Meet Javonne Sanders of Toss It Up in South Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Javonne Sanders.

Javonne, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2015, I was employed by the City of Gardena as a bus operator and began to get this queasy feeling that I would normally get in five years at a job which it was a sign that I was getting sick of the profession and I needed more in my life, this was happening in three months of being employed as a transit worker and I knew I had to make a life-changing decision real fast because I knew this feeling would grow and I would become unhappy and sick. I started to research my bachelor’s degree that I have received at Cal State Dominguez, which is an Inter-disciplinary degree which is a pretty broad degree. Within that search, I found out that there were a ton of fields in category A that I could have done, however, I decided to go with category B, a business owner. I did not know what type of business I wanted to own, so I decided to go to business seminars and sit there and grasp whatever message the speaker was going to give the audience. I went to two seminars, one guru stated “to find something that I liked and that was needed in my community” and the other guru stated “find a team of people because Together Everyone Achieves More which might not be family. I had no clue on where to find a team, so I decided to think every day on what I liked and what was needed in my community. I was on a mission.

One day while driving to work and while waiting on the light to turn green, I suddenly had a taste for a chicken salad. I looked to the left and seen a known fast food restaurant and stated out loud, ” I do not want one of those chicken salads, I want a salad that’s made with fresh kale, fresh bell peppers and crunchy broccoli” and that’s when I decided to make chicken salads… Once I made that decision, I started surveying individuals who boarded the bus. I asked them did they eat salads, what would they put in their salads and if that random place was a salad bar cafe and you can tell them what you’ll like on your salad, would you go?. The replies were unexpected. There was one lady who stated that she was tired of eating fast food and wanted something different. and under the same breath she asked me, “Where was this place?”. My reply was, it was coming soon.

While headed to work again leaving my driveway, I spoke out loud, “Lord, what is the purpose of this salad bar?”. I turned on the radio and a lady came on stating that there was a huge epidemic of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes that affecting the community. I responded back loudly, “see Lord, see… that’s why I need to start my salad bar, but I need a name that pops like everyone in LA knows this name. The next song that came on the radio was Hip Hop rapper Tupac. In the radio version of “Toss It Up”, the opening verse states: “Lord Have Mercy, Father help us All, if you supply your phone number I can’t help but call”. It was in shock which I stated, “oh my God, Lord I just called out to you and you answered, that’s what I am about to do. I am going to Toss It Up. I am going to Toss Up the obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes in my community!”

One day, I was telling this lady about it, her name was Toni Hughes about my idea and she suggested that I bring her a salad. I brought her this huge salad that I would normally make for myself for lunch. She asked me how much was the salad, I replied back stating that I did not know but how much would she pay for the salad. Toni mentioned that the salad looked like a $15 salad. I was like well, that’s how much the salad will be but I did not bring you the salad to purchase, I would like for you to enjoy the salad. When I decided to make chicken salads… Once I made that decision, I started surveying individuals who boarded the bus. I asked them did they eat salads, what would they put in their salads and if that random place was a salad bar cafe and you can tell them what you’ll like on your salad, would you go?. The replies were unexpected. There was one lady who stated that she was tired of eating fast food and wanted something different. and under the same breath she asked me, “Where was this place?”. My reply was, it was coming soon.

When I would have to go into work, I would express to my co-workers that I was going to have a salad bar café and they will be able to select any toppings onto their salad along with other healthy options. One day a co-worker suggested that I bring some salads up to the establishment to sell. I mentioned that he would have to pre-pay $7 because our schedules differed and I wanted to ensure that he would get his lunch. To my surprise, nine other co-workers placed orders and I started bringing salads to work. I started bringing salads every other day to work and filling up the refrigerator. I would see salads leaving, however, I was not receiving any money and one co-workerco-worker asked, “what was I doing, was I going off of the honor system?” and my reply was yes. As soon as I answered him, another co-worker walked into the breakroom and handed me $7 and then I started to receive text messages stating to check my mailbox. I eventually turned my investment into $500. I raced down to the court building to DBA my name, did all the patents and trademarks for my logo and slogan because even though I was not able to start at the present time, I did not want anyone to think of my name because it was given to me.

While at work, I would constantly work on my business, tell passengers about my idea and think how was I going to make it happen. I would think of what I needed to get further ahead and when I was done of thinking someone would appear on my bus it would be the person that I needed to get further ahead. I met a young man who was in culinary arts school, a guy who had his own business who sold fruits and veggies, a guy who was a chef and he certified kitchens, a bookkeeper, a videographer and the list goes on and on. Whatever and whomever I thought about appeared to me and for me to get further ahead.

On my days off and after work, I earned money for my business by working extra hours being an independent contractor with Uber and Lyft because I needed equipment. I then started to participate in the first farmers market at Martin Luther King Hospital until my days off did not accommodate the times of the market. After the farmers market, I was asked by a church to come down to their event because they wanted to help me get known. They were supposed to have 500 people at their event, so I decided to make 100 salads which I only sold nine salads. I was disappointed but I had to think quickly. I called a family member who has a 99 cent store and asked him could I set up in front of his store and sell my salads which he agreed. I posted and went live on Facebook and also posted on Instagram informing people that I had $5 salads. There were a lot of people who came out to support which made me realize that the church did help me get known because the fear of doing a pop-up disappeared. While doing to popups, one particular person came every Sunday when he was available. He would come 45 mins before shutting down the pop-up, then the time increased and eventually he started helping me out regularly, his name is Matthew Crawford. One day I asked Matthew what did he do, he stated that he was a writer and that he has his own marketing business. I immediately appointed Matthew to be my marketer because that was something that I was weak in and also did not have the time to do.

Matthew and I started working together which he helped complete my website and also gave me so much insight in how I should grow. We started going to various business seminars together to help grown Toss It Up and His company Xcape Solutions. Now Matthew and I work together in both entities, we are doing Salad bowl Sunday pop up at Wellington Farmers Market and expanding Xcape Solutions.

During this Covid-19 pandemic, I have been able to work Toss It Up 100% because the position at Gardena was eliminated which gave me the time to work fully on my dream. We have participated in Los Angeles Council District 8 senior meal program, we have created our own senior meal program where we ask the community to donate a minimum of $5 to feed a senior and we have also partnered with USC to feed families and individuals in the surrounding USC area. In addition, currently we are working towards getting the food truck retrofitted so Toss It Up can travel through South Central Los Angeles bringing healthiness to the youth, middle age and seniors in our community.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road but I have made a way and now as a team, we are making our own path and creating detours. In the beginning, it’s hard becoming an entrepreneur especially when I started because I did not know where I was are going to get funding and there are so many adversities that come your way. When you are African American, a female and live in South LA, creating something that is considered different or not normal, it can be difficult because you will hear the thoughts of people who will doubt you and who will speak negativity about your idea and that can be very discouraging. Also, when you are an entrepreneur and working for someone else, you are limited with time and you can sometimes miss various opportunities, business seminars and of course, various leisure time will be sacrificed.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Toss It Up – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Toss It Up is the first black owned salad company in Los Angeles, not the first overall salad company(although that would be awesome!), our goal is to bring a healthy alternative to the community to help eradicate the food dessert and to help defeat the epidemics of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. We currently specialize in 8 premade salads and have two fruit-infused iced teas.

We are known for our colorful, mouthwatering, vibrant and filling salads at affordable prices and our personalities.

What I am mostly proud of as a company would be starting as an individual and growing as a unit. Without the expertise of Matthew and myself, Toss It Up will not be where it is right now. As we continue this journey as a team, we will conquer more together. I had a vision and knowing that my partner believed in me and the business has been something that keeps me going everyday. Our ways to connect with people at the personal level and more broadly, as a community. We are striving to solve problems as a team, hoping to inspire others to do the same,

There are a few things that set Toss It Up apart from others. One would be the drive and determination and the wiliness to make South Los Angeles healthy again. We know it will take some time for everyone to catch on and be willing to change their mindset, but we are up for the challenge.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
One thing I like best about Los Angeles would be the numerous things that you can do and see. No matter if you are a resident or a tourist, there is always something to do, people to meet and places to go. I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I haven’t seen everything and there are small unknown worlds that has to be discovered.

The least thing about Los Angeles that I do not like would be the homeless problem that we have along with the mounds of trash in various areas. Los Angeles as a city, we must take care of our own from the people to the land. We must start caring and showing appreciation for people who are residing here and help them with shelter and we must start appreciating the space that we occupy by cleaning up our city.

Contact Info:

• Phone: Office: 8004835510, Ordering Hotline 424-261-8797
• Email: contactus@tossitupinc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tossitupsalad
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/tossitupinc

Image Credit:
All photos were taken by Toss It Up

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