Angela Chester-Johnson, Founder and Owner of Plum Good, LLC, has a passion for making healthy food taste good. She enjoys creating new and unique dishes that she shares with family and friends. Over the years, she discovered that the blending of certain herbs and spices would create the perfect combination to enhance many dishes. Her travels to Africa were also a great inspiration to her creative side. These experiences and her exposure to new cultures sparked an idea. She decided to take a talent that was once a hobby and transform it into a marketable skill.
Since inception in 2009, Plum Good has grown to be a recognized brand in the food space with a product line that include spices, tea, tea infusers, sauces and snacks shipped via an online delivery platform. Her business model has also expanded to include the culinary education classes “The Story of Spice” and “The Art of Tea”, a “Spice is Right” subscription box, gourmet “Hot Pops” spiced popcorn, and “Full Flavor” catering. Plum Good’s products have been distributed in multiple food retailers and restaurants in Washington, DC. Most recently, Plum Good was awarded an exclusive space at the Washington DC Event & Sports Arena.
“If it’s not Plum Good, It’s not Good Enough.” – Angela Johnson
While achieving great success over the years, nothing could have prepared Angela for a worldwide pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis is uncharted territory for many entrepreneurs; however, finding the right assistance to navigate the challenges can make a significant difference in the outcome. As the impact of the crisis grew, Angela’s business revenue began to decrease. She needed to find and implement the right strategy to maintain monthly operating expenses. Given this, Angela sought assistance from the DCSBDC at Howard University to help with maintaining continuity of her business during the crisis. Her consultant helped by providing assistance with available COVID-19 grants and loans. Since her engagement with the DCSBDC, Angela has secured the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), EIDL Advance, DC Recovery Microgrant, and the East of the River Grant.
Through the guidance and technical assistance of her consultant, Angela has also obtained her Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)/Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Businesses (EDWOSB) certification and her Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) certification.
Angela Chester-Johnson is devoted to her business. She understands the value of staying connected to her consultant and the positive impact the process has on propelling her business forward. The preparation, technical assistance, and support of her DCSBDC consultant has prompted her to assess new opportunities for the Ward 7 and Ward 8 communities of Washington, DC.
“Ms. Johnson is the epitome of a successful woman entrepreneur. Her dedication and commitment positioned her to add to her initial product offering and expand her business from spices & herbs to catering. Continuous growth is a part of her journey.” – Yodit Shibru
