Staying Fresh When Sales Dry Up | Melanie Fernandez

In our final episode of the series we feature De J. Lozada, founder of Soul Popped Gourmet Popcorn, who tells the story of how the coronavirus forced her to reimagine her Soul Food-inspired popcorn brand while staying true to her company’s core values.De J. openly shares the unique challenges she has encountered while shifting from in-person experiences to online sales, and how she's been able to stay connected to her fiercely loyal and active customers through authenticity and vulnerability.Along with her online success, De. J has been able to keep her team (which includes her father, a senior citizen) as safe as possible throughout the pandemic, and found charitable ways to help other businesses stay afloat during times of need.Links / Resources:Soul Popped websitePopcorn with Purpose websiteSoul Popped on InstagramOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis. Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When coronavirus lockdowns forced farmers markets and festivals to shut their operations, Jennifer Chan’s new and thriving pop-up sorbet business, Banato, was on the verge of collapse. Instead of wallowing in despair, Jennifer chose to lead with love and serve her Chicago community hope (and sweet treats) during hard times.Jen discusses how she has channeled positivity and enthusiasm, how that optimism gave her and her team a new purpose to survive, and how fellow small businesses have generously rallied around Banato. She also shares how Banato is making customers feel extra love and comfort during troubling times, and how the business is supporting often-overlooked essential workers and standing in solidarity with Black Lives Matter protesters.Links / Resources:Banato websiteBanato on InstagramOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis. If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When the global events industry dramatically collapsed in the wake of Covid-related shutdowns, Jeremy Fleming and his close-knit team at Sydney-based Stagekings faced a disastrous outlook. As a company that specializes in building state-of-the-art stages (think Formula 1 and a Shakespeare’s Globe replica), they had to think fast — and look to a whole new industry — after suffering mass cancellations.In this episode, Jeremy recounts the importance of keeping his team employed, and how a fear of having to let staff go motivated nimble action.He shares the fantastic story of how an idea from a friend inspired the team to use their existing skills and technology to quickly meet a new market need (for everyone all of a sudden working from home), and how his staff came together to launch a beautiful new product, IsoKing, within just days.Listen to the full episode for wonderful entrepreneurial inspiration!Links / Resources:Stagekings websiteStagekings on FacebookStagekings on InstagramSupport ActOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Dr. Michelle Dickinson is a nanotechnologist and founder of Nanogirl Labs, an educational company committed to helping kids around the world find their passion in STEM fields. When New Zealand went into lockdown to combat Covid-19, her in-person science theater events were all canceled, forcing Michelle to get creative at warp speed.In this episode, Michelle tells the story of the pivotal Monday that changed everything — from losing the business' entire annual income, to juggling live interviews with national press and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — and the inspiring week of teamwork (and tears) that followed to launch a new digital platform.It’s impossible not to be inspired by Michelle’s story of resilience, which includes building a professional TV studio in two days, and camping out there throughout the lockdown with her husband and co-founder to produce daily content using everyday objects for a global audience.Michelle also discusses how their team tripled in size during a time of mass unemployment, the brilliant way they are partnering with charities, and the importance of designing kids’ products with parents at the forefront (hint: parent cheat sheets included!).Links / Resources:Dr. Michelle DickinsonNanogirl's LabThe Kitchen Science CookbookOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

2020 has been a pivotal year of growth and change for Jasmine Tiara, founder of The Black Wallet. From coronavirus throwing a wrench in her work and family routine, to the Black Lives Matter movement surging her business to new heights (and audiences), Jasmine has boldly faced each challenge head on.In this episode, she shares how a T-shirt led her to build an app for Black entrepreneurs and Black-owned businesses, and how the business has evolved. She also discusses the role of compassion in navigating challenges, the importance of keeping momentum going during a moment of awakening, and why supporting Black-owned businesses is important both to changing perceptions and to our collective success.Links / Resources:The Black Wallet websiteDownload The Black Wallet appThe Black Wallet on InstagramOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When New York-based Scott’s Pizza Tours was forced to stop offering in-person tours thanks to Covid, pizza expert Scott Wiener got creative quickly to keep connecting with his pizza-obsessed audience around the world.With pizzeria visits off the table, Scott shares how their unique virtual courses and cooking lessons keep both staff and customers engaged, with deep dives into pizza making, and pizza’s surprisingly fascinating history.At a time of tragic food insecurity, Scott also introduces us to his non-profit, Slice Out Hunger, which has pivoted in an incredible way. Along the way, Scott provides insight on the ultimate freedom of times of stress, fearless trial and error, and defining success in this unique moment.Fun Fact: Scott holds a Guinness World Record — tune in to find out which one!Links / Resources:Scott’s Pizza ToursSlice Out HungerOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When SXSW was canceled last-minute, Beth DiBaggio's Austin-based catering business faced imminent collapse. But instead of giving up, she and her partner Rafael Rodriguez looked to a family taco recipe as their life raft.In this episode, Beth shares how a nostalgic "maybe someday" dream was revived as an in-the-shower spark of inspiration, and overnight became El Camaron, a seriously irresistible taco delivery business (if you love tacos, this episode will make you hungry!).Beth and Rafael are passionate about nourishing people, and in our chat Beth also shares the critical importance of deciding to keep moving when faced with a sink-or-swim moment, and the perspective they have gained in the pivoting process.Links / Resources:El CamaronLa Pera CateringLa Dama Grazing Co.On Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When New York City went into lockdown, the iconic Nuyorican Poets Cafe creatively took their powerful spoken word events from in-person to online.In this episode, Daniel Gallant, the Nuyorican's director, shares unique insights on the challenges and opportunities the crisis has created. Hear his thoughtful observations about the pros and cons of performing spoken word in virtual spaces, including the new layers of fluidity and interplay this new landscape offers, and the unprecedented breaking down of barriers to give more artists a place to share their work.Daniel also discusses the importance of psychological and emotional relief during isolating times, and gives brilliant advice on what makes for an effective “ask” at a time when there is great tension between generosity and scarcity in an uncertain world.Links / Resources:Nuyorican Poets Cafe website Donate to Nuyorican Poets CafeOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

When her flower shop, House of Lilac, ran out of fresh flowers because of Covid-related disruptions, founder Melanie Fernandez had to act quickly to keep her business flourishing.In this episode, Melanie shares a huge risk she took just as things seemed to be taking a turn for the worse, and how looking locally to her Miami-based brick and mortar shop expanded her online sales to a whole new untapped market across the country.Melanie also discusses three key ways to listen to customers, and the importance of an engaging online presence in her business of making people happy.Links / Resources:House of LilacHouse of Lilac on InstagramOn Change of Plans, we feature innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis. If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon. Find us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

For comedian and filmmaker Toni Nagy, performing live stand-up is an integral way to energetically connect with people and the cultural pulse. When the coronavirus wiped out Toni's in-person gigs, she found herself transitioning more fully to online work to continue engaging with her audience in meaningful ways.In this episode, Toni opens up about how the pandemic and concurrent racial justice movement have influenced her work, and how she toes the line of provoking people during sensitive times to dive deep into uncomfortable issues and inspire surprising conversations.We also discuss the advent of global inside jokes, a refreshing lack of FOMO, the appeal of imperfection, and tapping into the power of the scrappy underdog.Links / Resources:Toni Nagy’s websiteToni Nagy on InstagramCavelight ProductionsAbout Change of Plans:Host Andres Zuleta interviews innovative individuals — from entrepreneurs and winemakers, to artists and chefs — who have found creative ways to adapt in times of crisis. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and check for new episodes every Tuesday.If this episode helped inspire you, please leave us a review, and come say hello on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.Change of Plans is produced by Boutique Japan. Our Sound Editor is Eléonore Simon.