Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Morgan.
Jenn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a stay-at-home mom of two young boys, which is my number one job. But I’m also obsessed with fudge! I’ve been eating and making fudge since I was big enough to stand in a kitchen (I come from a long line of fudge fiends.) I use a family recipe that I’ve modified over the years, but I would definitely still consider it a “super-secret family recipe.”
Up until a couple of years ago, I only made my fudge around the holidays for gifts, but at some point, I became more and more aware of how other people were reacting to my fudge. I’ve only ever known my family recipe, so it took me quite a while to realize I had something fudging amazing.
I can remember when my mother attempted to get into the fudge business when I was a little girl. She would send order forms in with my dad to his work, and had boxes and labels made up… the whole bit. But she turned her focus to decorative and fine art painting, which was an art she was extremely talented in.
During the Covid pandemic, I was overtaken with the motivation and desire to organize and grow my business, which is how I ended up where I’m at now. I felt led to just start exactly where I was, with exactly what I had, and just keep going. My mother passed away from breast cancer in 2019 before she could see any of this takeoff, but I know she’s following along. She continues to be a big motivation when I’m not feeling confident or wondering if I’m doing things correctly. I’m constantly reminding myself that “I figured it out yesterday and Mom says yes.”
I operate out of my home Fall through Spring, using social media to announce Pop Up sales, vendor appearances, or just leftover fudge in the fudge fridge. As I always say – “Let’s Get Fudged!”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When you start out with a small, home business, I feel like you can be your own worst enemy. Some days, I have all the confidence in the world and I’m excited for my next opportunity. But by the next day, I’m wondering if what I have is even that special and if I should even waste my time with it.
But the overwhelmingly positive reaction that people have when they eat my fudge keeps me going. If I can put a smile on someone’s face, it’s been a good day.
Being a stay-at-home mom means my time is very precious. I can only “do the fudge thing” in any time I can muster up when I’m not taking my 4-year-old to and from preschool, or getting the 7-year-old to baseball practice, or getting dinner prepped, etc., etc. I have a very real limit on the time I can dedicate to the business. I don’t even attempt to operate in the summer. Kids need my full, summer-fun attention and there’s no time to stand uninterrupted over a hot stove. Plus, I make a very soft fudge, which is harder to make in the summer months, and harder to store large quantities.
Both of my kids will be in school full-time this upcoming school year, and I’m excited for the possibilities that will bring.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I was pregnant with my first, I knew I wanted to stay home and my husband and I were able to plan accordingly. I’m so proud of my boys and I try to make good memories for them. I know it sounds crazy, but I love doing the “mom” thing… scheduling play dates, going to the zoo, board games at the table… all of it. Except the potty training – that was awful.
I have a degree in Communication and worked full-time before I had kids. I think about going “back to work” when both kids are in school full-time, but I’m crossing my fingers I can generate enough revenue from Fudge By Jenn. I like being able to show my kids “do what you love” instead of just saying it.
I was not expecting the business to do so much so quickly. I was planning to solely do casual, home sales until I had the time to figure out how to “be a business.” But before I knew it, I was receiving opportunities for vendor shows, private events, and was jumping leaps and bounds with professional packaging and labeling, licensing, and everything else required to operate correctly. Fast forward to March 2022, and I currently have my fudge being spotlighted in-store at Davis Cookie Collection. It’s truly amazing.
One of my favorite opportunities was with our elementary school this year. Fudge By Jenn is a school sponsor and I was asked to speak to the entire second grade class about being a business owner when they started their Economics unit. At first I thought, “What do I know about Economics?!” But then quickly came to realize how important and fun the opportunity really was. I was able to talk with a room full of excited kids about having ideas, being passionate, dealing with failure, and of course they got to sample some yummy fudge. The stack of hand-written thank you notes I received brought me to tears.
No matter how much I try to plan, I ultimately don’t know where Fudge By Jenn will go this year. I’m looking forward to more vendor shows in the fall and holiday season, and would love to seek out some small shops to carry my fudge. It’s been a fun ride so far and I don’t have any plans of pulling over any time soon.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Keep going.
That may sound generic, but it’s real deal. Start exactly where you are with exactly what you have. There is no such thing as perfect timing. Whenever I’m not feeling confident or motivated to make a decision, I remind myself that “I figured it out yesterday.”
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@fudgebyjenn.com
- Website: https://www.fudgebyjenn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fudgebyjenn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FudgeByJenn
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/fudge_by_jenn
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fudgebyjenn
Image Credits
Smiles By Shay
