“I was forced to do this,” says Laura Shafferman, Founder of Legally Addictive, “I don’t think I would have done it if I hadn’t been forced to turn my life around.” After her commercial real estate firm laid her off and held her to a non-compete clause for a year, Laura wasn’t sure what she would do next. By chance, she baked a batch of chocolate and toffee covered crackers, a staple treat found in kitchens throughout the South and Midwest, to sell at a local Christmas market. And to her surprise, it sold out nearly instantly. Without any real kitchen experience, Laura set out to recreate the snack using responsibly-sourced, shelf-stable chocolate. And before long, Dylan’s Candy Bar reached out, requesting to have it on their shelves.

Laura readily admits it wasn’t easy. Between finding the right kitchen, ingredients, and shipping process, there was a lot of trial and error. Like many entrepreneurs, she worked side jobs while her business got off the ground, and had to patiently wait a few years for the company to turn a profit. She worried, as many do, that brands who reached out to work with her were looking to steal her product. So one of the things Laura prioritized first was taking necessary legal steps to ensure her brand was protected.

Ultimately, Laura’s story is an example of what happens when change forces you to pivot. Even though change can be intimidating, it can be the perfect opportunity to dive headfirst into something you love. So when you recognize a good idea, stick with it because amazing things can happen.

• “A mentor said, ‘You really need to get into retail because it’s going to be predictable. You’re going to have a lot more control over it, and be able to sell more products at the same time. It’s excellent marketing and will drive back direct sales for you.”(24:37-24:55 | Laura)

• “Be open to changing your idea and your plan. A lot of business owners, myself included at the beginning, I was very adamant about what I wanted to do, how I wanted it done, and how I wanted this business to be perceived.” (43:51-44:05 | Laura)

Connect with Laura Shafferman:

Website | http://www.legallyaddictivefoods.com

Instagram | http://www.instagram.com/legallyaddictivefoods

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