We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Javon Nicholas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Javon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
In 2012, after my mother suddenly passed away, I took the advice of a group of friends at that time and applied for a language scholarship to study abroad in Taiwan Asia. I applied and was accepted into the two-year program. Because I was not college aged, I could not live on their campus. I found a hostel before I traveled to Taiwan and that experience changed my life! The owner of the hostel and I did not speak the same verbal language but the delicate and outpouring carer she and her friends gave me spoke to my soul. That experience “nourished my broken heart with comfort” so much that I was inspired to share those comfort filled feelings and created my product line EGG ROLLS ETC which is a multi-award-winning frozen product line of comfort filled Egg Rolls. Potstickers and Rangoon! We physically make all of our products by hand versus a machine and they are paired with a house made dipping sauce. Our creative flavors pay homage to my late Grandmother Gertrude in the form of our number 1 flavor- Gert’s collard greens with smoked turkey Egg Rolls. We are Chicago proud and offer an Italian Beef Potsticker. we have an Aunt Kathy’s peach cobbler Egg Roll, Taco Ole with Ground chicken, Plant=based Philly Cheesesteak egg Rolls, Salmon, spinach and cheese Rangoon and More! Our products are perfect for the oven or air fryer and are free of preservatives. We partner with a variety of community organizations especially that engage with youth to teach the importance of self-love. cultural sensitivity and Entrepreneurship in the form of cooking demos, workshops and grocery store scavenger hunts. I have over 22 years of Foodservice/culinary expertise and am a self-published cook book author as well as a small business food coach. My brand unites cultures and differences all inside of a warm wonton, so just like an Egg Roll it’s what’s inside that counts …What’s your filling!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
At the age of 19 years after graduating from a two-year community college I acquired the position as a Clinical Nutritionist at a Government hospital and from that point on I have solely held leadership level positions. I have been a successful entrepreneur for the past 10 years and have owned a catering company, meal prep company, and now I am a frozen food manufacturer. I believe in educating myself and others and have made many lonely mistakes with my entrepreneurial journey. I have had the privilege of partnering with multiple small business organizations as a small food business coach, CPG (consumer packaged goods) strategist and food business instructor. I can help guide small food businesses on their journey as a restaurant owner, Caterer, food product business etc. and get compensated for my time which is monumental as an entrepreneur. In college and business accelerator programs, instructors stress the importance of “knowing your worth and value as an entrepreneur” and I can dedicate specific time to help more entrepreneurs than ever before. I feel that I offer a different approach to coaching within the food industry because I am an actual self-taught successful entrepreneur who can not only “talk the talk but is still walking the walk”! I am humble and grateful to be as honest and transparent as possible while championing the entrepreneurs I engage with to excel in their endeavors.
Have you ever had to pivot?
During the pandemic my newly formed co packer relationship abruptly ended and I no longer had a product line. No product line meant no revenue. I could have given up but instead wrote and self-published my cook book “Legacy Kitchen 1219 an inheritance of recipes from my family to yours”. I started a YouTube channel and pitched virtual cooking classes to nonprofit groups, youth etc. and gained the attention of Blue cross Blue shield and some local News stations. My book is currently on all book platforms on an international level and that was because of my love for cook books and the desire to preserve my families’ recipes.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
To be honest, I do not have a huge social media following but have been lucky enough to have been highlighted by the Chicago Bears, Local News stations, Radio Stations and Affluent social media influencers that have heard about my EGG ROLLS ETC product line via word of mouth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eggrollsetc.com
- Instagram: Egg_Rolls_Etc
- Facebook: Egg Rolls Etc
- Linkedin: Javon A Nicholas
- Twitter: Egg Rolls Etc
- Youtube: Chow On eats