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

Hi Molly, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have a somewhat interesting relationship with risk…I’ve always been an extremist, never doing anything halfway. If I’m in, I’m ALL in. With the winning combo of an eye for opportunity and bias for action, when it comes to risk, I’m usually going for it. However, this doesn’t always mean it’s the best idea to do so, but instead usually just a result of me not slowing down long enough to fully consider the potential consequences.

In both my life and my career, I’ve always felt that belief comes before ability…I know that I can outwork any doubt, problems, or uncertainty I’m faced with. Whether realistic or not, my decisions are driven by an “I will figure it out” mindset instead of “I need it all figured out” stance, allowing me to feel more comfortable with the idea of “risk” in general. Now this is my perspective, of course. If you’d ask my friends and family, they’d probably just say my attitude towards risk-taking comes more so from my impulsive behavior, “ask for forgiveness not permission” mentality, or lack of “thinking things through” on a day-to-day basis. But I think we can all agree that these are the exact traits that have led me to take the leap and ultimately be successful in whatever I set my mind to.

At the end of the day, when I think about risk, it’s really just about betting on yourself. Taking a chance on your dreams, allowing the fear to push you from behind instead of standing in your way. Sometimes just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
hol is everyone’s new favorite fresh produce brand. Think Dole or Driscoll’s, but cooler.

We’re set out to change the way people perceive and engage with w(hol)e foods through the concept of ‘SIMPLICITY THAT TURNS HEADS.” It’s about stripping things down to their essentials, without losing impact. Basic, straightforward in a way that still feels bold, confident, and trendy.

In a category that has traditionally only focused on emphasizing the “locally-sourced” “natural,” and “environmental-friendly” aspects of the products, we saw the opportunity to come at it from a different angle…to shake things up a bit. Rather than pushing nutritional claims and preaching the benefits like most health-centric brands, we didn’t feel the need to justify or prove the concept, but instead took the marketing approach of fashion and beauty brands, leveraging the allure of being “on-trend” to subtly shift consumer behavior towards eating more local, seasonal, whole foods. A bit of a Trojan horse approach some say.

We’re extremely excited about playing in this white space…we feel we’ve found a product that needs to be disrupted. Made cooler…better. Our unique point of view and marketing approach sets us apart from the others. We’re breaking conventional marketing rules and capitalizing on the power of differentiation to turn heads and stand out in the market to drive consumer engagement and adoption…both fun and challenging.

Ramping up to be worth $8.5T by 2027 (Global Wellness Economy forecasts), the wellness economy is showing no signs of slowing down. This is a HUGE opportunity for so many in the space, and we’re excited to be apart of it, offering hol produce to the market size of 100% of people for whom health is important.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh gosh! How much time do we have?? I’m located in Newport Beach, CA and am obsessed with everything about it…the lifestyle, the people, the energy, and of course, the views! I truly wake up everyday excited and extremely grateful to be able to experience it all.

When friends come out to visit, we’re spending 90% of the day outside. Starting the morning out with a walk (either Inspiration Point in CDM or Balboa Island) then a quick stop for breakfast (The Galley is a hidden gem…) or a smoothie (favs are Earth Bar, Jan’s, or Mother’s Market)! Typically then we’d be spending the day on the water cruising along in the harbor or renting bikes on the peninsula.

An active day requires lots of fuel so grabbing a healthy grab-and-go lunch at Jan’s Health Bar, Vibe Organic Kitchen, Mendocino Farms, Goop Kitchen or a sit down at True Food, Malibu Farms, Parakeet Cafe, or Newport Beach Country Club is a must.

I’d never let a visitor miss a California sunset, so if we’re not still out on the water, we’re definitely finding the perfect place to watch the sunset, whether it be on the beach, Pelican Hill, or Lookout point.

Dinner spots are endless, but depending on the vibe for the night, I love being right up on the water at Lido Village, Buddha’s Favorite, or Jelly Fish lounge at the Cannery.

The rest of the trip we’re most definitely taking advantage of every minute, probably taking a pilates class at BeFit Modern Pilates, visiting the local farmers market, planning a beach picnic, or grabbing a kayak./paddleboard, AND maybe even a quick drive down PCH to Laguna to bop around and enjoy one of the rooftop bars/restaurants.

Not much downtime…but it truly is the best place to be with so many things to do and so many places to see and experience. Luckily my friends can usually keep up!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Love this! My friends, family, co-workers, and above all else, my faith, that have taught me patience and perseverance through everything I endure. The ones who listened to my crazy ideas, encouraged me when I needed it most, challenged me to be better, and inspired me to go for it. To take the chance. To do my thing. This has all shaped me into the person I am today, allowing me to achieve the success that I have. AND of course all the laughter along the way…that’s the ultimate fuel.

I’d also mention the little “God winks” that have shown up when I needed it most…the little moments of assurance, trust, encouragement. Whether it be in lyrics to a song, a comment from a stranger, a sentence in a book, or even a bumper sticker on the car in front of me…the signs that feel like they come at the perfect moment to give you that little something extra to keep you pushing forward.

Lastly, when it comes to my business, hol, my co-founder and partner are truly the only reason the idea ever made it out of my busy little head. They helped turn the dream into reality, and if it weren’t for the both of them believing in the vision and continuing to push us forward, I’d still be daydreaming about all the possibilities instead of making them happen.

If I’ve learned one thing…no one makes it through this life alone!

Instagram: @holnewport & @molly.crimmins

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-crimmins-97361a116/

Other: Substack: https://mollcrimmins.substack.com/publish/posts

Image Credits
Malibu Cowgirl Club x Sunday Social (for one image only)

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