About Me
Name: lisa
Location: portland, oregon
Previous Posts
- Southern California Trip
- We’re in Oprah’s November Magazine
- Fan Mail
- Ruby Jewel Summer 08
- Off to Virginia City/ Bozeman
Archives
Links
- Best food in Portland
The title says it all - Elyse Bunkers Designs
Elyse our very first employee has started her own business making jewelry. She is quite the talented woman! Check out her website. - Finally- Perfect Fried Egg Sandwiches in Portland
Well, it's about time Portland has a great, consistent Fried Egg Sandwich with great coffee. Check out this link as it's become one of our favorite places to dine. The owners, Evan and Ally are super cool as well. - Gales Meadow Creek
The wonderful farm where the mint and lavender for the Ruby Jewel's are grown - No Star Clothing
Greatest t-shirt designers of the early 21st century - PDX Food and Drink
THE guide to great food in Portland (spot on) - Ready for the Outdoors??
Check out this new website with a great selection of outdoor gear! - The Sidewalk Studio
The people resonsible for the beautiful pics on the website. Food Styling done by Ellen Jackson.
7.28.07 Oh… way back when
Oh… way back when
I wanted to start the “blogging” section of the website by sharing my first journal entry at the VERY beginning of this process
April 16th 2004
I am beginning the Ruby Jewel story. The beginning of my million dollar ice cream sandwich company, the next It’s It, Klondike bar, the Ben & Jerry’s of the frozen treat world. Wishful thinking? I don’t think so, I think I have a great idea. Lots of support, good connections, a pretty good community of people to help me “spread the word” is not a bad way to begin. Lot’s ahead of me, but feeling like I am getting it down pretty organized. I am feeling “smart” about it, like I am not getting myself over my head- more computing at this stage is necessary and lacking.
I have been advised a business plan is essential. Too many don’t take the time, a place to set goals, a statement of purpose. It is the exciting time of the business, getting your own unique, idea off the ground, excited by other people, enough to in fact support the product and earn the “Creator” a good living. Sustainable all around if possible. But beginning the business plan is tough comparable to the first sentence or paragraph of a term paper. The beginning. A lot of thought is necessary, I am contemplating many things at this stage. The degree of organic, the effort involved with using local product, the mandatory shortcuts, the minimal amount of equipment to start, hard or soft cookies, conservative thinking all around. The absolute necessity being the quality of product is superior to any others, and people oohh and aah and come back the next week, and tell their friends tales of the amazing ice cream sandwich they purchased from the farmers market (Memories like- it had candied lemon peel and lavender around it. There was fresh mint in the ice cream. The espresso with the cinnamon was like a Mexican Mocha eaten in its most delicious form. Strawberry cheesecake was dreamy. A thin layer of cheesecake almost secretly tucked away between a ruby colored fresh Strawberry ice cream subtly hinted with fresh basil, and a graham cracker- like cookie. Ruby Jewel. A mission, purposeful, realistic, attainable yet challenging. Lots involved. Research is essential in many ways.
It began in a scurry, a last minute decision to join the farmers market in Portland, Oregon. I have always been a big fan, the whole scene excites me really… the PEOPLE. Not to be cheesy but the people who are spending their lives growing good, wholesome food and wanting to share their passion, life really with the public, and a chance for others to be excited about the “Plan”.
Wow- I look at this often as it continues to inspire me. I’ll never forget telling my parents about my idea of starting an ice cream sandwich company. “O.k.”- they say a bit skeptical. Not to be cheesy (I’ll probably start many sentences that way) they had the perfect combination of being both supportive and skeptical. Too much of each would have made me wonder. That’s been a huge part of our success thus far. The key is that “i” and “my” has turned into a very big “WE” and “OUR”
posted by lisa @ 7.28.07