About the Episode:
If you live in New Mexico, and love New Mexico merch, then you’ve probably seen some of the amazing FS2 Supply designs. Bunny interviews one of the owners and the designer, Eric Griego about his New Mexico based company. Along with his New Mexico story and the best place to get chicharrones (or how to make your own) Eric shares what’s coming up next for FS2. If you’re interested in being a guest on the I Love New Mexico podcast, you can reach out at – ilovenewmexicoblog@gmail.com
Resources and Links
FS2 Supply Website
Follow FS2 Supply on Instagram
I Love New Mexico blog page
Bunny’s website
I Love New Mexico Instagram
I Love New Mexico Facebook

Featuring:
Eric Griego
Eric Griego was born and raised and still reside in Santa Fe. Eric received his Bachelors degree in Graphic Design from New Mexico State University. Eric takes pride in infusing history and culture into the apparel and goods designed for FS2.
Griego said he and his family opened FS2 Supply in July 2017 in response to the poor quality of New Mexico-themed merchandise sold by corporate-owned retailers. “New Mexicans have a lot of pride in their state. We felt like there was a need for more good-looking New Mexico-themed gifts,” Griego said. – Albuquerque Journal 2019
Episode Transcript
Bunny: (00:11)
Hi there and welcome to the, I love New Mexico podcast. I’m Bunny Terry, and we have an extra special guest today. Somebody whose, business I’m nuts about because it’s perfect for anybody who loves New Mexico. And our guest today is Eric GGO with, um, F S two and that’s like fire stick… Didn’t it. Come from the fire stick name. Am I crazy? Yeah,
Eric : (00:43)
It is.
Bunny: (00:44)
So It’s Fs.
Eric : (00:46)
It’s fire sticks, Supply co.
Bunny: (00:50)
And I’m gonna have you talk all about that because the company is so cool, um, that you make you create and market and sell New Mexico themed products, right.
Eric : (01:03)
New Mexico goods, Yeah.
Bunny: (01:06)
Correct. So Eric, you and I were just talking before we got started about, um, how long you’ve been in New Mexico and it’s, always right?
Eric : (01:17)
Bunny: (02:54)
The pink one?
Eric : (02:55)
Bunny: (02:57)
Didn’t it used to be pink. The, the Christus, the old Christus building was pink for a while?
Eric : (03:03)
uh, maybe so, maybe so. Yeah,
Bunny: (03:06)
I think it was a little while.
Eric : (03:08)
And so her, her family’s from Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico as well in the Pojoaque and Nambe area. And so we have lots of family, you know, uh, throughout the state and, and, uh, the family that’s moved into other states as well and such. And so, so, um, we have a lot of support, I guess, in many different aspects in our life, which, which is to me, one of the great things about living in New Mexico.
Bunny: (03:44)
I always tell people I have like 62 first cousins. I’m curious, how many do you think you have?
Eric : (03:52)
Well, first, I mean, extended cousins, I don’t even know. I have, I have no clue, you know, a hundred plus I’m sure. Yeah. So, so it’s, it’s funny. It’s like everywhere we go, right. We, we run into family or people that we know, and, um, my, my kids always make fun of me, you know, for, they say, I talk to everybody and, and, uh, for me, it’s just like, that’s a part of who I am. And, and again, like one of the beauties about, uh, living in the place that you’re born, you know, you go out to eat and you go to the store, you go to, you know, target or put gas or whatever. And you’re constantly running into people that, you know and that’s part of what makes Santa Fe home for me is being surrounded by family and friends and you know, people that you meet along the way, you know, new and old and et cetera.
Bunny: (04:51)
So what’s Christmas, like, do you go to your mom’s house or what do you do? I’m curious to
Eric : (04:55)
Know about that. My parents live not too far from here and literally it’s like a two minute drive if that. And a lot of times we do both Christmas Eve and Christmas day gatherings, um, which has been pretty interesting this last few years, you know right. I think it was two years ago. We, we froze our butts up because we all gathered in the driveway around fire pits
Bunny: (06:16)
I know that holiday schedule I do. Yeah. But, um, well I’m really your company. You sort of, I, you know, I follow you on every social media channel and you’re always talking at about family. I’m curious to know how that kind of plays into your whole business model, cuz it seems like it’s really an important part of what you do.
Eric : (06:37)
Yeah. You know, we Kelly and I, so, so I’m a graphic designer by profession. So I’ve been practicing design now for 26 years. And so I went to New Mexico state. I got my degree in, it’s a bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design. So I’ve been doing design for a while now. And then Kelly, my wife is a teacher. So she’s, this is her 26th year of teaching. And we have three kiddos. We have one daughter who’s at New Mexico state. She’s a junior now. And then we have two younger boys. One’s a sophomore and one’s an eighth grader. And so this past July was five years that we opened and brainstormed Fs two supply company, which is short for Firestick studio two, it’s our second venture. And it was kind of a combination of reasons that we started it. You know, one being that our kids were, uh, getting to be of the age, uh, that they were entering the workforce primarily at that time was my daughter. She had a very busy volleyball schedule and we felt it was also important that she started, you know, learning what how to, you know, participate in, in the workforce and contribute in that respect and started kind of preparing herself as a young adult, et cetera. And so we thought, well, what if we created our own business? You know who doesn’t need some side income and, um, you know, all the life lessons that come with starting your own business. So we, we, we chose designing New Mexico apparel and goods because that was something that was, you know, design was something that was, uh, you know, obviously my profession and, um, I enjoyed doing and then, and then it’s, it was like all of a sudden our family was so very excited about it. So I have a sister who, my older sister, owns elevate media. Her name is Clarissa Lavato and, you know, with her marketing expertise, my design expertise. We started designing a few shirts, you know I started with like 10 designs and I sent them to all my friends and said, Hey, you know, we’re thinking about a new company, uh, tell me which ones you like, you know, everybody chimed in. So we, we started with six designs. So I said, all right, well, let’s, let’s produce six shirts. We, a friend of ours at the time. So happened that they were trying to put on a festival in the, uh, Pojoaque area. And he was like, Hey, why don’t you come put up a, put up a tent at our festival sell some of those shirts that you’re producing and such. And I was going like, like what, why would I wanna do that? You know? And on a whim I said, okay, count me in, you know, I felt like I was helping him out a little bit. They were, it was, it was an opportunity for us to kind of introduce our, our shirts to people. And so I left that lunch meeting with my buddy, and then I called my wife, of course. And I was like, Hey Kelly. I said on July 15th, you know, I just committed us to this festival and we’re gonna work and we’re sell shirts. And she was still just like long silence. And she goes, you know, that’s our anniversary? Correct. I was like, oh my God. So, my wedding anniversary and the anniversary for FS2 fortunately falls on the same day.
Bunny: (10:58)
That’s nice, good, good thinking,
Eric : (11:01)
you know,
Bunny: (14:48)
So how did that first show go? Did just sell everything?
Eric : (14:51)
Bunny: (17:35)
Where, where will that be?
Eric : (17:36)
Eric? It is right in between REI and the violet crown down that strip of stores. We’re right. Smacking the center.
Bunny: (17:46)
Are you close to La Lecharia?
Eric : (17:48)
We’re two doors down, two doors down.
Bunny: (17:51)
Eric : (17:51)
So, so we’re super excited about that. And it’s been, nerve-wracking, you know, people keep asking, well, how’s it going? You know, I said, well, I said, you know, going broke and going crazy at the same time is pretty darn interesting. So
Bunny: (18:17)
Well, you’ve really, you’ve filled a niche and, it’s, and your product is very cool. So I’m glad to, I didn’t know that you had that background in graphic design. And I have several of your water bottles that I would have one right here, except it’s in the dishwasher right now, but good, good. And all of my husband’s caps nice are from your company. His grandson gives him for father’s day and for his birthday and for Christmas, he always gets a couple of caps. Yeah, good.
Eric : (18:46)
Yeah. And, like one of our, you know, favorite things about, um, FS2 is really just meeting all of the people who are so excited about not only the apparel and goods that we produce, but, but really it it’s an extension of their excitement and love for New Mexico. Right. And so, um, we go to these festivals, uh, and we meet constantly new people all the time. And I sit there and I just listen I mostly listen. I don’t even talk. And it’s, these people just pouring their, hard out about why they love New Mexico so much and how, you know, where they’re going next, and they’re gonna wear their apparel. And they always wanna represent New Mexico wherever they go. And then we get all these pictures back from people, you know, that travel all over, uh, which is our it’s, our Instagram is filled with them. Um, mm-hmm
Bunny: (19:52)
So are you still doing festivals?
Eric : (19:56)
So we’ve done, we’ve done, two really over the past, three years, which is the, the one on the Plaza for the 4th of July. So pancakes on the Plaza, and then we’ve done Octoberfest in Red River, which is, um, a great festival, uh, very family friendly. It’s in the mountains, it’s in the fall, the leaves are turning. Everyone is there just total mellow having a good time, um, there to visit. It’s like this, almost this last hurrah of fall before everyone kind of hunkers down inside, you know, and it’s close down for the winter inside their homes, et cetera. Um, so, so those two, I don’t know what we’ll do next year, but we we’ve already committed this year for Octoberfest in red river.
Bunny: (20:51)
Um, oh, so you’ll be there in October. Yes.
Eric : (20:53)
Which is we’re trying to open the shop and be in October at Octoberfest. And so, yeah. It’s like, I dunno, it’s nuts, but
Bunny: (21:02)
That’s so exciting though. I mean, we’re trying to tell some New Mexico stories here and you’re hearing them everywhere you go, which I think is so cool.
Eric : (21:12)
Yeah. Yep. Yep. Totally. Yeah. And I just love that, um, I hear about their families and where they’re from and what, what, you know, makes their family tick and their you know, passions about New Mexico and what they do for a living. And, it just goes on and on and on and on. So it’s great.
Bunny: (21:32)
Well, you know, when we were I, you’re certainly younger than I am Eric, I would think. But, um, when I, you know, when I was growing up, there weren’t even a million people in the state of New Mexico then. Right. And so it’s, and I said this before in the podcast, I think in the beginning, you know, I used to never go to the gr to the gas station regard. You know, I raised my kids in Albuquerque. I grew up in Logan, but I lived, you know, in Portales and Las Cruces and Farmington all kinds of different places. And I never went to the gas station that I didn’t see somebody I knew.
Eric : (22:03)
Right.
Bunny: (22:04)
You know, it’s like, because New Mexico is like a small town. Yeah. And, and you’re getting that by doing these, you’re, you’re hearing the stories of people who had the same experience. Right.
Eric : (22:16)
Yeah. And so, yeah, I hope with the opening of this shop, you know, I mean, I can’t obviously be there, all the time, but, I do look forward to meeting a whole new set of people, um, et cetera. And I think we’ve, we’ve done a decent job about getting, um, this local following and, and, but I think we’re still for the most part pretty, um, pretty, um, hidden or, or not known given our location, et cetera. And so, so we’re still having this kind of steady flow of people that are coming, um, in and shopping for the first time. And have, have either just heard about us or have heard about us for a little bit, uh, you know, while from family members, et cetera, but it’s their first time shopping with us. So, so I’m still hoping to grow that local following a whole bunch more so
Bunny: (23:16)
Well, and I see your products around town. I mean, doesn’tI mean, Nick has your stuff over at Santa Fe outfit, uh, mountain trail, Santa Fe trail outfit or whatever trail.
Eric : (23:27)
Santa Fe Trail Outfitters. Yes. Yeah. So, he opened his shop about a, a year and a few months, um, ago. And in fact, we just had breakfast, um, and, you know, he’s, he’s done a great job building his, his clientele and his shop. And, um, he’s carried our products from day one. And, uh, we we’ve, we’ve, uh, done really well as his kind of local source of New Mexico apparel. And so we’re excited to, you know, jump in that arena and see what we can do.
Bunny: (24:04)
Well. And so I guess, do you have other retailers in the state? I mean, if somebody’s listening and they wanna get in touch with you, do you, do you have other retailers in the state?
Eric : (24:14)
We’re pretty limited as far as where, um, you know, there was a couple of companies in Albuquerque at one point that we’re carrying our products and for whatever reason, they they’ve stopped carrying our stuff. And then, there was another local shop here in, in Santa Fe, but again, they have it ordered in a while. So we’ll see. I don’t know, it’s pretty tough to do wholesale and run the retail shop. Right. And still kind of keep it small and intimate. And, so I’m kind of, I mean, honestly, I’m flying by the seat of my pants.
Bunny: (25:17)
Well, you’re doing a great job. Tell people, I want people to know what, what is your website? What, what’s the email, what’s the website address?
Eric : (25:26)
It’s F S the number two supply co.com.
Bunny: (25:33)
Okay. And we’ll include that in our resources, but, and I also wanna give you a shout out Eric for you know, I’m the, the chair of the board of the cancer foundation for New Mexico. And last year, you guys, so generously gave us this big basket of products. And it was one of the first things that got snapped up yeah. At the buy it now price because yeah. It’s such cool gear. Yeah.
Eric : (25:58)
Yeah. We, we love hearing those stories all the time. You know, we try and, and give, um, donations as much as we can. And we think, you know, creating that big basket of kind of a variety of products is, is a real, um, enticing way to go, as opposed to just donating single items, because it gives a people a good flavor of the range of products that we do. And I think that it garners or the hope is right, is that it garners a larger donation for the organization that we’re oh, it does. Yeah.
Bunny: (26:31)
Yeah, absolutely.
Eric : (26:32)
And so we, we, around the holidays, we love hearing all of the, you know, the, uh, white elephant gift exchanges. Oh yeah. That people come in and buy and that, you know, all the family members are like still in the Fs two products from each other. Yeah. And so, yeah, everyone wants to leave at the end of the party with, uh, with the gifts that were taken by our patrons, which is awesome. So cool. Yeah.
Bunny: (26:57)
So tell me, we gotta talk just for a minute about, um, what your favorite things are here. You know, if somebody was coming for the very first time to New Mexico, do you have an idea what you would tell them? You know, I get these emails all the time and people will say, okay, we’re coming. We’re only gonna be there two days. What’s, what’s the thing we can’t miss.
Eric : (27:17)
Oh my gosh. Well, I mean, for myself, I have affinity for the outdoors. You know, I grew up, um, hunting and fishing and camping. And, and so for me, that being in the outdoors and the, the smells and the sounds and the solace is, is my real escape. So if they have an opportunity to, you know, take these hikes or visit any of the monuments, um, that are here in New Mexico I would definitely encourage ’em to, to get outside and do that. And of course the number of restaurants in Santa Fe is just awesome as far as food goes. Um, so we’re always pleasantly surprised at when we travel that we’re always like at the end of our trips, we’re going, like, we need, we need New Mexico food. We, we’re excited to get back to, to have our Ench LA and our, whatever else that we’re gonna make with chile.
Eric : (28:24)
And so you know, visiting for I think Kelly and myself, one of our favorite restaurants is the shed. So, um, oh yeah. The yeah, so the chef’s wife actually, and Kelly, um, taught together, uh, at the beginning of their careers. So there was a, there’s a greater connection there as well. Um, and so, you know, I think the, she for us is this place where, um, locals and tourists mix and seeing that, um, energy between, between the, the, those two groups of people is cool for, for me. I enjoy that.
Bunny: (29:11)
So are you guys, are you guys putting up chili right now or did you already,
Eric : (29:16)
Uh, you know, my parents, they grow, their own chile. You know, they, I don’t know, they produce a modest amount, like three S, which is more than enough for them for the year. So they bought him one year or my dad one year for his birthday like a mini roaster. Oh, wow. So they roast their own chili and they sack it and they do, you know, all of those fall, uh, traditions of making tamales, you know, putting ’em in the freezer. And they, they, they give a very modest amount to each of our, you know, families and we stick it in the freezer. And so we try and make it stretch out for the entire year. And so anyway, so my dad each year saves the seeds and then starts the plants on his own.
Bunny: (30:12)
Wow.
Eric : (30:13)
In the spring. And then he saves some plants for me. And so we replant, um, you know, very few, like maybe I dunno, 15 plants outside, but, but it’s just enough to pick a few chilies and, and, and roast them here on the open flame. And, you know, for breakfast, we may take that, I’ll chop up fresh green chili and, you know, just the smell of it, you know how do you not love that?
Bunny: (30:39)
Okay. So I’m searching, you know, when I lived in Albuquerque. Um, oh, like Duran and I can’t remember now, I can’t remember the other place had the best chicharrones, where here, can you buy them out? Not at your house,
Eric : (30:56)
Besides my backyard here. That’s a good question
Bunny: (31:01)
See. We’re gonna have to pose that to everybody.
Eric : (31:05)
Yeah. And honestly, I don’t have an answer for that because we make ’em every, so often here that, uh, you know, we, we, we know how to cook. ’em we know when to pull ’em off, we know, gotta solve them, et cetera. And so we really don’t even entertain the idea of ordering anywhere.
Bunny: (31:27)
So tell me how you make them, because a bunch of our listeners aren’t even gonna know what they are. Yeah.
Eric : (31:33)
So it’s a, it’s basically pork fat, right. Pork trimmings that you can buy at most local grocery stores. And it’s a combination of pork fat and with a little bit of meat. And a lot of times I’ll buy some pork cubes to add to the chicharrones. So there’s this mix of, uh, pure pork and the chicharrones themselves. And so I cook ’em on a, on a disc outside and you know, sear them at high heat and don’t leave, don’t walk away. You, you constantly stir, ’em add a little bit of seasoning, you know, people like to kind of mull around and visit while we’re cooking. And, you know, you just have to have that eye for once they’re ready, you know, pull ’em off, salt them one more time and, and make sure those tortillas are warm.
Bunny: (32:32)
Yum. Yeah. And you want ’em to be crispy, right? Little crispy.
Eric : (32:36)
Yep. Definitely.
Bunny: (32:37)
Definitely.
Eric : (32:38)
Okay. Definitely crispy
Bunny: (32:39)
People are gonna, people are gonna send us notes and say, what are you talking about? But I know exactly what you’re talking about. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Eric : (32:47)
Google it, right.
Bunny: (32:48)
Yeah. Yeah. My husband grew up here and he said the coolest thing was when he had walk home, he grew up over in Casa Allegre and the neighborhood. And he said, you know, the best thing was walking home from, um, Salazar elementary and stopping at his friend’s house. And there was always a little bowl chicharrones always right there on the corner of, by the stove. So.
Eric : (33:08)
Bunny: (33:21)
That’s so cool. Eric. I never know where these conversations are gonna go, but this has been a good one. Yeah.
Eric : (33:28)
Good. I’m glad.
Bunny: (33:29)
Yeah. Yeah. So I want for folks to find you, so once again, the website is F as in like Frank and S as in Sally, the number two supply Co.com and go there, you’re gonna find the coolest products in the world. But, um,
Eric : (33:50)
And so one thing I would, yeah, one thing I would mention is that we try with all of our products that they all come from a story or a concept some sort of aspect of our life. And, if you go on the website, each design has this description of how it relates either to our family or to New Mexico. And so, um, I think that’s one of the things that makes our products unique and they’re richer in concept. They’re just not any sort of shirt that, you know, represents New Mexico.
Bunny: (34:27)
So do you have an example? Can you tell me one story of one product? Can you think of,
Eric : (34:32)
Uh, we have, well, we were just talking about chicharrones. I have a chicharrones on shirt and it says, when life hands you, pork fat make chicharrones
Bunny: (34:46)
I have to go get right away!
Eric : (34:47)
Now. Yeah. There’s one example of, uh, another example is, uh, I have one that says, uh, mi Barrio and it has, you know, the date that New Mexico established January 6th, 1912. And, it’s, it’s just a statement about how New Mexico is our home. And no matter what city we go to, there’s, there’s a familiarity about, you know, how it relates to our own neighborhood and family, etcetera. So, that’s another one. And then one other one is it says the word Orale and it’s, uh, I mean, you know, families and people use that word to mean everything from, you know, get outta my face to, Hey, how are you? Good to see you. So, you know, so people enjoy kind of having that connection and that story behind each of the different designs.
Bunny: (35:44)
That’s so cool. That is so cool. Eric, thank you so much for talking to me and I wanna hear, thank you. We’re gonna wanna do some we’ll wanna, when you get open at the new place, we’ll come over and take some pictures and do a little blog post or something to celebrate. How about that?
Eric : (35:59)
Yeah, for sure. For sure. We’re gonna first first goal is to just open those doors and get generating some income and then we’re gonna think about some sort of grand opening, so we’ll definitely keep you posted.
Bunny: (36:12)
Nice, nice. Well, Eric Griego, thank you so much for being a guest today. And, um, I appreciate it. It’s it’s always a treat to talk to somebody. Who’s got a story like yours and I just wanna thank everybody who’s listening. Thanks for checking in. And please find us wherever you listen to your favorite podcast and, um, share and like, and rate us because that’s how more people hear more stories about New Mexico. So everybody take care out there.
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