Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Martin
Hi Jeff, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Becoming an entrepreneur began 18 years ago when I started a small cupcake company named Smallcakes. Little did I know where it would take me and become. Cucpakes, REALLY! With little money I opened a cupcake store in Kansas City in a horrible location behind a Mexican restaurant. With little money I could only afford an oven to bake in or a sign for the building. I choose the sign and baked everything at my house for the first couple of months. The first customers who came into my little shop said “this place is cute but no one will pay $3 for a cupcake”…and they left. The first day I sold out, and each day after was busier and busier. (I made enough Monet to get that oven)…The idea was just not to work for anyone else…So making and selling cucapkes was pretty great and then the phone rang one day…after hanging up on them thinking it was a joke, the food network called and wanted me to participate in a reality cooking show named “Cupcake Wars” and if you win, you win 10k….Well that didn’t go as plan because I forgot to use one of the required ingredients (Pumpkin)…BUT before the judges knew they said this was the best cupcake they had ever tasted. I had a choice to make…lie and see if they catch it or tell the truth…I told the truth and got eliminated. That was the best think ever…I made t shirts that said “I forgot the pumpkin” and after the showed aired I received messages from all over telling me thank you for telling the truth, my kids were watching etc. Then my little cupcake shop blew up.
I started franchising the business and grew it to over 200 locations including international locations in Dubia and Saudi Arabia.
I eventually sold that business in 2020 and started my NEW venture EFFIn EGG. After 2020 I saw where the food industry was going…small footprint, delivery, and quality products fast. Effin Egg is for people on the go, people that dont want to go to those old breakfast brands that dont offer quality ingredients or for the people sitting in bed needing breakfast.
I started franchising EFFIN EGG as well..As of today we have 14 locations open and 10 more opening soon.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No it’s been rough. In the beginning no one would lend money to someone just starting out…even today is hard for a business to get money to grow etc. Dealing with the changes in the food industry is always changing and you have to be very aware of any industry changes you are in.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Effin Egg is a fast casual Breakfast Sandwich & Burrito concept. We specialize in breakfast on the go but offer high quality ingredients. We franchise our concept all over the US.
The thing that sets us apart from other breakfast concepts is this is for a younger demoegrapgh. We see the industry changing to more third party deliveries and food on the go. The big box breakfast stores are just like big box retail stores…they are dying. We offer a fun environment and a better and different product.
How do you think about luck?
Good Luck has been in the Beginning of my career I was on the Food network multiple times as well as some national tv brands like The View to highlight my products. That really jump us to the front of the line in our category at the time and helped us grow fast.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eateffinegg.com
- Instagram: theeffinegg
- Facebook: Effin Egg
- Other: tik tok…@effinegg🥚
