Ahhh....finally slowing down... a few orders per day now. If I never see another packing peanut, it will be too soon. The flurry of activity was great however! We were pushing orders out the door at a rate of 60-75 per day.
Now it's time to re-focus....get back into family and friends and enjoy the Xmas holiday. What am I giving to people? Simmer sauce, of course. Oh and for Michael A.? Hahahahaaaa....it will bring tears to his eyes. He will jump for joy. A dream come true.
Oh, and a bottle of good scotch, too.
Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
We got peanuts!!!
What do you do with over 20 huge bags of peanuts? I'm not talking about the ones you eat--I'm talking about the ones you use to ship packages. Well..... we have been going bonkers here at Lizbeth Lane since last Monday, shipping out over 200 packages of our fabulous simmer sauces to folks all over the country!!
Our story aired on CNN over a one week period beginning last Saturday. A great story which was beautifully produced by CNN. When it first aired, Michael sent me a text message: Wow--28 orders so far. We thought that was pretty good. Then.....40...60....80...120....OMG....150.......and growing!
We hauled our butts out to Handi-Crafters beginning Monday to assist in filling these orders. They were great. We came home at the end of each day totally exhausted but feeling really good knowing that people wanted our sauce! They loved the mention of Handi-Crafters as well, who we use for fulfillment.
Our Facebook friends list has been growing by the day. Gee...never thought we'd have 130 new friends in just a few days. Emails loading up our computers! Business inquiries! Now it's Friday and has calmed own somewhat. Orders are still coming in but it's no longer a tsunami of paypal orders.
Be sure to view our story which is now up on CNN's website. It might just help you work up an appetite for a great tasting entree made with one of our simmer sauces. Thanks to all who have ordered. Be sure to spread the news... and the joy of it all!!
http://yourbottomline.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/boomers-simmer-up-success/
Our story aired on CNN over a one week period beginning last Saturday. A great story which was beautifully produced by CNN. When it first aired, Michael sent me a text message: Wow--28 orders so far. We thought that was pretty good. Then.....40...60....80...120....OMG....150.......and growing!
We hauled our butts out to Handi-Crafters beginning Monday to assist in filling these orders. They were great. We came home at the end of each day totally exhausted but feeling really good knowing that people wanted our sauce! They loved the mention of Handi-Crafters as well, who we use for fulfillment.
Our Facebook friends list has been growing by the day. Gee...never thought we'd have 130 new friends in just a few days. Emails loading up our computers! Business inquiries! Now it's Friday and has calmed own somewhat. Orders are still coming in but it's no longer a tsunami of paypal orders.
Be sure to view our story which is now up on CNN's website. It might just help you work up an appetite for a great tasting entree made with one of our simmer sauces. Thanks to all who have ordered. Be sure to spread the news... and the joy of it all!!
http://yourbottomline.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/13/boomers-simmer-up-success/
Saturday, December 10, 2011
CNN airs our "story"!!!
Rid here...
Yesterday we got an email from Jennifer at CNN with the schedule of when our story would be on the air.
Michael and I were like two little kids on Xmas morning. We simply couldn't wait to see ourselves. I immediately thought about the fact that you look 10 lbs. heavier. Uh oh. Oh fergetttaboutit!!! I had to do demos in one of our stores today, so I missed the first airing. Michael was busy working at that time as well. Damn!
Michael stopped over about a half hour ago so we could watch the 5-6pm airing of our touching and poignant story. It was grrreat!!! We actually looked like a couple of smart savvy guys, who knew what they were doing. Well....that's because we do. Sorta. We still have plenty to learn and lots of hurdles to face. That's the food biz.
We are getting plenty of online orders, emails and comments and new friends on Facebook. Great!!!
Thanks, CNN and thanks to my daughter, Stacey, who used to be a Producer for Anderson Cooper. She's the one who was able to get CNN's interest in us in the first place.
Yesterday we got an email from Jennifer at CNN with the schedule of when our story would be on the air.
Michael and I were like two little kids on Xmas morning. We simply couldn't wait to see ourselves. I immediately thought about the fact that you look 10 lbs. heavier. Uh oh. Oh fergetttaboutit!!! I had to do demos in one of our stores today, so I missed the first airing. Michael was busy working at that time as well. Damn!
Michael stopped over about a half hour ago so we could watch the 5-6pm airing of our touching and poignant story. It was grrreat!!! We actually looked like a couple of smart savvy guys, who knew what they were doing. Well....that's because we do. Sorta. We still have plenty to learn and lots of hurdles to face. That's the food biz.
We are getting plenty of online orders, emails and comments and new friends on Facebook. Great!!!
Thanks, CNN and thanks to my daughter, Stacey, who used to be a Producer for Anderson Cooper. She's the one who was able to get CNN's interest in us in the first place.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Great....and then....
First, we're in the ACME in Paoli. For those who don't know, ACME is a chain of 120 stores in the SE Pennsylvania and NJ area. We are starting with one store- Paoli and will roll out into others. as time marches on. Ugghh. Would love to be in all 120 stores in one shot. Oh well....
So, there I am shopping at the Paoli store with Michael when the Manager came up to us and told us that our sauces were now on the floor. Michael and I raced over to where they were on display only to find that they had only 3 of the 4 sauces for sale. The Roasted Red Pepper was missing. HEY! That's one of our biggest sellers! Customers go bonkers for that one. We talked to the Manager and emailed him as well. He must check with his (our) distributor to see where the hell those cases of Red Pepper are. When they get the Red Pepper is anybody's guess. Hope it's soon. It's weird seeing only 3 of our 4 sauces on the shelf.
Again, there is this "thing" about the food business. For every good thing that happens, there is a "thing" that goes haywire. You get into a store---one SKU is missing. You get a meeting with a store to present your product-- but need to wait 3 months to meet. The store wants your simmer sauces-- but beat the crap out of you on price, demanding free fill or paying to get an off shelf position (that means you get out of grocery aisles and into the perimeter where all the customers travel).... like the meat dept. or produce, etc.
Doesn't matter. It's rhino time. We just gotta keep charging ahead. Clawing for every bit of business we can get. Can't go after new business now though. It's the holidays and managers and buyers are all going nuts with the holiday crush. We will be calling them right after New Years. Got to go now...
tomorrow I demo for 4 hours and need to get ready.
I hope I sell every last jar of our simmer sauces.
So, there I am shopping at the Paoli store with Michael when the Manager came up to us and told us that our sauces were now on the floor. Michael and I raced over to where they were on display only to find that they had only 3 of the 4 sauces for sale. The Roasted Red Pepper was missing. HEY! That's one of our biggest sellers! Customers go bonkers for that one. We talked to the Manager and emailed him as well. He must check with his (our) distributor to see where the hell those cases of Red Pepper are. When they get the Red Pepper is anybody's guess. Hope it's soon. It's weird seeing only 3 of our 4 sauces on the shelf.
Again, there is this "thing" about the food business. For every good thing that happens, there is a "thing" that goes haywire. You get into a store---one SKU is missing. You get a meeting with a store to present your product-- but need to wait 3 months to meet. The store wants your simmer sauces-- but beat the crap out of you on price, demanding free fill or paying to get an off shelf position (that means you get out of grocery aisles and into the perimeter where all the customers travel).... like the meat dept. or produce, etc.
Doesn't matter. It's rhino time. We just gotta keep charging ahead. Clawing for every bit of business we can get. Can't go after new business now though. It's the holidays and managers and buyers are all going nuts with the holiday crush. We will be calling them right after New Years. Got to go now...
tomorrow I demo for 4 hours and need to get ready.
I hope I sell every last jar of our simmer sauces.
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