Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Brianna Bowes, Owner of Sunbaked Goods, located in Miami, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Sunbaked Goods is a woman & minority-owned cannabis company. Its focus is on the large but underrepresented female market and the men who love them. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the inexperienced and legacy consumer. We achieve this by ensuring women see themselves in the brand and by providing community reinvestments that retain consumer loyalty, not just attract it.

Tell us about yourself

I am incredibly proud to be a woman, but I have grown frustrated with the ways we seem to communicate or find similarities. I don't mean stereotypical things like gossip or chatter, but I mean the ways we essentially trauma bond. 1 in 6 women is a victim of sexual assault, whereas 1 in 3 is a victim of violence in another form. I realized it was easier for us to discuss traumatic histories rather than our plans for the future. It has been an inherent part of being a woman and something that we are changing right now.

Cannabis found me when I was taking multiple prescriptions to cope with an unlucky reality I'd been placed in. Before it, I couldn't communicate and couldn't do much to be a productive member of society. My future was dominated by my past and one that I didn't necessarily plan. Cannabis was more than just a crutch; but was a vehicle for me to find passion and reason in my life. It is the one industry that I feel has incredible potential to make right by the groups who have been wronged in the past if done right.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

A difficult question for someone who is their worst critic! At the age of 19, I opened my first cannabis clinic, and by my 21st birthday, I turned that single location into a Medical Marijuana Clinic Chain. That same year I was asked by the Founder of the WCCC to establish a Florida chapter, and as of 2022, I became the Executive Director. It is an honor and privilege to be able to provide a space where women can grow professionally and personally.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Everyone faces challenges, and I typically talk about the issue of raising capital which seems to be an issue for everyone right now. But I think my biggest thorn is myself. I don't come from a wealthy background, so one could argue money has always been a challenge, but I am resourceful. My ability to take a dollar and stretch it into 100,000 is reliant upon my motivation and trust in myself.

With the Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce (WCCC), we talked a lot about imposter syndrome last year, and I think we won't ever stop talking about it. It's not restricted to women, but an issue that plagues us and prevents us from taking leaps and making decisions that we know will benefit us. We have been programmed to be scared to take leaps or risks. It's taken a lot and continues to be an uphill battle to understand that loud, commanding voice of someone doesn't necessarily equate to knowledge or expertise. I have seen myself grow silent when I am the most knowledgeable in the room, which has resulted in deals left on the table, and me angrily smoking a joint and replaying conversations I should have had.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Create a business plan. If you are going off of sheer will and passion, that is unfortunately not enough. You need to be organized and have a reason for every decision you make.
  2. Be realistic. Set yourself up for success rather than failure. You need to be able to create attainable goals to build off of rather than only classifying huge accomplishments as success. You will quickly run out of fuel and become jaded rather than enlivened.
  3. Don't try to keep up with the crowd. No one has the perfect plan to attack this industry. A company may have 100 locations, but this is not sustainable with a ridiculous burn rate.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.sunbakedgoods.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunbakedgoodsco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunbakedgoodsco/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannabowes/

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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