Kim Puch, Primrose Candy Company

1. What year was your company founded? Tell us a little bit of the history behind the company.

Primrose Candy Co. (PCC) was founded in 1928. We are a family-owned and operated company since 1928 and my sisters Nicole and Michelle are the 4th generation.

2. What is your role in the company? What is your favorite aspect of the business?

I have a few roles within the company; I am the head of Customer Relations, and also PCC's Art Designer.  My favorite aspect of the candy industry is how overwhelmingly friendly the industry is.  When I first started working for my family out of college I thought the Private Labeling/Co-Manufacturing would be a little cutthroat since there are not many companies capable of producing such large volumes.  However, I soon realized that we network together and reach out to help whenever companies need it.  Our industry will also recommend each other for jobs when one is unable to accommodate the customers’ needs.

3. What family members work with you in the business?

There are currently 10 family members at PCC with a potential of 11 next year. My Uncle Mark (President), my dad Jeff (COO), my mom Mary (Accounts Payables), my sister Nicole (V.P. of Production), my sister Michelle (Controller), my Aunt Alouise (HR), my cousin Jackie (Michelle’s Assistant), my cousin MJ (sales), my Uncle Rick (V.P. of Sales).

4. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your Forum experience and the CFBC?

My most rewarding aspect of my Forum experience is the ability to use my Forum as a great soundboard.  I just recently joined my Forum and I could not be more happy and welcomed by a great group of peers.  I look forward to growing each of those friendships and the bond of our group!

5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I love photography!  I dabbled it in a bit during high school, but it wasn’t until after college that it turned into a very big part of my life.  I went to school for graphic design and it took me a while to realize I cannot draw to save my life!  Most of my artwork would be photography-based instead of illustration-based.  I took photography classes to learn the basics and bought my first camera for my graduation present.  About a year after I graduated, I received an email about a trip to Alaska for 2 weeks on the photography cruise.  I decided that it was something that seemed to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I jumped on it!  The photographer, Jon Shaver, was leading our group and I learned more from him within two days of the trip than I did in my four years at college.  The Alaska trip is where I fell in love with wildlife and landscape photography.  Every year since then all my vacation trips have been photography trips.  I have been to Yosemite, Glacier National Park, Yellow Stone National Park, and the Grand Tetons. I started a website to share my photos with my family and friends, which you can check out here. Within the last year I have started to branch out and dabble in portraits.

6. Tell us about someone who has had the biggest impact on you as a leader.

I don’t just have one person, I have two.  I know it might sound cliché but my sisters are two of the strongest women I know.  They have this confidence about themselves that I completely envy.  One of my weaknesses in business and personal life is not having a lot of confidence and self-assurance about myself.  I usually don’t talk about my photography to a lot of people, or if I do—I just give a brief shrug of my shoulders, say I like what I do, and try to move the conversation on.  My sisters, however, will stop and talk to everyone about me until I am red in the face.  They like to brag and show off my photography to whoever will listen or even how I am doing at PCC.  They are not just my sisters but they are also my cheerleaders.  They help show me it is okay to take a stand and step out from behind my own shadow sometimes.

7. What are your plans for the future?

My plan is to continue to work for my family’s business and to grow the company to the best it can be alongside my family.  PCC is not just a candy company, is it my family’s life and legacy.

8. Do you have any pets?

I do not currently have any pets. I just moved into my new condo and have been tossing up the idea of a pet.  I just need to figure out if I want a cat or a dog.

9. What music have you been listening to this week?

I love listening to music because it helps me relax a lot of times.  As long as the song has a good beat and tempo, I will jam out to it.  I will admit I am a huge Taylor Swift fan, however I will listen to pretty much every genre except rap.

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