Sweet and Sentimental

During the past month I have been looking at ways to make my business a little sweeter. In the beginning it had to do with new recipes. That is still in process but something else came to mind.When one thinks of something sweet it normally has to do with sugar. We all know that sugar is not a healthy part of our diets or our lifestyles but we do like to use it as a way to reward ourselves. The "congratulations" often come in the form of a treat that satisfies a craving. I understand the importance of healthy living and I also understand there is no health value in sugary treats. However, as a society we enjoy them and in moderation I believe they are an acceptable part of our lives. That being said, part of the reason I started including  inspirational messages with each order was to add a little balance. My order menu is not any healthier but I feel good sending a package which might engage someone's mind while they are enjoying something a little decadent. People seem to enjoy receiving the inspirational post cards and that got me to wondering about expanding. I always imagined having a store front to sell Rich Delights baked goods but what if I made it more than that? What if  my business took the word "sweet" and expanded it further to incorporate my wiritng and my value system? I participated in a local rally for the 'Day of Silence' and I wrote a slogan. It was well received and I had an idea  to make it stand out so it could be put on shirts,hats, bumper stickers and other items that could carry a message. I have a facebook friend named Jill Kemerer-Roberts. She is a local artist and I have seen some of the beautiful things she creates and decided to ask if I could hire her to help me with the creative aspect of what I wanted to convey. I sent her my vision and she sent me some ideas. The final decision has not been made but once it has I will have my first graphic to procede with this "sweet adventure". When I mentioned to someone that I felt I was drifting away from my business with these new ideas I was told it was simply expanding my business. I will have a business that truly represents me. Once again I am excited about not placing limitations on what I can do and I am congratulating myself by moving forward.....As I find new ways to make Rich Delights a little sweeter just remember that I will still be baking4you!

Sweet Search for Balance

Balance is a necessary component in everything we do. It determines everything we are and everything we will become. Being multi faceted we are the sum of our past experiences. If used wisely we take our mistakes and turn them into lessons. Life is one big learning experience and if we are wise we ensure that balance is the initial present goal when working to reach the more distant goals.

 Whenever I look at altering a recipe I have to consider that the final product must be a balance of many things. It begins with flavor because if what I sell doesn't taste good there will be no future business. However there are many things that have to be considered to offer something of quality.The appearance is also detrimental because if it doesn't look good people are less likely to try it. If it is something for an event people will not want to showcase it. We all know that appearance is not a reliable component to taste but we still rely on a visual when trusting it is a good idea to take a bite. We are a society caught up in appearances and food does not escape that scrutinty. The texture is another important factor. I know what I want the texture to be and if the end result does not produce it then I have to go back and re-think the ingredient proportions. Reliable service is a vital element as well. People must be able to trust that they will have what they need when they need it. Without the benefit of a store front my contact begins with a call or an email which is often received by strangers. If I do not give the impression of offering good service then the quality alone is not enough to get their initial business or to earn a repeat customer. A returning customer is someone who finds a balance in all they want from their purchase....Business is just a mirror of our lives.The key to being successful hinges on how well we find that balance. After completing my first year in business I am able to look back and see areas where I faltered and why I need to distribute my focus in other directions. My financial success is yet to be what I desire but as long as I strive for a balance in all areas of my life then I am sure to reach my goals. While I learn and search I will continue...baking4you!

Treat Your Mind

AfterI wrote my last entry I had time to think about the best way to present my one line inspirational quotes with each order. I had thought about doing them on little slips of paper like fortunes in a fortune cookie but I think they will get lost in the gift bags as well as the shipping boxes. I also thought about putting them on labels with some cute artwork and sticking them on the inside of the bags and the inside flaps of the boxes. Last week I put together some gift bags for a friend's out of town guests. They were staying at the Marriott and I made some post card "welcome" notes for each bag. The messages I normally include are not on post cards but this seemed to add a nice touch and I realized it would be a perfect vehicle for the quotes. Not only will they look nice when people open their bags and boxes but they will also be sturdy enough to put on a bulletin board, refrigerator or anywhere else people like to hang this type of thing. I can also change the borders so they have different flairs.I have written over 250 of these little quotes so far and that will give me a good start until I reach my goal of having enough to put them on an Inspirational Application for a phone or similar technology. I also look forward to the day when they are part of my actual packaging but that is further down the road. So,the next time you open a Rich Delights bag or box you will  find a treat for your mind as well as your sweet tooth. My job this week will be to begin the process of getting them printed but just know that as I am doing this I will still be............baking4you!

Recipe for Success

One of the things learned early on in baking is how important it is to follow the directions. There are ingredients that are vital to the way a recipe will look and taste when it is completed. A recipe comes with steps and it is important to follow those steps. Some mistakes can ruin what is being baked but other mistakes can create a new and better tasting treat. Mistakes seem to be a necessary part of growth no matter what we are doing.I have changed some of my recipes over the years but there are always certain things that cannot be changed for the desired results.If done properly there is something delicious and worth waiting for when all is done. In my business I have to follow a recipe for my baked goods but then there is also a recipe to follow if I am to make the business of selling a success. This is where I must place my focus in order to take things to another level.

Today I had the pleasure of speaking to a woman named Tera McHugh from the Association of Women Entrepreneurs http://www.associationofwe.com/ . I would like to publicly thank her.She opened my eyes to some new ideas and helped me understand the things I had already accomplished. We discussed at length what I might be able to do in order to make my business thrive. She asked me a question which I thought I had answered. The question was "What makes Rich Delights Different"? All the reasons I mentioned  did not seem as unique in words or on paper as they are in my mind. I still believe I have something special to offer but I must be able to articulate that in order to attract new customers. I have avoided talking a lot about myself because I thought it would detract from my business but she pointed out that we often buy from people we like or can relate to which means I need to figure out a way to share more of myself. Part of the reason I wanted a store front was so I could do that on a daily basis but until I am able to have one I need to seek out other ways....One of the things I am most looking forward to is putting the personal inspirations I write in every gift bag or package. I want to make my bags and boxes like opening a fortune cookie and finding a message inside. I have begun looking into doing that and believe it will make people look forward to reading and eating from Rich Delights ....The bottom line is that I will never build the business with or without a store front until I can sell the consumer on why my treats are especially worth their dollar and why it is a great idea to let me do the baking whether it is for gift bags, party favors or personal treats. My goal during the next few weeks will be to re-introduce myself and Rich Delights in a way that will make the idea of ordering one you don't want to ignore......Until then I will keep...baking4you!

The Sweetness of Local Support

In these economic times which are trying for many it is less likely that a small new business,and even some not so new, can afford to do the advertising they would like to. Be it a vendor at a street faire or a networking event the fees are often larger than the profits depending on what the vendor has to sell.

It is also less likely that they will be able to lease space in a prime spot where there is the type of foot traffic that can help a business thrive. The question then becomes~What can someone do to help grow a business they believe has promise?
As I have mentioned in the past not having a store front means there is nowhere people can stumble upon Rich Delights and discover what we offer. However, I recently joined a few new facebook groups that I feel are going to be great for me and others in the area and I also added my business and my husband's business. A general listing is free and for some there is also an opportunity to pay for more detailed advertising. One group is the fan page and web site for Magnolia Valet (http://www.magnoliavalet.com) which offers a place those in the Inland Empire can find other local people for hire. Temecula has the Temecula Valley Directory fan page and web site (http://www.temeculavalleydirectory.com). My husband and I both have a business that travels to Temecula so it was another good place to join. Stay Loyal to Riverside and Your Community  (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=105291756176389) is a facebook group that also started as a way to help local business find other locals for support and to support. A fourth place I am pleased to be a part of is (http://www.perfectweddingpackages.com) where Dave Parsons compiled and continues to add names of places that may help to make wedding planning easier by offering a group of trusted people to choose from.We have gotten so used to looking outside of our communities for what we need and it is great to have these groups that place the focus on helping us find each other. Right now Rich Delights counts on online orders but it would be such a blessing to have the largest percentage of sales come from local business. Sometimes doing business with a small business or a local business is not the easiest on our wallets but it makes me feel good to think I am helping to support those around me. While you are thinking about what you can do to help local business grow keep in mind that we are still here and ready to be......baking4you.

Patience in the Mix

In this world of instant gratification practicing patience is a task in itself. We don't want to wait for anything..not a meal at the fast food place, not the red light at an intersection and certainly not the dreaded dial up computer connection. We have learned to get what we want at record speeds or we find ourselves aggrevated.Then there is the other side of that which is procrastination.This is where we trick ourselves into believing that we can sit on our laurels and inevitably get what we want handed to us on a silver platter. Or we may complain our entire lives that nothing has come our way. Many of us have lost the ability to walk the fine line which separates the two. The place where a balance is reached. The place where we are rewarded for weighing the pros and cons and basing our decisions on rational options. I use the similarity with pregnancy as an example. I equate this with having a baby because no matter how much we want the baby to come into the world we must carry it for nine months. In order for the baby to be fully developed we must allow it the proper amount of time. Waiting is a necessity.Just as we must  have patience while waiting to give birth to a new life so must we have patience in waiting to give ourselves or our business new life. Most of our greatest blessings come in their specific allotted time.

 After carefully reviewing all of the sound advice from people either in the business or with great business sense I realized that having a store front must be put on the back burner for the time being. Does this mean that my goal has changed? Absolutely not! What it does mean is that I need to work on cashing in on other ventures which will afford me a financial cushion to provide Rich Delights a more secure direction. It means there is more work to be done.It is indeed a re-arranging of priorities but not a set back. It is a planned move which uses different timing to secure better results. I have come to realize that I have often confused procrastination with patience. However, I have learned that one is fear based and one is reality based.The difference between this decision and past decisions is that it is not fear based. Fear opens the gateway to procrastination.This methodical move requires realistic planning which is synonymous with patience. Unlike procrastination which renders us paralyzed, patience gives us the opportunity to take action based on informed choices.... As a pinch of patience is added to the mix please know that the same great taste will be in every order as I continue....baking4you!

Fifty and Forward

While pondering and sharing a direction for Rich Delights I have been met with both negative and positive feedback. At 50 something and in this economy a new business is a risk. All of my life I have avoided most risk taking which is why I am first chasing my dreams at this late stage. Baking and writing have always been passions so why not bring them to fruition?! I am not going to get any younger and who knows if I will ever see an economy that wishes to bless me with immediate success. It is up to me to trust my instincts and do what I do best. For many years it was parenting. I became a stay at home Mom in order to do a job the way I felt it needed done. With my children being 15 and 25 my time has been freed enough to do more for myself which in turn will teach them the importance of working for the life we want to live regardless of age or circumstances.

My past is filled with regrets but that does not mean I have to carry them into my future. My writing goals are to get my quotes on the likes of bookmarks,magnets and Iphone applications. My goals for Rich Delights involve a store front where people can come in and "shmooze" and enjoy my baked goods and each other. The standard menu items and specials will be displayed and ready for purchase and custom orders will still be welcome. Most importantly it is also a place I can be participating in my business on a more personal level. It seems many of the "Mom and Pop" shops have buckled under big business take overs but I believe there is still room for a small business with a personal touch. I see a place that offers the taste of home baked treats with the feeling of warmth and welcome. It will not be the only place of its kind but it will be mine. It will be driven by my determination and run with heart and soul in addition to good business sense. I am confident I can make it work. As I am doing this I will continue to offer nationwide shipping as that has been such a big part of my business up to date.
So, what comes next? What do I do to make this happen? After all, it has been nearly one year since Rich Delights developed and we are still renting the same kitchen space. I believe the Riverside Plaza  would be a great place for Rich Delights to open shop and there happens to be space available! My hope is that someone will be attracted to the idea of what I am trying to do and have enough faith in me to invest in my vision as a routine investment or because they would like to be an "angel investor". Is it foolish to believe that a woman who is fifty something can witness this vision materializing? Some will say yes and then there are those who know me and trust my persistent nature which gives me the strength to climb out of a rut and sail into the future.....As the questions are answered and more is revealed just know that I will keep....baking4you!

Cookie Creations

In the big scheme of things cookie flavors don't run on the top of the "What's Important" list but in the business of baking it does matter. When our first menu was put on paper last April it was based mainly on what I felt I baked best. Being the baker as well as the owner meant I had an extra say in this. Banana Chocolate Chip Bread, Pumpkin Bread  and Chocolate Chip Cookies with Toffee were always on the request list if I was being asked to bake by my peers. After much consideration I added a few breads and a few cookies and decided to start there. I constantly get asked to bake cakes and cupcakes but I always refer them to somewhere I like to get my cakes and cupcakes. Can I bake them? Of course! Are they the best things I bake. I don't think so. I have witnessed too many people stray from specializing in what they do well and incorporating what they feel will please the masses. As a result there are many individuals and establishments that aren't really good at what they do and offer mediocre goods and services. I am the first to say that multi tasking is something I do well but I go directions that suit my talents and abilities.
                                                                                                                                                          

So where am I going with this? In trying to keep people satisfied I am always looking for ways to improve the menu on the Rich Delights order page. I understand that for this business to succeed there must be something unique about what we do and we must offer flavors that really appeal to people so they want to order from us. After all, they have so many other choices. While working on what makes us unique I am tackling the assortment aspect.The cookies available today without placing a custom order are those that are the biggest sellers. Custom orders are not a problem but we do ask the customer to buy an entire batch if they design the cookie where as with a standard menu item you just order in the quantities we offer which come in various sizes. In figuring out if there might be other standard items that people would prefer I decided to do a little something to test that. I went on to my facebook group page which is People Who Enjoy Rich Delights and I asked people to email suggestions throughout the month of March. At the end of the month  the most popular will be up for a group vote as well as with other facebook friends. The chosen cookie will be added to the standard menu and that person will receive two dozen of their creation as a thank you. We may even let the winner choose a name for the cookie. Right now our cookies do not have names. You order by a description of the cookie but that is up for change as well. If this goes according to plan there will eventually be a menu which is mostly derived from social networking ideas. Because nearly 75% of our business stems from social networking this seems like a good way to change things up. So, if you have an idea for a new menu item please email it to richdelights@aol.com. While we await your ideas please remember that we are always...baking4you!

A Pinch of Gratitude

Business was slow last week and once again I asked myself if it is really worth trying to make Rich Delights successful. Without a store front it is so difficult for people to see what we have to offer. I get caught up in everyone else's locations and web site designs and the negative thinking pops into my head. I then ask myself....Why bother?! I mean so many people bake and there are so many bakeries and other places that offer delicious baked goods so what is the point of one more? Isn't the economy a mess anyway? As I was sitting here with the "stinking thinking" I was reminded of what stopped me from chasing this dream years ago. All of the excuses I made as to why I wasn't turning passion into profit were rearing their ugly heads. As I was sitting in my own negative pool of thoughts I noticed that there was a message on my phone. Seems my bad thoughts were loud enough to drown out the ringer. I listened to the message and it was a man who said he needed a few dozen cookies.

I returned the call to an out of state number wondering why this man was in town and why he called me. Forgetting once again that there are no accidents and that there was a reason he dialed the number. His wife delivered twins at Kaiser and he wanted to thank the staff  in the neo natal intensive care unit. He said everything on my web site looked so delicious and asked for one dozen of every kind of cookie on the menu.

I asked him how he found us and he said he googled cookies looking for someone local. At first I thought it was a prank call. After speaking to him and emailing him a proposal I realized this was for real. We wound up agreeing on a variety of 12 dozen cookies which I delivered to the Riverside Marriott for him while he was at Kaiser with his wife and babies. I am not sure how his family is doing but they are in my prayers. I feel this man answered my prayers without my ever making the prayer on a consciouslevel. I was reminded how blessed I am to have two healthy children in my life right now. I mean when it comes down to what really matters that trumps anything I can imagine in my business life. I am sure this out of town customer was sent to me as a reminder that one must never give up just because the circumstances seem less than perfect. I am pretty certain he is dealing with issues of not giving up with his twins or he would not be in a hospital so far from home. It also enabled me to review what I have to be grateful for. A mind cannot get lost in defeat when feeling gratitude. Gratitude is a key ingredient to success and just a pinch of gratitude goes a long way. So... as I continue the struggle of ironing out the details.... as I near the end of my first year in business, I am sure that as long as I can muster up another day of gratitude then I will continue.... baking4you.

Business of Baking

As small business owner of less than one year I am questioing how different aspects of business apply to my own. The first issue is that of Networking. The biggest concern I face is how the dollars from referrals will match up to the dollars spent. My husband is a concrete contractor so for his business one referral will cover most if not all of his fees. I can see how that might be true for many types of business. In the baking business where one is not selling from a store front, offering items which have high price tags or selling wholesale then it begs the question to where and when it is worth becoming  part of a group that may not be able to provide enough leads to help turn a profit. Time constraints  prevent meetings here and there but the financial issue is constantly looming. Sure we have to spend money to make money but the optimal word here is "profit" and if one is not being made then it hardly seems worth the time and energy spent in the meetings.

Next is the issue of Donations. How many are a good number and how much should be given? Of course there are donations made for the sole reason of helping an organization that I support on a personal level but what about all the other requests? People constantly imply that it is a good way to advertise the business hence a good reason to donate. I do not want to think that donations should always be given with a future dollar amount in mind. However, the only way I can measure the new discoveries to Rich Delights is through my bank account. If my donations are more than my profits then it surely is not working on any business level.

Finally there is the issue of being a Vendor. In any given arena there  is usually a price tag associated with setting up a booth. This seems fair because everything is about money and business. But how many events do we attend when it actually costs us money to be there? I have been a vendor in places where there was no fee and still lost money. Rich Delights is perishable so if you see our treats on a table somewhere you know they are fresh. We always try to bring a variety so there is a nice selection. People do not want to come and see photos without something they can actually eat. If we do not sell everything we bring we are at a loss. Unlike the person selling clothing,accessories or other items they can pack up and sell later, we are left with merchandise that must be thrown away or given away. I have no problem giving away the leftovers but there again one hopes that the person receiving the goodies might be kind enough to return the favor and either send a referral or place an order for themselves. Are the items given away just so there will be future business? Of course not! However, it seems like reciprocating the favor is a nice idea that most do not follow. It is wonderful to receive compliment after compliment from these people but at the end of the day without sales it means nothing fort he business.

I am determined to make this work so I will figure out the next step while taking advice from other bakers who have been in the same position. While the questions are being answered and new ideas are being created just be sure that Rich Delights will continue......baking4you!