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ERTH CBD, Jennifer Kawczynski
Jennifer's Journey
Jennifer Kawczynski started attending SCORE SE Wisconsin workshops years ago with a friend who was working to start a small business at the time. The environment at the event was filled with fellow small business owners and entrepreneurs which inspired Jennifer to start her own essential oil business. She was paired with her mentor Bob Fremder when she reached out to SCORE SE Wisconsin for help on her tax paperwork. After a few discussions about potential business ideas and paths forward, ERTH CBD was born. Bob helped Jennifer build her business and financing plan to fund and start her new business venture which has grown from a single product to a thriving small business whose mission is to deliver the finest cannabis experience.
ERTH CBD: Setting The Gold Standard for Cannabis Experiences
ERTH CBD's mission is to set "The Gold Standard" by providing one of the finest stores, products, and overall cannabis experiences. They grow, produce, and thoroughly test all of their 130+ CBD-based products which includes: capsules, tinctures, cooking supplies, stuff for your pets, topicals, edibles, and smokable flower for any cause or regular ailment. Jennifer controls every ingredient that is used in their products and they do not use any artificial ingredients or artificial flavoring. In addition, she exercises an unparalleled level of transparency with her products as every product is labeled with the MINIMUM level of CBD that is present in the product. This enables Jennifer to ensure that ERTH CBD products are as natural as possible and that their quality lives up to the expectations of her brand and delivers on the ERTH mission.
What inspired you to start your business?
Jennifer has always been into holistic health and was looking for a natural alternative for some of her father's 32 different prescribed medications following a heart attack. In her search, she came across CBD and immediately reached out to the leader of the United States Hemp Association to learn more. This led to creating her first CBD product which she started selling at markets and other local venues. Then the CBD industry started to boom and, with some encouragement from her daughter, she made the jump to start up a brick-and-mortar retail location in Milwaukee, WI, and continued to expand her product line year over year.
What have been the high and low points of being a business owner?
The most fulfilling parts of owning her own small business have been being able to provide a stable employment environment for her family and hearing the testimonials from her clients about how the products have impacted their lives. She still gets goosebumps when she hears the great stories that her customers share! "It was the best life-changing decision that I have ever made" - Jennifer Kawczynski
How did SCORE SE Wisconsin make an impact on ERTH CBD?
Jennifer was invited to a SCORE SE Wisconsin seminar by a friend who was working toward starting her own small business at the time. The event and entrepreneur-filled environment made an immediate impact on Jennifer as she remembers, "I was blown away! I loved it!". She started routinely attending SCORE workshops and was inspired to start her own essential oil business. When tax season came, she reached out to SCORE SE Wisconsin and she was paired with SCORE Mentor Bob Fremder. After a few discussions about potential business ideas and paths forward, ERTH CBD was born. Bob helped Jennifer build her business and financing plan to fund and start her new business venture and has been in her corner ever since. "Bob is always calm. There is never a time that I can't call him. There's nothing that I can't reach out about. He gets excited to help his clients. He has just been phenomenal and he has been a huge contributor to our growth." - Jennifer Kawczynski
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting a small business?
Do it, just absolutely do it! Dive in! There are going to be things that you don't know how to do, but that's what SCORE and mentors are for. Get involved with other local organizations and chambers of commerce and surround yourself with other small business owners and entrepreneurs. With SCORE always being a phone call away, there's nothing that will be able to stand in your way as you have the drive.
