Today we’d like to introduce you to Aryelle Murrell.
Aryelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been in the kitchen since I was little. Almost everyone in my family cooks, so I have been wowing my family with my desserts for years. In 2016, I catered my grammie’s 75th birthday party, where I started to really experiment with the flavors of my special pudding, It was here that they all first became a hit. Later on in March of 2017, I made my friend Kiya some of the now Strawberry Crunch and put it into some extra jars I had around my house. We both posted it on our Snapchats and suddenly we were hit with a wave of inquiries. “Where did you get that from?” “How much was that”? “What is that”? All of the interest the dessert had buzzed left me feeling inspired and motivated so later on that week, I went out to buy enough ingredients to make three flavors, that are now considered the “classics.” With the help of social media, my jars were an instant hit. So much so that, I then decided to dress up my jars with labels, but in order to have a label, you need a name.
Everyone always wants to know how I came up with the name and honestly, it is by pure luck that my first selection was already chosen. Initially, I wanted to name the business “Joyful Jars” because after you get a taste of my desserts, your taste buds will want to jump for joy. After a quick google search, I realized that name was already taken on the other side of the country. I then started brainstorming with my co-worker at the time. We were running into a brick wall until she asked me what makes my jars different from the rest. After pondering for a second or two, I simply replied: “because they aren’t your momma’s they are not your momma’s jars.” That was my eureka moment. I repeated Not Your Momma’s Jars two or three times and I was sold, my co-worker asked “can you see yourself on Shark Tank telling the sharks that’s the name of your product?” and I thought about it and said yes because, after one taste, you will realize that these are Not Your Momma’s Jars!
Fast forward to thousands of jars sold a year and a half later, and here I am, still trying to expand the business and build a network of entrepreneurs that are just focused and driven. In March of this year, I celebrated our first year in by hosting an annual Easter egg hunt and pop up event business owners throughout the city of Boston set up shop while being active in the Boston community. It was a great event and we plan to do another next year, maybe even two.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t all been smooth along the way but it’s all about overcoming adversity and staying focused and goal oriented. One of the hardest struggles when starting a journey similar to my own is, literally not giving up, not feeding into the negative thoughts or opinions of others. Taking the leap to start your own business takes lots and lots and LOTS of time and a high level of dedication. Your journey will reveal strengths and weaknesses that you never knew you possessed but the key is to continue to the grow the strengths and work hard to minimize your weaknesses.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Not Your Momma’s Jars – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As Not Your Momma of Not Your Momma’s Jars, I specialize in making people happy by way of my pudding jars. I make a variety of pudding flavors that are anything but average. I mix them with cookies or cake but a delicious, anytime, anywhere treat. What makes me the proudest is seeing people get so excited about my desserts. Whether I’m at an event or in the grocery store, people come up to me and let me know how my puddings make them “want to slap their momma.” As a home cook, nothing makes you happier than knowing your food is good and the people love letting me know.
There are many places to get desserts from in Boston and I believe what sets Not Your Momma’s Jars apart from the rest is that we are changing people’s outlook on pudding. We have a certain look and taste that is incomparable to others. Due to the popularity with taste buds, this has also allowed us to have a strong social media presence in just a little over a year.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I feel as though one of the biggest barriers facing female leadership today is that we STILL are having to work twice as hard as men to be recognized in every industry. Though I feel as though they are strides and progress being made, we still have ways to go.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 6173206236
- Email: notyourmommasjars@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notyourmommasjars/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/notyourmommasjars/
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