We were lucky to catch up with Kennedy Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kennedy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our Mission:

At Honey Factory Co., we are dedicated to the correction, enhancement and improvement of treatable skin complications. Our products are handcrafted to perfection for those who need a little extra touch for their skin. We aim to provide not only the best customer service but also the best quality skin care products!

Personally, the motive behind the mission is simple. I didn’t always have ideal skin. I’ve suffered from breakouts, acne, combination skin, hyperpigmentation, & eczema for years. As a result, I created products to help treat common skin complications because I deal with them too. I understand the insecurities, physical pain & even emotional pain from problematic skin. Now don’t get me wrong, I still have breakouts occasionally but I know better & I do better, & my skin looks 1000x better. I look in the mirror longer now because I love what I see & how I feel. I want every Honey to feel that they can glow a little brighter with Honey Factory Cosmetics.

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

How you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc:

My name is Kennedy Jones. I’m 24 years old and I currently reside in Jackson, MS. I majored in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Science at Jackson State University. In the later part of my college tenure, we made soap in chemistry class and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Of course, using lye was a little intimidating originally but the outcomes and procedures were so cool I couldn’t wait to get back to chem lab to finish what we started. After realizing my new found joy in mixing ingredients in our university lab, I began to do the same thing at home. I started Honey Factory Co. a short time before the pandemic, making products to use on myself and researching the benefits of extracts, botanicals, acids, and other skincare ingredients. As someone with what I like to call “the most sensitive skin ever created”, I had to be particular and intentional with what I was making because I would be the cause and the effect. Making products and testing them on yourself isn’t an easy task, I had to establish a level of security and trust within myself, and that is what I’m most proud of! Believing and trusting in myself that even with odds stacked against me, (my skin complications and sensitivity), I could still make something to treat my skin.

what type of products/services/creative works you provide:
Soap, toner, moisturizer, oil, anti spot creme and I also sell skincare accessories such as soap dishes, headbands and loofahs! Additionally, I have a series on Tiktok and Instagram called “Skin with Kin” where I discuss all things skincare. My topics range from tips, advice, education, information and girl talk. A lot of my supporters and customers follow me on my personal and business pages. I always want them to feel comfortable hitting my DM with a question or conversation, which they often do. And from that, I started thinking, “I bet there are a lot of other people who have similar thoughts/questions. Thus, “Skin with Kin” was born.

what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others:
My main goal is to make HFC customers feel confident within themselves. Your skin is the first thing a person sees when they look at you, this can be a nerve wrecking thought for some people. I want them to be confident, instead of nervous. I want them to look good and be secure within themselves and their skin. Because we all know when you look good, you feel good!

what are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.:
The thing that I am most proud of is the community that I’ve built with Honey Factory Co. I never imagined I’d have people from all over the country that not only use and enjoy my products, but that look forward to seeing me, my products and my posts. And they genuinely support me. I love that, I can’t thank God enough for that because it has kept me going on the days I wanted to give up.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I had to unlearn is that “you have to always pay top dollar for quality”. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes you will have to spend a lot of money for quality business but there are alternative routes. I used to assume that the most expensive option was the best choice and that is not always true. Do your research, cut costs where and when you can. It will help sustain your business in the long run.

I paid $1500 for my first product shoot. At the time, I didn’t know all you needed was a camera, some professional backdrops, decent lighting and a vision. So I researched companies that shot product based shoots and we began working together. It was a pretty decent experience but if I knew then what I know now, I would have never paid that much for a product shoot. Back then, I wanted every part of my business to be the best and that meant “paying more”. I don’t regret it, but I did learn from it greatly.

How did you build your audience on social media?

The day I introduced my brand on social media I almost had a panic attack. I was super scared, I had sweats, bubble guts, bit my nails, paced the floor and stared at my phone for almost an hour. I was scared to share my baby with the world because up until that point, there was really no one to judge it but me, and I thought it was perfect! I posted it on my personal pages first and linked my business pages to follow. I made the pages an entire year before I announced my brand but that didn’t make it any less scary.

I’m a girl’s girl. I’m also a person who is easy to converse with. The approach I took with social media was “How can I learn more about what my followers like, need, and want to see”? So I asked them. Every day I posted something that they could engage with. I went over the analytics to see what was working and what wasn’t, and I re-strategize my focus based on the numbers. Boom. Another thing that has helped me tremendously is tagging the customers that shop with me in story posts when they come to support me at a pop-up shop or market. They repost my original story post, their followers see it, and new followers begin to follow my page. It hasn’t failed me yet and it gives my customers a more personal feel because I enjoy posting/reposting them on my pages.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://honeyfactoryco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyfactoryco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyfactorycosmetics
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kennedy-jones-honeyfactoryco
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/honeyfactoryco?lang=en