episode 0086- building a million-dollar business selling bread bags with jenni mccarty

After years of saving to pursue a simpler, more self-sufficient life, Jenni and her husband moved their family to a 16-acre plot of land in Alabama to more fully embrace living off the land. This is where Five Oaks Farm was born. Along the way, however, an autoimmune disease led Jenni on a sourdough journey. She began sewing beeswax-lined bread bags from fabrics she loved, and quietly grew this into a multi-million-dollar brand. In this episode, Jenni shares the unlikely path that led to her bread bag success, how she was able to change the stories of 50+ women, and why staying true to the story behind the product became her greatest competitive advantage.

Show Highlights:
1- We discuss the origin story of Five Oaks Farm. (6:20)
2- Jenni walks us through the beginnings of her journey with sourdough bread bags. (16:35)
3- Jenni reveals her sales in the early days of her bread bag business. (22:50)
4- Jenni discusses building a marketing team. (24:50)
5- Jenni talks about the process of employing 50+ women and creating a win-win. (28:50)
6- We discuss the number of bread bags sold and current revenues. (36:35)
7- Beyond bread bags, we discuss farming and the other facets of her business. (39:50)
8- What advice does Jenni have for women and families looking to take agency over their food supply? (44:05)
9- Where can we learn more about Jenni and Five Oaks Farm? (51:35)
10- WHAT IN THE WORLD? We discuss artificial food dyes on the heels of several companies eliminating their use. (53:00)

Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness
Follow Jenni on Instagram: @fiveoaksfarmal

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