We recently connected with Ebony Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Ebony, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
After watching one of my younger cousins die from a rare form of cancer at the age of 7, in the 10th grade I decided the cannabis industry was something I wanted to know more about. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in 2016, I worked a few different jobs before landing a job in the field I had dreams of for many years. The only kicker was I had to uproot my life and move 12 hours away to Tulsa, Oklahoma. After making the decision to relocate my life for a job in the cannabis industry right before a global pandemic, I soon found myself in the same position as so many other families in America. Realizing that you can have a job one day and things could go haywire the next, leaving you to figure things out and for a few weeks I was stuck. With the world on hold, and my job shutting down to accommodate the changes, I had to shake it off and make the decision to take my financial situation into my own hands and start my own company. I developed 8twenty8 a company specializing in scratch baked desserts ranging from cakes , and cookies to our best seller the well known “sweet potato pie also offering gluten free and vegan options and herbal teas upon request. Before the vision was just about providing alternatives to substitutes for prescriptions, now the mission is to educate on just that while also teaching others how to take their passion and turn them into profits. Although I came here for the cannabis industry, I decided the “ancillary” sector was a better route for me. Providing non-infused desserts for patients event those with special dietary needs while also educating them on other herbal additives that may benefit one body and health.
Ebony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Ebony Jones. I was raise in Rockmart, Georgia by a single mother with the help of our family. My grandmother was a Home economics and art teacher so I love to say I believe I picked up on her teachings, encouraging me to take up home ec in middle school and culinary arts in high school. I would later go in to graduate from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College furthering my career. I tackled the Georgia baking scene for 3 years before taking a chance on the cannabis industry I had always dreamed of. In January it will make 3 years that I’ve been here in Oklahoma .It has always been a dream of mine to work in the industry so one day I just applied to 50+ cannabis jobs on indeed, I found emails and sent my resume. One company reached out, I flew to Arizona for the interview and 3 month’s later I relocated from Marietta, Georgia to work with Sublime brands as the head of their infused Candies and Chocolates department. The pandemic hit as soon as I got here , the company had to shut down and relocate so I got a job a dispensary and created my business. After constantly seeing the number 828 being a woman of faith I googled a Bible verse with those numbers and saw Romans 8:28 stating “ that God works for our good “in all things” I chose my business name 8twenty8 . For an entire year I would pop ups selling non infused desserts at cannabis and non cannabis events to make up for income selling things like , pies cakes by the slice, cheesecake ect. Being a hub for remote workers the Tulsa community rapidly took me in with word of mouth and face to face interactions helping my business grow.
One of my biggest challenges in this journey has been not losing faith and finding my purpose on this journey . Coming to a state that’s 10 years behind and being subject to being one of the very few black women in the Oklahoma cannabis industry, had proven to be somewhat difficult , but working on bridging the gap so I can see others like myself receiving opportunities has been quite fulfilling.
One of the problems that I experienced upon relocating was finding a community of people to support my in my new city. After being depressed for a year I decided I would create my own space for others feeling the same as myself. 8twenty8 started hosting events catered to small businesses and people looking to network and mingle in cannabis friendly spaces.
These event are SOLELY catered to the circulating of dollars with small businesses and events centered around breaking the stigma of cannabis such as our “Puff and Plant intentions” theme hosted with my colleague Jasmine Lewis. It’s centered around the Full or New moon , and is dedicated to releasing and preparing for a new season as sound bowls play. After setting your intentions you plant them in the pot that you painted to your liking based on how you felt in the moment.
I also just hosted a birthday party on 8/28 that was dedicated to giving back to Small business here in Tulsa, we had a massage therapist, Tarot , and a chalk contest centered around mental health and the healthy consumption of cannabis. I has many companies sponsor massages for patrons, I was able to give away 15 free meals from Leroux’s Kitchen and certificates to purchase items from the vendors that were there .
As much as I love pastry and baking I’m always finding myself at a crossroads, because events serve the community more! In the next year I’m looking to give back to the youth with education and push myself to start hosting classes.
I have also recently started offering cannabis friendly/ LGBTQ friendly ordained ministry services so that everyone can feel welcome and open to any practices on their special day.
If I could pick anything to say I’m the most proud of it would be me. Me because this journey has been just that a journey. The person/business owner/ influencer that people see today was not their person I was 2 years ago. It took me being uncomfortable, alone, depressed, in racial situations I was forced to speak up for myself, patient, and constantly working to find myself for me to get here. Oh yea and therapy and prayer ! It changed my life !!! Im an advocate for being an entrepreneur but also very vocal in the fact that entrepreneurship is not for the weak hearted. It takes mental wellness and a great support system just like any great thing in life.
How did you build your audience on social media?
One thing that I’ve noticed when it comes to MY business is my customers always tell me how they love how authentic I am. I can honestly say that in the beginning I hated when people would tell me I need make my own social media page for my business specifically because I felt as if I was the business the brand all of the above. And for a full year that’s exactly how I treated it. I used my social media platform to highlight my progress as an entrepreneur. Being sure to be open about the ups and downs of the journey, suggesting tips and resources for other entrepreneurs and bringing awareness to mental health awareness. Coming from someone who loves authenticity I feel creating videos being vulnerable while baking / creating, helped others relate to me while also bringing awareness to the products that I offer through my company. Be sure you are aware of trending sounds, hash tags , or any trends can be very helpful.
Also finding ways to collaborate with other influencers, businesses ect. so more eyes see your video.
I can’t say enough utilize ALLL platforms.
how can you be seen on tik tok , Facebook, instagram, linkdin and snap chat? Create one video using cap cut or splice , create a caption with relevant hash tags and post it on every single one ! More eyes more opportunities for business
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Imagine, you pray for this amazing job! You speak into existence they’ll fly you out for training and pay you exactly what you want compensation wise. Boom ! It happens you pack up the car , find a house in 7 days , move in, everything’s amazing right? Not exactly, two days later my grandfather has a stroke and my mother has to pack up and leave even though she had plans on staying for a month. As soon as you get her back home safe, the church next door decides they don’t want a cannabis kitchen located near them so the petition for your company to relocate resulting in shutting down operations for a month and a half so a temporary kitchen can be found. Once the temporary kitchen was found , a global pandemic hits slowing all things not considered essential. As employees we found ourselves buying packs of tissue and cleaners for each other whenever we found it available. Two weeks before moving into the new kitchen the company was building, my grandfather passed and 5 months into my relocation I had to return home for 3 weeks to help plan the funeral and pack up his home after my mom shut down. I honestly didn’t know what to do , I would ask myself over and over why did I decide to move away from my family and everything I know just for all of this to happen. I was the only black employee, so missing so much work weighed heavy on me mentally and financially, I barely knew anyone outside of work, with nobody to talk to some days I would just go home and cry. I laugh out loud now because I actually remember crying and praying asking for God to send me more black people. It sounds crazy but coming from Atlanta a black Mecca , although I went to school in a predominantly white area, Oklahoma was just … Different… Reminding myself that I would never be given more than I could handle I was determined to change my mindset . Having to remind myself that jobs/people are not my source but my higher power is, also asking myself what was this for? I started forcing myself to go to networking events ( I would cry in the car before going in because I was so nervous) but I did it anyway. My first year was almost traumatic but when I look at where I am now I can say it was all worth it. I made it through it and I love the community that I have found on the other side of all the rough times. I’m now surrounded by so many amazing people of all races that have helped me grow so much over the past two years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.8twenty8.llc/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blckbudderfly/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-jones-1262bb114
Image Credits
Jamie Beeman Photography