Pinot Days 2009

I haven't posted in a while -- so much is going on both personally (which I don't need to blog about here) & professionally, that I haven't taken a moment to update you on Crunchy Foods in the community.

I'll be at an amazing wine event this afternoon.  Pinot Days San Francisco at the Fort Mason Center - Festival Pavilion.  The event runs until 5pm.  If you like wine you should be here.  That is -- if you can get across town.  Don't forget -- the LGBT Pride Parade is today, and traffic will be a nightmare!

I missed this event last year -- we were exhibiting at the NY Fancy Food Show.  This year I am happy that we are staying local and connecting with our core customers.

 Check out their website at www.pinotdays.com

Tourist in D.C.

I've been away for a bit -- having face-to-face meetings with existing customers and prospects.  As much as I love email and the telephone, nothing beats a sit down meeting or live presentation.  I am really going to have to do more of this!

I just returned from Washington DC, Maryland, & Virginia.  Wow -- what a trip.  The weather was gorgeous.  I got to be a tourist in between meetings.  I visited the Smithsonian.  Toured Colonial Williamsburg.  I even got to visit the White House - including a tour of the East & West Wings!!  While photos are not allowed inside, here's a photo of me outside the Oval Office/evening tour.  Too bad I couldn't leave any biscotti!  Wouldn't that be great - to be the official biscotti of the White House?  Hey, if Jelly Belly could be Reagan's favorite treat why can't Crunchy Foods/ Biscotti di Suzy be Obama's?  

Run. Walk. Donate. Eat. Do something!

Boy -- I chose the wrong weekend to be out of town!  I'm missing another event.

Yes, it's time to eat lots of biscotti and run for a good cause

 

Sunday, 5/3 -- Danville, CA

the Workday Devil Mountain Run

5K, 10K & Kids Fun Run

Benefitting Children's Hospital & Research Center

8am -- race starts Railroad Ave @ Prospect 

at the Railroad Depot/Museum of the San Ramon Valley

for details go to the RhodyCo website or to the Children's Hospital and Research Center Foundation.

My mom, my sister and my nieces & nephew have been doing monthly family fun runs in the LA area -- they keep telling me that I must find a race organizer to partner with so that we can start feeding the masses (and converting people to our biscotti!) in southern CA

Last year we gave away just under TWO TONS of cookies/broken bits & pieces to various events around the Bay Area.  (1ton=2000lbs, for those looking for a quick conversion)

Why am I telling you that? 

It's not because I want to be called by every non-profit under the sun for a donation -- I have more requests than I can handle, thanks :-) 

But I do want you to be aware that in good times and in tough times we all have to do our part to be good community members -- we have to support non-profits (they are really hurting -- so many of them have seen their endowments shrink along with their donations).  We have to give of ourselves -- whether it's time or in-kind donations -- it's not just about writing a check.  Connect with a cause.  Do something!

If we don't then who will be there to help those in trouble, who will educate our kids, beautify our environment, provide arts & sport/instruction & cultural enrichment?  I could go on and on . . . 

So -- I'll make a deal with you.

Buy my cookies.

Support Crunchy Foods - Biscotti di Suzy.

When you see our cookies at Whole Foods, Andronico's or Mollie Stone's or your favorite independent gourmet grocer -- or behind the counter at Beach Blanket Babylon or Caffe Nefeli or Cafe Roma on Bryant Street -- buy them.

Tell your favorite coffee shop they should stock our biscotti.  That we're worth supporting.

And we'll be around to support AIDS Walk, Children's Hospital (Oakland & UCSF), Special Olympics, the New Bridge Foundation, the Last Mile Foundation, UNCF, The Links, the SF Zoo Fest, St. Vincent de Paul, etc.......

Thanks

Showcasing Oakland

There is an Economic Summit on Friday of this week, hosted by Mayor Ron Dellums.

A real effort to showcase Oakland in a positive way -- with  lots of good press to support all of the small businesses who choose to locate here and create jobs here.

I was invited to be a speaker (unfortunately I'll be out of town and unable to attend the event) -- but you will get a chance to check Crunchy Foods out in the video produced by the City of Oakland that will be shown at the event.  We had a camera crew in for a few hours last week, and they got lots of great footage behind the scenes.  I even did an on-camera interview (wish I had a hair/make-up/stylist person to help me out) -- but hey, we're making cookies here, of course I'm in jeans.  

My one concession -- I did refuse to appear on camera with my hair net!

If you want to know more about the event go to

www.oaklandpartnership.com

Competition?

These are challenging times  -- for consumers, retailers & manufacturers.  

I just learned that one of my local competitors is going away.    Packing up, leaving town, shutting down operations.

I should be thrilled (yay - less local competition!) 

I am aggressively going after additional market share and retailer shelf space -- so yes, I do intend to capitalize on this opportunity.  

But at the same time I've never really viewed them as competitors.  They do what they do -- and we do what we do.  I happen to think our cookies taste much better than theirs, so in my mind there is no comparison.  But I have to wonder -- what does this mean?  What about their workers -- where will they go?  Their suppliers?   What were they doing right -- and what were they doing wrong?  How can I look at them, and improve my business?

Those that survive in this difficult time, who are true to their core business principles, who are responsive to their customers, and who produce excellent products are poised to do amazing things when the economy rebounds.  

A sad day for Oakland

Today was the funeral service for the 4 police officers killed in the line of duty . . . .

How tragic and senseless and upsetting.

I love this city -- and I so respect those who protect & serve the public -- who try on a daily basis to make this city a little safer, a little better....

Springtime is here!

Today is the first day of spring!

Rebirth, renewal, hope.

The sun is shining -- flowers are blooming.

Is change ahead?  Will things start to turn around?  Are better times on the horizon?

I guess that's up to each of us.

:-)