Today we’d like to introduce you to Jondell Lafont-Garcia.
Hi Jondell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
People are often surprised to hear that I don’t like store-bought marshmallows. However, 10 years ago, I had a powerful craving for a marshmallow. I consider myself a good cook, so I decided to make one. I looked for a recipe online, tweaked it a little, and made my first homemade marshmallow! It was an almond marshmallow topped with semi-sweet chocolate and toasted coconut. It’s the only flavor I made for the first year or so until I felt brave enough to try other flavors. My sister encouraged me to make different flavors and gave me many ideas. For 7 years, I made marshmallows for friends and family. They’d make requests, and I’d try a new flavor here and there. I always showed up to family events with marshmallows. I’d post pictures on my social media and started getting requests to sell. I’m a rule follower so I wouldn’t sell. As I received more requests, I began to think about it more and more. I joined a marshmallow-making group on Facebook and was encouraged a lot by the group members. I looked into the rules for creating a cottage business in Texas, and it’s pretty easy. The start-up costs were minimal, and people asked me to buy my marshmallows. I figured the benefits outweighed the risks, and fluff marshmallow co. was born on February 1, 2021!
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing in business is smooth! Ha. While I already had a following, I knew I’d also need to reach new customers. I am (surprisingly) an introvert. I love being social, but it drains me. I also have a bit of social anxiety. But I had to learn how to get my name out there. I try to be authentic and transparent, so some classic marketing techniques feel wrong. I started connecting with other small businesses and local organizations, increased my social media presence, and tried to make unique treats. I started getting invited to local markets, and that made a difference. It grew my following. I have many customers and fellow business owners who are now good friends. Another struggle is that I have a rare but severe trigeminal nerve issue with no known cure. When I started this business, I thought it was a jaw issue that surgery would cure. It was not, and it’s been a real struggle to work a full-time job, run my marshmallow business, and manage my pain. I often have ideas on expanding or offering new products, but physically, I am limited by how much I can do.
After big events, I need a week to rest and recover. It limits the amount of events I can sign up for and the amount of custom orders I can take. I love, love, love being part of people’s special events (birthdays, weddings, baby showers), so I do my best to fit in as many as I can. I am also a one-woman show. I’m the marshmallow maker but also the marketer, the accountant, the social media manager, the shopper, the dishwasher, etc. I do it all. I’m not at a place where I can hire employees, so I have to be mindful about how much I take on.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fluff Marshmallow Co. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
I specialize in handcrafted, gourmet marshmallows, s’mores bars, and marshmallow brownie bars. I create a different menu each month so customers can try different flavors. I love it when people love my products. It makes my heart happy. I want my flavors to be exciting. I go for boldness in color and design. I take pride in my work and never sell something I wouldn’t buy. I have spent 10 years honing my skills and want that to show up in my work. I never expected to be in the business of marshmallows. But here I am. This business is a creative outlet for me (my full-time job is in mental health) and allows me to add more joy to my life. I am most proud that I stay true to myself. I run my business by my values – transparency and authenticity. It’s not just about making money for me. It’s nice, but I always want it to be about so much more. When I can, I donate to local organizations that have missions I support. It’s always nice that my small (micro) business can make a bigger impact than I could on my own.
We’d like to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Gosh, I have been fortunate in this business (not so much in my life, but that’s a different story). I started this business with a vast system of support. Many people were rooting for me to succeed; my friends and family are my biggest cheerleaders. I already had a customer base who were asking to buy my products. I have a sister who gives me so many good ideas. My husband has kept me grounded when my perfectionist tendencies come out (I’ve come close to throwing out batches of marshmallows that I later thought were amazingly beautiful). Lol. My little brother helped me label packages several times when I realized I couldn’t finish on time alone. My dad is proud and always wants to share my marshmallows with his friends. My mom loved them, too. The Pflugerville community has embraced me and supported me so much. So have the other small businesses here. I am just so grateful for the support I’ve had. The bad luck for me comes in terms of my chronic nerve pain and its incurable nature. It stops me from doing much more in this business and life. I’ve had a lot of trauma in my life, so I’ve learned how to keep going and also when to ask for help. As long as this business brings me and others joy, I’ll find a way to keep it going, even if it stays a micro business.
Pricing:
- Marshmallow 2-packs: $5
- Marshmallow & S’mores Bars: $7
- Custom batches: prices vary based on flavor and design
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @fluffmarshmallowco
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/fluffmarshmallowco
- TikTok: @fluffmarshmallowco
