The nice thing about starting a business from the ground up is that there is no harm in looking toward the future, since there really is nothing but future to look toward.
With that in mind, I am going to make a simple statement: Arizona is ... interesting. You can get a state business/tax license, but it is not necessarilly recognized by all of the state, or county for that matter. Take Mesa. If I were to register my business at my apartment in Scottsdale, I would still need to register it again if I want to do business in Mesa. Now, other than the idea to sell chocolate at 2nd Friday Night Out every month, that wouldn't be an issue. Except that we're (you guessed it) looking toward the future.
I love living in North Scottsdale. I love waking up cradled in the elbow of a maintain range. I love when the hills turn bright green during Monsoon Season, and the moon hangs low, ducking between peaks. I love that everything I need is within a ten-minute drive. But I do not love my apartment or my neighbors or the fact that I only really have 2 usable pieces of counter and one cabinet for my supplies. It's fine for now, for the small projects. But if I intend to take big orders and keep supplies on hand (just the various chocolates take a cabinet, nevermind flavouring components, finishing, packaging, etc.) I am going to need something more.
Which brings us to Mesa, and a house after which I have long lusted and just happened to go on the market a week ago. Now, I consider myself to be a realist. I strive for perfection, but am also painfully aware that, in most cases, it simply isn't 100% acheavable. So keep this in mind when I tell you that this house is practically perfect. That's high praise. Not only does it have a decent sized kitchen, but it connects to a very large dining room type space which could easily be utilized as secondary production area and house an additional icebox for big projects. For instance, if a girlfriend who does wedding cakes decides to make that a more regular gig. It also has a family room with private entrance on the front where we could entertain clients for tastings. Oh, and there's also a whole house, as in someplace to live that isn't my apartment with the snoring neighbor.
I promise, I'm trying to be objective. I even have a CONs column which lists things such as "yardwork" and "lack of on-call maintenance staff". The reality of the situations is this: It's a very long shot. Art school (go ahead, laugh it up) and the associated aftermath did a number on my credit, so I don't even know if I can get a mortgage. And after the horror stories I've heard about people not able to even get kitchen inspections for their home businesses, I might end up buying a house that I can't even use. The Realtor handling the property assured me that, even if I didn't have a license and proper zoning, who would know? And if someone found out, it would just be a fine, so who cares. This, however, did little to reassure me, and only made me question her own business ethics.
By now I'm sure you are wondering why all of this is worthy of an update, and we've finally come to the answer. Not only am I now trying to track down the information I need to launch and properly license my business in the current Scottsdale location, I'm also trying to get the same information for Mesa, with their funky, non-conformist ways. I would tell you it is fun, but even sarcastically that would be a stretch. It is tedious and bureaucratic and frustrating. And right now, I barely know which way is up, let alone what is the best course of action.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Problems and Bigger Ones
We left our heroine at a great precipice. Does she take the plunge or give up and go home before her adventure even begins? Stay tuned to find out!
Okay, so immediately after my last post, a small hoard of well-intentioned friends surged forth to tell me not to get my hopes up. A friend of a friend tried to sell tamales from her house and couldn't get a health inspection. Another wanted to start up a cupcake business but was told she was improperly zoned. For several days, any little peek into my e-mailbox produced every manner of discouragement.
Fortunately, I never liked being told what to do. So I looked into things on my own. As it turns out, zoning is not an issue. Basically, I won't be having customer foot traffic since I am planning to ship or hand delivers orders, and I'm not putting out signage or altering my apartment facade in any way. So, check that off my list of possible stumbling blocks.
The kitchen inspection, on the other hand, has been a small trial. Two (or three, I've lost count) weeks of unanswered voice messages, wrong numbers and general run-around and I am only just making headway. As it turns out, The Maricopa County Health Department does not actually do home kitchen inspections at all. This coincides with the information a friend had given me. However, I did find out that everything of that nature falls under the Environmental Services department.
I am awaiting a call back from them to get the inspection done.
In the meantime, there have been some very exciting developments to mention. First (in order of importance) Two of my very favourite people took their nuptials this past weekend. One would be hard pressed to produce a more perfect wedding. The entire gathering was a labour of love, and how better can I express my love than through chocolate? The Pop Rocks truffles - a special request by the bride - were gone in two hours at most and by the time I left the party, there were only three Dark Chocolate Merlot truffles remaining. Everyone aside from a friends young children were in chocolate Nirvana. Next time, I will have to make something special for them.
I also agreed to do a small chocolate making seminar at my office last week. In my most humble opinion, the lesson plan was pretty brilliant. Unfortunately, whoever scheduled the lunchtime event did it at the same time and in the same conference room as the weekly Weight Watchers meeting. They promptly kicked me out, but I did leave behind a table full of Orange Creamsicle truffles, a chocolate ganache cake and my contact information.
At the end of this week is 2nd Friday Night Out in downtown Mesa, and a little research has shown me that all I need is an easily obtainable Mesa tax license and I can set up a table on the sidewalk to sell delicious things. The next few days will be a lesson in running around, but with crossed fingers, Earthly Delights might just make a smashing debut by week's end!
That's all for now, kids. This little chocolate robot has a lot of work to do.
Okay, so immediately after my last post, a small hoard of well-intentioned friends surged forth to tell me not to get my hopes up. A friend of a friend tried to sell tamales from her house and couldn't get a health inspection. Another wanted to start up a cupcake business but was told she was improperly zoned. For several days, any little peek into my e-mailbox produced every manner of discouragement.
Fortunately, I never liked being told what to do. So I looked into things on my own. As it turns out, zoning is not an issue. Basically, I won't be having customer foot traffic since I am planning to ship or hand delivers orders, and I'm not putting out signage or altering my apartment facade in any way. So, check that off my list of possible stumbling blocks.
The kitchen inspection, on the other hand, has been a small trial. Two (or three, I've lost count) weeks of unanswered voice messages, wrong numbers and general run-around and I am only just making headway. As it turns out, The Maricopa County Health Department does not actually do home kitchen inspections at all. This coincides with the information a friend had given me. However, I did find out that everything of that nature falls under the Environmental Services department.
I am awaiting a call back from them to get the inspection done.
In the meantime, there have been some very exciting developments to mention. First (in order of importance) Two of my very favourite people took their nuptials this past weekend. One would be hard pressed to produce a more perfect wedding. The entire gathering was a labour of love, and how better can I express my love than through chocolate? The Pop Rocks truffles - a special request by the bride - were gone in two hours at most and by the time I left the party, there were only three Dark Chocolate Merlot truffles remaining. Everyone aside from a friends young children were in chocolate Nirvana. Next time, I will have to make something special for them.
I also agreed to do a small chocolate making seminar at my office last week. In my most humble opinion, the lesson plan was pretty brilliant. Unfortunately, whoever scheduled the lunchtime event did it at the same time and in the same conference room as the weekly Weight Watchers meeting. They promptly kicked me out, but I did leave behind a table full of Orange Creamsicle truffles, a chocolate ganache cake and my contact information.
At the end of this week is 2nd Friday Night Out in downtown Mesa, and a little research has shown me that all I need is an easily obtainable Mesa tax license and I can set up a table on the sidewalk to sell delicious things. The next few days will be a lesson in running around, but with crossed fingers, Earthly Delights might just make a smashing debut by week's end!
That's all for now, kids. This little chocolate robot has a lot of work to do.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Oh my ...
Has it really been a year since the last post? That's tragic and completely unforgivable!
Well, as it is probably pretty apparent, things didn't go exactly to plan the last go 'round. Life, as it often does, got in the way of itself. And I will be completely honest, fear overpowered ambition. Having a regular 9-5(ish) job and fairly consistent paycheck really doesn't provide much stimulation to change things up. And, let's face it, I have the attention span of a stoned newt. After the less than successful visit to my local SCORE center, I really felt the wheels spinning, not to mention my head. Forget worrying about putting the cart before the horse; I didn't know which was which.
Welcome to 2011. Fresh start. Do-over. And already making more progress than previously. Let's start with money. Money is always important.
I've begun shopping for financial institutions. Now, I love my credit union, but the nearest branch is 2500 miles away. So my first thought was to go with Chase which recently acquired Washington Mutual (I knew changing their name to WaMu was a bad idea). I have had accounts there in the past, and there is a branch in the same shopping center as the grocery store and a little Mexican restaurant my roommate and I are single-handedly attempting to keep in business, so that's convenient.
When I walked in last Friday afternoon, I was greeted by two associates in their version of "smart casual". Tim Gunn would not have approved, but that's besides the point. They were positively giddy at the prospect of setting me up with a business account, but when I mentioned that I did my personal banking with a credit union, they started booing. Actually booing! That's the first lesson of business school; don't make negative comments about your competitor. Okay, I am guessing, since I've never taken a business class, but if it isn't, it certainly should be.
My first reaction was to walk out that instant. To carelessly criticize my financial institution is to criticize my personal choice. But, I recognize that I tend to make rash decisions, so I sat down with a young man to discuss what his bank could do for me. The answer: Not much. But that didn't dissuade him and a colleague from trying to convince me to open an account with $500. I left with a handful of brochures and a bad taste in my mouth.
Today I visited a local credit union which happens to be on the same network as my financial institution in NC. In my ten-minute visit I got all of the info I needed to open an account, as well as details I was missing regarding applying for a business license, which is more than I can say for SCORE.
So, here we are. I've got the paperwork filled out and as of this moment, the launch date for Earthly Delights Chocolate is 2nd, April. Mark your calendars, boys and girls!
Well, as it is probably pretty apparent, things didn't go exactly to plan the last go 'round. Life, as it often does, got in the way of itself. And I will be completely honest, fear overpowered ambition. Having a regular 9-5(ish) job and fairly consistent paycheck really doesn't provide much stimulation to change things up. And, let's face it, I have the attention span of a stoned newt. After the less than successful visit to my local SCORE center, I really felt the wheels spinning, not to mention my head. Forget worrying about putting the cart before the horse; I didn't know which was which.
Welcome to 2011. Fresh start. Do-over. And already making more progress than previously. Let's start with money. Money is always important.
I've begun shopping for financial institutions. Now, I love my credit union, but the nearest branch is 2500 miles away. So my first thought was to go with Chase which recently acquired Washington Mutual (I knew changing their name to WaMu was a bad idea). I have had accounts there in the past, and there is a branch in the same shopping center as the grocery store and a little Mexican restaurant my roommate and I are single-handedly attempting to keep in business, so that's convenient.
When I walked in last Friday afternoon, I was greeted by two associates in their version of "smart casual". Tim Gunn would not have approved, but that's besides the point. They were positively giddy at the prospect of setting me up with a business account, but when I mentioned that I did my personal banking with a credit union, they started booing. Actually booing! That's the first lesson of business school; don't make negative comments about your competitor. Okay, I am guessing, since I've never taken a business class, but if it isn't, it certainly should be.
My first reaction was to walk out that instant. To carelessly criticize my financial institution is to criticize my personal choice. But, I recognize that I tend to make rash decisions, so I sat down with a young man to discuss what his bank could do for me. The answer: Not much. But that didn't dissuade him and a colleague from trying to convince me to open an account with $500. I left with a handful of brochures and a bad taste in my mouth.
Today I visited a local credit union which happens to be on the same network as my financial institution in NC. In my ten-minute visit I got all of the info I needed to open an account, as well as details I was missing regarding applying for a business license, which is more than I can say for SCORE.
So, here we are. I've got the paperwork filled out and as of this moment, the launch date for Earthly Delights Chocolate is 2nd, April. Mark your calendars, boys and girls!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A lot to think about.
I've spent so much time recently tracking down business licenses and health codes, analyzing market trends and writing ingredient lists that I have almost forgotten the *fun* part of launching a new business.
Yesterday I stopped into d'PrintShop in Mesa to price business cards, box labels and carbonless order pads. Suddenly it occurred to me, Whatever logo I design, what colours I choose, these are with my business forever. It will, in part, dictate the website design. The decor of my eventual shop. The style of marketing campaigns. It goes a lot farther than: "here's a name and a URL, buy my chocolate". And that prospect is a bit thrilling.
It also occurs to me that I need to work on my own image, as well. I don't think it is too much to model my personal look after that of my business. I mean, mine is the human face behind this company and we live in a society where first impressions are everything. Does an overly pudgy, matronly lady look like Earthly Delights? Not exactly.
But, back to the business proper. I have a few ideas for logo design. I just don't have an artist. Most of my ideas are stylized, vines and branches growing from truffles type of thing. Though I have always enjoyed the iconography of WWII America. Pin-up girls and rosy cheeked children and Victory gardens. Is that imagery a little overdone, though?
Yesterday I stopped into d'PrintShop in Mesa to price business cards, box labels and carbonless order pads. Suddenly it occurred to me, Whatever logo I design, what colours I choose, these are with my business forever. It will, in part, dictate the website design. The decor of my eventual shop. The style of marketing campaigns. It goes a lot farther than: "here's a name and a URL, buy my chocolate". And that prospect is a bit thrilling.
It also occurs to me that I need to work on my own image, as well. I don't think it is too much to model my personal look after that of my business. I mean, mine is the human face behind this company and we live in a society where first impressions are everything. Does an overly pudgy, matronly lady look like Earthly Delights? Not exactly.
But, back to the business proper. I have a few ideas for logo design. I just don't have an artist. Most of my ideas are stylized, vines and branches growing from truffles type of thing. Though I have always enjoyed the iconography of WWII America. Pin-up girls and rosy cheeked children and Victory gardens. Is that imagery a little overdone, though?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
SCORE
Yesterday was my long awaited appointment with SCORE. Despite my complete and total lack of expectation, it didn't quite go as planned.
I like to think I have done at least a little homework. I have calculated costs versus pricing. Looked at market trends (did you know annual chocolate sales in the US alone are estimated to top $18B by next year?). Even drew up a rudimentary list of goals. But the gentleman I spoke with only asked me one question during the entire meeting: What sort of business do you want to start?
When I told him I was a chocolate maker he immediately suggested I rent a table for $12 at the local swap meet on Saturdays.
Now, in my plan, I was going to cultivate relationships with local event coordinators. Perhaps the owners of small, independent bistros. And in the summertime there are always major events going on at Tempe Town Lake and Mill Ave. A wine cooler and folding table are all I really need. And sunblock. Lots of sunblock. In fairness, I had never entertained the idea of a swap meet for my high-end, gourmet chocolates. I am tying to be open minded about the idea, but it is proving difficult.
Some good did come from my meeting with SCORE, though. I got a little piece of paper with a link to their website where you can instantly assess exactly what type of licensing you need to start your business. So that is going to at least get me legal. And there is no point even considering marketing and production until I am legal. So hooray for steps in the right direction!
I like to think I have done at least a little homework. I have calculated costs versus pricing. Looked at market trends (did you know annual chocolate sales in the US alone are estimated to top $18B by next year?). Even drew up a rudimentary list of goals. But the gentleman I spoke with only asked me one question during the entire meeting: What sort of business do you want to start?
When I told him I was a chocolate maker he immediately suggested I rent a table for $12 at the local swap meet on Saturdays.
Now, in my plan, I was going to cultivate relationships with local event coordinators. Perhaps the owners of small, independent bistros. And in the summertime there are always major events going on at Tempe Town Lake and Mill Ave. A wine cooler and folding table are all I really need. And sunblock. Lots of sunblock. In fairness, I had never entertained the idea of a swap meet for my high-end, gourmet chocolates. I am tying to be open minded about the idea, but it is proving difficult.
Some good did come from my meeting with SCORE, though. I got a little piece of paper with a link to their website where you can instantly assess exactly what type of licensing you need to start your business. So that is going to at least get me legal. And there is no point even considering marketing and production until I am legal. So hooray for steps in the right direction!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Love is in the Air
"Wine and Roses" is February's theme. Last year I played around with rosewater and had interesting results. Very delicate flavour and an unreal aroma. I think I would like to try it again. Maybe make some St. Valentine's Day presents for my local friends.
Wednesday I have an appointment with my local SCORE chapter. I am hoping to walk away with more answers than questions, but considering I am still scratching my head over exactly which questions I should have, anything will be a step in the right direction. What I need first is direction.
In preparation for this meeting, which I am sure will be the first of many, I have come up with 1, 2, 3 and 5-year goals. While I am trying to remain focused on the immediate future, I am increasingly excited for the long term. Stay tuned for more details about that.
Wednesday I have an appointment with my local SCORE chapter. I am hoping to walk away with more answers than questions, but considering I am still scratching my head over exactly which questions I should have, anything will be a step in the right direction. What I need first is direction.
In preparation for this meeting, which I am sure will be the first of many, I have come up with 1, 2, 3 and 5-year goals. While I am trying to remain focused on the immediate future, I am increasingly excited for the long term. Stay tuned for more details about that.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Late January - So it Begins
I would love to have something deeply profound with which to start this journey into sweet success, but as fate would have it, what I have for you is little more than an idea. But, I guess that's why I am here in the first place: To share this idea.
All my life I have been what you could call a "serious hobbyist" when it comes to food. In the past year my attention has turned to candy making to the point that it is no longer so much a hobby as a calling card. Before saying hello at a party, people often ask if I brought treats. I've been referred to as, "That friend of yours who makes chocolate," by complete strangers. Even the owner of my local pack-and-ship is more than happy to trade boxes and bubble wrap for a half dozen Hazelnut Truffles.
And it got me thinking that just maybe I was on to something. So, starting here and starting now, I am making a concentrated effort to see just how far I can take these earthly delights. And I am very glad to have you along for the journey.
All my life I have been what you could call a "serious hobbyist" when it comes to food. In the past year my attention has turned to candy making to the point that it is no longer so much a hobby as a calling card. Before saying hello at a party, people often ask if I brought treats. I've been referred to as, "That friend of yours who makes chocolate," by complete strangers. Even the owner of my local pack-and-ship is more than happy to trade boxes and bubble wrap for a half dozen Hazelnut Truffles.
And it got me thinking that just maybe I was on to something. So, starting here and starting now, I am making a concentrated effort to see just how far I can take these earthly delights. And I am very glad to have you along for the journey.
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