Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Cushman.
Hi Jesse, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I worked in finance for over 15 years. After I got my MBA, I continued my career in finance until the pandemic forced me to rethink my career. I had always been entrepreneurial, but never with my own ideas. I was usually the person tasked with executing the ideas. In 2020, I decided to go into business for myself, and I now own 2 successful businesses. I always wanted to own a business that created a physical product, and the papabubble franchise gave me the chance to do that while re-opening an untapped market (the USA) for the brand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh god no. I still have days where I wonder if what I’m doing will work out or if I’ll make my initial investments back. Then, I’ll have days where I feel like I’m making significant headway and things are going well. It’s a roller coaster that I had somewhat expected but hadn’t really prepared for – I think if you think about all the things that can go wrong, you’ll never push forward.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Papabubble Houston is a custom candy franchise located here in the Heights. Born in Barcelona in 2004, Papabubble has been delighting folks across the world with a passion for reviving and building upon the ancient artisanal process of candy making. We make everything from character rock candy to gummies to marshmallows – all by hand in our gorgeous store in the Heights. We do 3-4 interactive candy shows a day. This is the only Papabubble location in North America, and it’s right in Houston!
Papabubble makes many different candies that are great for a special treat or thoughtful gift. We’ve created curated mixes for any occasion. We can customize candies to include names, logos, or icon-like pictures. We also make lollipops, gummies, marshmallows, caramels, butterscotch, and many other candies. Because everything is made in-house, we can customize just about everything to help you create the candy or gift that’s perfect for any occasion.
We chose Houston to re-launch the Papabubble brand in the United States because it’s one of the most diverse cities in the country. With Papabubble being a well-known brand outside of the US, we thought that International Houstonians would appreciate a familiar name and product while native Houstonians would appreciate a new concept in their backyard.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
In general, I think I won the cosmic lottery being born in the US at this point in time. I have been very fortunate in my life and had many opportunities many people across the world don’t get. That said, I think it’s up to the person to be open to opportunities and make good things happen with them. Sometimes challenges happen, and it might not seem like it in the moment, but it’s the best thing for you. In times like that, I try to focus on the things I can control and let go of the things I can’t.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.papabubblehtx.com
- Instagram: papabubble_htx
