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August 21, 2025 60 mins
Chasity Pritchett discusses her journey from HGTV show participation to founding Emblem Olive Oil, exploring market challenges and growth with BlackBrand. She emphasizes the importance of action, relationships, and navigating government contracts, ecommerce, and distribution. Chasity addresses logistics of contracts, debunks olive oil myths, and shares her experience starting a health foundation during COVID. She highlights flexibility in business and multimillion-dollar growth, discussing team structure, success measurement, and capital strategies. Personal anecdotes on balancing introversion with leadership and local food culture complete the episode.
 
 
(0:00) Introduction, event announcement, and guest introduction 
(6:29) HGTV show experience and choosing a new home 
(14:42) The start of Emblem Olive Oil and market challenges 
(20:43) Business growth with BlackBrand and importance of action and relationships 
(25:11) Government contracts, ecommerce, and distribution challenges 
(30:43) Government contract logistics and understanding award management 
(33:32) Olive oil types and debunking myths 
(39:29) Starting a health foundation during COVID and future plans 
(45:47) Flexibility in business and multimillion dollar growth 
(48:50) Team structure, success measurement, and capital strategies 
(52:13) Building customer trust and overcoming business challenges 
(53:50) Balancing introversion with business leadership 
(56:04) Local food culture and collaborations 
(57:58) Show wrap-up and final thoughts
 
 
 
- Emblem Olive Oil gained significant exposure and growth through strategic participation in events like the Start World Cup and securing a USDA contract for supplying olive oil to Native American communities.
- Chasity Pritchett emphasizes the importance of taking actionable steps from learned insights, such as registering on sam.gov and actively pursuing government contracts to scale her business.
- The health benefits of extra virgin olive oil, including its high smoke point and potential to reduce heart disease risk, are foundational to both Emblem Olive Oil's product offerings and Chasity's nonprofit initiative, Let's Fight Back.
 
 
Innovate Hampton Roads is on a mission to foster the growth of Hampton Roads' innovation and technology ecosystem by educating entrepreneurs and business leaders, providing access to essential resources, and building connections that drive synergistic partnerships. We are committed to creating a supportive environment that empowers entrepreneurs, strengthens the regional economy, and fuels long-term prosperity. By growing, guiding, and connecting key players in the ecosystem—including investors, industry leaders, universities, corporate partners, and community organizations—we aim to build a more innovative and inclusive economy. It’s time to unify our efforts, amplify our collective voice, and streamline resources to benefit aspiring entrepreneurs, students, employees, and businesses throughout the region. Don't miss out on key business events, local success stories, and expert insights—subscribe to This Week in 757
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We ready?

(00:01):
The smiles on our faces could be about our guests today, but
There's a lot to be a lot to be happy about, Zach.
Yes. Thrilled. Today is the day at the Start World Cup. It's in just a couple hours. Be heading down to the Sandler Center, Virginia Beach for the biggest business bash of the summer.
It's boy, it's gonna be awesome. We put a ton of work into this. We put a lot into it. So, now it's yeah. Like, I I I think I told you last week that this is very much like training for a marathon.
As we both are marathoners, we know that if you you train for months, and then it's just then it comes down to race day or in this and and for this, it's game day, event day, and you have to just trust your training. Trust that you put in everything that you can into this, and it it it everything's gonna be great. And so from that standpoint, I'm super excited. But, yeah, tomorrow, we're gonna wake up, and we're like, what do we do now? We've been hustling twelve, thirteen, fourteen hours a day, if not more, some days on this event.
And now it's
I I do not I do not recall you saying that about the marathon and and this and acting like that. So if you said that, I'm glad you did. Appreciate you saying it. It makes sense now. Maybe you said it here.
But
No. It wasn't on the show. It was following a a meeting that we had. I mean, we just Got it. As we we we put a lot into this.
So
Look at you. It's for
the community. It's for the founders. You know, it's just we are Virginia's on the stage, and we wanna make sure that we represent and showcase ourselves well. And, I'm pretty confident that it'd be great.
Yeah. Saw you on TV too, so kudos to that. That was pretty cool.
Press junket, if you will.
Yes. Is
that what it's called, a junket?
Not sure. You would think a guy with a journalism degree would know the key terminology. However Yeah. I don't. But
If you're watching this live, if you're watching this, there's still time
Yep.
To get your last minute ticket pre party at the hive at 03:00, three to five, and we'll make our way to Sandler Center, get the party started. It'd be great.
Absolutely. I'm excited because today's guest, someone who participated in the Star World Cup last year, a company that I I believe I did not know of or not that well enough.

(00:22):
The night off.
Until that night off, which I think a lot of the coolness about the event is just the unknown businesses that then you get to see. They get a couple minutes on stage or in the crowd. I I I think that is a a unique situation. So we are delighted. I don't know why I always use the word delighted.
I need to come up with a new word every way.
We are delighted That's a great word.
To have. It's a what word?
It's a great word.
Oh, I think it's a cute
A delightful it's a delightful word. Delightful.
This it's delightful. Well, I had Chesney Pritchett of Emblem Olive Oil in the house. Pun intended. How's it going?
Good. I am just so excited to be here. You know? I get your newsletters weekly, and I see everybody on the podcast. And I'm like, you know, I wanna be I'm never gonna get a chance to be on there.
So That's not true. Am. Here I am. I made it. Right?
I made it.
Well, I I love just the your spirit. And, like, and I think that, like and and I think that that was one of the things that just that hit me last year at the World Cup when you did your per your pitch. I mean, it was just the it was it was the right pitch at the right time. It just it hit perfect. Thank you.
Yeah. Because I think that did did I reach out to you and say, hey. You know, would you be, you know, would you be interested in doing that? I think is that how all that went down? Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. You reached out and was like, hey. You know, we're gonna have a surprise in the audience and make it live. You know, we wanna promote other businesses that are in the area that may not be on the stage or not on the stage, but given us an opportunity to shine.
And so that's one thing that I loved about the event, last year that, you know, it gives opportunities for everyone in the Hampton Roads to be seen even if you're not on the stage. It you for the stage. So I just wanna throw it in.
Well, no. And the thing and I I appreciate you being so willing to do that, and you'd be surprised. Not everybody says yes. And and even for that event, not everyone said yes. You did.
And I just
remember seeing going through all these pictures too because as we've been kind of promoting the event, we have, hundreds of pictures to sift through, and there's always your your your face just smiling. And then there's Sonya Phillips with her camera in the in the in the foreground like, oh, I gotta get the picture. I don't do know Sonya? You know
Yes. Yes. Yes. Was so funny and entertaining. That's why I was smiling.
Like, y'all came from the top. You changed clothes. It was like, am I at the Grammys or what? It's just a like that. Competition.

(00:43):
It was
so This time this year, what's really exciting is we're going to do
You're you're muted.
And that's just the first fifteen minutes of the show, and I
cannot wait. See, Zach, you got me on that, man.
Oh my god. See what I'm saying? All of these surprises, you're just getting started, Zach.
That's a Friday. And I yeah. I was just like
You said you're muted. Yeah. Intentional.
Yeah. That makes me wanna share some secrets.
Oh. Alright. Okay. So I was I was I was told when I talked to Chastity recently about this, situation that, was about to occur on August 13 at 10PM on HGTV Oh. Where well, is it not my words, but is it mom or monster is the title of the episode.
Yeah. And I'm just wondering, like, it's been, you know, a little while since the show has happened, you know, a week or so. I mean, what are your thoughts on it now? Are you happy with the way? Because you had told me you you know, they don't give you a preview
of it. Yeah.
Like, what, like, what are what are your just general thoughts?
Yeah. Well, then after that, that's just I wanna give you the backstory on this, but what are your general thoughts on the airing?
I loved it. It was absolutely entertaining. You know, I think me it was me and my mom and my daughter. You know, my mom flew up to help me look for a new home. And so my mom is very outspoken.
And, I mean, our personalities her personality has just really showed on on the series, on the episode. And so, I am very satisfied. Yeah. And now my mom is, America's favorite mom now because she likes to tell me what to do and what I should do. So, yeah, it was great.
I thought the you know, sometimes people this would be me, by the way. They don't dress for the occasion. I thought you you you had a new outfit every day, it seemed like. Feel like you're I don't I don't that the attire, was was on point. I think you're probably very happy with that.
Very interesting. I was trying to, like, figure out
Yeah.
Because, obviously, I you know, a man around town, know some some neighborhoods. I was like, okay. Where is she in this? Because they kind of gave you an idea, I'm like, is that really right there, or is it over here? And
so it

(01:04):
was it was quite interesting. I didn't I did not think that you were gonna choose that one just because of the way that they kinda, like, spun it the whole time. But then it sounds like did you cave in and, like, listen to mama a little bit? Or, like, how, like, how did you finally make that decision? Was it really the kitchen that got you?
Like You're like, why did you choose the house, Chastity? Okay. So
It was a brand new it was a brand new build. So there's absolutely that.
Yeah. They were just done, like, two two maybe a month before I I closed on the house. But, let's see. Oh, okay. The outfits, like, we had a dress code.
So I wasn't as satisfied with the outfits because some things that I brought, they said, no. You can't wear that on camera because maybe the colors or it had stripes or what have you in it. Okay. So I was but everybody I don't see why on House Hunters, like, everybody dresses kinda plain light because we have such a narrow dress code. But I'm glad you enjoyed the fashion that we that I tried to implement as best as I could with what we what we had.
So I chose this home because of location, because it's just me and my daughter. And wait. Am I and I still wanted to, I don't wanna cut grass and, you know, and all of this. So it was best for me. And I love the kitchen, which I'm getting all of this.
Like, I'm getting it redesigned in the process now. I have a interior decorating firm, so it's gonna look so amazing. But, yeah, that's why. Yeah.
Okay. To me, I'm good. Yeah. But I disagree with that statement that you just said because you were all about this garden the entire time. And then do we we don't even get a garden.
Like, it's like I don't know. Like, we have conflicting information now that, you know, we're behind the scenes, if you will. So
Yeah. So, you know, I I do want a garden, but I'm really I mean, I would love that, but I know I'm not gonna put the time in there to really
That's fair.
You know what I'm saying?
I think we think that and then we Yeah. Yeah. We think that we wanna do it, and then we get it, and we're like, oh, damn. I don't wanna do this, and I don't wanna pay this guy $50 a week to do this thing. Like, it becomes a thing.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So even though the house you chose was closer to other houses
Mhmm.
That first house, they were really close to each other, it seemed like.
Yeah. And it was kinda far. It was far.
Are they, like, all these homes in Chesapeake?
Yes. They are.

(01:25):
The western branch, so kind of, like, my area, Tim. And then
Deep Creek.
The second house was older.
Yeah.
If I it seemed a little older, and Chassis didn't seem to like the poles in the middle of them. They had, like, these pillars, I guess. Yeah. And it was unclear if they were load bearing. But, see, like, you cannot act like I didn't you you cannot act like I didn't watch this episode.
I did.
I know. Right? I know. Then
I kept going, I wonder if I like her mom or not. I can't decide.
I'm sure Zach Zach probably paused it, rewound it, looked at something. How so what's the backstory? How did how did this come to be?
Yeah. My real estate agent submitted my information, like, Virginia entrepreneur looking for a home, and they called. We had to, like, audition, and they picked us. You know? Yeah.
They picked us, and that and it was go time after that. So yeah. But the thing about it is, like, you have to already have your home, like, closed on the home. So the show is it's reality, you know, or it's reality structured TV.
What would I guess what would happen if you know when you were about to already close on the house that you did and then you walk into, like, the dream home, something that you love way more than what you just put an offer in on. That would that would be tough.
I mean, you know, you're always going to, like, see another home and, like, you know, that's even when you close and buy the home that you like, it's always gonna be something else out there, you know, that, oh, yeah. I wish I had that. But, you know, I am pretty I'm satisfied, I think, because I'm so thankful. You know, buying a home now, is not a easy process or in this economy and you know what I'm saying? Like, I I but I still I can't even and the only thing I can think about is just expansion, like, when it's time.
You know what I'm saying? Like
Two house chastity.
Building right up.
You know? Two house chastity. That's what I heard.
Well, I mean, one of the things that I was really impressed with is that, yeah, that entrepreneur from Virginia looking for a home. You know, that that there are some challenges there. So I appreciate them identifying that.
They gave her a big plug too, which I didn't expect her to. Like, they did actually let her talk about business
multiple times.
Yeah. And at first, they said no. They at first, they said I couldn't have my olive oil, you know, on there because that was the whole purpose. Like, I'm always gonna market myself the best way that I can. So they, they said no, but, like, you know, god is good.

(01:46):
They came back and said, yes. You can. So they filmed, a whole like, with me cooking in the kitchen and, you know, I everybody knew that I had an olive oil company. I couldn't say the name, but it's so easy for you to Google Chastity olive oil Chesapeake. You know?
So yesterday, my website was blowing up. I got so many orders, so many followers
on Instagram.
So it was all worth it.
I dig that.
That's amazing. How did you get so when did the company start? How did you get into olive oil?
Yeah. So I started in 02/2019. I was working in corporate, and someone, brought me some oil that was infused, like, from their garden with, like, peppers. And I was like and I they let me taste it, and I was like, this is so good. And I and I started I'm like, let me see how what's going on in this industry?
And I started researching olive oil and learning about the health benefits, learning about how is not a lot of black people in the industry, and learning, like, how can all of this health benefits, like, reach my community, reach the people that may not know about olive oil. And so I started the company. I went searching for great quality olive oil, and I wanted it to be grown here in The US so that if I need to fly, like, you know, a hour or two hours and go and check and see what's going on, I was able to do that. So I wanted my order to be trusted olive oil, and, hey, it took off from there.
That's yeah. I guess
Are olives grown here? So I always do, like, here.
Like an Italy thing. Is it not is it predominantly Italy, Italian?
It is. I mean, they have some of the largest producing, the olive oil country is there, you know, in Spain and and, Italy as well. But my the olive trees are grown in Texas and California. United States, only five states can grow olive trees. So yeah.
Is that like any of our
oil comes from, overseas, but, that this
thing like a latitude thing that only can grow in a certain latitude in terms of, like, climate? Or Yes. Why why only five states? Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because the climate. You know, olive trees, you know, they last long, but they can't be too cold or it can't be too hot.
And so Virginia and and the soil, it's just a lot that goes into growing olive trees. In Virginia, I would say it's probably a little bit too cold for trees for the trees.
It does not get cold here.
Well, I mean you know?
Are you from Georgia? I am. Just your mom live? Okay.
Yeah. I'm from Georgia.

(02:07):
I ended up by the way, just just to so when your mom's watching this, I did end up liking her at the end. So I I decided that I did like her and that she did make good points.
She's not a.
Right? Just so that when you listen to this mom, you're not like, I don't know that I like that Zach Miller guy. Now now she's gonna hear this and be like, I knew I I knew there was something about him that I liked. So, she was pretty stern about things like, oh, you don't wanna do that. You wanna save your money.
You don't you don't want this. You're gonna be mad at it. And sounds like she was right.
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. She's yeah.
You know? But at the end, you know, I always I listen, but I always kinda do what I wanna do. But, yeah, she was right. You know, I'm not
gonna shocked at how expensive houses were. Like, you know, I haven't done that process in a long time. Tim hasn't done that in a long time. I was like, woah. Like, I knew houses were more expensive, but then, like, to see you, like, in my backyard, basically doing house, like, woah.
Like, was not expecting that.
Yes. Person. And, I mean yeah. Yeah. That's true.
You know? Like, I started off so low. I'm like, oh, let me try to find a $300,000 home or, like, $2.50 to 3,000 300,000. And I just it just wasn't gonna work. It wasn't going to work.
Yeah. I had to go up. I didn't want to, but you know?
So as I'm as I'm listening through this '29 2019 time frame, I feel like did you still go to BizConnect at all?
BizConnect.
No. Okay. Well, maybe not. Okay. But I I thought now that I was like, okay.
I I don't know when I met you. I feel like maybe I heard about you back in 2019, so maybe you're at an event there. Maybe not. But Yep. I I then obviously really met you at the World Cup last year.
You did your your great your great performance. And then I was talking to Brian Owens over the last year as well, and he was telling me about how you guys went through BlackBrand Mhmm. And how there were some explosive growth from that.
Yeah.
Can you just go over, like, how you learned about BlackBrand? Obviously, you said one of the reasons why you wanted to start Emblem Olive Oil is because there's not a lot of
Yeah.
Olive oil businesses that are founded by by I never know what the correct terminology is here, so that's why I'm gonna try like, you know, know what day it is of the week, and I'm like, okay. Like, I don't know what I'm supposed to say here. So, like, I
It's okay, Zach. Okay?

(02:28):
I'm trying to be
very respectful. Black or African American. I I mean, I say black. Sometimes I say African American, but, really, I'm just I'm black. So you know?
So yeah.
But then I was thinking our good friend James Doe says black or brown people, and then I almost said that. I'm like, well, I don't know that. Like,
Well, I mean, black and brown, that comes with other races like Indians and, you know, that's a whole, you know, by that's a whole another, you know, area. You know? And I
was just
But I was
I was stuck for a moment, but you know
what was trying get. Yeah. I'm I'm I'm black, so it doesn't it's okay.
Yeah. Okay. So black founders, not really into the olive oil thing. Something you want to start or had there hadn't been a lot of that, it sounds like. You meet BlackBerry in some capacity.
How does how does that how do you guys meet them? How do they help you? Stuff like that.
Yeah. Within my business, you know, just starting out, you know, I was very inquisitive. I wanted to learn, you know, a lot, and I wanted to, just be around people for knowledge. And so I went to Black Diamond weekend, and some of those workshops, they had, like, government contractors or people who apply for government contracts. And I was in this workshop, and I'm like, man, I I know it's a way that emblem olive oil can get some government contracts.
And I was just thinking kinda outside the box. Like, I wanna supply America with great quality extra virgin olive oil. And so that same night, you know, the things that I learned about go going on sam.gov, I went on sam.gov, and I registered my business. I uploaded all the information. And then I'm like, okay.
What's next? Because this was all new for me. So I reached out to different people from the government to low people and saying, hey. I want olive oil in the school systems to help with kids because, you know, olive oil and the benefits would help with brain development. It has with ADHD, and it's one of the most healthiest, oils that you can have.
And so I was just reaching out to different people, and then I reached out to USDA. And USDA, they emailed me back and was like, hey. We're working on this project, getting olive oil for Native Americans, and we're just trying to see how this is gonna work. And I'm like, oh my gosh. I really wanna be a part of this.
And so when it so I help kinda them start or to understand olive oil, like, the chemical side of olive oil. And just because so, eventually, a bid came out. Now just because I helped them with this solicitation doesn't didn't mean that I was going to get the bid because it's hundreds and hundreds of olive oil companies. But I think the key with mine is that my olives were grown in The US. Like Tim talked about, you know, Italy, you know, and Spain and all these Turkey and all these other countries that produce olive oil.
But, of course, when you're working with United States Department of Agriculture, they want products that are grown here and with American farmers as well. You know, it's helping the economy. And so I placed the bid when it came out, not thinking or not knowing what was gonna happen. And so I ended up getting that bid. And so that that's I know I talked about BlackBrand and that that Diamond Weekend and just being there, but it helped me per be prepared because you had to be on sam.gov in order to even bid.
So I was already prepared when the bid came out.
What what what I hear out of that is, like, you didn't just attend. You didn't just show up. You didn't just read a book. You took action from the thing that you learned from. And I think that's a really, like, incredible step that's missed by so many entrepreneurs, so many individuals.
It's like, hey. Like, don't just read the book. Don't just show up. Like, do make do that action from that. Because if you don't do that action, like, you took so many extra steps up there, sam.org or .gov.
Then then you you figured out the that that the bid was gonna come through, that you you helped them with that. Like, you took all these extra steps. So many people

(02:49):
Yeah. Don't do
those extra steps. They just show up, and then they're like, why didn't it work?
On top of that, it's like a relationship with a banker. You need to establish that relationship before you need it. That process of sam.gov is a multi week process to get your number and approved and all that stuff. So, like, if you waited for the solicitation and then tried to do it Mhmm. It more than likely would not for?
Sam. System. Sam? I don't I don't know. I just know sam.gov.
I think it's, like, system something. Yeah. Okay.
I wonder what unclesam.gov is.
It's where taxes.
Oh, lord. So
and that that's produced a very good return for you. So so kudos for that.
Yeah.
What is it like so I what is that? What do you call that? Like, b to g, I guess, so business to government. Let's go with that.
Oh,
wow. Have a I don't know if that's a thing I made it up or I
It's a good word.
Don't I don't know. Right? But then you have the ecommerce business, which we saw flourish after the HGTV piece of it. Like, is it difficult to manage, like, both sides of that? And then, like, do you also do trade shows or anything like that, which is a completely different aspect?
Is there a retail side of it? Like, these some people would just stay in that government lane. Right?
Yeah.
But it sounds like there might be more.
Yeah. You know, I've I've been in the retail space. Okay? Like, I've been in over 200 stores, and maybe I was I was too early to go into retail, and I did good. But with my product and with me being a smaller brand, right, retail is they take a heart a big part of your margin.
Okay? And I don't have, like, a inexpensive product. Okay? So who's going in Target to buy a $18.19 99 bottle of olive oil? Right?
Like, you you go in, you know you know, Walmart, and you're like, Walmart is shop for less. Right? So customers are not going in these plates spaces to purchase premium olive oil. I did very well in the grocery stores, but I wanted more control over my product. Like, the product sits there, and it's just you know, you it it you know, it it just wasn't fitting the what I had in mind for my company.

(03:10):
I wanted to be more involved with my customers, and I really couldn't do that in the grocery stores plus the cost plus the kickbacks and this and that, and it was a lot. And so I pulled out of the grocery. And a lot of people don't know that because, you know, I'm like, oh, I'm in the grocery stores. That's that's I made it. You know, that was so exciting, and I'm thankful for that.
I was working with one of the largest, food distributors here in, in America, but they don't tell you the little stuff that will can really bring a small brand down. People can go bankrupt. Okay?
Do you have an example? I was
so just even just to piggyback on that. Okay. I was talking to Crunchy Hydration who pitched at the World Cup last year. He's pitching again this year.
Mhmm.
I don't
know if
I was supposed to tell her this number. But, like, per SKU
Mhmm.
Per location, they wanted several thousand dollars. So, like, cans, let's say they're the line of seven, that's several thousand dollars per location.
So you need to add that into your fix your cost.
Yeah. Right. So not necessarily, like, address, but, like, every time in Food Lion, every time in Kroger, every time in in in Wawa, several thousand dollars just to be in that thing per SKU. I mean, that's
Yeah. And, you know, you can you can negotiate with them. Like, people don't know this, but I'm not paying you to put my product in your store. Like, I'm not doing that. Now you buy the product, and then we'll go from there.
You know? So I I wasn't a lot of people have to pay, and a lot of people have to give away free product to be to go in these stores to see if it's gonna sell. If your product doesn't sell, you have to buy back that product with I don't know how many retailers do this, but a lot of them do, like, the major ones. And so who wants to and then with olive oil olive oil, if it's not open, it doesn't expire. Okay?
So you but in the grocery stores, you have to put a label on there for when it expires because that's just coding. That's FDA. That's what you gotta do. So, you know, they get all this product, and they write you this big check. Then after if a if a load or, however many SKUs don't sell, you gotta they want that money back.
And it could be, like, a year from now, and they're like, wait a minute. You still have 20 bottles of spicy Cajun. We're gonna bill you for that.
Wow.
Yeah. And then, you know, if you're already struggling as a business and you get that invoice for the return and it's several thousand dollars Yeah. Tens of thousands of
dollars to get in
the product.
Right. And the freight. Like, I had a store that didn't sell the spicy Cajun. This is true. Everything else in these stores, they sold.

(03:31):
My spicy Cajun I mean, maybe it was like a palate. I had to pay for, either they're gonna destroy it or they're gonna donate it. Either you know, or they can send it back to you. Well, I didn't want my bottles to be destroyed or given away because I've already put in money for that. So I had to end up calling a trucking company, come pick this up, bring it back to my warehouse, and I had to pay for that.
So, you know, yeah, all of that.
Wow. Well, circling back around, Sam.
Sam.
It is
the system for award management.
Okay. Yeah.
Cool. Yeah.
Thank you.
Now we know.
Award management. Now we know. The more you know. Is that still a thing?
So when you were given when you won the solicitation, were you then on the clock to produce a certain amount within a certain amount of time?
Yep.
And were you were you positioned to to do that?
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thankfully.
Thank god. Yeah. But I I mean, I didn't know how much oil they were gonna be requesting, like, 36,000 gallons. You know? It was a lot.
So you have, like, one contract. They break it down, like, from October to November 15. We need this load and this many bottles in Kansas. And then November through December, we need this in that location. And, I mean, it was a truckload of bottles.
Okay? Like, I mean, it was 3,360 cases. So I have six bottles in each case. So that's a lot of olive oil. But, yes, I was prepared.
I had my team. I had different partners. And and, you know, USDA had to come out to the manufacturing facility and do a audit. This was a year long process. Like, this wasn't a turnaround and it's done.
You know? It had to be inspected where the oil was being manufactured and, you know, you know, it was it if something I think if something was my the water had to be gated or something like that, so I had to go and buy a little gate to put over. You know? So it was a process. And and so I had a great
What does gated water mean? Like like a

(03:52):
No. They wanted it, like, in a cage, like, for it not to be just out in the open, I guess.
This is Oh my in there? Or
No. You know what? I I I don't know why they said that, but that was one of the things. You had they they wanna gate it. And what else?
And then one other thing, they oh, security cameras twenty four seven. So we didn't they don't have security on one side of the plant. So had to go and get security cameras on side so people so they can watch it twenty four seven, basically. So we just uploaded it on our phones and I mean, but these are really simple things to what can actually be, you know, doing an audit. So it was things that we were able to handle just very quick, and so I'm thankful for that.
Can I ask a really basic question?
Yeah.
What what what's the difference between olive oil, virgin olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil?
Yeah. So, extra virgin olive oil, it has not been touched. Okay? So it's the purest form of olive oil that you get from the the the the actual fruit. Virgin olive oil means that there is some refined oil.
Maybe they mixed it with canola. Maybe it's vegetable, but it's been touched, or it's been heated as well. So that's extra virgin, virgin olive oil. And virgin olive oil maybe is not up to the standard to be considered extra virgin. It doesn't mean that it's a bad oil, but it doesn't meet the requirements to be considered a extra virgin olive oil.
Interesting. Well, I'm glad I asked that question. Yeah. Because
I got a lot to ask about this now. Okay. So that took me to
so
maybe it's a two part question. Are olives a fruit? Is that what I'm hearing? Yes.
Because they have a seed. Right?
Yes. Yes.
Wow. Okay. So is olive oil considered to be a seed oil when they talk about seed oils being when peep
No. Olive oil is not a seed oil. Seed oil
But a comp but there are you see where that's confusing. Right? It's fruit. But there is a seed in the olive, and they're also fruit, but it's not a seed oil. Right.
Please help, Jastity. Please. Please.
But it is the it is the healthiest of oils. No? Yes.
It's the healthiest of any oil out there. Now avocado does have their own, you know, they have their great they're they have some benefits. But when it's cons when it's compared to a extra virgin olive oil, there is no comparison. And so yeah. Yeah.

(04:13):
Well, I can make
sure I level.
Go ahead.
Avocado oil is great for a high smoke point. Olive oil is not. At least not
for us. That's not correct. No. That's not correct. So so let me just say this, y'all.
I I am a sommelier of olive oil. Okay? So I am a certified I studied in London, and became a, sommelier. And there's a lot of myths about olive oil that I am here to dispel, not just to you, Zach, but to everyone around the world. Okay?
So
What's myth number one?
Myth? Okay. Let's start with the smoke smoke point. Olive oil has you can cook in the with some of the highest smoke point, like and the nutrients will still be there. When we're cooking our in our kitchen, your stove doesn't cook like a a kitchen like a industrial restaurant or you know what I'm saying?
So it is safe to cook olive oil in a smoke point that's up to 429, degrees, which your kitchen probably some restaurant kitchens don't even get to that point. So you can fry in olive oil. You can deep fry in olive oil, and it's and it's way better than frying in canola or these seed oils like your, soybean and your sunflower or even your canola, which is very high in cholesterol. So yeah.
Okay. So maybe I misunderstood maybe I misunderstood what a smoke point meant or whatever, I think, but I disagree with you. I think I wanna I wanna hear I I wanna hear what mama thinks.
Maybe you're not using extra virgin, Zach. Maybe No.
It is absolutely it's it is an expensive bottle. I throw that on there, and it gets a little hot and it goes, boom. And then the smoke detector goes off. Don't you dare talk about my cooking. I know what you're trying to do.
You're gonna say maybe you don't What's what what with avocado oil.
What would be the cost of some higher some hemp olive oil fry. What what what's what would be the price point of, like, some of the more expensive olive oils on on the market?
I mean, let me say this. Olive oil is just kinda like when you're shopping for wine. If you get the $5 wine bottle, then we know what that that's probably not gonna taste as good. Okay? If you go a little bit higher, it's gonna taste alright.
You know, you can deal with it and maybe eat it with some drink it with some pasta. So it's the same. So olive oil can range, you know, a good I mean, my bottles are $26.99. But, you know, depending on where it come where it comes from, I mean, it can be more it can be $50.60, and keep continue to go up. And that really determines, you know, sorta, like, the quality of the oil.
Wow. Yeah. So
there's your answer, Tim. I Which ultimately cheap olive oil.
Which depends, you know, is determined on the quality of the olive, I would imagine.
The fruit.

(04:34):
Not really. Well
Oh.
Well, it the olive is the olive. It's determining on the process, okay, of of of the olive and how the process is. And so that's how you can really taste a good olive from how the process is done.
Do you like Mediterranean food?
I love Mediterranean food. Yeah.
I would hope I would hope so.
I teach you the Mediterranean value. So Yeah.
So I'm assuming that, a lot of so the success that you found from your business, that was the enabler for you to start your foundation?
Yeah. Yeah. That's, Tim, that's good you brought that up because during COVID, I saw that a lot of people were passing away because of high blood pressure, because of high cholesterol. And I'm like, wait a minute. There is a way for you to be able to live longer.
And I wanna say two to three and I'm not I'm just I'm gonna throw this out there. Two to three tablespoons of olive oil reduces and prevents your chance of having heart disease. Alright? So if I know this knowledge and I know that you can actually come off of medication because of your diet and olive oil, then I have to let people know. So I started in 2020 during COVID, let's fight back.
And so that that's my foundation. Let's fight back. People come to me with different ailments, inflammation, high blood pressure, all of these diseases that are really I'm not allowing them to have a fulfilled life. And I'm like, look. Come to my program.
It's free. It's for twelve weeks. You study my I mean, you go by my meal plan, and it's a faith driven, foundation. So we pray, and we just people just trust this process. And so I have seen people come off of insulin.
People have lost weight. People are no longer, having dip you know, if you're in menopause, you know, people with hot flashes, they see no hot they have no hot flashes as long as you're eating the right foods that are heavily induced in olive oil. So I started Let's Fight Back, and I, and it's just been an amazing foundation and amazing way to connect with people from all over the world.
So when you say a couple teaspoon tablespoons
Maybe three.
Do you does that mean, like, just down the hatch or you cook with it? Or
You can do either way. You can take it as a shot. You can put it in your smoothie. You can put it in your coffee in the morning, or you can cook with it. That's fine.
So yeah. Wow.
Mhmm. I remember hearing a story way back when. I believe it was American Idol. This lady, her name was Fantasia, I believe. She used to for to help her vocal cords, she would take, like, a shot of all of the oil right before because it would loosen her her pipes, if you will.
Oh, wow. Okay. I haven't heard that before, but I'm not surprised. Olive oil is so good for everything.
You know?

(04:55):
Yes. Yes. Yes. No. I can't that on my list.
I I can do some research, though, but to make sure.
Yeah. Trust. Yeah. Don't you can't just trust what I'm saying. I might have been a Zach stat.
You know? I I might have dreamed it. Meow.
No. She her vocals are amazing. Her vocals are amazing. So that may be true to that maybe you know, she won, didn't she? Yeah.
I feel like she did. Is that show still doing well? Is it still on?
I don't even know.
Still on.
Used to love it. Yeah. So, like, where do you see this going? Where do you see emblem olive oil in the future? What do you see as
Can you repeat that question? Oh, what else?
Where where do you see this going?
You know, I talked about this before, I think, Zach. You know, I never know what direction Emblem is going in because I just you I never know, but I can tell you that it's going to be something great. It's gonna be I'm gonna be here for a while. And, you know, that's pretty much it. I don't know which way we're gonna go.
And I and I think I'm I lead by, you know, leading with just faith and believing in God that he will take me where I need to be. And and so that's how that's that's where I'll be. I'll be here, and I'll be successful.
Yeah. I mean, that's, it's just weird in the sense of, like, you never know where business is gonna take you, and you just have to be open to follow that path of least resistance and lean in for the ride and and enjoy it.
Yeah. Because every time I you set yourself up and you say, I wanna go this way, I wanna do that, I wanna it it doesn't happen that same way or it doesn't last. When I when when me you know, just even me. Like, I had to learn is, like, don't don't just always have a plan, but the the plan may go another way, then just be okay with going another way. Because a lot of times my plans don't be working for real.
They don't work or, you
know Yeah.
It was get in the grocery store. And, I mean, it worked, but it didn't work because I lost money and, you know, the grocery store is taking so I just let things just flow and continue to just be in alignment. So
And I think that that's where a lot of people have that misconception that, you know, starting a business and even if you're an existing business, it is a series of experiments, and you have to test it out. And if it works, you continue on the path. If not, you figure out a new path to go down.
Yes. That's it. That's it. And, you know, I've learned this. I watched I mean, I read this book, by David David Green, the CEO of Hobby Lobby, not your average leadership or not your average leader or something like that.
And it just really woke my eyes up. Like, he tries a little bit, and he's a successful business, Christian Christian business, and is doing well. And so I like to take corners from individuals that are kinda, like, on the same path as me. And, you know, he tries different things. And if it works, it works.

(05:16):
If it doesn't, then he go back and you know, it wasn't meant to work. You know what I'm saying? So I just kinda guide my business like that. You know? Continue to work, continuing to research, and continuing to help people.
And wherever I go, that's where I go.
I don't know when society, like, changed to a point where, like, it was a bad thing to change your mind or educate yourself and think about something differently. It's like, that's totally okay. You know? It's it's not a bad thing.
Right. You know, like
I would encourage it.
Yes. That is so true because your thoughts change and people, get ups you know, people don't wanna they want you to be where they're they're at, and they you know, to be in doing. And and I could say one thing today on this podcast, and my business may do something else. You know? But and I'm okay with that.
So I'm all for change and having my own mind and not doing what the world is expecting you to do. And so
Well, I mean, I think the perfect case in point is, like, the whole world was led to believe that canola oil was gonna be, like, the thing to save everyone, and it turns out that it is not really healthy at all. It
It is not. It's not. You know? Yeah.
Well, we also have the food pyramid.
Yeah. We do. That needs to probably
with them adding pizza to the food pyramid because of the tomato sauce. I was totally okay with that.
Because it's vegetable. Yeah.
They need to to stay. Yeah. They they they definitely need to revise that. You know? Hopefully, who oh, Brooks over agriculture for The United States, she will do something with that.
I don't know.
Did did I hear on the on the show, you said you took $200 and turned it into a multimillion dollar business. Did I hear that?
Yes. Yes. I started with $200. You know, I I didn't plan for having a olive oil company. You know?
So, you know, I was still working in corporate, but I still had other things that I was doing, life and you know? So I really didn't have the have a lot of funds to make this happen. So in the beginning, what I did was I took those $200, and I went to it's a school in Virginia Beach, a high school, but they train or they they they have, like, trading trades. Like, kids that wanna do photography, kids that wanna do, videography. Like, they went to the school systems, and I asked them, like, hey.
Can some of your commercial? And some of the one child like, one of the kids, like, knew somebody down at Oceanfront, and they let me use their house. And I think I paid, like, a $100 for that. I did preorders on my bottles, like, on my like, in the beginning for people on my website. I did preorder, so I didn't spend any money going out.
So the money that came in, I invested it back into my business to buy inventory. And so, you know, I stretched I stretched the $200 until, you know, I was able to expand, you know, my marketing and supplies and labels and all of that.
How big is the team that you're working with now?

(05:37):
You know, I have a small team. It's just two people here locally, but my have, my larger team, you know, is in, California and Texas. The people that that may my manufacturers, you know, they are part of my team. My farmers, they are part of my team as well. But working in my business is only I have one other I have a project manager assistant that handles a lot of my, day to day reaching out to different potential customers and things like that.
Yeah. Well and I think that's another thing too, whereas, like, everybody wants to, like, measure success or of the business based on the size of the team, whereas, like, things today are much, much different. Yeah. You don't need a big giant team like you used to back in the day. So I applaud you for having a smaller team, but yet having a larger team that that makes everything happen because, you know, that that lowers your overhead and then ultimately lowers the risk that you have.
Yes. Yes. That is true. You know, I was thankful when I was able to bring a extra person on. You know?
And I make it work. You know? Eventually, you know, maybe I would like to have, office space and this, and but I really don't need that right now. And I'm not too quick to jump into things because it how the way that it looks. You know?
And that's why I don't really ask, you know, investors in my company because I don't want I don't I don't that's not the direction I wanna go in if that I hope you know, something that's not for me.
And it's and it's and it's and it doesn't need to be. And and I so a lot of founders that I talked to, I had that conversation with them. It's just like, hey. Not everyone needs to raise capital. You know what I mean?
If you can do this all on your own and bootstrap this and own a 100% of it, then that's great. Otherwise, you're you're jumping on that treadmill. You set that thing at ten, and you're not allowed to get off that treadmill until you sell or you're let go by the board. I don't know. But you're you're not allowed to get off that treadmill.
You gotta keep on running.
Yes. How stressful is that for a new start up company? You
know? Right.
Like, you have people hounding you, and I just I I knew that wasn't the direction. You know? And and, you know, I mean, I have a full product. You know? And I it's a million of them out there.
So I but I know mine is mine is already showing up in the world that is different, and, I'm thankful for that. So I really don't need, I don't see myself anytime having investors in my company.
Well, kudos to you for that. Because a and a lot of times, I also tell other founders, it's like, spend the time to find your customers. And if you can generate the sales and the revenue, then you may not need investors anyway. So Yeah. But I don't know why so many people are afraid to to sell and and talk to customers.
Customers are gonna tell you everything that you need to know.
Yes. Yes. They do. Yes.
What what what how do how did you what has been your trick to getting people to believe in you, try the product? Any any headwinds that you had? How did you overcome those?
Yeah. I think that I my passion shows up. Yeah. When I'm talking about olive oil, when I'm talking about these amazing fresh flavors that I have. And so it is easy.
It's easy to get people to try it. You know? I come up I I am who I am. You know? I'm very authentic, and I think people can they gravitate to that more and just, you know, just me being myself and, actually, you know, not being not being afraid to go out there and ask, you know, for anything that I want.
I'm gonna ask. Even if I get a no, I'm not afraid because I know that that is what success means. You know? I don't like to I really just like to be at home, reading by myself. You know?
That's that's my thing. But I know I have this business, so I have to do these interviews, and I have to show up here and do that. So I kinda, like, take my own I take myself out of it and just really know that. And I think people I I show up, and I support. So yeah.
Do you see yourself as are are you a, an introvert at heart?

(05:58):
I can be both. Yeah. But I'm really a introvert, and people would not even believe that. But I know who I know me. You know, my family know that I'm I I I don't have to be here and there and talking, but I have to do it because of my business.
So that's some of the sacrifice, which I don't mind it. But yeah.
Yeah. I mean, it's really it's there because there are sometimes where it's like, gosh. I just I don't really feel like turning the switch on to be, super extroverted and and playing that part. Like, it just really drains me, and I'm just not in that mindset.
Yeah. And and, you know, if I'm not in a mood you know, I don't force myself. If I'm not in the mood, then I won't go. You know, I
learned Right.
Because I have to take me first. And so yeah. You know? Yeah.
It but I I agree. You know, I I appreciate you sharing the fact that you have to have that belief in yourself and that passion that comes out of you. And so many people
Yeah.
When they're when they are talking to people, they they try to focus on providing the answers that they think that the person they're talking to wants to hear as opposed to just believing in yourself and the passion that you have, and and that just radiates from you. And, yeah, I'm ready to go out there and buy a couple bottles of some olive oil.
Yes. Find me on Amazon, my website. Yeah. Check out the reviews.
Yeah. I love it. That's good. Is there any local, any local restaurants that carry your product?
No. But I have but the Chrysler gift shop carries my product. If you go in there in Norfolk, Chrysler, they carry they've been carrying it now for about, what, three years for a very long time. We have a great working relationship. People love the oil.
It sells out crazy in in the Chrysler. So, yeah, hopefully, you know, these some of the restaurants, the Italian or, you know, the restaurants that really heavily use olive oil, they will, be open to, you know, trying trying emblem one day. We'll see.
Well, the reason that we ask that is we generally we round out the show with, is there a food of the region? And if there's not a food of the region, then is there a restaurant that you
frequent partake in? Yeah. Yes.
A local restaurant that's not franchised, you know, local?
Yeah. I mean, just because one of the things that, like the the the the bigger thing that we're trying to figure out here is, like, what is it that that that bonds this region together? And, like, one of the things is sports, but we don't have have a top four professional sports team. You know? So another bonding thing is, like, is food.
You you have buffalo wings, and you got Chicago deep dish pizza, whatever the case is, crab cakes. What is it what does this region have? You know? Like, you know, is there something that we should be known for? Know?
Yeah. You know, maybe it's tastings. Like, you know, come to the come to Virginia, and you'll have your own personalized olive oil tastings. You know, we have a lot of distilleries around here. We even have a lot of wine companies.
I I would love to collaborate with Williamsburg Winery, with, water Waterside, I think that's the name, you know, with the Cavalier. Like, less if you're tasting olive wine, then why not taste have a tasting for olive oil? And so I would love to collaborate on on that level.
That took a that took a turn. It was like, well, let me think. You know what? Let me just let me just plug myself. I love that.

(06:19):
I'm gonna start this new thing. Anytime I hear someone give a plug, I'm just gonna guess plug. Plug. Plug. Love it.
Yes.
Jesse, this has been great. We really appreciate your time doing this. Everyone check them out. Emblemoil.com.
Yeah.
Any final thoughts, mister Ryan?
I am going to make my way through the bridge tunnel. Looking forward to tonight. It's gonna be a great time. Please attend. If you're able to attend, it's not too late.
This will I I 100%
Oh.
I I am I am not one to make declarative statements, but I will say this will be the event. When you find out about everything that happened tonight and you did not make it, you're gonna be really disappointed that you didn't.
I just can't wait to show every
Yes.
And just to think that, like, dude, I thought I was gonna get you a second time, but I didn't. Oh, man.
I like it.
Yeah. Make sure you show up. It's gonna be so much fun, guys. If it's anything like last year, you're in for a treat. Okay?
And, you know, I wanna say it's your go ahead.
No. There the I think that that was probably the most two things that were the most stressful. One, the fact that we are going to a bigger venue so that there was pressure there, but really was like like Zach and I talking, like, how in the world are we gonna elevate what we did from the last year? And we did. I promise you that we did.
And I'm just bursting to and I wish that I could tell some of the secrets that Zach shared, but I don't trust myself with the mute button. I I don't know. Like, I do not know if we could top ourself again next year. I I don't know if it's possible.
Oh, wow.
It's true.
Man, I hope I get out of my meeting, so I'm a run over there.
Like Yeah.

(06:40):
I don't know how it's gonna be. I try to make it. I I For sure.
I start
to Or just move the meeting there.
I get a little teary eyed just thinking about it because we put so much into this.
Love it.
Oh, man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Alright. See you guys there tonight, 5PM Sandler Center. Chastity, it's been lovely.
Thank you
so much. Thanks for having me. Natalie on the show. Yes. I made it in Hampton Roads.
I'm on the show.
It was
so great. Alright.
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