It was go bigger, or go home.
That’s how Blaine Tiongson, owner/designer of Momma Pots in Pacific Beach, described her entry into concrete pot production and sale.
Tiongson cut her entrepreneurial teeth for about 15 years in the restaurant business, doing operations and start-ups working, by her own account, “like a mad woman.”
A serious car accident and two subsequent back surgeries, however, took her out of that industry. But it only strengthened her resolve to find her true niche.
“I didn’t want to feel defeated,” said the mother of two young daughters.
While recuperating, Tiongson started cultivating the huge lot where she lived. “I transformed it into a full garden,” she said. “I created a park. It was huge.”
She found it a transformational experience.
“It was so inspiring, I felt so alive,” Tiongson said, adding she became motivated to find a way to share that with others.
Enter Momma Pots, which started out in Tiongson’s garage in April 2017.
“I’m a perfectionist. I did a lot of research and development. I worked very hard,” Tiongson said of kick-starting her new business.
Momma Pots is genuinely homegrown. “We hand pour all the concrete. And we hand paint everything,” said Tiongson of her creative process, which she learned on her own.
“It was received better than I expected, and we’ve been working at an accelerated rate,” she added.
Momma Pots has a small retail section out front with lots of potted plants, and a large warehouse space in back where pots are manufactured, painted and stored. 
Tiongson’s clients include boutique owners, plant suppliers, nurseries and gift suppliers. Concrete pot prices range from $12 to $500.
Momma Pots ships nationwide. “Everybody has found me on Instagram,” noted Tiongson. “I developed a brand and a name on Instagram. We spread pretty quick.”
The company’s logo is “inspired by things that grow.”
Tiongson would encourage others to follow her path in becoming an entrepreneur.
“But they have to be willing to work, and be consistent,” she said. “It’s a wonderful challenge for anybody that has the drive. You have to put your best product out, and ignore the fear (of failure).”
Looking back, Tiongson reflected on how far she’s come. 
“Going from my home garage to a 5,000-square-foot warehouse was a little scary,” she admitted while adding, “It’s taught me strengths, and taught me a lot about how strong I am, and how inspiring I can be.”