From first call to handover.

Every step has a scope, a price and a result. Only the first call is free.

  1. 1

    First call

    Free

    30 minutes. You tell me what’s broken; I tell you straight whether I’m the right person to fix it.

  2. 2

    Research + proposal

    Paid · credited if we go ahead

    Before I propose anything, I study your business: numbers, market, competitors and what your customers say. You get a written proposal with the problem framed, the solution, scope, dates and price.

  3. 3

    Diagnosis

    Fixed fee · 4–6 weeks

    I go into every department, interview your people from the owner to the front line, and come back with numbers. You get a written report and a ranked action plan, presented in person.

  4. 4

    Transformation

    Monthly retainer

    I lead the fix inside your company and my team executes alongside yours. KPIs, ROI and a weekly report, so you always know what your money is doing.

  5. 5

    Handover

    Included

    Processes documented, people trained, results measured. It runs without me, and I stay a call away.

The operator

Teo Elizondo

Mexican soul, Japanese discipline, American execution.

For years I thought my career was hard to explain. Now I know I’ve always done the same thing: watch people, connect worlds that don’t understand each other, and remove obstacles until something works.

  1. Watch peopleI see what customers, staff and partners actually do, not what the report says.Proof: concierge at 20, Disney, the voice of the field in every diagnosis.
  2. Connect worldsMexico, the U.S., Japan and Korea. Owners and the front line. Designers and factories.Proof: +90% sales in Japan and Korea, Mexican Pork in Japan, a Mexican fashion brand in Tokyo.
  3. Remove obstaclesSystems, crews and numbers, until it runs without me.Proof: 46 units, 1,000+ stores, 100+ trade shows.

Born in northern Mexico. Educated in Japan. Built in the U.S. I built a hospitality operation that ran a whole building like a hotel. COVID wiped it out. I rebuilt, more than once. I know what losing money looks like from the owner’s chair. That’s why I find it fast.

My first real job was concierge at Pueblo Bonito Mazatlán, at 20. I learned that people on vacation forget to pack their brain, and that my job was to remove every obstacle before they noticed it. Today I look for the point where a business went on vacation and forgot to pack its brain.

Still willing to carry the bags. Now I also design the trip.

Founder & Creative Operator
  • Awesome Stuff Inc. → Experiential marketing, trade shows and retail production, with a team of up to 35.
  • Event Branding Depot Large-format printing, trade show production, retail installations and branded environments. Built and operated in the U.S.

Also founded: Awesome Stay · Argus Tech Tag · The Art Nook Hostel · CrossClean

Executive summary →
Teo Elizondo, screen-print portrait
Specifications
Base
Los Angeles and Joshua Tree, California
Markets
U.S. · Mexico · Japan · Korea
Languages
Spanish · English · Japanese
Industries
Food and protein · retail · hospitality · consumer products · events
Education
B.A. Communications, Tec de Monterrey · Doshisha University, Kyoto · Kansai Gaidai, Osaka · Disney University · The Clown School, Los Angeles: Clown 1 & 2
Core strengths
International market entry · retail rollout execution · trade show production · supply chain & factory negotiation · live commerce · hospitality operations · cross-cultural negotiation
Also worked at
Walt Disney World (Epcot, Mexico Pavilion) · Fremantle, American Idol on ABC · HEP5, Osaka · SuKarne (Viz Cattle Corp.)
In business since
2006
Off the clock
A personal note

Made in Mexico. Built in America.

Becoming an American was one of the proudest moments of my life. After years of dreaming about Hollywood, Hollywood finally opened the door. Not because I was famous. Because I was an immigrant.

▶ Watch
Frijol and Milo, Teo’s rescue dogs

Frijol (14) + Milo (6)

Dog dad. Adoption advocate. Firm believer in second chances.

Both are rescues. Frijol has been with me for 14 years, Milo for six. If you’re thinking about getting a dog, adopt one. There are too many good ones waiting for a home.

Adopt. Don’t shop. →

Also: figure skater, hockey player, Karate Kid, bodybuilder, ballroom-dancer wannabe. Former J-pop singer, famous in my head.

Uncomfortable questions

What you’re thinking but won’t ask.

Are you expensive?
Yes. Less than the problem you have. And the first call is free, so you can do that math yourself.
What if I don’t like what you find?
I’ll tell you anyway. You’re not paying me to agree with you.
Why would a clown fix my company?
Clown school teaches you to read a room in three seconds. Some companies take three years to read their own.
You’ve done a bit of everything. Are you good at anything?
One thing, every time: finding where it’s broken and making it work. The shelf above is the receipt.
Do you do the work, or just the PowerPoint?
Both. My team builds the booth, installs the signage and runs the operation. The PowerPoint is the easy part.

Let's build something interesting. Give me a challenge, I'll figure it out.

Start with a conversation, not a contract.

Send me a few lines about your business, what isn't working and what it's costing you. If I can help, we set up a call. If I can't, I'll tell you that too.

What happens next
  1. 1Tell me what’s going on.
  2. 2I read every message myself.
  3. 3I reply personally, by email.
Prefer email? Write to me →

Fields with * are required. Business inquiries only. And no, I don’t want to go out on a date. Thank you.