Lucy Dana
Connection: A friend of mine runs a Substack called Rambull, profiling interesting millennials with interesting recommendations. As a subscriber to his Substack, I get a weekly newsletter learning about likeminded individuals and their top recommendations (see mine!). From their favorite app to their favorite hack, my Wednesdays are filled with learning about someone or something new. When I saw Lucy’s profile land in my inbox I knew I needed to meet her and learn all about what she’s doing with OTP (the best peanut butter you will ever taste). I mean that.
Name: Lucy Dana
Location: Washington, DC
Self-Description: DC-native who recently moved back after a decade in SF. Blue devil, tech-employee turned food entrepreneur. You can find me outside walking my dog or inside watching bad reality TV. Love cooking, playing tennis, hanging with my niece, and over-priced workout classes.
Profession: CEO of One Trick Pony
Words to live by: Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
If you could say anything to your younger self, what would it be? It’ll all work out.
On health & wellness
What is your favorite health and/or wellness tip? CHILIPAD. I sleep hot and this has completely changed my night's sleep for the better. It sits in between your mattress and bottom sheet and keeps your bed feeling cool all night long. Like permanently flipping to the cold side of the pillow.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your friends? Play Mahjong! When I lived in SF, instead of a book club, a few of my friends and I would get together to play mahjong each month. Rotating who is hosting and cooking dinner. When I moved to DC, I hired an instructor to teach a new group of friends so the tradition could continue.
On business
Tell us about your business / role: I started a peanut butter company called One Trick Pony. We make peanut butter from just two ingredients - roasted Argentinian peanuts and Patagonian sea salt. We sell online (onetrickponynuts.com) and at ~600 stores across the US. While I founded the business with my brother and sister-in-law, I am the only full time employee. So I wear alllllll the hats - from sales to social media to finance to operations.
Were you always interested in this line of work or did you fall into it? I started a food magazine in college, temped at Williams Sonoma's HQ and was the Chief of Staff at Blue Bottle Coffee before starting OTP. I always had a love for food but was enjoying corporate America... until I visited Argentina for my brother and sister-in-law's wedding (she is from Argentina), tried the peanuts and fell in love with the taste and texture. We decided right then and there to start a peanut butter company, celebrating the Cordoba peanuts.
What is your favorite part of your work? Every day is different. I get to prioritize what I work on and it's rewarding to see effort in, results out.
What advice would you give someone who is looking to get into the same industry? Just start! There will be so much consumer feedback that will lead you to make changes to the recipe, packaging, website etc. But you can't get that feedback until you start!
The full list of favorable mentions are linked below with a brief description.
What is your favorite type of gift to give? Something personalized and thoughtful. My go-to for friends with new babies: A monogrammed LLBean boat with lactaction energy bites and a homecooked meal inside. Recent Purchase that you love? Quince Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan Sweater. I bought it in navy and have gotten SO many compliments that I just bought it again in grey and red! Also, I recently got my first Sabre flatwear on a trip to Paris. Was so fun to pick out the color and finishes. A collection I'm hoping to add to for years to come! What do you never leave the house without? I'm a chapstick fanatic and the Laneige Lip Mask lives up to the hype. Podcast Recommendation: Because I work at home alone, I listen to HOURS of podcasts a day. Some of my favorites are: Educational - Honestly with Bari Weis, How I Built This, The Liz Moody Podcast, and Fun ones are: U Up?, Girls Gotta Eat. Book Recommendation: Does a cookbook count? Intro Julia Turshen's latest cookbook, 'What Goes with What', I make some sort of meatball weekly for dinner and she has a whole chapter on different meatball variations! Recipe: We have come to affectionately call this meal 'slop' in my house. Small business we should support: Personalized stationary from my dear friend, Larsen.
Want to support Lucy?