Growing a Family Food Business with Summer and Kam Johnson

Summer and Kam Johnson, co-founders Zach and Zoe Sweet Bee Farm

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Meet Summer and Kam Johnson

Summer Johnson is the co-owner of Zach and Zoë Sweet Bee Farm, a business that she started the business in 2015 with her husband, Kam.  Together, they began keeping bees in their backyard to use hyper-local honey to alleviate their son's allergies. Today, their honey is retailed all over the world, and in dozens of specialty, mass, and boutique stores across the nation. They have expanded the brand's assortment to 20+ organic superfoods flavors blended with their raw honey and have plans to continue growing. 

Episode Highlights

During this episode of The Food Means Business Podcast, we discuss:⁠

  • How Summer and Kam started beekeeping and eventually turned it into a business

  • Their Chase Business commercial, Shark Tank appearance, and landing on Oprah's Favorite Things list

  • The importance of persistence and keeping the business a family-owned operation

  • Lessons learned from their entrepreneurial journey

  • 00:00:03:00 - 00:00:03:23

    Summer

    Okay. Bring it on.

    00:00:05:08 - 00:00:09:19

    Djenaba

    All right. Summer and Cam. Welcome to the Food Means Business Podcast.

    00:00:10:15 - 00:00:11:12

    Kam

    All right. Thanks for having us.

    00:00:11:29 - 00:00:13:13

    Djenaba

    Absolutely. Absolutely.

    00:00:14:13 - 00:00:15:04

    Speaker 4

    Let's do this.

    00:00:17:03 - 00:00:17:29

    Djenaba

    You. good summer?

    00:00:18:21 - 00:00:21:07

    Summer

    Now. All good.

    00:00:21:13 - 00:00:34:16

    Djenaba

    Okay, good. I'm good. Thank you. So this podcast is all about taking the leap from being an employee to entrepreneurship. We'd love to hear your story about Zach and the honey farm.

    00:00:35:21 - 00:00:36:03

    Summer

    Go ahead.

    00:00:36:29 - 00:00:59:26

    Kam

    Sure. Yeah. So, you know, we got started probably six years back when we moved from Montclair to 109 counties, a move roughly an hour west. And it's a lot more rural. And what's interesting, Zach, was, gosh, probably seven years old at the time. And so he really struggled with with bad seasonal allergies. And he was small at the time.

    00:00:59:26 - 00:01:21:08

    Kam

    He's he's shot up. He's pretty he's almost tall as me now. But at the time is really, really small for his age. He and we just you know, we said we want to give him a lot of a lot of medicine, a lot of inhaler, steroids. And we were taking him in and out of the emergency room. And so we'd read about, raw honey, we have some land out where we are in Hunterdon County.

    00:01:21:08 - 00:01:43:22

    Kam

    And so it was more of an experiment to see where could we, you know, one, would it be cool to have some have bees? But more importantly, could we produce honey and give give him honey? And that was really Summer's idea. And so you know, that, you know, so got bees and this spring that honey that first fall and then summer started, you know, just blending the honey with superfoods.

    00:01:43:22 - 00:01:52:15

    Kam

    And that's when it really took off. And eventually we started selling the honey at a local farmers market. It's no longer around called Stockton Market.

    00:01:52:17 - 00:01:52:28

    Djenaba

    Okay.

    00:01:53:05 - 00:02:15:09

    Kam

    Yeah. So that was that was Summer's idea. I wanted to put a plan in place, but I still remember this bolt, Summer walked right into the the market owner and just made a connection. And so I just, you know, you saw immediately just how our hard differences really helped help, because I would have it would have taken me months to work up the courage or the analysis to meet the market owner.

    00:02:15:09 - 00:02:21:22

    Kam

    But she just walked in somewhat. Lady fell in love with Summer like like people do. And so yeah, she gave a speech.

    00:02:21:22 - 00:02:27:29

    Summer

    But first of all, let's just talk about this in the first place, okay?

    00:02:28:10 - 00:02:32:27

    Djenaba

    I mean, most people would just go buy some raw honey, you guys, you know, kind of took it to another level.

    00:02:34:03 - 00:02:36:13

    Speaker 4

    Yeah. I mean, you know, we're.

    00:02:37:11 - 00:02:37:23

    Summer

    You know.

    00:02:37:24 - 00:02:56:12

    Kam

    Yeah, we're adventurous. You think real awesome people. You know, I'm glad you know, I'm glad, you know, friends of ours because we're definitely a little a little different. And you're right, we could have easily bought honey, but it was really quite the boost. You can easily bought some honey, but it was it was a lot of lot of fun.

    00:02:56:12 - 00:03:21:05

    Kam

    A lot of fun getting these. And and so if they start out a farmer's market, yeah, the farmer's market really, really was where we got started and that was great. I mean, Summer and the kids and I would be there, it was on the weekends, right? So you get to know the community, but you also just really got to experiment with the price point and in parallel working on our branding and the labels and just, you know, what does it mean, you know, to be a food purveyor?

    00:03:21:05 - 00:03:26:14

    Kam

    And and so we were there for, what, some three or four years. And then we went to a.

    00:03:26:20 - 00:03:27:03

    Summer

    That's right.

    00:03:27:03 - 00:03:27:22

    Kam

    Out of market.

    00:03:28:04 - 00:03:35:17

    Summer

    Yeah. We were able to kind of experiment on the community. They love us, though, and they're kind of like rich hippies out here.

    00:03:37:01 - 00:03:39:18

    Speaker 4

    Yeah, yeah, that's true.

    00:03:39:24 - 00:03:42:09

    Summer

    But. And they're like, is it organic?

    00:03:43:00 - 00:03:45:17

    Speaker 4

    Any organic? Right.

    00:03:46:00 - 00:04:29:05

    Summer

    And now to this day, I make sure everything is absolutely organic, you know, and just trying to make people feel better. And it actually was something that people continue to to get healed up from and that they are, you know, just in love with because it's not just that it tastes good, you're able to stuff. So my superfood into honey and you're able to palate something that would taste horrible and just be just too much, whatever it is medicinally or supplement only if I could make them affordable the most vitamins in the thing you know and able to palate it with honey and so that nutrients people just need more and more of I'm personally

    00:04:29:05 - 00:04:33:10

    Summer

    I feel the same way so I'm here.

    00:04:33:25 - 00:04:34:04

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:04:34:04 - 00:04:53:04

    Kam

    And so then you know continuing the journey. So we went to another farmer's market called Ferry Market. They opened in New Hope here, which is not too far from Stockton. And so, you know, we'd always sort of wondered and thought, hey, what about Chelsea Market? And Chelsea Market was really special to us because we lived closer to the city.

    00:04:53:04 - 00:05:06:27

    Kam

    We'd always take the kids to Chelsea Market on the weekends, and it was just, you know, just a fun time for the family. We'd go eat lots of foods, go meet lots of of the entrepreneurs in the market. And so I think.

    00:05:07:22 - 00:05:09:16

    Speaker 4

    Chelsea.

    00:05:09:16 - 00:05:28:21

    Kam

    They picked us up in, what, 2018? And that's when that's when it really that was one of the the big early milestones for the business. And because what happens, you know, I mean it's a big torch destination. So people from all over the country in the world, they come to Chelsea Market, they meet Summer, they try the honey, they go back and they buy a line.

    00:05:28:21 - 00:05:43:07

    Kam

    And so in parallel we said, hey, we really should figure out a more online component. And so I think Shopify was the first and still is are platform built a very simple Shopify platform. So a lot I mean a lot of the stuff has really just been organic.

    00:05:44:09 - 00:05:45:28

    Speaker 4

    Once again.

    00:05:45:28 - 00:05:48:17

    Summer

    Once again, he’s being modest.

    00:05:50:02 - 00:05:52:03

    Djenaba

    So tell me the real story. Summer, go ahead.

    00:05:52:16 - 00:05:53:04

    Kam

    That's the truth.

    00:05:53:05 - 00:05:55:24

    Speaker 4

    So know that having a.

    00:05:56:06 - 00:06:19:21

    Summer

    Heart like loving on the people and and COVID hit and so we’re there you know like people were constantly trying to find something to do so they don't go crazy. So they shopped, though. This man took that thing and turned it into like, of course. No, they didn't. They. Yeah, he's the owner. And I just did that because I was all in small boat.

    00:06:19:22 - 00:06:30:17

    Summer

    I'm happy being the owner. I love the community and my husband was like, Oh, this is serious. And that is I'm blushing.

    00:06:30:22 - 00:06:33:23

    Speaker 4

    Yes, I'm blushing right now.

    00:06:33:23 - 00:06:53:25

    Kam

    It really I wish I wish this was definitely planning. I mean, I wasn't I will say that that was South Chelsea's milestone. But the big thing I mean, the big thing was really 2020 obviously, you know, with the murder of George Floyd, a lot of a lot of both consumers, but also brands, you know, started supporting or try to try to support.

    00:06:54:10 - 00:06:54:28

    Speaker 4

    That as well, you.

    00:06:54:28 - 00:07:15:20

    Kam

    Know you know like Black businesses but but even but parallel 2020 was also big for us because that's what we got the reach out from Oprah, Oprah's favorite things. And what's funny what's funny. It wasn't it was it was really, really interesting because, you know, often we'll get pressed, reach out to, hey, you know, we're doing a feature, can you send some honey?

    00:07:15:20 - 00:07:41:16

    Kam

    And that that that in itself isn't a big deal. But what's interesting and some Sumi called it out is like every two weeks they would reach out again. And so that's when we sort of said, hey, maybe this is something bigger than just just a little special but like dealer clockwork every two weeks has since come to this address and some to this address and then and then literally I probably get trouble saying this I think are the last the last send was to an address in California right now.

    00:07:41:16 - 00:07:59:29

    Kam

    This is this is to the big big boss lady. Yeah. So this is to the big boss. So Summer, Summer is great Summer Summer made. it. Summer’s like I'm sending out this package. I'm going to jar this honey she made no one else could touch it because it was going to it was going to Oprah. Yeah. You know, and so that was that was wow.

    00:08:00:00 - 00:08:22:13

    Kam

    That was November. It started in probably late spring. And then it culminated in like I think late October where we had a call. We had a call with the Oprah team. And that was I think that was the their producers and it was, you know, Miss Gayle. And then what's interesting is they surprised us in a Zoom call where Oprah came on to the.

    00:08:22:23 - 00:08:24:06

    Djenaba

    Oh, wow, that's exciting.

    00:08:24:06 - 00:08:42:19

    Kam

    I think there's a there's a video of that floating around. But basically, we thought it was just an updated where we're at. And then Oprah pops on. And so they kind of they capture this really cool video of us being surprised by Oprah, letting us know that we'd made it. And so that was pretty cool. And and so that that was the big thing.

    00:08:42:19 - 00:08:50:07

    Kam

    And then what else? And then the other big thing was this is the Chase the Chase commercial. So I know, I know I'm probably hijacking the interview.

    00:08:50:12 - 00:09:07:11

    Djenaba

    No, no, no. It's completely fine. But let's step back for just a second. So with Oprah, with the Oprah favorite things, I have to imagine they have to vet you and make sure that you can actually fulfill these orders that are about to happen. Right. Because Oprah's lesson blessed you. And then.

    00:09:07:29 - 00:09:08:09

    Summer

    That needs.

    00:09:08:09 - 00:09:11:21

    Djenaba

    To be able to fulfill orders because you can't embarrass yourself and you can't embarrass. Oh, I.

    00:09:11:21 - 00:09:12:25

    Kam

    Have PTSD some.

    00:09:13:24 - 00:09:41:11

    Summer

    Sense at all. There was also her organization is top notch. Yeah but that with every interaction or they did there was liaison, there were mentors like we were consistent early, you know, I was always in touch with her people. And so I was like so glad that I got the mentorship that I did. And I was able to get on the list.

    00:09:42:00 - 00:09:52:06

    Summer

    Yes, they absolutely were honest. Like, can you fulfill can? Yeah, I'm a big one. You know, Candace Fox, five times a million. You know what it is.

    00:09:52:24 - 00:09:53:09

    Speaker 4

    You know? Yeah.

    00:09:53:10 - 00:10:12:13

    Kam

    And I'm laughing to some extent. I'm laughing because the PTSD, it was stressful. I mean, they were saying, hey, they were they gave us, hey, these are these are you know, we've seen on the high end this number of orders on the low end, this and those even in the low end, it was much, much was orders of magnitude larger than anything we've ever done before.

    00:10:12:13 - 00:10:29:17

    Kam

    And so we were we were sourcing I think we were sourcing stuff from all over calling, you know, producers, suppliers. I need, yeah, I need x, x number of thousands of units. And people are like, dude, I can't, I can't do that in a month. So yeah, that was but they were, they were to some point they were gracious, they were really, really gracious.

    00:10:29:17 - 00:10:49:23

    Kam

    They were in because what happens is there's a partnership at the time. There's a partnership with Amazon where essentially you had to work with both Oprah's team and also Amazon. And then anyone who works with Amazon, you have to have the inventory sent to them weeks in advance and everyone's trying to get their inventory to Amazon. So it was it was it was stressful, it was fun.

    00:10:49:24 - 00:10:55:06

    Kam

    It was sort of a once in a lifetime experience. And it's so heartening to.

    00:10:55:23 - 00:10:56:13

    Summer

    You know.

    00:10:56:14 - 00:10:58:09

    Kam

    Yes, I'm missing you. Right, right, right. Yeah.

    00:10:58:11 - 00:11:04:19

    Summer

    That huge influx because we've had big influxes. Yeah. But for it to be huge.

    00:11:05:00 - 00:11:15:23

    Kam

    Yeah, it's crazy whether that was in Oprah's was the first. That was the first kind of big you know, I was pretty sure that was a that was huge and so yeah that was that we made it. But that was stressful.

    00:11:15:23 - 00:11:18:04

    Speaker 4

    Those were very stressful times.

    00:11:18:18 - 00:11:27:13

    Djenaba

    And so so what came after that? There was a Chase commercial after that because I that's when I saw I was like sitting there eating a little dinner and then I see you guys on television.

    00:11:27:13 - 00:11:38:29

    Kam

    So, so, so, so Chase was so sharp. So when Oprah went Shark Tank. Oh, gosh.

    00:11:39:02 - 00:11:40:16

    Summer

    Okay, then Shark Tank.

    00:11:40:16 - 00:11:53:00

    Kam

    The Oprah Chase shark thing. So Chase was it. Chase was really Chase was similar. What happens a lot and people say, hey, you know, who's your publicist or and I'm like, God, we really we don't have a no, we don't have.

    00:11:53:01 - 00:11:53:24

    Djenaba

    They called in.

    00:11:54:00 - 00:12:12:03

    Kam

    Yeah, we don't have a like a lot of this office outreach. I mean, you know, blind outreach is good goes for our email inbox. And so this was interesting. Chase reached out and I think it might have been like it might have been like the agency. So an agency reached out, said, hey, you know, we can't share a lot, but we're doing this a creative campaign.

    00:12:12:22 - 00:12:33:04

    Kam

    We're looking for a family owned business in and around New York City. Are you interested? You know, obviously, we took it as an opportunity to, you know, not really sure where it go, but they it was fun house joke. Chase didn't really show. They didn't they weren't really transparent about how big it would be. We thought it'd be a a local campaign.

    00:12:33:04 - 00:12:53:24

    Kam

    Right. You know, and Summer gets a lot of outreach for, hey, can you do this little shoot? We thought it'd be a little shoot. The closer we get to that, we're like, Hey, this is a big production. This is a major. But we still didn't know the impact. And so it ended up being the shoot was wild it was a three day shoot, it was in like late November of 2020.

    00:12:54:27 - 00:13:13:15

    Kam

    So you had the COVID protocols. And what's interesting, we remember we were doing like one shoot at our house for a full day from like 7 to 8 at night. And then you had two days, you know, a shoot in the city. And they're basically telling the story of own kind of telling our story in like a 30 second, but it was it was it was amazing.

    00:13:13:29 - 00:13:32:19

    Kam

    And they had like their security on board. They had catering teams, they had a makeup lady and they had different wardrobe for us. I mean, it was it was it was, you know, big producer and director that came in. And this team, it was it was wild seeing how how the level of production, investment, like.

    00:13:32:28 - 00:13:33:02

    Speaker 4

    They.

    00:13:33:02 - 00:13:33:26

    Kam

    Had a commercial.

    00:13:34:03 - 00:13:43:07

    Summer

    They set up a whole they set up an entire theme of us at the farmers market. Three different locations.

    00:13:43:07 - 00:13:43:27

    Djenaba

    Yeah, well.

    00:13:44:14 - 00:14:10:00

    Summer

    Once on a farm and twice in Queens, three day production from like sunup to 1 a.m.. And they rides back and forth to Queens and the children and they had extras. It was really like a little movie. And yeah, but I, I found that I like to act like my mom was an English and drama teacher, and I was like, Oh, well, I think I like it too, Mom.

    00:14:10:23 - 00:14:34:27

    Kam

    But yeah, it was wild. It was interesting as they, you know, there were extras, it was this huge production and even then they still don't. I mean, you're basically what's interesting is your talent. So you're at the whim in, you know, the the beck and call of the director. Yeah. And so there's good and bad to that. I mean, you because you have four kids there and you have to basically say this scene over and do this.

    00:14:34:27 - 00:15:00:09

    Kam

    It was freezing cold and they had our windows open because of COVID. It was just it was a big scene. And then it wasn't until. So we shot in November, right? Things were quite there in post-production. And then it wasn't until early January 2021 that this commercial started popping up all over and we're like, wow, they really just did not did not they weren't open with with how big.

    00:15:00:09 - 00:15:21:23

    Kam

    And so that was that for me. Super, super exciting but just overwhelming. And I think it I think the commercial aired not during the Super Bowl, I think before the Super Bowl, the Oscars, the Grammys. And so that was pretty, pretty surreal. And then it was also, you know, you know, a billboard campaign and radio. And so it really was overwhelming.

    00:15:21:23 - 00:15:33:25

    Kam

    And we get a lot of it's still very uncomfortable for us to kind of like it seems surreal the opportunity, but that that was wild and that it's finally coming to a close. So I think by the time it airs that.

    00:15:33:27 - 00:15:36:13

    Summer

    I've never heard. So come on before.

    00:15:36:13 - 00:15:38:18

    Kam

    Yeah, we, we haven't we've never seen it.

    00:15:38:18 - 00:15:39:08

    Djenaba

    I haven't seen.

    00:15:39:08 - 00:15:39:13

    Summer

    It.

    00:15:40:12 - 00:15:42:00

    Kam

    We haven't, we haven't seen it on television.

    00:15:42:00 - 00:15:42:18

    Djenaba

    On television.

    00:15:42:18 - 00:15:43:17

    Speaker 4

    Yeah, yeah, yeah.

    00:15:43:17 - 00:15:44:03

    Kam

    So I think.

    00:15:44:03 - 00:15:44:19

    Speaker 4

    We put.

    00:15:44:20 - 00:15:45:06

    Summer

    Everything.

    00:15:45:06 - 00:15:45:20

    Kam

    Ourselves.

    00:15:45:28 - 00:15:49:21

    Summer

    Before someone comes to us and says, I saw the commercial last.

    00:15:49:22 - 00:16:02:10

    Kam

    Yeah, it's super embarrassed. Super embarrassing people that people recognize. Summer, Summer I mean, Summer clearly as the, you know, she she gets it when we're out. She gets the attention. So they recognize Summer a lot.

    00:16:02:17 - 00:16:03:01

    Speaker 4

    And.

    00:16:03:28 - 00:16:23:09

    Kam

    But no, I'm serious. I'm they don't and then and then there's Shark Tank which so it was all these three things. You have Oprah's camp yet Oprah. We had chase in the shark on all three. In the last two years, it really has been okay. Exciting but overwhelming. I mean really just we we had, you know, Summer had a child, we had a baby.

    00:16:23:09 - 00:16:26:27

    Kam

    So just a lot going on.

    00:16:26:27 - 00:16:31:00

    Summer

    You know, you do stuff and then you have another we have another baby.

    00:16:31:18 - 00:16:32:00

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:16:32:24 - 00:16:34:00

    Summer

    It's a whole baby.

    00:16:34:01 - 00:16:37:05

    Speaker 4

    Like all parts of hers.

    00:16:37:08 - 00:16:37:18

    Summer

    But.

    00:16:37:29 - 00:16:38:08

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:16:38:18 - 00:16:50:00

    Summer

    I'm raising her. I hope our kids. So that's what I do. And so people were like, Well, why aren't you here? And Ryan, are you there? Because I'm like, because I have a whole child.

    00:16:50:06 - 00:16:51:16

    Speaker 4

    Yes, yes. Yeah.

    00:16:51:28 - 00:16:52:12

    Summer

    They're older.

    00:16:52:12 - 00:16:53:26

    Speaker 4

    And. Oh, and so yeah.

    00:16:53:26 - 00:17:02:26

    Djenaba

    So so did those opportunities. Well I know Oprah Favorite Things but that commercial and then I think that those drive sales for you in a big way.

    00:17:02:28 - 00:17:27:27

    Kam

    Yeah yeah. I mean I mean it's it's yeah. Night and day. I mean, you know, we still we're still we're still, you know, 100% family business. But, you know, our vision was always kind of, you know, mom and pop, right? Something for us to sort of share what we loved to produce an amazing product. But those you know, what's interesting is and we were before those like very much a a local a hyperlocal business, right?

    00:17:27:27 - 00:17:48:01

    Kam

    Like if you're in Chelsea Market or you're in Stockton Market, you would come and we had a few online customers. But those really just we have customers in every state, you know, who buy repeat. And I'm like, Hey, there are good honey people in California or Florida, you know, where you don't. Because I always get I get beat up for the shipping costs and the guy's like, I don't you don't make money on shipping.

    00:17:48:09 - 00:18:06:19

    Kam

    You know, it's glass jars plus socks going up. But we have we have customers in every state. We've got customers in other other countries. You've got a growing wholesale business we can talk about with. You've got major, major retailers. You pick this up, but the sharp shark tank, we should talk them should talk, you know.

    00:18:06:19 - 00:18:16:07

    Djenaba

    Yeah, that's talk about Shark Tank. Let's talk about and the children were involved and presented on marketing, which I thought was pretty amazing. They're pretty amazing. So with that experience.

    00:18:16:07 - 00:18:16:21

    Speaker 4

    Yeah, it was.

    00:18:16:25 - 00:18:35:14

    Kam

    So, I mean, so we, we, um, summer nine, we said, hey, this is, it's probably, they're probably going to reach out at some point and we've debated like, do we want to do it? Do we not do it? We were really on the fence in summer time in here if I'm if I'm off. But it's exciting about the opportunity.

    00:18:36:02 - 00:18:45:20

    Kam

    But you're stressed out because you got you're on Shark Tank and then you have your family. Right. And those are the sharks. They don't mess around. And so, you know, you're you know, so you don't end up a mean you don't want to be a clown.

    00:18:45:20 - 00:18:47:06

    Speaker 4

    Or a mean. Right, right, right.

    00:18:47:09 - 00:19:10:29

    Kam

    I'm not super vain. Right. Super, super vain. But so they reached out, right. Some they reached out in January, January 2021. So think about this. The Chase commercials just started airing. Shark Tank reached out. One of the producers, the casting producer in January 21 in a summer. And we always took the first call together. We do some of the.

    00:19:12:24 - 00:19:13:23

    Speaker 4

    Like the first.

    00:19:15:01 - 00:19:16:26

    Djenaba

    See there we hear you.

    00:19:17:03 - 00:19:17:16

    Summer

    Okay.

    00:19:17:16 - 00:19:34:07

    Kam

    So so we take we take the first call together. And the casting producer was great. And hey, you know, we're reaching out. This is not committal, but we just want to make the connection, learn about your story. And so what's interesting about Shark Tank and I'm probably all these probably going to reach out after this, but every week you have homework.

    00:19:34:07 - 00:19:53:24

    Kam

    Every week they say, okay, great art, summer camp, great conversation. Here's your hope for the next call. And that homework is a way of sort of them keeping you accountable or holding them accountable. And they basically say, hey, you know, if you don't do your homework, there's no guarantee that you'll earn. So there's a lot of motivation for the entrepreneur to like, you know, do do all the steps.

    00:19:55:03 - 00:19:59:23

    Kam

    But this goes on for like months. I mean, literally, right? Some like every week you got something.

    00:20:00:00 - 00:20:00:14

    Speaker 4

    You.

    00:20:00:26 - 00:20:20:14

    Summer

    Any other prep? They're like, we went on air. I feel the pressure of making sure because the thing about Shark Tank is that they don't cut out. If you make a mistake. Yeah, they leave it alone. And so if you don't numbers are you just blank out, they'll put it in there. And so that's.

    00:20:20:14 - 00:20:20:27

    Speaker 4

    Point.

    00:20:21:06 - 00:20:34:13

    Summer

    B, just shooting facts to each other. We would have times of the day where we would have our script out. Yeah. And it included our number. All of us, me. Kam's actions always knew all that. Yeah.

    00:20:35:21 - 00:20:36:18

    Speaker 4

    Wow. Yeah.

    00:20:37:01 - 00:20:44:05

    Summer

    You fax to each other for months and. And so I kind of miss knowing that much information.

    00:20:44:28 - 00:20:45:07

    Speaker 4

    About.

    00:20:45:22 - 00:21:01:19

    Kam

    Every type. Yeah. So Somer's point, so, so what's interesting is, you know, and, you know, so we as the process as a process sort of matured, we said, hey, we got to talk to other people who've been on the show. So we started like, you know, just talk, hey, talking to, you know, do you know anybody's been on the show?

    00:21:02:02 - 00:21:22:15

    Kam

    Can we talk to them? And then, you know, all business is under India, so you can't share that you're, you know, being considered for Shark Tank or you're talking. So essentially we met a couple of other entrepreneurs who really helped us understand the process. So lo and behold, we you know, as we get closer and closer to some point, you doing all the due diligence.

    00:21:22:15 - 00:21:49:15

    Kam

    So all of your documents, your background checks, your financial statements, and then in parallel, you're working on the pitch, right? So you get this production team says, all right, you know, if if you ever here, let's practice your pitch and hey, we're Cam and Summer Zach himself and Zach and Zoe, yada, yada, yada. And that's that is stressful because you got to know all of your figures and then you're prepping.

    00:21:49:15 - 00:22:05:15

    Kam

    And so that really, that really can be unnerving. Plus, you have your your kids, your kids on there and you're like, you know, if somebody says something that's like to my kids, like, you know, hey, you know, we got it, we got an issue. But no, you're just you really want them to be to be to be prepped.

    00:22:05:15 - 00:22:26:17

    Kam

    So we this goes on till January to July. And essentially you're saying, hey, your target date is like the third week of July. And so what happens if we flew out on Friday to L.A., flew fly to L.A. on Friday night, and then Saturday morning is when you you pitch, right? So they bring in ten teams and everyone's looking at each other.

    00:22:26:17 - 00:22:51:07

    Kam

    It's like super, super, super nervous because you don't know what's going to happen. But we pitched forth that day and then in parallel, they don't tell you what sharks are going to be on. Right. And so we're hoping like, oh, man, maybe we want to deal with this shark or that chart, but you don't really know who's going to be on to plan accordingly and what's interesting is we got what we pitched forth that day.

    00:22:51:07 - 00:23:12:27

    Kam

    So in all of this, they don't tell you a lot, right? They're sort of separated here to do make up. Then you're you're back in the trailer wait but we put forth before launch the head could be a good thing. They're hungry. They won't be as mean. They want to get to lunch. But with the most interesting thing about Shark Tank is that you do your pitch for 30 seconds and then the questions just come up.

    00:23:12:28 - 00:23:31:12

    Kam

    So the question just come on. And they don't take their time. They don't it's not like Mr. Wonderful waits until Barbara goes, and then Barbara waits until, you know, Mark Cuban. So they all ask questions at the same time. So you have to like pause and sort of reorient yourself because the question is, who's coming hot? They're coming, right?

    00:23:31:12 - 00:23:54:01

    Kam

    And you know that that's probably the most stressful part is like five people talking at the same time and one person. What's the question of marketing? One person asked this question on accounting, and you just have to I mean, it's a shark tank and they really don't. Yeah. I mean, if they if they sniff, they smell sort of weakness or something as it they're going to dig in.

    00:23:54:01 - 00:24:02:28

    Kam

    So we were we actually what they don't tell you actually we were in the we were in the shark tank for 2 hours. Really. They added it down to like, I don't know, 15 minutes or so.

    00:24:03:05 - 00:24:10:10

    Djenaba

    I knew was I knew was that, you know, the taping was longer than what we actually see on television. But I had no idea. That's a that's a long time.

    00:24:10:22 - 00:24:27:03

    Kam

    Yeah. Yeah. You're in there. You're in there for a minute. You're in there. And then, you know, and and what's interesting for us, and I don't know if you see this in the episode, but we had, I think, the CEO of Kind Bars. Look all right, He's New York. Yeah. We're in, we're in New Jersey. He's in food.

    00:24:27:03 - 00:24:30:12

    Kam

    We're in food. We're hoping. And he was like the first one to go out through like.

    00:24:30:12 - 00:24:32:03

    Speaker 4

    Oh, lord, this is going to be ugly.

    00:24:32:10 - 00:25:04:28

    Kam

    And then and then Mark Cuban asked him question. He goes out. So I'm like, Oh, God, this is like, I'm going to be in that's and you sort of see it on our face. We're like, Oh God, here, here we go then. And then I think so much so another shark goes out and then Daymond wasn't one like we, you know, we thought our Daymond we'll, we'll look out he wasn't on the show that so it is like this could have been nightmare but yeah we had, we had two sharks left, we had Mr. Wonderful and we had Barbara and then basically they start, they start bidding.

    00:25:04:28 - 00:25:26:06

    Kam

    So we're like, what kind of weird, weird scenario? But yeah, basically they started it was Barbara and Mr. Wonderful and we ended up eBay ended up doing it, doing a deal with Barbara. And that's kind of who we want to be. Barbara you know, Barbara is, you know, she's a shark, but she's kind and sweet and nice and so.

    00:25:26:29 - 00:25:28:12

    Djenaba

    And she's invested in food, too.

    00:25:28:29 - 00:25:30:01

    Speaker 4

    Yeah. Yeah, for.

    00:25:30:01 - 00:25:41:16

    Kam

    Food. So, yeah, that was just an amazing experience. You can't I can't say enough about, you know, Barbara and her team and and all of that here in a little bit of an echo.

    00:25:41:17 - 00:25:42:22

    Speaker 4

    But me.

    00:25:43:20 - 00:25:46:26

    Kam

    Me, me, all I want. Are you hearing?

    00:25:47:15 - 00:25:49:28

    Djenaba

    I hear it. I think it might be you, Summer. I don't know.

    00:25:50:28 - 00:25:53:22

    Kam

    I heard it is. It was me.

    00:25:53:22 - 00:25:57:14

    Djenaba

    Now I don't hear it anymore. And now I hear it is an echo.

    00:25:57:19 - 00:26:01:10

    Speaker 4

    I'm not sure all of a sudden.

    00:26:03:04 - 00:26:04:19

    Kam

    I can make it or something.

    00:26:05:19 - 00:26:15:06

    Speaker 4

    Just a second. Hold on. Hey there. Yep. Hi, Summer. So when you rejoined, it looks like we're picking up a little feedback from your connection there.

    00:26:15:17 - 00:26:23:26

    Summer

    Helping with that. I could only get it on my phone. So is a little. And is that better?

    00:26:24:16 - 00:26:29:05

    Speaker 4

    Let's see. Yeah, it's. It sounds better, but it's.

    00:26:29:26 - 00:26:33:25

    Summer

    I'm trying to set it up.

    00:26:33:25 - 00:26:43:27

    Speaker 4

    Thank you. You're going to let good time. Yeah.

    00:26:44:10 - 00:26:53:12

    Djenaba

    There you go. Great. Okay. All right. So Shark Tank, so you go on Shark Tank, your picture successful. What happens after that? What's next?

    00:26:54:06 - 00:27:03:12

    Kam

    I'm still I'm still. It's better. All right. Yeah. So, yeah. So essentially, you know.

    00:27:04:08 - 00:27:05:11

    Speaker 4

    Is it are you hearing.

    00:27:05:26 - 00:27:06:23

    Djenaba

    I hear. I hear.

    00:27:07:06 - 00:27:07:15

    Speaker 4

    That.

    00:27:07:26 - 00:27:08:15

    Summer

    Sorry, guy.

    00:27:09:00 - 00:27:10:15

    Kam

    No, it's okay. Can you do.

    00:27:10:15 - 00:27:11:12

    Speaker 4

    The.

    00:27:11:13 - 00:27:12:26

    Summer

    Read on my camera so that.

    00:27:12:27 - 00:27:13:13

    Speaker 4

    AirPods.

    00:27:14:05 - 00:27:17:29

    Kam

    Because it wasn't it wasn't echoing before. It wasn't great before.

    00:27:18:21 - 00:27:19:09

    Summer

    Is that better?

    00:27:19:27 - 00:27:52:14

    Kam

    Yes. Yeah, perfect. Okay, great. So okay. So yeah. So what's interesting, so we, you know, we did the deal, you know, and then, you know, you see see sort of see Barbara, come on. She hugs the family. And I think we were kind of babe, we were like shellshocked, right? We were. I mean, it was just all surreal where, you know, Barbara comes up, you hug, you hug, do a handshake deal, you go back to your trailer and you're just sort of on you're just sort of like in this weird daze because you're we're just and it's the culmination of months of preparation, the stress of not knowing how it'll turn out.

    00:27:52:14 - 00:28:08:26

    Kam

    And we still didn't know how it would be edited, but at least we knew we got a deal, so it wouldn't be all, all bad once it's edited. But you go back to your trailer and then I think, yeah, someone comes and checks on you. Make sure that I think there's a little psychologist comes in. Just make sure, hey, you went through a lot of experience.

    00:28:09:01 - 00:28:09:28

    Speaker 4

    Everyone.

    00:28:09:28 - 00:28:34:06

    Kam

    Everyone. Yeah. Oh, wow. Okay. But yeah. So then the due diligence piece starts. So then that then basically you work, you submit all the paperwork again, and then you go through the terms of the shark and there's, you know, there's things without going into too much detail. Sure. There's a lot of terms that are sort of asked for the entrepreneur that we just, you know, we just weren't comfortable with.

    00:28:34:06 - 00:28:51:18

    Kam

    Right. We've been really candid. And and we're we weren't completely surprised in talking to other entrepreneurs have been on the show. They said, hey, when you get the package, you really go go through it with a fine tooth comb with your accountant in your in your in your lawyer and make sure you're comfortable with it. So, you know, we Barbara's team is great.

    00:28:51:18 - 00:29:10:28

    Kam

    Barbara and her team are really, really awesome. Right. We talked a lot at dinner that we just we decided to to not go forward, you know, if we think was the right decision, very much, we think, you know, one of the things in Summer is great with this is she wanted that she wanted to maintain control and ownership and I respect that.

    00:29:10:28 - 00:29:33:18

    Kam

    And not everyone not everyone. Some people, it's not everyone's choice. We're not everyone's. It's a very personal decision. But for us, you know, we love having a family owned business. We love that we don't really have to answer to investors or to a team or a board. And if someone wants to change flavors or stop selling a flavor, we don't have to answer to anyone.

    00:29:33:18 - 00:29:39:01

    Kam

    And so we love the freedom and the independence and we love family and we get lots a note saying, hey, don't sell out.

    00:29:39:06 - 00:29:41:24

    Speaker 4

    Like they're like, come on, man, you.

    00:29:41:24 - 00:30:01:20

    Kam

    Can't like a lot of people die. You don't sell out. I'm like, Hey, come on, you know? So it puts us in a tough position. But we loved maintaining the ownership. And then to this day, you know, we own 100%. We're proud of that. But we respect those who take a different path. It's just worse for us. We think that we really like having a family owned business.

    00:30:01:20 - 00:30:05:10

    Kam

    But it's funny you get the notes like Don't sell out to the man. I'm like, Who's the man? What are you.

    00:30:06:05 - 00:30:07:02

    Speaker 4

    Really?

    00:30:07:02 - 00:30:23:03

    Kam

    But yeah, so so we pause. We still keep in touch every now and then with the farmer and her team. But it was a cool experience. We're glad we did it, you know? Right. Like it's one of those things we look back and say, if nothing else, it'd be a cool experience for our family. Even if we and didn't get a deal.

    00:30:23:14 - 00:30:38:16

    Kam

    It was something that will always be able to remember this as a family, as a husband and wife, and as a, you know, our kids like we wanted. We knew early on we wanted to have our kids on, right? Like because it gives them some confidence. It's a unique opportunity. So we're glad we did it right. Babe, are you glad.

    00:30:39:02 - 00:30:40:21

    Summer

    I'm still recuperating? It was.

    00:30:41:07 - 00:31:05:15

    Kam

    Know. Seriously? No, it's real. Yeah, we joke about that. We joke like we for a while there we shot in July. Like, honestly, summer's right. Like we weren't. We weren't good. Good until like, September. Wow. It was so stressful. I can't. It was by far the most stressful thing we've ever done as a family. Like on the business side, it was because, yes, it's Shark Tank and it's national, right.

    00:31:05:15 - 00:31:13:10

    Kam

    And you know, you seen people get really, really humiliated. So it was it was. Yeah.

    00:31:15:24 - 00:31:21:11

    Summer

    It wasn't just like humiliated. Like I've seen them out to like.

    00:31:21:11 - 00:31:22:24

    Speaker 4

    Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

    00:31:23:11 - 00:31:40:28

    Summer

    You know, I'm just grateful they were friendly, they were all WASPy. But you just can't mess up and you have to really know your facts. Yeah, pressure was amazing. Like, I wasn't shell shocked. I just felt this amazing pressure. And yeah.

    00:31:40:28 - 00:31:42:17

    Speaker 4

    At Dover.

    00:31:43:17 - 00:31:44:26

    Summer

    File. That's a good one.

    00:31:45:14 - 00:31:52:02

    Djenaba

    That's right. Oh, thank you for sharing that. So are you also wholesaling to retail, to retailers?

    00:31:52:02 - 00:32:13:02

    Kam

    Yeah, that's I mean, yeah, that's it's funny, you know, that's a big in a lot of that a lot of that is just, you know, the exposure from the press. But now wholesale business is an important part. And so who are the big retailers are like Target or I mean, there's a whole you can talk about that. But even Anthropologie, there's a cabal.

    00:32:13:02 - 00:32:45:09

    Kam

    Some were some big ones, a Bloomingdales, Macy's, like it is big and it's fun. It's big. Lots more specialty stores, you know. But we're in grocers as well. You know, we use the fair platforms to shout out fair at they are or excuse me, but now we look we do a lot a lot like wholesale and that's fine because they had I mean, they really forced you to keep they forced you to sort of keep your game really high in terms of the level of excellence, in terms of the requirements and all of it through the regulatory components of of a producing food.

    00:32:46:18 - 00:33:08:00

    Kam

    But that's yeah, that's a big, big part we do at Google and a lot of like corporate get things like Google Facebook Disney there a lot of big come in smaller companies that reach out and just want to support so that's a lot of fun. Yeah, it's just the scaling piece. I mean I know, you know, we talk more about the press cyber and talk about the scaling.

    00:33:08:08 - 00:33:20:04

    Djenaba

    That's what I was going to ask you about because obviously you had to hire people to help you, you know, the orders and execute on everything. Can you talk a little bit about your the process of kind of growing the business from that aspect?

    00:33:20:05 - 00:33:50:11

    Kam

    Yeah, yeah. We've, um, so we've got a small but mighty team. We have a, there's a woman who handles the operational piece. So like if someone reaches out for she does customer service, she does our wholesale, she does like a lot of the logistical orchestration. And, you know, you know, you're literally moving, you know, pounds and pounds of hunting in pounds of jars and glass and, you know, and then she's also sourcing it.

    00:33:50:11 - 00:34:08:13

    Kam

    Right. And it's funny, as we got in this journey, we're meeting other food buddies who say, hey, if you can save a penny on a label, do it. And so I'm thinking about and now gone, but now I get it because if you're buying 50,000 labels a month, right, a penny on a label really does add up. So it's been interesting.

    00:34:08:13 - 00:34:28:26

    Kam

    We've got a a production team was actually making the honey and you know somewhere overseas both of it and then then we're sort of the you know, the brand ambassadors, right? We're doing we're doing something with them. Speak a lot about doing something with the Amazon in a couple of weeks. But the scale has been interesting scaling because, you know, it's hard.

    00:34:29:07 - 00:34:51:12

    Kam

    I shouldn't say it's hard. It's got to be really purposeful to to watch your cost. Right. You know, and honey is very competitive. And, you know, we try to offer the best product at the right price, but being cognizant of shipping cost in glass jars and the quality. So it it really I mean, my hats, my hat's off to entrepreneurs because it is it's tight.

    00:34:51:12 - 00:35:16:09

    Kam

    It's not easy. We think we're pretty smart, but it is every day you've got all sorts of things that you don't anticipate, like people stuff, but really just your suppliers and vendors and managing all of that in your your accounts receivable and then your payroll, all taxes. It's a lot. It really I mean, it just you don't appreciate it until you see you've done it.

    00:35:16:09 - 00:35:22:16

    Kam

    And so I really respect people who can rebuild like that because it's a lot. It's a lot. It really is not easy.

    00:35:23:05 - 00:35:31:06

    Djenaba

    So let's talk about the children. I mean, they've been actively involved in the business since the beginning, I assume. So how are they handling everything?

    00:35:32:10 - 00:36:09:05

    Summer

    Oh, they're very well adjusted. When we first started the business, we ran across a school that really met all of our needs, allows us to go online when we need to. Right. And Chelsea. And so we didn't realize how much we would need that school. And so now, you know, they've been there for five years now. We didn't realize that, you know, there's heavy security, everything they need to just have a normal life and to enjoy themselves at this point as we just didn't realize how how much how we would take off.

    00:36:09:10 - 00:36:10:05

    Summer

    We didn't know.

    00:36:10:20 - 00:36:12:18

    Speaker 4

    Yeah. The kids. Yeah, the you know, it's interesting.

    00:36:12:18 - 00:36:31:05

    Kam

    The kids, I mean, they've they were little they were little rascals when we started. And now they're teenagers. And so it was interesting, when they're younger, they can sort of, hey, you're going to be at this. You you're going to you're going to be working in the honey stand selling honey. And now that they're older, they can sort of finesse.

    00:36:31:05 - 00:36:32:25

    Kam

    They can finesse Dad. Mom.

    00:36:32:25 - 00:36:35:02

    Speaker 4

    But what's exciting is, I.

    00:36:35:02 - 00:36:44:20

    Summer

    Think to be just that facet, they have so many things going in so many different directions and shoots. We don't to just be the honey kids.

    00:36:45:04 - 00:36:46:09

    Speaker 4

    Yeah, yeah, yeah.

    00:36:48:07 - 00:37:09:26

    Kam

    Yeah, yeah. They're pretty. It's funny. They're pretty normal. I mean, all things being considered, they're pretty normal kids, I think. You know, I, you know, we're biased, obviously. We don't think they've got big egos. So they and they don't they don't like brag or boast about that. I think they're pretty normal, right? I think they're pretty. If you'd meet them, you'd have to really pull out of them, you know, thought about the honey business.

    00:37:10:00 - 00:37:26:15

    Kam

    They're pretty they're pretty, pretty humble. But what's interesting is just seeing it, you know, I remember, you know, growing up, I'd always think, oh, you know, man, if I had a if I had a dad and mom, we had a family business, I'd be all I'd be doing instead of working, you know, working at a fast food joint.

    00:37:26:15 - 00:37:44:27

    Kam

    But it's interesting that our son Zach Zach is sort of gravitating towards Zoe is your typical teenage girl. She likes it, but not Zach. Zach is more interested. And then it's interesting to see what happens with our little one or two year old who's a who's a handful. And she's a she's a firecracker. I wonder if she'll be.

    00:37:45:17 - 00:37:50:05

    Kam

    And then people have joked, hey, you need you know, you need to have a third name in the in the honey.

    00:37:50:15 - 00:37:51:24

    Speaker 4

    Oh, yeah, yeah.

    00:37:52:25 - 00:37:54:11

    Kam

    Yeah. It's cool. It really it's cool.

    00:37:55:15 - 00:38:08:01

    Summer

    It's, it's it's very our middle names and so it's it. But overall, yes. You like the face of the company probably.

    00:38:08:18 - 00:38:09:29

    Speaker 4

    Yeah. Yeah, she's. But I.

    00:38:09:29 - 00:38:10:15

    Djenaba

    Could see that.

    00:38:11:00 - 00:38:15:29

    Kam

    You all are kids. I'm thankful all our kids take after some me. So, you know it's like yeah I have.

    00:38:15:29 - 00:38:17:13

    Speaker 4

    Heard.

    00:38:17:13 - 00:38:17:15

    Kam

    You.

    00:38:17:21 - 00:38:25:01

    Djenaba

    Know, you have a beautiful, beautiful family. I understand why Chase reached out as well, because you have a great story and and you are cute.

    00:38:25:18 - 00:38:27:13

    Speaker 4

    You know, you you look good.

    00:38:29:03 - 00:38:37:14

    Djenaba

    So can you talk a little about your any lessons that you've learned at starting the business and some advice that you would give to someone that's kind of just starting out?

    00:38:37:24 - 00:38:38:27

    Kam

    You want to start this one summer.

    00:38:38:29 - 00:38:41:02

    Summer

    Oh lots of things in humble.

    00:38:41:20 - 00:38:43:06

    Speaker 4

    Mm.

    00:38:43:06 - 00:39:22:18

    Summer

    Stuff you know and I enjoy the journey as a who you are but the work and the people, the new people involved even your own staff, there's so many new people, so many new personalities, people that do you know more than you and sometimes do act like you and I have to navigate water especially. There's not that many people that will probably watch that and have a family owned business, but we had that dynamic where it was tough to navigate, you know, just like these new boundaries.

    00:39:23:04 - 00:39:31:21

    Summer

    Um, but our relationships within the family and then letting in new people that interacted with us both on a daily.

    00:39:32:20 - 00:39:33:18

    Speaker 4

    And yeah, that's.

    00:39:34:00 - 00:40:02:10

    Summer

    Just figuring out those lot and being professional and respectful and all these different things. It took time to, to hash it out. But I think that if you just stay true to yourself and if you like, for instance, if you know, the Bible always says, my people forgot me when they got successful, that's always right. And to not let that happen, don't stop praying.

    00:40:02:26 - 00:40:35:18

    Summer

    I'll get a big head start, you know, just going, you know, crazy stopping or whatever you do, you know, just stay humble and do what you were doing before because that was what it really makes you happy. But yeah, you know, if you think that like more money or more prestige is going to make you happy, it's not like, yeah, I have to remember the things that you really enjoy and not to veer off from them or else you're going to be disappointed.

    00:40:36:00 - 00:40:48:22

    Summer

    You know, this work done and you've accomplished all these things and I have to keep it to yourself. All this money is going to make me happy. Or this thing.

    00:40:48:22 - 00:41:10:28

    Kam

    Yeah, I'll yeah, I echo all of that. You know, I think the lesson learned is what's interesting, even with all of the all of amazing opportunities we've had, I mean, like these sort of once in a lifetime opportunities, it's still really difficult. And I think, you know, the lesson learned or to keep to keep going to really just as much as possible.

    00:41:10:29 - 00:41:30:18

    Kam

    Don't quit. Don't don't quit because it does pay off at the end. And we joked we joked that we would have there were so many days you wanted to quit. What what are we doing? We're losing money. You know, we're we're, you know, working this market and we've made, you know, $80 for 12 hours of work. And you're like, what am I doing?

    00:41:31:07 - 00:41:49:16

    Kam

    What, you're questioning your life decisions? But, you know, I would just say really keep going because, you know, now it's easy to look back and say, oh, of course, you guys would have would have made it. But there are some early days that would just you know, it's hard, hard work. And so I think just the persistence would be would be one thing.

    00:41:49:16 - 00:41:56:01

    Kam

    And that's what I want to leave with, with the audience, is just the power of persistence, if you will.

    00:41:56:01 - 00:42:04:22

    Djenaba

    So what about what do you guys do with the family for fun and to relax and kind of get away from business right?

    00:42:04:22 - 00:42:22:00

    Kam

    Ooh, that's a so we love to travel. Yeah, we that's one thing. We love to just get away from it all and hop up and just go go visit somewhere we've never been before. So that's something, you know, Summer and I, growing up, didn't travel a lot, so we knew we wanted to, you know, just expose the kids to that.

    00:42:22:00 - 00:42:47:10

    Kam

    So we'll try. We try to visit somewhere, you know, just somewhere new and shout out. We used a site called Scott's Cheap Travel so Charlotte Scott So Summer's rolling her eyes I'm embarrassed her but no I mean, listen you're a family of five and being cognizant of airfare costs. So but no it really we've been all over the world and and that's a lot of fun.

    00:42:47:10 - 00:42:52:27

    Kam

    And then, um, and then what else do we do? So I'm like.

    00:42:52:27 - 00:42:54:07

    Summer

    Yeah, we go to the beach a lot.

    00:42:54:24 - 00:42:55:06

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:42:55:06 - 00:43:16:24

    Kam

    And Jersey Shore or out to the Jersey Shore. So you're pretty, pretty, you know, friends and I know people. Ben, I believe we're pretty normal family, right? We're pretty. We do a lot of the normal stuff. But, you know, yeah, beaches beaches are happy place like May from May to September. You can find us, you know, 60 miles east.

    00:43:17:09 - 00:43:17:22

    Speaker 4

    If you will.

    00:43:17:27 - 00:43:18:08

    Kam

    So.

    00:43:19:27 - 00:43:30:04

    Djenaba

    So at Hudson Kitchen, we have what we call a Money Bell, which people ring when they want to celebrate something. So I'm wondering, what are you guys celebrating right now? Could be personal or professional.

    00:43:30:15 - 00:43:39:28

    Kam

    Whatever you 18 anniversary, 18,18, 18th year anniversary. So Money Bell for that, congratulations.

    00:43:40:03 - 00:43:42:10

    Djenaba

    Yes.

    00:43:42:10 - 00:44:05:25

    Kam

    And then and then on the professional side, we we got an opportunity with Amazon. So they're doing an event that they're doing in New York at their studio and inviting all of these press and influencers and singers. And so we'll give a talk sort of about our story in our journey. So that's that's kind of what's on the radar.

    00:44:05:25 - 00:44:09:15

    Kam

    What else? I think those are the on the business side. That's probably the.

    00:44:09:29 - 00:44:17:13

    Summer

    Yeah, there's fun stuff. Like there's stuff we're always excited about that. We're grateful for that.

    00:44:17:21 - 00:44:18:07

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:44:18:27 - 00:44:22:06

    Kam

    I feel like I feel like that. Was that a good Money Bell one that was great.

    00:44:22:06 - 00:44:25:21

    Speaker 4

    Like it was great. Great was great. It was great.

    00:44:26:02 - 00:44:32:27

    Kam

    What's interesting is like, you know, you know, because all those, you know, the Oprah and the Chase and the Shark goes are so big that I'm like, hey, this Amazon.

    00:44:32:27 - 00:44:34:15

    Djenaba

    Thing is a big you know, it's huge.

    00:44:34:15 - 00:44:42:00

    Kam

    My kids my kids are like, oh, great, but I'm all like, I'm pumped for it. So that's cool.

    00:44:42:03 - 00:44:43:04

    Djenaba

    Now that's great.

    00:44:43:13 - 00:44:48:08

    Kam

    That's geared, geared up for a grown up growing up the holiday season, you know, and.

    00:44:49:03 - 00:44:50:09

    Speaker 4

    Yeah, that's it. All right.

    00:44:50:12 - 00:44:57:22

    Djenaba

    Well, thank you so much for being on our podcast. Please let everyone know where they can find out more. About seconds away, sweetie, from.

    00:44:58:18 - 00:45:05:13

    Summer

    How well you got our website back up. So we've got to go. And we're at Chelsea Market, so make sure to.

    00:45:05:19 - 00:45:06:03

    Kam

    Market.

    00:45:06:15 - 00:45:18:29

    Summer

    Us on the weekends or the weekdays. And you can we always have samples out so you can try every honey, whichever one you like, 21 flavors that can sell. Yeah.

    00:45:19:15 - 00:45:19:22

    Speaker 4

    Yeah.

    00:45:19:23 - 00:45:41:03

    Kam

    Thanks for it. Thanks for having us. We're big fans of what you're doing for for food the food community. So thanks for having us on. Okay. You know, I've been emailing summer back and forth and but we're excited and whatever we can do to support so thank you. Yeah it's cool in and you know shout out shout out to the the commercial kitchen like it's it's it's a real need it is a.

    00:45:41:06 - 00:45:41:24

    Speaker 4

    Real.

    00:45:41:25 - 00:45:42:02

    Djenaba

    Thank.

    00:45:42:02 - 00:45:57:06

    Kam

    You. And you know, we talk to folks, hey, I don't know how to get started or I make these awesome pies in my kitchen and I'm like, hey, man, like, you can't make those pies in your kitchen. So the commercial kitchen, it is it is such an in the community, right? I mean.

    00:45:57:22 - 00:46:04:11

    Djenaba

    It's so much fun even for me, like just to watch everybody and to be a part of the day to day businesses. It's a lot of fun.

    00:46:04:11 - 00:46:22:24

    Kam

    Yeah, we've met some. Some of those, you know, my closest buddies are food guys and so that that network when we're having a, a rough week or rough month, but they've really been awesome and it's to share tips and ideas. So shout out to what you're doing and whatever we you do to support like it's it's a it's a big need for a lot of.

    00:46:22:24 - 00:46:23:01

    Speaker 4

    People.

    00:46:23:18 - 00:46:25:13

    Summer

    That you're around. Yeah.

    00:46:25:13 - 00:46:26:08

    Speaker 4

    Thank you. Thank you.

    00:46:27:13 - 00:46:32:12

    Djenaba

Connect with Summer and Kam:

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