Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Brown.
Hi Annie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
About 15 years ago, I decided to consciously seek out experiences and opportunities that forced me out of my comfort zone. This decision led me, 11 years later, to apply to a food entrepreneurship program with a vague idea. When that program ended in Dec. 202, I had a less vague idea, a business name, and a logo. I applied to a local holiday market to test my idea-I was selling flavored honey. The market manager asked if I could do something else since they already had a honey vendor. I replied, “Sure, I can make honey caramels!” My first obstacle in this scenario was that I’d made regular caramels years before but never honey caramels. The second obstacle was that the market was in 2 days. So, I scrambled to modify a recipe, make caramels, figure out how to package them, cobble together a display, and decide on a fair price. I got 4 out of 5. They were a huge hit! However, I did a cost analysis after the market (I didn’t really have time before the market!) and discovered that I was selling at a huge loss. But because they were so popular, I decided to concentrate on honey caramels.
I officially formed my company in February 2021 and went to work as a home-based confectioner. I spend the next 3 months “perfecting” my recipe. I say perfecting because I ruined almost every batch that I made during that time. But by the end of those 3 months, I knew how not to make honey caramels so I could make them perfect almost every time. I sold mainly at farmers’ markets and local craft markets and continued to refine my recipe and production.
In January 2022, I received a grant that put me in the Incubator Kitchen Collective, a shared commercial kitchen space in Newport, KY. This opened up so many new avenues for my business. It enabled me to sell across state lines, specifically for me into Cincinnati, I could sell wholesale to retail spaces, and I could sell online. My sales increased 325% with these new opportunities.
2023 saw some further changes to my business. I’d been making caramels on the stovetop, which severely limited the amount of caramels I could make in a given week. I received a grant from Main Street Ventures to help address that issue. I now have time to make more caramels and experiment more, creating new flavors and confections.
2024 is off to a great start so far! I have some surprises that I am working on, so stay tuned!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am impatient and want things to happen quickly. I set goals for my business and myself every year and every quarter. I have found out that I rarely meet these goals when I want to, but if I am patient, I will eventually hit my targets.
As most small businesses that are at the mercy of seasonal sales, cash flow is a struggle in the first quarter of the year. I’ve learned to be very conservative in my spending!
Lastly, I am self-taught with little previous experience in the food industry in general and confections in particular. I am always looking for information and instruction to help me further hone my craft.
We’ve been impressed with Laughing Food Brands LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My official business is Laughing Food Brands LLC for a reason. I wanted to be able to make different brands known for different specialties.
Early on, I registered a dba, Laughing Bees, to sell sweets and treats using local honey. Laughing Bees is known not only for Honey Caramels, but also Gourmet Krispie Treats and Baked Krispie Treats.
Late last year, I started selling a line of granolas under the brand name Laughing Oats. I am developing granola/energy bars for this brand.
I am in the planning stages to create another brand later this year.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The key is to be involved and enthusiastic in whatever avenue you decide to pursue. When a professional opportunity presents itself, I do my best to take advantage of it, whether it directly benefits my business or not. For example, I am currently in 2 local leadership programs, Queen City Game Changers and Leadership NKY (through the NKY Chamber of Commerce). These programs not only help me develop as a leader but also open up other avenues of networking possibilities.
If people see you putting in the work to make a great product and see how enthusiastic you are, they will help you. Sometimes, you will have to ask for help; sometimes, they will offer.
It always starts with you being willing to put yourself out there.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laughingbees.shop
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/laughingbeeshoney
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laughingbeeshoney
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-brown-ged-87559824a/
Image Credits
Rhee Lightner
