What happens when a homemade salad dressing turns into a full-blown brand — complete with social media dancing, loyal customers, and a beloved 92-year-old family friend who became the company icon telling everyone to “Buy the salad”?

In this episode, we sit down with JJ Flavor Rican to talk about the unexpected journey of building an all-natural salad dressing business from the ground up. JJ shares how she first got her products into brick-and-mortar stores long before social media became part of the plan, and how Facebook helped grow awareness before TikTok entered the picture.

We talk about the early days of creating products, learning branding and figuring out how to stand out in a crowded space. JJ also opens up about her personal health journey, including weight loss and gastric sleeve surgery, and how those experiences influenced both her mindset and her business.

There’s also a fun side to this conversation — from freestyle music and dancing on TikTok to creating content that feels authentic instead of forced. And of course, we had to talk about Sonia, the 92-year-old who accidentally became a fan favourite and the unforgettable face of the company.

This episode is full of honest conversations about entrepreneurship, family, reinvention, health, social media, and building a brand with personality.

What’s inside:

- How JJ Flavor Rican started the salad dressing business

- Selling in stores before social media

- Creating all-natural products

- Weight loss and gastric sleeve surgery

- Learning branding and marketing

- Freestyle music and TikTok dancing

- Growing on Facebook and social media

- Selling online and shipping products

- Building a family-driven brand

- Sonia and the “Buy the salad” moments

- What’s next for JJ Flavor Rican

If you enjoyed this episode with JJ Flavor Rican, make sure to like, subscribe, and share the show with someone who loves great food, inspiring business stories, and a little family chaos along the way.

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MidLifeMafia

Website: https://midlifemafia.com/

Follow JJ 👇

Website: https://jjsown.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jjtheflavorrican

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jusjoy21/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jjsown/

Podcast editing by https://podcastmagician.com/