Bean Team Diaries: Week 2!

Week 2 is behind us, and it's time for the second installment of our bean team diaries! Take it away team...

KYLIE

This week, I identified around 100 influencers and UGC creators for potential partnerships. This process is really exciting because I get to do a deep dive into potential people who could benefit from Absurd Snacks, whether that’s people who have allergies, keep active, or are health-conscious individuals. I was just reading an article from Kendall Dickieson, where she was explaining how brands can use influencers beyond just the typical content creation. She recommends that brands let influencers take more of a role in storytelling. Influencers need to be able to integrate the product into their daily life, telling a story rather than just promoting the product. She also mentions that you need to be actively engaging with your followers and other brands/influencers. It’s not enough to just post, brands must respond to comments and engage on other accounts. I have also been connecting with my fellow intern Vir, to work on engaging with some coffee shops on social media. Who wouldn’t love Absurd Snacks being sold at one of their favorite local coffee shops? I can just imagine some maple cinnamon with my cappuccino! 

Amidst those 2 things, I have taken a deep dive into Absurd Snack’s social media analytics. While using TikTok I can identify user engagement, and audience reach. I’m here to share a little TikTok win. Absurd Snacks is now in the three hundreds for followers and our profile views for this week increased 933.3%. Using Meta Business Suite I have been able to do a deep dive into the analytics of Absurd Snacks Instagram and Facebook pages. I highly recommend this tool, not only to see analytics but also to draft posts. Our Instagram win is our views are up 126.4% since last week and our content interactions are up 430.2%. So, things have been super exciting and busy on Absurd Snack’s social media channels. I am looking forward to seeing how much more we grow throughout the summer. Attached is a photo I spotted on my walk, it's a reminder for everyone this week. 

VIR

This week at Absurd Snacks was all about getting out there and connecting—both behind the screen and face-to-face. I continued reaching out to retail leads around Richmond, but the real standout moment came from representing the brand at the RIMBY (Right In My Backyard) farmers market hosted by Beyond Boundaries. Being on the ground, talking directly with customers, was eye-opening. I got to see firsthand how people react to our snacks, what questions they ask, and what gets them excited. It wasn’t always easy—there were moments when people pushed back or didn’t quite “get” what makes our product special. But I learned that prioritizing customer service, especially when someone disagrees or seems skeptical, is crucial. Staying calm, listening, and keeping a positive attitude helped turn some of those tough moments into genuine conversations. That experience reminded me that it’s not just about selling a product—it’s about creating trust in the brand.

One of the biggest lessons I took away from the RIMBY event was the value of customer feedback. Hearing what people liked, what confused them, and what they thought could be better gave me a whole new perspective on how we present our product. It made me realize that feedback—even when it’s critical—isn’t something to avoid; it’s the only way to really improve. Being open to those comments helped me think more clearly about how we tell our story and what changes might make the biggest impact.

This week also reinforced how important personalized outreach is when connecting with retail clients. The conversations I had felt more meaningful when I had done my research beforehand and showed a genuine interest in their business. I’m looking forward to continuing to build these relationships and hopefully seeing Absurd Snacks pop up on more shelves around Richmond. As a personal goal, I’m aiming to refine my in-person pitch and close my first new retail account by the end of next week. There’s a lot of momentum building, and I’m excited to keep learning and growing with the team!