We recently connected with Jackie Morin and have shared our conversation below.
Jackie, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
Wonderpuff cotton candy was born from sadness. I wanted to create Joy in a world as chaotic as ours. I’ve always wanted to be a business owner but never knew how to. I love sugar and disco balls and wanted to create my own colorful world that can be not only financially sustainable but what people would love to support. Many of us have been conditioned to silent our dreams and our desires. We’re told if we do all the right things that we would be the most successful. We know now this is not true. Sometimes the best success is going out of your traditions and norms and doing what makes your heart feel the most alive. When Wonderpuff was born it was during a time where I felt the least alive. With the economy getting harder to exist in and Trump America soaring with violence against people of color and the working class, life as I knew it seemed far away. We knew it was time to start our business or else it would be just another dream.
Wonderpuff has been spinning cotton candy for a little over five years and we have found out that though hardship and violence surrounds us all so does love and light. And we wanted to submerse ourselves in all the beautiful love and light Durham, NC has to offer.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Wonderpuff serves artisanal cotton candy since 2017. We pride ourselves on being radical Black leaders that create space to speak against white supremacy and capitalism and what world we’d like to create for our people all while spinning the fluffiest, tastiest vegan cotton candy in Durham, NC.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
During lock down of Spring 2020, we made the decision to take our cotton candy online. We sold hundreds of cotton candy every week while everyone was at home learning to make bread and learning to find their radical voices. We were able to create suitability through our products during the most uncertain of our history. We were able to secure housing and expand our business into a brick and mortar all while covid took over the world. It was phenomenal to see many people support our business and keep us alive during that time.
How’d you meet your business partner?
My business partner, Rem is also my husband. We’ve been together for over 12 years. We fell in love in our early twenties and have been best friends ever since. Rem plays a huge factor in Wonderpuff, I like to tell people he’s the heart of our sugar while I am the face.
Contact Info:
- Website: ohwonderpuff.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wonderpuff/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohwonderpuff
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-m-she-her-67b578251/
Image Credits
Camille Hues IG: @herhues_