Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lani Fox, Founder of Rosemallow Artisanal, located in Claremont, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own Rosemallow Artisanal, a small-batch, innovative confection company. At Rosemallow Artisanal, we're reinventing the marshmallow! We create "Rosemallows," a derivation of a marshmallow inspired by a truffle, using spun sugar with fresh produce to create a cloud-like confection. We release small batch seasonal offerings approximately every 6-12 weeks with new flavors based on a specific theme. The seasonal offerings are inspired by boxes of truffles with a sampling of different flavors. Each Rosemallow sampler comes with a tasting guide creating a distinctive, sophisticated treat. We have a wide range of customers, those looking for special and unique gifts or ways to treat themselves. Rosemallows are great for a date night, a girl's night, or a dinner party. Foodies seeking a fun food experience love them, and so do those looking for a very flavorful yet light dessert.
Tell us about yourself
I'm very passionate about bringing joy to others and finding my own joy. Making Rosemallows is so fun. I get to apply all my passions- growing, extracting, cooking, and preserving food. For example, much of the produce in Rosemallows I grow myself. I have a huge range of extracts I make, including vanilla, that takes 18 months to mature. I top the Rosemallows with edible flowers I grow in my garden and swirl in edible luster dust to give them added beauty. Then I get to bring it to the next level creatively by combining the produce, extracts, and edible decorations into absolutely beautiful, fun, and exciting flavor combinations such as lavender-mint chocolate, grapefruit spritzer, and cucumber-lime-mojito. I know absolutely nothing exists like Rosemallows and how incredibly special they are. Rosemallows taste sublime, and I love the excitement of eating my seasonal flavors. This motivates me and drives me to continue investing my time and energy in Rosemallow Artisanal. I also truly love watching someone's face as they eat a Rosemallow for the first time, unable to disguise their amazement at how good they are.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishments are starting Rosemallow Artisanal and all the footwork to get it off the ground. We secured all the necessary permits- from the Health Department and the City and developed a website and online store to facilitate shipping Rosemallows. We also sold out of our last two offerings. The business has grown tremendously in a short period of time, and I've even been featured in the local press- newspapers, magazines, and podcasts. It has been an exciting journey to watch the business grow and see the excitement rising for Rosemallows.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Sifting out all of the input. Marketing and other consultants all have opinions on how the business should be run. My goal is to make sure Rosemallow Artisanal grows in a way that is congruent with our values. Our ethos is to offer super fun, bespoke food experiences, use sustainable, fully compostable materials, source/grow high-quality, organic ingredients locally and make the product as inclusive as possible, which makes us unique. This also means avoiding major food allergens and offering products made with a variety of gelatins (halal, grass-fed beef, kosher fish, and vegan) and labeled as such.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be willing to take an educated risk. Move forward even if it seems intimidating.
- Know that mistakes are an inherent part of the growth process, and it's ok to make them. Don't let your fear of making mistakes stop you from moving forward.
- Life is too short not to follow your passions- and don't be scared to stay true to your values and vision.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.rosemallowartisanal.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosemallowartisanal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RosemallowArtisanal/
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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