Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jasmyn Small. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Jasmyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?
When I first started it was definitely a rush process in a way, so all of my customers were family, friends and word of mouth from them. I knew social media would be a huge help in me getting exposure but I was hesitant on how to create content for chocolate. I started just making sure I posted a photo everyday and using specific hashtags to reach my audience. I still only got family members with promotion accounts, it wasn’t going anywhere.
I started to look up ways to get outside audience and get people to understand what it is I really create. That’s when I discovered reels and how using trending sounds can help me get in the right algorithm to reach a more diverse audience. That’s when realized that I would have to step out of my comfort zone of recording videos. I always love to watch cooking videos and I always loved it when they showed the entire recipe step by step. My most asked questions are “How do you create that? How is that edible? How do you make it look so pretty?”
So,I started recording different steps of my process to show the work it takes to create art with chocolate. I started to use trendy sounds and started to make the videos more interesting, and it was a hit! I even made a TikTok and started to post my videos on there. I started to get more likes and followers and I gained a customer from California! After that I started to get orders from Texas, New York and other places across the country.
On top of that I started to document the events I would participate in, letting the consumer be apart of the growing process. It started to spread and I got offered to participate in more collaborations. I feel like entrepreneurship is all about learning as you go, you won’t have everything figured out when you first start or even a year into your business. It’s all about making sure you keep your passion and purpose. Once you have that research what you need to do to get to that level. It’s also about knowing yourself and sticking to your guns. What was the reason you started the business and what is your end goal for yourself? Stay focused on those things and you will know how to get through the hard times.
Jasmyn , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hey, y’all!! My name is Jasmyn and I am the head chocolatier and founder of Jazzy’s Bonbons and Confections! We sell chocolates with an artistic flare and unique confections that give us a platform for creative flavors. What sets us apart from other companies is the creative art we provide with our chocolates. No box will ever look the same, when I design whatever comes to me at that moment is what sells. My passion for chocolate started in school when I decided to take a chocolate class in school and that later got me into my first competition. I loved the process of creating bonbons and creating flavors that aren’t normally done. I got bronze in that competition, I took my critiques and won silver in my next competition! After that I started to just do my own thing, I started to test designs in ways I’d never seen and test flavors that I’d never heard of. From using teas and spices to create flavor combinations out of the norm.
The best thing about Jazzy’s Bonbons is that when it comes to chocolate the creations are really unlimited! Do you have a specific color? We can do it! Want to have a flavor pairing with a course? We can do it! Do you want to have thank you gifts for a wedding? Or even small treats at your company? We can do it! From chocolates, brownies, strawberries, or even pretzel rods we can provide a unique experience that you won’t get anywhere else!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
The main lesson I had to learn was that patience is key and school does not prepare you for everything! When I started my business I had already graduated over 2 years ago, I had notes and chefs I could reach out to but some things life just has to teach you. From learning media marketing to working with big corporations it’s all a learning process that requires so much patience! It’s not only about having patience in the process of developing a new business but having patience in yourself. It’s a process that requires blood, sweat, and tears. Even if you have a culinary background you have to take it a day at a time. You will have to learn new techniques and unlearn old ones, you will second guess yourself and think your going crazy, but trust the process and yourself and you will be fine!
How did you build your audience on social media?
This was my most challenging process but it was totally worth it! When it comes to social media consistency and variety are key! I was posting a picture every day but wasn’t going anywhere with my following, I started to add hashtags and it grew some but still wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I did some research on algorithms and found out that using popular sounds and creating videos with hashtags was going to get me to where I wanted to go. Some advice I would give is to have fun with what you post! You know the things you like to watch so have fun creating content that not only customers would like but you would watch as well. Switch up what you post, and share a picture here, and a video there. Go live! Share the process on your story and just make sure your business page is only about your business.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jazzysbonbonsandconfections.com
- Instagram: @jazzysbonbons
- Facebook: Jazzy’s Bonbons and Confections