Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lilian Bagheri, CEO of Lily's Chilies, located in North Hollywood, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Lily's Chilies takes ordinary gummy candy and coats it with Lily's secret house sauce & spices to create mouth-watering, chili-chewy candy! We have a wide variety of customers of all ages and backgrounds that enjoy our chili candies.
Tell us about yourself
I always had an obsession with gummy candy, but I also had an obsession with sour & spicy, but I couldn't find the right candy to please my taste buds. I took it into my own hands and perfected a formula that I never thought would compliment gummy candy so much & WOW others. Little did I know I was about to become a hit in Los Angeles. Slowly through word of mouth from family & friends, Lily's Chilies was formed in 2018 & became the talk of the town. With the support of others, I was able to progress and establish a successful company. Now Lily's Chilies operates out of a commercial kitchen and ships nationwide to all of our fans.
The motivation comes from customers' feedback EVERY SINGLE DAY. People always tell us that they are unable to eat ordinary candies anymore after trying Lily's Chilies and how it's changed their lives. This keeps us motivated and helps us grow and bring in new products for our customers to enjoy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is starting this business as a treat for myself and to have my friends and family try it, then spreading it to new customers and becoming a huge operation. We went from in-house candy making to now operating in a commercial kitchen.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It's not easy owning your own business. You have to have discipline and be extremely responsible. Without these characteristics, your business will not grow. Every day there's a new obstacle to overcome, and there is a lot of pushing and selling to grow a business. But I am extremely grateful to be where I am today, and it took a lot of hard work!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Passion. You must have passion and believe in your product/service. Do what you love, and you will succeed!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.lilyschilies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilyschilies/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyschilies/
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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