We recently connected with Aiyesha Christian and have shared our conversation below.
Aiyesha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What can you share with us about the story behind how you found your key vendors?
Having a clean supply chain is an integral part of Nomad Mix. As one of the founding policies, I had to accept that my initial cost to market would be higher and my profit margin would have to be lower in order for the brand to be competitive. Though this was a challenge, I wanted to show the world that you do not have to compromise the integrity of ingredients in order to work toward a profitable company. I first started out by connecting with similar brands in my community. This was a no-brainer as Portland has some of the most unique and innovative brands that have gone national. I first partnered with Jacobsen Salt as our only added sodium to the mixes. As I continued to develop more flavors I sought out brands I already consumed. Albina City Nuts makes the most delicious toasted corn, it was a go-to snack for me at all times! I created Dune as a flavor to showcase their amazing product and a snack I would buy from the grocery store. Dune has been a hit! It’s salty, tart, crunchy, and spicy, yummy! The small food business in Portland is a tight community, we do all that we can to support each other. Albina City Nuts were more than happy to become a vendor and it has also deepen our friendship as business owners.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I started Nomad after my younger brother unexpectedly passed. He was an inspirational person who suffered from multiple seizure disorders, however, he never let it keep him from going after his dreams of being a poet and musician. He frequently performed in open mics and dedicated beat creator. At the time I was fresh out of grad school with a degree in International business, a focus on sustainable supply chains, and working for a large company that was downsizing due to the economic crisis at the time. I needed a more creative outlet. One evening, I was mixing together my favorite trail mix creations and thought “Maybe I can do this!” I leaned on a book I read during grad school Blue Ocean Strategy – it spoke about creating innovation in spaces that seemed dull. Lots of references to Cirque Du Solie and how they disrupted the aging circus entertainment industry. Most trail mix was terrible! Salty, Sugary, a snack made for children. I love snacking, and the benefits of nuts and dried fruit. What I noticed was the trail mix category was boring, brands copied each other’s ingredients, and there was nothing new and exciting. I wanted to create a brand that used unique ingredients, fun dried fruits and veggies, a variety of uncommon nuts and seeds, and to flavor the mixes with artisan spices. The first flavor I created was Meadow, after positive feedback from friends and family, I created Tide Pool, Dune, and a few years later Forest and Harvest. The uniqueness of my mixes has connected me with nonprofits that share a common mission regarding the environment. I was able to go on a conservation trip to the Arctic Village in Alaska with Chad Brown (activist, and filmmaker), and hear the struggles the indigenous tribes are experiencing. I am also waiting to be voted in as a board member for Oregon Wild, an effective organization fighting for environmental justice.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I’m not sure if I’m resilient or stubborn! Getting through the pandemic has been a challenge. The brand growth projections immediately crashed as our key industries were shedding brands, downsizing, and purchasing more conservatively. This forced me to really look at the value of the company and find other outlets for sales. We joined MeetMable and Faire which is going well. I also took the opportunity of the extra free time, I was laid off from my corporate job due to the pandemic, to seek out professional development and business advising. This has allowed me to connect with other business leaders and support organizations which has been integral to keeping the brand alive. I also LOVE this brand and truly believe it can and will change the world. It’s just going to take time and creating lasting partnerships with our suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders.
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
2022 I was enticed by a large order. Not an order that was so much larger than previous orders but comparable. I struggled to believe it and eventually convinced myself that it was legit, with the help of my partner and my bank. Well, it was not legit! it was a freaking SCAM that continues to jeopardize the health of the business. Nomad is recovering, slowly, and will eventually repay Quickbooks for the scam, but has put a lot of strain on our cash flows. My advice to other small businesses is if something looks or feels suspicious – like if you really deep down feel it’s not legit – BELIEVE YOUR INITIAL GUT FEELING!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nomadmix.com
- Instagram: @nomadsnackmix
- Facebook: @nomadsnackmix
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flg0_AKbGwA
Image Credits
mayari studio