Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Franco.
Jessica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Thank you for inviting me. Everything started last year because I spent over 10 hours a day in a NICU room with my daughter for almost 3 months; she was born prematurely at 27 weeks. During my time there, I get to see many nurses and talk to them, and something all of them have in common is being tired from double shifts and craving something to eat between breaks. So, one day I shared my sweets with one nurse, and I asked her if it was okay to bring something for the others, and she said, of course, they would appreciate it. So, the next couple days, I made some Krispy rice treats decorated with chocolate and chocolate-covered pretzels. She tells the other nurses, and they come to the room to grab something. Next time, I made some cotton candy and popcorn bags, and they took them to their break-room. The last time I made more pretzels and some lollipops (lollipops were a disaster), it was my first time doing it, and they were for a premix package. P.S. I apologize to the nurses who had to eat them. I got a lot of compliments for the treats, and they recommended that I sell them. For that time in the NICU, that was my therapy and a way to deal with sadness and depression. Baby Sophia finally made it out of the NICU, and sadly, I never went back to bring more treats. Months later, the baby was more stable at home, and I started to think about making treats for sale. I did some research, but there was so much competition, and it was all so good, so I looked into making lollipops. I gave it another try, and sometime later, I found these clear lollipops. So, I investigated more and got what I could find for the limited information on Portuguese and Semitic, and one day, I just bought the materials and started practicing. I opened my Instagram account, which is where it all started for real.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s a bit of both. The first challenge was starting a business with a newborn. I was tired and overwhelmed most of the time, so that definitely made it hard. plus not having enough information about how to make the lollipops and having to experiment a lot on my own with no one to ask for help. At times, it was very frustrating because I burned my hands a lot working with the candy at very high temperatures, wasting a lot of product, but that was the price I paid for being self-taught. But I just practice enough, and every time it becomes easier and easier, and I just keep finding those little tricks that make the difference. I think a good lesson is to be willing to try something new because you don’t know how good or how much you will take out of it until it happens. The smooth part has been that people like the candy, and they are amazed by the fact that a lollipop can be used to express exactly what they want to say. It is not just a candy; it’s a candy that talks for them.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Of course, what I do are luxury lollipops, and they are made of sugar, flavors, and, for the most part, photos or flowers, and I can get to put a lot of sweet elements on them, like 24k gold, silver, sprinkles, glitter, colors, and more. With these lollipops, I get to be crafty and combine my liking for good candy and happiness, and for the most important part, from beginning to end, the lollipops are made to the liking and request of the customer to express what they like or enjoy.
What sets my product apart is that level of personalization, and knowing that something is made only for you always gives you a great feeling. It’s special because it’s not what everyone has, and then you get to share it with others, and the element of surprise is always there.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My husband has been my #1 supporter of this adventure; he has always embraced me to keep doing it and reminded me to have fun in the process. I call him my assistant manager and art consultant. He always has something to say, not always positive, but always to push me to make it easier and better. My mother and mother-in-law, my cousin Leslie, and my friends are always cheerleading for me. And people I meet at the markets are always kind. Especially thanks to Tiara Mancilla, whom I haven’t met in person and who anyways recommended me for this interview; her kindness and support speak volumes about her.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @myluxurylollies
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myluxurylollies
