We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kimber Arezzi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kimber , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

People say one night can change your life. Well, for me, it flipped the whole script. On Thursday, August 2, 2018, I strolled into my first Women Grow meeting—a networking event for cannabis. I went with my high school girlfriend, who had jumped into the cannabis world back in 2014. I was hoping to follow in her green footsteps, focusing on sales, marketing and retail development. After all, I was already a seasoned pro in developing consumer products for the toy and apparel industry, so why not give cannabis a whirl?

Only problem? At that time, the retail industry was non-existent and medical cannabis was just starting to expand in New York.

As I mingled with vendors showcasing their tinctures and edibles, my coconut and MCT oil allergies turned my taste test into a spectator sport. But then came the magic—there I was, bonding with this fantastic group of women until the wee hours (1 AM, to be exact). The next day, a light bulb went off: there was a *white space* waiting for me to fill it. Suddenly, I was all in on CBD.

That Saturday and Sunday, I was busy designing logos and found a processor via Instagram in Rhode Island to create my own pre-dosed, single-serving oral solutions. I wasn’t reinventing the wheel; but my combining pure CBD isolate with safflower oil and vitamin E in a tiny little vial was a different version of the same old thing. The guy I connected with specialized in full-spectrum solutions, but we collaborated and shared resources to create two different product lines.

I started handing out samples to gather feedback.. Thanks to my background in product development, sourcing, and journalism, I turned the idea into execution faster than most. I sold my first product at a POPPED.NYC event in September 2018 to my first customers as well as a distributor for Hester Street Fair.

With the market just starting to evolve, I quickly learned it was better to dive in and fix mistakes on the fly than wait for everything to be “perfect.” My motto? “If you’re not first, you’re last.”

I started popping up at every bar, restaurant, hair salon and community event willing to host me, and when the 2018 Farm Bill passed, it felt like the green lights were flashing! I threw everything at the wall to see what stuck—CBD flower, vapes, chocolates, gummies, oral solutions, mocktail recipes, lotions, bath soaks—you name it!

By offering both isolate and full-spectrum CBD, I carved out my own little niche in this bustling space. I focused on nut-free and THC-free options, so i could offer an option of plant-based medicine to everyone. In 2019, I started diving into isolate-based rare cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, CBDv, CBC and CBT. And just like that, my love affair with cannabis molecules began!

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

High, I’m Kimber—mom, advocate, and activist. My journey began in 2002 when I became ill with a rare autoimmune condition that affects fewer than 100 people worldwide. After years on 18 pills a day, I transitioned to cannabis to manage my inflammation and chronic pain.

In 2015, everything changed when my son was diagnosed with Non-Speaking Autism. Driven by a quest for relief, I discovered cannabis as a therapeutic option, thanks to families like Paige and Charlotte Figi. Their stories inspired me, and when I tried a safflower-based solution called Haleigh’s Hope, I witnessed remarkable changes in my son’s awareness within just six to eight weeks. One day, he surprised us by saying, “mah daw” (my dog) at the park—a moment that ignited my passion for exploring the potential of cannabinoids.

I fell into the world of medical cannabis and joined one of New York’s first medical dispensaries and corporations in October 2018. Over the next six years, I worked in dispensaries across New York State and I saw people from all walks of life seeking relief. During the pandemic, it became evident how deeply people were struggling with isolation and despair. Meanwhile, my son faced his own health challenges, which unfortunately led to complications with Child Protective Services, focusing on my cannabis consumption and employment instead of his health crisis.

During this tumultuous time, I fine-tuned my brand to reflect our needs. Offering THC-free options allowed me to safely integrate cannabis into my son’s regimen until he received his medical cannabis card. My research into cannabinoids led me to launch CBG and CBN products in New York in 2021—essentially introducing these compounds to the market. I became known as the “Cannabinoid Coach,” continually adding new cannabinoids like THCv, CBDv, and CBT to my line to help others find targeted relief.

At Chime & Chill, I’m committed to demystifying cannabis and showcasing how various cannabinoids can restore balance in our bodies, providing solutions for families like mine. My proudest accomplishment is empowering others with the knowledge that there’s hope and relief beyond what they may have known.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I joke that I’m a mad scientist in the kitchen, formulating products for my family as I entered the cannabis space. In 2022, my goal was to get Chime & Chill onto retail shelves in New York dispensaries. Despite the MRTA being passed, there were still no Adult Use stores at the time.

I needed to find a medical dispensary with a New York State Hemp License willing to carry my brand. Thanks to New York State lab testing, I secured my first retail test with Etain Health in the “Buy Weed From Women” section in September 2022, which helped me refine my products and solidify my determination.

Partnering with a New York State processor was essential for production. Sharing your SOPs and formulations is scary but essential for growth. When my first batch of retail production vials leaked, my processor helped me source different options. I also collaborated with a packaging partner to create a sustainable outer package made from post-consumer waste.

After gathering feedback from patients, I reintroduced my brand on March 8, 2023, with enhanced formulations, revised packaging, and my first topical, PM Cream with CBD and CBN.

Manufacturing cannabis products has its challenges, as I learned when a slight increase in a beta-caryophyllene infusion led to a crystallized batch that had to be discarded. Our recent launch of a vape product involved complexities in producing custom hardware, but a great partnership facilitated the process. It’s important to have partners that share the same risk values. Working with a new, rare cannabinoid created different hurdles in finding labs that could test and detect our compound in vapes and consumables.

Through all this, I’ve learned the importance of adaptability in manufacturing; having a plan is essential, but it’s equally important to accept the journey.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding a business is never easy, and I’m a bootstrapper in Crocs. I started with just $1,000 in 2018 to produce my first batch of product and packaging. Faced with the challenge of not being able to buy in volume for lower costs, I almost gave up. Fortunately, my girlfriend lent me $500, and I felt immense pride when I was able to pay her back just two months later.

For much of the past few years, I worked a full-time job, which allowed me to self-fund my research and production runs. Now that I’ve entered the adult-use market, the brand has begun to sustain its own growth with only a couple of funding infusions. Hello Progress!

When I first started, CBD isolate was extremely expensive due to low extraction yields compared to THC. Working with rare cannabinoids meant my costs were nearly five times higher than for THC products. However, having a New York State manufacturing partner has let me produce smaller batches, which helps manage inventory and control costs while I test effects.

By focusing on a small store base, I learned how to navigate product flow in this niche market. As the brand continues to grow, our next steps involve applying for educational grants and seeking our first round of investors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chimeandchill.com
• Instagram: @chimeitup
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlyscheckarezzi/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberarezzi
• Other: @thecannadiva

Image Credits

family shot: michael j schultz
team shots were taken by us. :)