Bean Team Diaries: Week 5!

We're half way through batch one of our summer internship program! Each week has brought about some new projects, and this week we got to spend some time together in person which is always special. Here's what Kylie and Vir were up to this week...

KYLIE

This week built on much of the work I did last week. I continued to reach out to influencers and UGC creators. I had my first one-on-one call with one of them to discuss our partnership. Before the call, I was nervous because I knew the direction of the conversation I wanted it to go, but wasn’t sure what would actually happen. I was scared of that awkward silence, but I’m happy to report none of that happened. I even had to negotiate something and it went very smoothly. So, get ready to see some new faces on Absurd Snacks socials. I have been pumping out content on TikTok, with the goal of posting one TikTok a day. We know from previous creators that an account is more likely to blow up the more they post, so that’s our goal. Right now, I continue to wonder why some videos go “viral” or get more likes than others. What lands a certain video on the for you page? Sometimes it's the videos I spend the least amount of time editing that end up getting the most views. I think that’s true for most people, which is very ironic. 

A brand that caught my attention this week was Olipop. This week Olipop announced that now through July 8th they are offering the chance to win a stay at the Austin Hotel. Each room is inspired by one of their sodas with a different decade. The first room is inspired by the cherry cola from the 2000s, the next being the strawberry vanilla room in the 1990s decade, and lastly the cream soda suite in the 1980s decade. Talk about a smart marketing strategy, their post received 611 comments and their click-through rate for their website must have been off the chart. Makes me also wonder how many purchases they're getting after they are bringing all that traffic to their website. I appreciate how this isn’t for influencers but for the daily consumer. I love it when brands give back to the community rather than just doing these big brand trips. 

This photo is taken from Olipop Instagram, showing an example of one of their rooms. 

VIR

This week brought a fun change of pace: I got to step into the warehouse and experience the fulfillment side of the business firsthand. Most of my time so far has been spent on outreach and building retail relationships, so it was refreshing to shift gears and get a behind-the-scenes look at how our snacks actually make it out the door.

I jumped into the process of packing and preparing orders, and I was surprised by how satisfying it was. There’s something really rewarding about physically handling each box, knowing it’s going to a real customer or store. From organizing flavors to double-checking labels, every step matters—and once I got into the rhythm, the day flew by.

The experience also gave me a much better appreciation for logistics and the little details that keep everything moving. We use tools like Pirate Ship to keep shipping efficient and cost-effective, but being on the ground really helped me see how important the human element is—organization, accuracy, and care.

What stood out most was how connected I felt to the product. Talking about Absurd Snacks is one thing—but packing it up and helping send it out into the world? That made it feel even more real.

Snack of the shift? Maple Cinnamon Absurd Snacks, no question. It’s basically the taste of a cozy fall campfire in snack form—perfect fuel for a full day on your feet.