Show notes
Some people follow their dreams in a figurative sense. And then there's JJ Rademaekers. JJ is the founder and CEO of JJ's Sweets. Their signature candy is an award-winning, coconut milk caramels called Cocomels, and the idea for Cocomels came to JJ in a dream. For this special episode of Brand Builder, we sent our intrepid field reporter Travis Miller to Boulder, CO, to see where JJ launched JJ's sweets, and to learn how JJ went from scientist, to musician, to candy maker, and finally to candy business-maker. Takeaways Don't cut those corners. JJ shares with us a few lessons he learned the hard way. Build the right team for your growth stage. JJ explains why he's built a hybrid team, when to make that first critical hire, and how he iterates his team as the business scales. Get your product out there. The proverbial (coconut) cream rises to the top. Share your product with taste makers for some earned media magic. Jump to JJ describes the dream that inspired Cocomels. 2:35 Some of the early failures JJ encountered while managing his own candy production. 6:29 Tips for rebranding. 8:27 How Cocomels ended up in Oprah magazine. 11:34 JJ’s newest creation, and the process he took to develop and launch the product. 13:13 Why networking is so crucial to building out your business. 14:41 Tips for maximizing your experience at trade shows. 18:56 How to build your team to your growth stage, and how to adapt as your business scales. 22:50 How to keep the big picture in view. 26:05 Links Cocomels Connect with JJ on LinkedIn Have an idea for the show? Drop us a line! [email protected]. Brand Builder is a co-production of SnackNation and ForceBrands.