Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Hernandez.
Hi Carlos, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Really excited to talk to you as well! Sure absolutely. My parents are from Cuba but I was born in Columbia, SC. All of my extended family lived in Miami, FL so we would spend three months out of the year in Florida for summer vacation. Right after graduating from high school in Georgia, we moved to Miami to be closer to family.
Fast forward 15 years later and I was working at a company where I thought I would be able to build a career. I received three promotions in five years and won employee of the year for the region. Then in 2012, I was terminated unexpectedly. Around this time I met my wife through a mutual friend. My wife is from Miami but she recently moved to Houston, TX right after college. A relationship blossomed and in 2014 I chose to move to Houston to start a life with her and a new business. In November of that same year, my wife entered us into a business plan competition with the City of Houston and we won first prize in the service category! I couldn’t believe it.
Winning that award catapulted me into Houston’s entrepreneur ecosystem. After eventually closing that business, I ended up working at one of the largest non-profit organizations in the country as a small business coach, helping grassroots entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. It was a life-altering experience. Working with those entrepreneurs for four years taught me a lot about myself and what it takes to be successful in business. So in 2021, I decided to resign from my job and take everything I’d learned and start HoneySuckle Brand, LLC.
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?
In the beginning, we did face some unexpected challenges. Businesses in the legal hemp space, like ours, have a hard time finding a bank to take deposits and a credit card processor to process credit card transactions. When we started, we had no point-of-sale system. We were tallying sales on a piece of paper. But we did what we had to do to run the business.
There will always be obstacles and challenges. You must go through those obstacles and challenges to come out successful on the other side. Now we are set up just like any other retail space with a credit card reader and a POS system.
Most of the ongoing challenges we face are unique to our industry. Even though hemp is federally legal marijuana is not. So navigating social platforms is a challenge. For example, we can’t run online ads like a traditional business. We rely heavily on influencer marketing. And even then if the algorithm catches something in the content or the caption it doesn’t like, your account can be turned off without notice.
But there is pride in knowing that we’re part of bigger than us. So when challenges do come up we remind ourselves that everything is working out for us even when it feels like it isn’t.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
HoneySuckle Brand is a popular and edgy lifestyle brand centered around cannabis culture. HoneySuckle Brand’s focus is on building a community of raving fans who like to play and work hard. “Happy Daze Ahead” is the attitude we live by that basically means, whatever is going on in your current experience, take time to relax, treat yourself, and have fun. Hard times are temporary and happier days are on the horizon.
HoneySuckle Brand is committed to quality by providing top-shelf recreational hemp-derived products with a fun and new south vibe. We only source the highest quality hemp cannabinoids and all products are sent to a third-party lab for testing. Our staff is committed to educating our guests and fans about our products to ensure they get the best product for their needs. Besides our commitment to education, we are one of the few brands in Texas who use water-soluble cannabinoids to create canna-cocktails and seltzers. These products are much for effective and faster-acting than traditional edibles. This allows are guests to enjoy the benefits of the plant without smoking it, creating a unique experience.
What I am most proud of about our brand is the response from the market. Almost everyone who encounters our brand says how inviting and welcoming it is. We attract the cann-curious and canna-isseur alike. Our brand is not intimidating and makes people feel comfortable talking about a subject that is still considered taboo in some places. Helping people reset, relax, and release is the icing on the cake.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This is a great question. Finding a mentor could be one of the single most important things you can do for yourself. And you may say to yourself, “There is no one in my network who I could consider as a mentor.” To grow your network, start hanging out where people who you respect hang out. If this isn’t possible for you, then you can get mentorship from afar. This means searching the internet for someone who you like and start following their content. You could also pick up a book written by that person and off you go on your personal development journey. The downside to this method is there isn’t an opportunity to ask the mentor direct questions. The upside is there is lots of self-reflection. Networking in general is 85% showing up. You don’t necessarily need to talk to every person in the room. Just the right person.
Contact Info:
- Website: honeysucklebrand.com
- Instagram: @honeysucklebrand
- Facebook: @honeysucklebrand
- Twitter: @HoneySuckleHTX
- Youtube: @honeysucklebrand1686
Image Credits
EP Visuals
