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

Lamar, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a successful entrepreneur, I am passionate about giving back to my community through my non-profit organization, The Jank Nation. My childhood experiences have played a significant role in shaping my worldview and my desire to help others.

Growing up, there was a lot of dysfunction and no accountability. These experiences showed me exactly what I didn’t want life to be for me when I grew up.

As I began to build my own business, I realized that I had a real purpose beyond just selling sauce. It was more of a public service. This is what was missing. I wanted to use my resources and influence to give back to my community and help others avoid the same mistakes I made and achieve success as well.

That’s when I started The Jank Nation, a non-profit organization dedicated to entrepreneurship, mentoring and empowering young people. Through our mentoring program, we provide guidance and support to young people who are facing challenges and need positive reinforcement.

As a mentor and teacher, I have found that it is incredibly rewarding to share my experiences and knowledge with others. By giving back, I am able to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of others and help create a better future for my community.

Through The Jank Nation, we have been able to make a real difference in the lives of many people. We have helped them overcome obstacles, develop important life skills, and achieve their goals. Seeing the success of our program and the impact it has had on the community has been incredibly fulfilling.

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?

As the creator of The Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce, I’m often asked about who I am and how I got started in the BBQ sauce business.

As the creator of The Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce, I’m often asked about who I am and how I got started in the BBQ sauce business. Well, it all started with my passion for music and my career as an independent recording artist. As a musician, I learned the value of hard work, dedication, and creativity.

But, as an entrepreneur I had to figure out how to market myself, promote my music, and build a fan base. These experiences gave me the skills and the solution based mindset I needed to create and launch The Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce business.

When I decided to create The Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce, I knew that I wanted to differentiate myself from the competition. I wanted to offer something that wasn’t just a product, but a service and an enjoyable experience. I wanted to create a sauce that would bring people together and make breaking bread together commonplace.

To achieve this, I focused on always doing good business. I made sure that every ingredient in my sauce was of the highest quality, and that it was made with care and attention to detail. Along with my Team we made sure that the branding and packaging were unique and eye-catching, so that people would remember The Jank.

I believe that creating a sauce that was more of a service than a product continues to be a key component of our success. People don’t just buy BBQ sauce because they need it, they buy it because they want to enjoy the experience of cooking and eating BBQ. By creating a sauce that was more than just a condiment, I was able to tap into that desire and offer something truly special. Our fans tell us that The Jank is the perfect ingredient to make meal time easy and delicious.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Growing up in Little Haiti, Miami and Hollywood Florida, life can be unpredictable. When I was 26 and a starving musician I had had enough of living check to check. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had to pivot, or risk not being able to move forward. For me, that pivot came when I decided to pack everything I owned into my car and drive 1500 miles to Texas after being invited out to perform at a concert as an opening act for Lil Bow Wow a few months prior.

I had hit a low point in my life and knew that I needed a fresh start. So, I left everything behind and headed to a new city with no job and no place to live. I arrived in Texas with nothing but a dream and a determination to make a new life for myself.

The first few weeks were tough. I stayed in a room with my brother Shawn. This room was only big enough for a loveseat and a full-size bed. We took turns sleeping on the bed. One night I was on the bed. The next night Shawn was on the bed. Whoever was on the love seat, was cramped and uncomfortable, which also describes the room we shared, but it was all we could afford at the time. We struggled to find consistent work and often had to rely on side jobs, side hustles and music gigs to get by.

Eventually, we were able to save up enough money to move out of that tiny room into a small two bedroom apartment, but even then, things were tough. We couldn’t afford a real mattress, so I had to sleep on a deflated air mattress for months. Shawn slept on the floor on top of dirty clothes.

Despite the challenges, I refused to give up. Slowly but surely, things began to improve. I landed a job as a substitute teacher and that paid well enough for me to live comfortably. This is also the apartment where The Jank was born.

Looking back on those early days here in Texas, I realize that starting over was one of the best decisions I ever made. It taught me resilience, perseverance, and the importance of having a strong support system. It also made me grateful for the little things in life.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Face-to-face marketing has been the most effective form of marketing for my product. Meeting customers in person allows me to connect with them on a personal level and get immediate feedback on the product.

Through face-to-face marketing, I’ve been able to hear directly from customers about what they like and dislike about the sauce, and use that feedback to improve the original product and develop new innovative products for the product line. This feedback has been invaluable in creating a product that truly meets the needs and desires of my customers.

Engaging with my customers has also created loyal fans known as The Jank Nation. These fans are excited to share The Jank Experience with others and spread the word about the product. They have become my brand ambassadors and have helped to increase brand awareness and sales.

The Jank Nation has been instrumental in the success of The Jank Gourmet BBQ Sauce. Their excitement and enthusiasm for the product is contagious, and they have helped to create a sense of community around the brand. This sense of community has helped to build brand loyalty and has made customers feel like they are part of The Jank Nation Movement.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bbqjank.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/bbqjank
• Facebook: facebook.com/bbqjank
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/bbqjank
• Youtube: youtube.com/bbqjank

Image Credits
Courtesy of The Jank