Meet Janet Gonzalez, CEO of Trejure the Moment LLC and recent graduate of the Entrepreneurial Development Training Program at LAEDA. Ms. Gonzalez started her entrepreneurial pursuits at a young age. Janet explains, “I always wanted to work for myself, I started out baking at an early age and waited until I got older to take some baking certification classes and began to bake and sell wedding cakes and pastries as my first business, but without a real business plan or any direction it failed.” From there on Janet got the background and skills to open up and run a business through trial-and-error. She states, “You learn real fast from your costly mistakes.”
As a youth Janet first made a gift basket along with a cake for her parents on their anniversary and her parents were really delighted to receive such a personalized gift with a personal touch. Janet made more baskets for others and she got the same response. Encouraged, Janet continued down the road of entrepreneurship. “Stepping out on your own is scary, but taking that first step with the support and encouragement of your family and friends makes it easier,” Janet explains.
As Janet continued to work her business, she focused in on three products and services; gift baskets in the areas of personal pampering, custom themes & specialty snacks as well as room staging for both corporate and individual clients. “I find so much satisfaction in creating a unique experience for my clients by personally selecting and wrapping each gift basket. Usually my clients will combine a basket with a room staging which takes the experience to the next level,” says this entrepreneur. “Valentine’s Day and Wedding Anniversaries are my favorite occasions. They give me the opportunity to really create a romantic experience that my clients love.”
As a graduate of the Entrepreneurial Development Training Program (EDTP) Spring 2015 session, Janet shared herthoughts on the program and how it helped her. “The program went very well. It opened up my eyes to a whole new way of looking at business. Having an idea for a business is a start, but you definitely have to have the essential knowledge of what it takes to run a business so that way we can get it started and make it last. After taking the class I realized that I could live my dream and not be in fear of failing,” said Ms. Gonzalez.
When asked about the major benefits of the EDTP she stated, “The One on One Mentoring and the overall feel that LAEDA wants you to succeed because LAEDA stays with you throughout the entire journey even after you graduate from the EDTP.” After the nine weeks of dedication in the EDTP, Janet attended our latest Exclusive Alumni Networking Event where she met the mentors of southern NJ SCORE and also met other EDTP Alumni. Janet mentions that the SCORE mentors really helped her and even went above and beyond to help her succeed. “I believe that the Networking Event was the perfect idea, I think that a monthly or bi-monthly networking event will be great this way we all have a chance to meet and greet and pick up potential clients.” She is looking to attend future events that will allow more of a meet and mingle fashion to introduce the businesses that the EDTP Alumni have and are currently operating.
Congratulations to Janet for completing EDTP and recommitting to your journey on the path of entrepreneurship. If you’d like to learn more about Janet and her business, please visit her website at
www.trejurethemoments.com.
The Entrepreneurial Development Training Program (EDTP) is a FREE course offered by LAEDA to individuals in Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. EDTP is a nine-week course consisting of 72+ hours of training. For more information on the program or LAEDA visit
www.LAEDA.com.