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

Judy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

In Christmas of 2021, I was gifted a DIY (Do it yourself) charcuterie board set. At first, I had no idea what to do with it but I decided to do some research and see what I could come up with. I discovered “The Charcuterie Queen” who is based out of New York. After that, I found more and more “Charcuterist” who have made a living out of creating amazing cheese boards and tables. I was instantly intrigued to go down this fun rabbit hole of cheese! In January I started by making little boards for the office I worked at, and happy hours with friends/family. In February I decided to make charcuterie heart boxes and once I sold a few, I fell in love with the idea of this being my craft. For so many years, I felt like I was failing because my ideas/ambitions wouldn’t stick, I now realize that I was being redirected! I felt if this was a business that so many people have made a living out of, I can do it too! Although I am not where I would like to be YET, I am very confident of the future. Entering into my second year, I have learned a lot through trial and error. Making the decision to start is the hardest part, the journey has been nothing short of amazing. I have met some inspirational mentors in this journey, my biggest takeaway has been to constantly find new ways to pivot. Besides offering charcuterie boards and luxury graze tables, I now offer workshops where I teach others to create their own boards in a fun laid back experience. I also started hosting private workshops where I go to the home or office. I think another important thing is to have your own style and find a way to stand out from all the others. If you are thinking of starting a business, I urge you to take that leap of faith. Prepare for the ups and downs, it will all be worth it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Judy, I am 29 years old, a wife, and a mom of two boys. I am the owner of Boards by Jaybee LLC . I went from getting a BA in psychology and wanting to work in the therapy field, to creating a business specializing in charcuterie boards and graze tables. The craziest part? This spark of an idea started with a Christmas present. I offer charcuterie boards and gift boxes fit for any occasion. I offer graze tables for all kinds of events ranging from corporate parties, birthdays, weddings, babyshowers, bridal showers, cocktail hour, engagement events, and more. I also offer workshops where I teach others to create their own boards. Workshops are perfect for team building exercises, a fun girls day, happy hour, employee appreciation, etc. I think what sets me apart from others is my communication skills and authenticity. I am known for my quick responses and walking my clients through the entire process. I would have to say my client/connections is what I am most proud of. I have met amazing people throughout this journey and made very meaningful connections. Something I would want my potential client to know is that I make every order in a safe and clean environment, making every placement strategic to provide you with the perfect charcuterie board.

Have you ever had to pivot?

This year has been rather slow and besides selling charcuterie boards I decided it was time for a new idea. I started my first workshop in May for a mother’s day theme and it was absolutely everything I dreamed of and more. 18 women came from all over Miami to attend. Everyone had a blast and after hearing “whens the next one” I knew this was my way to pivot. In September I had my second workshop and decided to think big. I rented a venue that sat 40 people. With this one, I got discouraged because after selling 20 seats, ticket sales slowed down. I started promoting and networking even harder and somehow by the grace of God, I sold out and taught a class of 40. I am now about to have my third workshop November 19 with a max class of 20. I went from thinking of doing a workshop for fun to loving the demand for it and now having one about every 3 months.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My first advice on building your social media would be to never buy followers. Staying authentic is so vital. Potential clients want to see your growth. Word of mouth helped me so much. Whether it was asking for friends/family to repost my content, like my pictures, follow me, I grew my page at my own pace. Networking events, mom groups, neighborhood groups, were all impactful ways on how to grow my social media. Constant content is something that tremendously helps the page and grabs a potential client’s attention. People want to see new content; and movement.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @boardsbyjaybee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083981881360&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Other: 786-259-5992

Image Credits
Instagram @nolivavisuals -Nicole Oliva