Chunks Chats: About Building a Creative Business

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Running a fast growing business while being a true creative at heart is not an easy task. Host Tiffany Ju started the hair accessories brand Chunks out of her house in 2019 and grew to over $1M annual revenue in just two years. But how DO you run an efficient, goal oriented business while still having the time to do what you do best? Through interviews with other founders, tactical small business advice and fun, casual behind-the-scenes chats, Tiffany brings you open, honest episodes that run the gamut of creative entrepreneurship. www.instagram.com/chunks.shop www.tiktok.com/@chunks.shop

Tiffany Ju


    • Aug 6, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 44 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    I recently discovered The Chunks Chats: About Building a Creative Business podcast and I must say, it has quickly become one of my favorites. As a small business owner myself, I find the transparency and authenticity shared by Tiffany and Christine incredibly inspiring. The dynamic between them is engaging, their insights into building a creative business are invaluable, and their commitment to sustainability and ethical practices is commendable.

    The best aspect of this podcast is the behind-the-scenes look at how Chunks operates as a brand. From discussions about their values as a WOC owned company to insights into their manufacturing processes and partnerships with other small businesses, every episode provides valuable information for both fans of the brand and aspiring entrepreneurs. The casual, conversational tone of the podcast makes it feel like you're chatting with friends who are sharing their journey with you.

    One potential downside of this podcast could be that it may not appeal to listeners who are not already familiar with or interested in the Chunks brand. While the conversations are engaging and informative, some episodes may feel too specific to those who are not already invested in learning more about the inner workings of this particular business. However, for fans of Chunks or individuals looking for insight into sustainable small business practices, this podcast is a goldmine.

    In conclusion, The Chunks Chats: About Building a Creative Business podcast is a delightful listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, sustainability, or simply enjoying fun conversations about running a small business. Tiffany and Christine bring a refreshing perspective to the table, offering valuable insights that can benefit both current and future business owners. This podcast is not only educational but also inspiring in its celebration of creativity, inclusivity, and conscious consumerism. Highly recommended!



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    Latest episodes from Chunks Chats: About Building a Creative Business

    Creative Entrepreneurship with ADHD

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 51:48


    For any creative business owner who has ADHD (probably a good chunk of you), Tiffany discusses her own experiences and thoughts on navigating a growing business with ADHD, why it's actually a superpower, the challenges it may present in work life and the tools she uses.

    How to not waste product with Liah Yoo of KraveBeauty

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2024 31:12


    Tiffany and Liah Yoo, founder of KraveBeauty, go in depth about what their manufacturing processes actually look like and how they chose to treat the product that came out less than perfect. In celebration of AAPI month, when you purchase $60+ at chunks.shop you will receive a KraveBeauty Lip Barrier Relief from the Waste Me Not Collection. When you purchase $60+ at kravebeauty.com you will receive a Chunks Clear Checker Claw from the Oopsies Collection. This crossover promotion runs from May 24 until supplies last!

    Lessons we've learned in Organic growth and paid advertising

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2024 43:53


    Tiffany (Owner), Lupe (Brand Director), and Tasha (Social Media Manager) chat about how our marketing has evolved over the years. Tiffany started her business as a solopreneur, using solely organic social media marketing. As the business and team grew, Chunks has evolved and experimented with all the marketing options while staying true to what keeps Chunks magical.

    2023 Year in Review: When life hands you lemons...

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 54:50


    ...you do some soul searching and try to figure out what those lemons are telling you, lol. In 2023, Tiffany went through a separation, a house fire, 2 moves, team shake ups and CANCER. Tiffany looks back on the year, from where she was at the beginning vs. the end. She reflects on things that have changed, things that have stayed the same and things she's had to let go of. Tiffany reflect on her health crisis and how it's affected her personally and in the business. And finally, Tiffany share the biggest lessons she's learned from all of it. After years of being a maker and designer, Tiffany Ju built a creative accessories brand, Chunks, out of her basement in 2019 and grew it into a 7 figure business. Tiffany shares her unique experiences through her creative entrepreneurship journey. Follow Chunks on IG Follow Tiffany on IG

    Managing tough times with p.f. candles founder, Kristen Pumphrey

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 69:00


    Kristen Pumphrey started making candles out of her apartment over a decade ago and has since grown that business into a self funded, multi-million dollar success by constantly evolving and embracing change. Tiffany reached out to Kristen a couple years ago for mentorship and advice and the two have since formed a genuine friendship. We catch up for the first time in 6 months and chat about managing difficult personal life events and our businesses during tough times. Follow Kristen and P.F. Candle Co. + ⁠Tiffany ⁠and ⁠Chunks⁠ Shop Kristen's beautiful candles & Chunks⁠

    Birthing and navigating creative partnerships with LePuzz founders, Alistair Matthews and Michael Hunter

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 49:39


    Tiffany, Alistair and Michael celebrate their new puzzle collaboration called "Love is in the Hair" by chatting about how the puzzle came to be and why we we call ourselves long distance BFF's. Tiffany also gets the scoop on how Alistair and Michael manage their partnership, their inspiration for creating LePuzz and how all the puzzle pieces came together. Pun intended.

    A Chat with Chunks Brand Director, Lupe Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2023 44:06


    As the Chunks Brand Director, Lupe Wright directs and produces all Creative and manages the marketing. She chats with Tiffany about her role at Chunks and how its evolved over the 2 years she's been with the team. (She actually started as a Shipping Specialist!) Tiffany and Lupe chat about what Lupe was doing pre-Chunks, the day-to-day nitty gritty, and how she likes her eggs (and other fun facts!) Find us at chunks.shop or on IG and Tiktok

    A Chat with Chunks Product Designer, Shannon Hobbs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 45:35


    Tiffany and Shannon chat about their design process, creative inspo and what's coming up in the future. Shannon also talks about her path at Chunks, starting out as a Shipping Specialist in 2021 to now as a Product Designer. Hear about Shannon's biggest lessons and obstacles as her role has evolved.

    I just got diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2023 51:53


    I set out with a vision for a highly ambitious year but then April hit and I've spent the last 3 months on a rollercoaster of the biggest ups and downs of my life. I have Breast Cancer, AND I'm simultaneously living in complete magic and flow like I've never felt before. I'm now separated from my partner of 10 years, living on my own AND I've never been richer in connection with others. The last three months look like a dumpster fire AND I now I know deeply that the universe has my back. With all the self development turned spiritual work I've been diving into over the past couple years, hear about the new leg of the journey I'll be starting (and how the rest of the team is handling it). Connect with Tiffany on instagram

    A Chat with Kristen Pumphrey of P.F. Candles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 41:30


    From touring the craft fair circuit to building her candle EMPIRE, Kristen knows a thing or two about branding, mood boarding and steering the ship of her not so small (but still scrappy) biz. Come for the small business chats but stay for the hair stories, bc we're also talkin' hair today. Candle lovers, follow: https://instagram.com/pfcandleco?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Kristen lovers, follow: https://instagram.com/_longbranch?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    A Chat with Tiffany's Brother, Chris Ju (Kato Producer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 50:21


    Tiffany and her brother Chris (aka Kato Producer) chat about their similarities in running creative businesses that were primarily grown on social media. They reflect on how their childhood may have had a role in shaping their entrepreneurial tendencies, how Kato's beats exploded on TikTok in 2020, how to brand yourself on social media, and why does Chris not EVER seek validation from others??? MUST BE NICE. See how Kato went from making beats in college to landing 6-figure brand deals as a Producer/Influencer. Follow Kato Producer: tiktok instagram twitter youtube

    Recycling, staying grounded and resisting capitalism with Liah Yoo of KraveBeauty

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 27:13


    Liah Yoo, self titled content creator turned entrepreneur founded the skincare line KraveBeauty with a mission to slow down the beauty industry. Tiffany and Liah bond over their frustrations with the US recycling system and the realities (and temptations) that ensue from valuing impact over profit in business. How does Liah stay grounded in her values, what metrics does she use to measure success for KraveBeauty, and how did she even start caring about sustainability in the first place??? And to celebrate each other even further, we partnered up with KraveBeauty to bring you a special gift with purchase. Spend $50 on chunks.shop⁠ and get a FREE Beet the Sun Suncreen, spend $50 on KraveBeauty.com and get a FREE Flower Power hair claw. From 5.29-6.5 (or while supplies lasts).

    A Conversation with Yowei Shaw (formerly) of NPR's Invisibilia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 37:16


    Yowei Shaw spent 2 years producing and hosting NPR's Invisibilia podcast which dives into the “unseeable forces that control human behavior and shape our ideas”. Yowei and Tiffany get into a wide ranging conversation including her hair clip and claw preferences, what it was like to get laid off and her show cancelled at the same time, awkward goodbyes and being red pilled by NPR. Keep up with Yowei, post NPR via: https://yoweishaw.substack.com/ https://twitter.com/yowei_shaw https://www.instagram.com/yoweishaw/

    NPR, Collabs and Koreans from Virginia with Emma Eunjoo Choi

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 26:24


    This was a juicy one for Tiffany because she couldn't wait to tell Emma about all the fun commonalities they share and needless to say, Emma's mind was blown. Emma talks about her plan to marry a BTS member and how she got to be a host at NPR (while still a student at Harvard and making Asian parents around the country proud as sh*t). Tiffany and Emma also discuss NPR x Chunks new hair claw and clip collaboration that JUST dropped on May 19, how it came about and Emma's mom stealing the show at the photoshoot. Keep up with Emma Eunjoo Choi: https://www.instagram.com/emmaeunjoo/ https://www.emmaeunjoochoi.com/

    FAQs with Tiffany

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2023 20:32


    Tiffany answer's some of your Frequently Asked Questions! How did you come up with the name, Chunks? Where do you find inspo? How did you know you were ready to start a business? How do you maintain a work life balance? What does "responsible manufacturing" actually mean? How did you find your manufacturers? Advice for someone who's starting a creative business? Advice on selling wholesale and reaching out to stores? What did you mean by "breaking up" in one of your recent posts?

    Fundraising, talking to vendors, big life changes.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 16:32


    Tiffany talks about fundraising for Chunks, having awkward conversations with our vendors, a crazy Aries season in her personal life and challenges at work. It's a casual, off the cuff episode of what's been going on behind the scenes and how Tiffany is reflecting on it all.

    Starting a flower tea business, Chinese medicine and daily wellness with Lisa Li of The Qi.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2023 43:35


    Lisa Li talks about how her flower tea business was inspired by her trip to the tea farms in Yunnan, China and her mission to change the tea game in the West. Tiffany and Lisa reflect on the fact that as Asian women, they both created businesses that tell an Asian story and what that has been like. They also go into their eastern wellness philosophies and experiences with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Follow The Qi: https://www.instagram.com/drinktheqi/ Follow Chunks: https://www.instagram.com/chunks.shop/

    Welcome to Chunks Chats!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 1:45


    Chunks is a small business that creates joyful, responsibly made hair clips and accessories. Tiffany Ju, a fashion and accessories designer, started Chunks out of her house in 2019 and grew to over $1M annual revenue in just two years. Running a fast growing business while being a true creative at heart is not an easy task. How do you run an efficient, goal oriented business while having the time to do what you do best? Through interviews with other founders, tactical small biz advice and fun, casual behind-the-scenes chats, Tiffany brings you open, honest episodes that run the gamut of creative entrepreneurship. Follow along the Chunks journey on socials at: www.instagram.com/chunks.shop/ www.tiktok.com/@chunks.shop And Tiffany's personal journey at: www.instagram.com/t.ffanyju/

    Tiktok and SharkTank with Fiona of Youthforia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2023 39:16


    Tiffany talks to one of her biz besties, Fiona Co Chan of Youthforia, a gen Z beauty brand famous for their color changing blush oil. They discuss Fiona's journey in creating Youthforia, launching to crickets but then finding an audience on Tiktok which is now under the threat of being banned in the U.S. Fiona gives her take on social media, working with large retailers like Ulta, her appearance (and Mark Cuban deal!) on Shark Tank, and dupes!

    How to Think about Product Design as You're Growing your Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2023 10:12


    Tiffany gives her experience and opinion about designing products, especially as the company has grown. As both the business owner and designer, it can be really hard juggling the two. Designing, quality control and time management have all gotten trickier and Tiffany gives her advice on how to make sure that creative, high quality product are always priority number one.

    From 9-5 to Full Time Jewelry Line with Mihana Johnston

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2023 37:35


    Mihana Johnston, the creator of beaded jewelry line Bizu, chats with Tiffany about her creative path. From Honolulu to Denver to Los Angeles, Mihana brought her childhood inspirations to life during the pandemic and learned how to make beaded jewelry from 'bead moms' on Youtube. See how she transitioned from her 9-5 marketing career in Denver to now a full time jewelry artist, living in Los Angeles. Tiffany and Mihana casually chat about the difficulties along their similar paths and how to keep things in perspective.

    Ok but WTF does an Ops Director do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 21:19


    Tiffany's still out of town so Tasha and Christine are swapping seats from last week to tell you ALL about what Christine gets up to as Chunks' Operations Director. From e-commerce strategy and financial planning, all the way to shipping oversight and navigating our impact strategy. Christine does it all. She'll also share the learning curves she was faced with when she left the world of corporate medicine to direct the operations of a small baby hair clip biz of 15.

    What does a Social Media Manager do???

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2023 34:50


    Today Christine's talking to Tasha, our resident Chunks social media manager. Social media is a growing field in the marketing industry, but do you REALLY know what a SMM does?? Tasha will tell you all about her day to day tasks, learning curves that she's faced, what traits she thinks are most important in a SMM, and how she got hired.

    How we grew our social media following.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 15:57


    Tiffany goes into how she personally grew her social media following for Chunks, a cult favorite hair clip brand. She also shares the important things all small businesses should be asking themselves in order to grow their business using social media (hint: the question actually IS NOT 'how do I grow my social media following?') Tiffany also shares some healthy and holistic points of view about social media and how to approach it as a small business owner, a creative business owner or maker/artist.

    Here's our Impact Report!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 35:35


    We wrote our first impact report! In this episode we'll talk you through how we developed our goals for 2022, what we learned, and how we are approaching impact in 2023. We've come a long way, and have farther to go, but we couldn't be more excited to share this report with you!

    Recession Brain.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 24:29


    Introducing: Chunkonomics. Are we economists? Do we have formal training in this area? No. No, not really. But we have hot takes, and we're giving you our thoughts on the possible recession (is it coming? are we in one...? whats happening? ) We're just a small baby business but we're coming out of January with some big plans and we have to take all factors into account. If you're a small biz owner or just wanna hear about the wild wild world of influencer marketing, have we got an episode for u!

    Chunks Chats With a Sustainability Consultant.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 47:40


    Today Tiffany's chatting with our first EVER guest, Rebecca Schwartz Altholz. Rebecca studied Sustainability Management at Columbia University and now devotes the majority of her time to environmental sustainability education as well as Sustainability Consulting. She's passionate about shifting the mindset around the expectation of perfection that we hold ourselves, others and especially brands to as we're all finding our way on this sustainability journey. So..what can we REALLY expect from brands? As a brand, how can we best approach the way we talk about sustainability? What does the word "sustainable" even mean and should we still use it??! We still don't have all the answers either, and that's okay. This one's for creators and consumers alike.

    How do you work with Overseas Manufacturers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 22:39


    In this episode, Tiffany and Christine talk about our experiences working with our Chinese manufacturers. Listen to how Tiffany found her overseas manufacturers and now that her team has expanded, how they approach relationship building and vetting new manufacturers as a small company. Sponsored by Chunks.

    Using Tarot and Astrology to bring our biz dreams to life.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2023 44:23


    Today we are ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE. We gave Chunks a tarot reading, talked about our astrological charts, and Tiffany might have talked about Aliens. Taking a look at our team's charts, we also discussed how we approach the dynamics within our fun lil company. We can't totally remember because we were astral projecting ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    Social Audit 101

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 36:18


    How do we know what's really going on with our manufacturers? Especially when we aren't onsite with them?? Today we're talking about Social Audits. These are the audits used by many companies to better understand how manufacturers' pay and manage their workers. We'll discuss who creates the criteria for audits, how they work, and what they look like for both buyers and suppliers.

    Design Inspiration.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 33:42


    One of Tiffany's most frequently asked questions is where she gets her design inspo from. She talks about her general approach of finding inspo, her experience in fashion school and how she puts a collection together. She shares her opinions on what trends and style actually are and has some strong feelings about fashion's role in society.

    What's on our Minds going into 2023?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 41:30


    This is a casual episode where Tiffany and Christine discuss their thoughts after having a couple weeks off for Holidays. They chat about relaxing (and why it's so hard), New Years Resolutions, good habits they want to cultivate and bad habits they want to let go of. They also share their mindsets going back into work at Chunks and looking ahead into 2023. Tiffany and Christine ask themselves, can goals be reached successfully and easily?

    What's the deal with the dupes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2023 33:05


    Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...supposedly. How does Chunks deal with the dupes of our products? Is there anything we can do about it? How much does it matter? On this episode, we discuss our history with dupes as individuals (knockoffs, anyone?) and how they have affected our business. This one is a wild ride, you've been warned.

    Our 2023 Master Plan.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2023 33:27


    Planning for an entire year can definitely be daunting, so we're talking about how we make our Master Plans at Chunks. Taking the big vision of our company and connecting it to each team member and their work, we talk about the value of planning, even when it doesn't pan out *quite* how you thought it would.

    Where do "made in China" stereotypes come from?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 40:38


    We love our manufacturers and having our products proudly "Made in China," but we wanted to delve into the origins of negative stereotypes about Chinese manufacturing. In this episode, we discuss the nuances that come into play when international trade policies, human rights, industrialization, and consumerism meet.

    How I spent 100K last year to level up the biz. Was it worth it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 38:38


    2021 was a great year for Chunks so, naturally, Tiffany decided to spend a light 100K on a few things to *hopefully* boost the business to the next level -- email marketing, a branding refresh and a business consultant. Did it work or was it a fail? Investing back in your business can be scary but sometimes necessary. Follow along as Tiffany recounts her investments, one by one.

    What are some brutally honest truths about our business?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 45:13


    Nobody's perfect--including us! Tiffany and Christine get real about the things the team has discovered on our journey to be as sustainable, ethical, and transparent as possible. While we've learned a lot, there is so much room for improvement, and this episode is about owning our contradictions, being honest about where we are in our journey, and expanding our perspectives.

    How to get your small team on board with your big vision.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 37:08


    We LOVE an All Hands Meeting because our small business has a big vision and it's imperative that all our team members are on board. Building a work culture that emphasizes collaboration and creativity relies on transparency at all levels and a safe place for us to dream, and our All Hands meetings are a core part of making this happen. Listen to all the topics we covered in our meeting and how we're manifesting big 2023 goals as a team.

    How to do a craft fair.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 51:44


    Tiffany's got craft shows on the brain as she starts her 2022 Holiday Tour. Craft shows like Renegade and West Coast Craft are held every season to bring together local makers and artists to offer the most unique and fun shopping experience to thousands of people. Knowing how to get prepared for these shows can be a bit overwhelming so Tiffany, who's been vending at craft shows for 8 years, gives all her tips and tricks.

    The Unsexy Parts of your Business that matter most to employees.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 30:02


    Benefits can be a black hole for a lot of leaders and business owners -- they're intentionally complicated to enroll in, it can seem like you need a degree just to understand what your insurance covers, and who even knows what their 401k is invested in?! Christine and Tiffany discuss how tf to make sure your employees know how to use their benefits, and how to center the values of your business in an incredibly complicated system.

    Tiffany's trippin'. Literally.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 36:54


    Tiffany recently came back from a psilocybin weekend and returned with some wild self discoveries. Listen to Tiffany and Christine discuss their thoughts on self development, what led them to trying ~substances~ to enhance their journey, and what inner knowledge has to do with their outlook on business and career development. Disclaimer: we don't endorse drugs, but like, do what you want.

    Collaborating with makers, designers and brands.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 23:02


    We've got collaborations on the brain! We're in the middle of doing several at the moment and this has Tiffany and Christine thinking about all the collabs we've done over the years. Brand collaborations come in all shapes and sizes. Tiffany and Christine share their approach when it comes to collabs, what pitfalls to watch out for, and how to maximize the value exchange of partnerships.

    We just joined Climate Neutral! Wait, what is that?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 29:28


    Chunks has been on a journey to be an environmentally conscious brand from the beginning, and now we're taking the next step to be Climate Neutral certified! What does that even mean? What is involved? What is greenwashing? What does it mean to be a brand trying to sell a product AND trying to reduce emissions when the majority of emissions come from businesses? Listen to our Operations Director, Christine explain what Climate Neutral actually does, the process of how we joined, the ins and outs of the carbon credit market and how our membership is helping our small business define our bigger impact goals.

    Starting a business from the basement.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 26:09


    Tiffany recounts her personal journey from her previous business started in 2012 and through the past few years building Chunks. A fashion and accessories designer by trade, Tiffany has been full time in her small businesses for the past ten years. From her astrological destiny (a STELLIUM in Aries), to being Tumblr famous, to growing a business from 1 to 14 employees--she discusses being broke, going viral, and all the hard lessons that she's learned from.

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