Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tyler Phillips, founder and CEO of Hummii Snacks, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Hummii Snacks, we welcome YOU to "A Healthy+Yummii Snack Universe" (aka The Hummiiverse). Our core product on the market is POINTS! Rainbow Chocolate Candies is a fit AND fun version of that candy classic you grew up loving. (hint, they start and end with an "m").
The citizens of the Hummiiverse are GenZers looking for a fresh take on old snacks, millennials looking for clean label alternatives to their favorite childhood classics, & health-conscious consumers who are looking for low sugar, plant-based, high fiber and/or allergen-friendly options.
We hope that you share these values, and the Mighty Cartoon Mascots can't wait to see what ya bring to this wacky, snacky world...
Tell us about yourself
I grew up as the oldest in a large family of FIVE kids that was always on the go & snacking while in transit. As we grew up, we wanted to enjoy these nostalgic snack classics but reimagine them in a better-for-you form.
We also watched lots & lots of TV/Movies and later realized how cartoons can be used to educate on health/wellness in a much more fun way. Hence, the origin of Hummii Snacks and the creation of Hank Hummii along with his Mighty Cartoon Mascot friends that inhabit the Hummiiverse.
Each day I am hyped to hop back into this fictional world of fit snacking and solve new challenges in the real world. It helps to know that even the little steps are building blocks for the "Hummiiverse kingdom." It's motivating to know we are improving people's lives with healthier options served in fun formats & creating an interactive community with cartoon storytelling + leveraging Web3 gamification.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As cliche as it is, I measure my greatest accomplishment by the relationships & network I have been fortunate to build throughout this journey. It truly is an adventure where you get help from so many others who have paved the way before & then get to help others as they begin to take their first steps in starting a business.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things is establishing boundaries so that it doesn't feel like the biz is running you vs. you running the biz. It's tough, especially when you are so passionate and others sense that energy & naturally want to talk about it with you.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be Curious ~ always be a sponge soaking up new information, even if it is outside the scope of your business.
- Seek Collaboration ~ It can be a lonely road to "Success" (however that may be measured) but just remember to have fun & make friends along the way. Sometimes the best progress comes from finding that "flow" working on a cool project with another founder or colleague.
- Save up some money, and then double that before starting off. A business can be very expensive, especially at the beginning when there are so many upfront costs. Keep a stable job or source of income until your business has naturally grown to where it's pulling you away and can sustain itself + your living.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Always be happy to connect with other cool people and be accessible. We are also working on some interactive & fun community-building storytelling projects that incorporate gamification + Web3 also. So if any of this interests you, definitely reach out @ tyler@hummii.com or even just shoot a text at 518-573-4947 to set up a call.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hummii.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HummiiYummy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hummii_yummy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hummii_snacks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hummiisnacks/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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