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5 Things we Learned in 5 Years

Published 8/14/2024
By Alexa Ooley

5 Things We Learned in 5 Years 

— at Seventh Hill CBD

What. A. Journey. This month, Seventh Hill CBD officially turned five years old – a milestone many small businesses unfortunately won’t get to. No judgment here – owning and operating a small, family-owned business at times can be chaotic and challenging. But if there’s anything we’ve learned (and we’ve learned A LOT), through two parts grit, three parts patience, and a batch of love, hard work can bake that cake (or caramel). 😉 To celebrate, we’re sharing our top 5 lessons we’ve learned during our five years in business.  Whether you’re a fellow entrepreneur, a loyal customer, or someone just getting to know us, we hope our experiences resonate or inspire you to keep pushing.

Here are five things Seventh Hill CBD has learned from being a small, family-owned biz for five years –  as told by Alexa Ooley, Seventh Hill CBD’s marketing + media manager.

  1. Passion and Persistence Pay Off One of our biggest milestones came during our first sales trip in 2019. Frustrated by the lack of traction with hired sales reps, my husband Ryan and I decided to take matters into our own hands. Despite being four months pregnant and battling nausea, I joined him on a journey up the coast, walking into CBD boutiques to pitch our products. That trip was a game-changer, marking the first time we successfully got our products into stores. It taught us that passion and persistence can open doors that seem out of reach.
  2. Flexibility Is Key in a Changing Industry The hemp industry is constantly evolving, with regulations that vary from state to state and seem to change at a moment’s notice. We’ve had our fair share of challenges adapting to new rules, especially in our home state of Oregon, where strict guidelines limit what we can sell locally. But through it all, we’ve learned to stay flexible and creative, always finding new ways to bring our products to market. This adaptability has been crucial to our survival and growth in such an unpredictable industry.
  3. Start Small, Dream Big Seventh Hill began as a small medicinal cannabis farm in Northern California. After the 2018 Farm Bill reclassified hemp, we saw an opportunity to transition into the hemp industry and moved to Oregon. Initially, we had more hemp flower than we knew what to do with. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, we decided to turn our surplus into a product that would stand out in a crowded market: artisanal caramels. Starting small allowed us to refine our craft and build a brand that reflects our values of mindfulness, artistry, and quality.
  4. Building a Supportive Community is Everything Over the years, we’ve faced moments of doubt and uncertainty, especially when industry regulations have shifted. But one thing that has kept us going is the incredible support from our community. Our customers’ kind reviews, referrals, and messages of encouragement have been a constant source of motivation. We’ve also leaned on each other within our team, always finding the right words to keep moving forward. We’ve learned that having a supportive network—both within the company and among our customers—makes all the difference.
  5. Never Stop Innovating Innovation has been at the heart of our journey from the beginning. Our latest venture into new products, like fudge and non-infused caramels, is a testament to our commitment to continuous growth. We’re always experimenting, testing new ideas, and listening to customer feedback to refine our offerings. With the holidays on the horizon, we’re excited to launch limited edition treats that reflect our passion for creating something special. Innovation keeps our business fresh and our customers excited about what’s next.

As we look back on these five years, we’re beyond grateful for the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the Seventh Hill fam that has supported us. Here’s to many more years of success (and delicious treats) at Seventh Hill CBD.

6:1 Fudge 

30mg THCV | 5mg CBG per piece

To celebrate our Five Year Anniversary, we are diving into the world of chocolate! For the first time ever, we have produced an infused fudge made with 30mg ∆9THC and 5mg CBD in each piece. We’ve taken the celebration one step further and hidden golden tickets in a select number of these bags of fudge!