Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Grim
Hi Josie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My business started with a simple love for mini donuts. My step dad is the fair board leader at our county fair and he shared his desire to have a mini donut vendor because that’s his favorite fair food. I agreed and thought why can’t I sell them?! Growing up showing cattle in 4-H, I never missed out on the maple mini donuts at the state fair. I also would arrive early to my towns Disaster Auction so I could get on the list for the popular homemade donuts because they would sell out so fast! I never imagined being able to use that recipe as my own! I told the Disaster Auction Committee my plans to start a mini donut business and they shared their secret recipe. With the yummiest donuts around, I needed something to serve them from and I wanted it to be unique and personal. I love horses and mini donuts out of a horse trailer was the only way I wanted to do it. God made it clear which trailer was mine and I cherish it!
I was not familiar with how to start a business but I learned along the way. Family and friends helped make the trailer become operable, find a fryer, create a menu, build a brand and together Holy Oly Os was born in 2018. Holy Oly Os was created with a love for mini donuts but it grew because of support, faith and not giving up on my dreams. I shed many tears over the years inside my trailer trying to master the mini donut, there were times I wanted to quit and go back to a 9-5 job but the hard times were my best teachers. I learned to give myself grace, that fryers can be fixed and that God is with me. The times I thought I was failing and got discouraged I experienced the prayer, hard work, integrity, love, passion, faith, determination, connections, relationships, friendships that were underneath my business lift me up! Where I wasn’t able, God was. The community poured out their support to me and my kids and gave my strength to keep going.
My two children are my biggest motivators, as a single mom I desire to give them everything I can and fully participate in their lives. In 2022, I was able to buy more trailers and rent them out to moms who, like me, had the strong desire to have their own schedule to allow more time with their children. Holy Oly Os is a gift from God that keeps giving, it blesses my family and others! I now own four trailers and it’s incredible to see how God can multiply His blessings! This year I became a vendor at events that I could have never fathomed being in! I’m so thankful for all the beauty God has brought from this business. I’m proud to own Holy Oly Os and grateful the journey has helped shape me into the woman I am today. I love having young girls work with me in my trailer and encourage them to chase their dreams despite all the trials life brings. I hope my testimony can help others trust that God is with them too! I desire to steward well what the Lord has given me and can’t wait to share it with all the people He brings my way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, I didn’t buy a established business or have someone could coach me so I learned most from my mistakes. I think I’ve successfully done most of it wrong and from that taught myself how to do it right. I’ve come to have more open hands towards the obstacles/challenges instead of closed.
I couldn’t have gotten through my hardest times without support. I’ll never forget the baby showers, secret Santa’s, clothes/toys, money, warm meals, encouragement and support from strangers, family and friends. God was gracious to me and gave me events that allowed me to take my baby girl to work with me. I had help from my best friend Calli and together us three girls served Holy Oly Os with the extra love and joy of a precious baby. People would ask how the donuts taste so good and I would tell them love 💕
Growing my business had it’s own challenges! Even though I feel like I have come so far with my mini donut crafting, I’m still learning how to operate a business. I’m currently going through a lawsuit because I gave my all to help a woman who had bad intentions to steal my business and call it her own. It mentally shook me, hurt, and has been costly but I know from my journey that mistakes help me to grow, be stronger, wiser and have greater success. Through all the destruction she has caused me, I have gotten to experience support in new ways! Venues have been so loyal to me and the support from fellow food truck family and my customers have opened my eyes to see more value in my business. Telling myself, ‘donut give up because a miracle is coming,’ has been a vital reminder in this season. It also taught me that even thought someone can steal from you and imposter you, they can never be you. Your art cannot be copied because it comes from your heart and soul which are unique and one of a kind 💕
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Making mini donuts is a art. I meet people who think it would be a fun business and start it but don’t have any direction because it isn’t their dream. I believe that chasing the dream the Lord put in your heart is what sets you apart. Art is the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, Art is passionate and that drives you to express it to others. I am so passionate about expressing myself through my business. It isn’t a easy career, but I find joy and purpose in it because I believe I have something valuable and worth sharing! I taste my mini donuts and taste a recipe that no one else has. I see my horse trailer and see how God specifically gave me it, even my favorite color! I see my logo and remember the help and support of other people’s gifts who made mine come to life. I see my fryers and remember all the tears and appreciate how it made me work so hard to serve a mini donut I’m proud of. I am most proud of my mini donuts fresh out of a horse trailer 🍩🤎
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
That time was quite traumatic for me. Covid was driven with so much fear and anxiety. I was grateful that my small town didn’t shut everything down because I was able to continue serving at some events. I was in a survival state being pregnant, abandoned by my husband, COVID, divorce and then navigating working with a newborn. I’m thankful for God doing miracles even during the darkest times. It taught me how valuable support is and gave me so much more compassion for others. I can relate to people better now and that allows for deeper connections and opportunities to comfort them the way I was comforted in my crisis.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.holyolyos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyolyos/profilecard/?igsh=MTFuZG85a24ya3Qxag==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holyolyos?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/holy-oly-os-mini-donuts-nampa
- Other: https://g.co/kgs/ZVbUbJf
