Sweet Success for We Be Jammin’

Finding a Path: Overcoming Challenges from Autism to Product Mix
It’s Entrepreneurship At Its Best.

Smithfield, RI –Why wouldn’t a woman who has launched multiple successful businesses expect anything less for her thirty-one-year-old son, despite his severe autism?  Debbie Wood found her entrepreneurial strengths; working with her husband, they found Jason’s strengths, too. In 2014, they started two companies, Blooming Buddies, a floral business, and We Be Jammin’, featuring homemade jams, both near their home in Smithfield, RI.

The plan was to find a business that would enable Jason to flourish and to become as independent and successful as possible. At the outset, Blooming Buddies, seasonal, farm-grown, high quality plants and wreaths, kept the family busy with geraniums in spring, mums in falls and wreaths for December decorations and holidays. This did accomplish the goal of having Jason be productive and out in the community. However, there was just too little to occupy Jason in between those selling opportunities. However, sales of the jams took off and stayed constant, growing in popularity with each week’s farmer’s market or town festival. WeBeJammin’ described their trajectory as well as their initial product line.

According to Debbie, clearly the driving force of the business and for her son, “Jason is busy all year long because we have quadrupled the number of events and farmer’s markets where we sell.” Jason is responsible for the logistics of preparing for and physically setting up each display, including pulling products from storage and filling orders that were placed during the week. No easy feat, since they are booked three days each weekend in multiple locations early in the year, and four days, Thursday through Sunday starting in May. Invitations received in September for this December are declined because they are booked; Debbie kindly requests that they schedule early next year so that they can make that particular event.

This all started on tax day, April 15, 2014, just as she was rushing to meet the filing deadline for the family’s Warwick, RI-based boat business, Wood Boat and Motor, which sells and services outboards and accessories.

“Last minute Sally,” she laughs. “The focus then turned to Jason, knowing this would be trial and error to find the right fit – the work, the products.” What began as nine different jam and marmalade flavors in small jars, featuring the popular strawberry, blueberry, orange, peach etc., has grown to twenty, and includes monkey butter, fig and raspberry jalapeno plus other products.

Selling at local farmer’s markets, such as in Smithfield, RI, under one tent, with one table and three chairs, went well. Customers returned each week, placed orders, and made requests which they filled. Exploring Jason’s skills, sourcing new producers to meet increasing sales demands, and meeting a myriad of business regulations were all part of the family’s personal and business challenges. Attending larger venues, festivals and street fairs means more business and all that goes with it.

Packaging, labelling, shipping, getting the resale certificate, and meeting stringent Board of Health regulations were among the tasks that were completed by the seasoned and savvy business owners.  “Still, it felt like Shark Tank,” Debbie muses.  (In addition to We Be Jammin’, Debbie owns Wood Boat & Motor as well as The RI Boat Show.)

Flyers posted on social media was the mainstay of their early marketing and promotional effort. That, and obviously, happy shoppers spreading the good word as often as the jams.

After establishing strong sales in the sweet category of jams and butters, they added savories such as condiments, salad dressings, pickles, barbeque sauces and salsa, in nearly as many familiar and exotic variations as their jams.

Now staffed with one full time employee, three part-timers, plus Jason and Debbie, they typically manage two or three locations at a time. Testing various producers, sampling many new products, visiting new sales venues, and re-vamping their label have contributed to their growth. Similarly, the addition of business cards, rack cards to showcase their diverse products, a blurb about Jason, and finally, a website this year, have completed the story, and the branding of the business.

Currently, WeBeJammin’ sells jars and gift baskets at events and online throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts and beyond. Not surprisingly, the company been invited to the display shelves of countless specialty stores throughout the state.  To date, she has graciously declined. When asked why, she acknowledges having asked other vendors about their wholesaling experience, admitting she wonders about her product turnover, and says “we like being with other vendors, helping them to make sales, promoting the events to help everyone, but I’m considering it in the future.”

For the moment, business is sweet for this entrepreneurial family. According to Debbie, “the operation is running smoothly, the sales have doubled since last year, Jason enjoys bagging the purchases, tipping his hat and inviting shoppers to ‘Come again!’ next week.” Apparently, many do.