Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Johanna Emery. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Johanna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope to build a legacy that I helped to strengthen the bond between our current generation and the family traditions of the generations before us. While I’m selling my home-canned goods to customers, I’m also sharing knowledge and awareness about safe canning practices that may not otherwise be very widespread. My official business is selling jams and pickles, but I’ve also started teaching canning lessons in my free time, and I love it. I’m helping people gain the confidence to safely preserve their own food and become more self-reliant, even if it’s just in this one way. Whether I’m remembered for the nostalgic taste of my homemade jam, or for the lessons shared with friends, I just enjoy making a connection with my community.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Johanna. I am a part-time CNA, part-time caregiver, and full-time owner of Johanna’s Handcrafted Jams. I sell jams, jellies and pickles as a cottage foods business in northern Colorado.

I grew up watching the women in my family grow and preserve their own foods. As an adult, I developed an interest in gardening and canning for myself. I was taking microbiology classes in college when I learned about botulism poisoning and just how devastating its effects could be. I realized there were many factors involved in home canning safety, and decided to learn everything about the science behind it.

As time went on, I started sharing my home-canned goods with friends and family. Word spread, and it developed into what Johanna’s Handcrafted Jams is now. I make everything myself, by hand, in my home kitchen. It takes more work, but it also gives the opportunity for better quality control. I take pride in knowing I can share the warm nostalgia of homemade foods, while still guaranteeing they were made with the highest safety standards. I very strictly follow updated, tested canning practices so that I know my family and my customers are getting the best quality possible.

Recently, as I spoke with more patrons at our local farmers markets and craft shows, I started to realize that there was a need for canning education in our area. I partnered with our local library to start teaching canning classes. I am not yet officially certified as a master canner (or “master food safety advisor” as they’re called in Colorado), but I’m working toward it. In the meantime, I get to share my creations with the public AND teach them how to make their own, and I think that’s pretty fantastic.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I actually started this business on very little initial capital, and zero prior business experience. For my very first batch of products, I used jars I’d already had sitting in my home stash, sticky labels and ribbons from my office craft box, and $200 I’d earned at my CNA job the week before to purchase ingredients and set up my licensing. That was it. I made a Facebook post in our local buy/sell/trade group, and, little by little, I saved the revenue from each jar sold to invest into more product. Granted, I’m not a corporate giant- I’m still just one person, making jelly and pickles in my home kitchen, but by the second season I was averaging 130 jars sold per week, and I’d consider that a success at my level. It might have been a slower start, but I didn’t have to take out any loans and I was able to invest a couple hundred dollars here and there from my CNA job to get better equipment and more inventory as time went on.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

If I could recommend a few of the most effective strategies I’ve used to build clientele, I’d say: lean on friends and family; stay engaged with your customer basis; and (I’m only halfway joking with this one) free samples are king! Friends and family were my very first “customers” and I genuinely believe I couldn’t have started this business without them. They happily tested product, gave honest feedback, and, most importantly, were my army of pied pipers when it came to spreading the word about my services. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth.
Staying engaged helps attract and keep your customers. Be responsive in your social media posts. Take the time to really interact and make connections. Follow up after you make a sale. Nobody likes a business owner who thinks they’re above their audience. Make a connection with your clientele to keep them returning, and they’ll bring their friends, too.
Lastly, offer free samples whenever possible. This doesn’t have to apply just to food products, either. Let your services speak for themselves. When you open your business to the community and let them see the results firsthand, they will be much more confident in making a purchase.

Contact Info:

• Website: johannas-handcrafted-jams.square.site
• Facebook: Johanna’s Handcrafted Jams