Meet Javion Blake | Founder, Jus Chill International, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Javion Blake and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Javion, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It was a very simple idea that kept compounding until it grew just beyond my imagination into products that people eat today. I started with the vision that I wanted to make a positive impact in the world, and I never wanted to be constraint by a lack of resources that would hinder my capacity. So, I started exploring ways in which I could bring value to the marketplace while at the same time use that value creating system to have a positive impact on society and the environment. In the early days of Jus Chill, we were more focused on hosting events. In Colorado, we hosted two successful parties in the Summer and Fall of 2018, namely ‘Tropical Storm’ and ‘Pyrates of the Caribbean’. It was the positive outcomes from those two parties that motivated us to launch ‘Ethnic Dishes’ in Spring 2019 which had the tagline “creating bridges, not walls, through the exchange of food music and culture.” The concept required tremendously more planning, and it was in one of those planning sessions that the though materialized in the form of the question; “what would happen if I sliced breadfruit really thin?” As I thought deeper, I noticed that breadfruit was very abundant yet nearly unknown to the mainstream markets. I remembered that I witnessed so many of these fruits going to waste in my hometown. I had already considered the value of diversifying the food industry and the different market trends that would support a gluten-free option in natural foods. I decided that this was something worth testing and that is when I decided to have samples produced which I gave to everyone I visited in numerous regions. The feedback was very positive, and that is when I started researching further into the details. As I worked in the very early days, I was only concerned with getting a minimal viable product (MVP) to market and I committed to work vigorously to make the reality which paid off within the six months with the first shelf-ready packaged products.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always been a curious child, and I think this is what has opened many opportunities that I have been able to explore over the years. As a Design Engineer, I was really engaged in the products I was creating. I will only take projects where I believe I can make a positive contribution and I believe this is something that has served my growth over the years. If I believe in what I am doing, I can patiently work for hours, days, and months to get results and it inspires my resolve to remain nonstop in pursuits. It is not easy, but it is worth it. In summary, I believe that it is very rewarding to find the thing that inspires us to become excellence in our work. If we remain inspired, the world is just beyond our grasp but through matching that inspiration with execution we become self-actualized contributors. I am most proud that we continue pushing forward through some very daunting setbacks which eventually became stepping-stones.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I could spend hours and hours just strolling through or lounging in Washington Park. It has a great and active energy which brings a level of inspiration. When I am meeting up with friends, I am almost always biased to those areas where parking is largely a breeze, and that is a reason I like RiNO and City Park areas. Additionally, I am avid biker and biking from Downtown to Cherry Creek Reservoir is among one of my most favorite activities in the city. In the winter, I love the city lights especially the ones that line the streets of Cherry Creek North and the Botanical Gardens. It is bring a warm feeling even when it might be cold. In the spring, I love driving up to Boulder to hike either Mount Sanitas or Green Mountain, or really trail in the Chautauqua park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had tremendous support over the years which continues to have compounding results several years later. I had some good mentorship in the early days that groomed my knowledge as it related to shipping and CPG industry knowledge which was very pivotal. I recall Mark from Crane Worldwide whom I met through the World Trade Center Denver joining for tea in Cherry Creek to share his knowledge on logistics. I remember sitting with John who had a successful exit from his food CPG venture many years earlier. He really enlightened my knowledge on the intricacies involved with delivering products to customers. I remember sitting with Greg whom I had met through WorldDenver and he was a retired international banker with numerous years of experiences. His knowledge around the world of finance and investing was very vast. I remember Kevin and Tosin coming in the earlier days as supporters in the idea. They were many others that assisted us in getting started and kept us focused along the way. I remember it was my mother that was responsible for shipping breadfruits in the very early days. I could keep going with just how many people I would need to thank if I had to go into details. It was truly my family and friends that showed massive support in the early days that motivated us to continue going even when the challenges mounted. Our early customers were like the steel-frame that has kept us standing until this day. They helped us spread the message and provided valuable insights.

Website: https://123juschill.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iifoods_juschill/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iifoods-juschill/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IandIFoods

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iifoods/

Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javionblake/

Image Credits
Shereeka James Grace N.