When 6-year-old Charli Johnson suggested starting a coffee business to her dad, T. Shane Johnson, he thought it would be a valuable teaching opportunity and a “great way” for them to spend time together.”It was just one of those kind of ‘aha moments’ as a dad,” T. Shane Johnson, a Marine Corps veteran, told FOX Business. “A lot of kids come up to you and say, ‘I want to do dance or football or baseball.’ We jumped right into it together.”The father-daughter duo launched Big Guns Coffee in 2021, which today sells 38 coffee blends, as well as soaps and candles, both online and at a brick-and-mortar store in Tryon, North Carolina. Its products are available in stores across the country, according to T. Shane Johnson.”At the same time, we are franchising our farms to Montana, Kentucky, California and other different places,” Charli Johnson added.SMALL FAMILY FARMS MAKE AMERICAN-GROWN ROASTED COFFEE THE WORLD’S BEST BREWBig Guns Coffee’s most popular products are its Charli’s Blend, a bold dark roast, and The Motivator, a medium roast.BOY SWEETLY PRETENDS TO SERVE COFFEE TO HIS OLDER SISTERSAmerican-grown coffee is not common in areas outside California, Hawaii, Florida and Puerto Rico, according to T. Shane Johnson.
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Fruit tree gifting company has humble roots: 'Grit of the American Dream'
by Successful IBO • • 0 Comments
Prior to launching PlantOGram – an American-made fruit tree gifting company – nearly two decades ago, gardening was solely a backyard hobby for husband-and-wife duo Mickey and Vicky Popat.The newlyweds at the time had purchased their first home, and developed a passion for growing fruit trees in their garden, according to Mickey Popat.”Being able to walk into your own yard and pick something and say, ‘I grew this, and I ate it’ – I think that’s amazing,” Vicky Popat told FOX Business.AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS YOU CAN SHOP FOR THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR LOVED ONESThe Popats, upon sharing their harvest with friends and family, realized fruit tree gifting could be a successful business model. They quit their jobs in finance and education to pursue their passion full-time.In 2007, the couple used their savings to launch PlantOGram. They purchased a used, $1,500 work van and began selling fruit trees door-to-door across the Sunshine State.SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS SHOWCASE AMERICAN-MADE PRODUCTS”I want to say the entire state of Florida has probably seen us [door-knocking],” Vicky Popat said. “I feel that is the grit of the American dream… When we first started, we actually budgeted a $5 bill for lunch because we were so lean.”Based out