Summary:
Welcome to another great episode of Startup Junkies!
On this episode, hosts Matthew Ward, Jeff Amerine, and Grace Gill sit down with Deric Cahill, the founder of Wicked BOLD, a company specializing in producing small-batch, vegan chocolate. Wicked BOLD’s chocolate is handmade in Texas using only three ingredients—one of which is organic and ethically sourced cacao from Belize. Throughout the episode, Matthew, Jeff, Grace, and Deric discuss utilizing TikTok as a marketing strategy, the challenges behind starting a business, and how to navigate growth while staying authentic.
Shownotes:
(2:00) Introduction to Deric
(4:50) TikTok Strategy
(13:28) Zero To Side Hustle: The 0–90 Day Playbook for Entrepreneurs
(16:02) Advice to Those Wanting to Start a Business
(22:16) Next Steps for Wicked BOLD
(26:24) The Volatility of Inflation
(33:04) Keeping the Authenticity behind Wicked BOLD
(36:59) Navigating How to Delegate Work
(39:38) Advice to Previous Self
(41:33) Closing Thoughts
Links:
Zero to Side Hustle: The 0 – 90 Day Playbook for Entrepreneurs
Quotes:
“People love seeing people succeed at the core of who they are. So for small brands that don’t already have their brand strategy or their social media strategy, I would highly recommend showing people what you are like. You always hear the saying ‘friends buy from friends’ or ‘people buy from people they like,’ and that’s the approach I take on TikTok.” - Deric Cahill, (8:46)
“I want to be irrational. I want to live life a little bit on the outskirts and I want to be unapologetically me…I want to find my people and I don’t want to care about the people that are not my people.” - Deric Cahill, (12:25)
“And while my customers might not notice that my prices stay consistent—maybe they do—but I’m not relying on a $3 difference in the cost of my goods to feed my family. So, I keep my prices consistent.” - Deric Cahill, (27:27)
“I feel like everything that I do right now with my time is in perfect alignment with who I want to be…I’m not faking it for anyone, which is really cool…I’m on my track to like my best life.” - Deric Cahill, (34:38)