Happy Holidays from Cakedy Crazees!!!

Cakedy Candy Bars In Stores Now!!!

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!

There are 8 stores that will be carrying Cakedy, they are as follows:

Janine's Food Market (N. Mpls), Brix (N. Mpls), Shelby's Deli (Downtown Mpls), Seek 1st (Brooklyn Park), Mini Mart (NE Mpls), Glenwood Market (N. Mpls), Sentryz Grocery (NE Mpls), LA Fried Chicken (N. Mpls).

If you're reading this and you're able, I'm asking you to go and buy a Cakedy from one of our retailers this week!

 

Happy Turkey Day to all the Cakedy Heads Out There!

Coldplay, Cakedy and Paradise!

I know, I know this is supposed to be a blog about Cakedy, but you gotta love Coldplay's new single and video Paradise.

Oh yeah Cakedy will be at the St. Joseph's Art's and Craft Fair this Saturday in Osseo, MN!!!

Busy...busy...busy!!!

It feels really good to hear people talking about how delicious our candy bar is!  Colleagues, twitter followers and bloggers from Seattle to New York City are showing Cakedy love.  This is all great but I know to get Cakedy to where I want it I need the RIGHT PEOPLE on board.  I've got commitments from two people who I targeted which is by far the most important thing I've done.  Now it's about equipping me and getting out of their way!!!

This is the Week!

I'm super excited about this coming week.  We'll be working with the State of Minnesota on our walkthrough and (fingers crossed) getting our retail license.  This means we can start selling Cakedy candy bars to retail outlets such as convenience stores and grocers!  Woo-hoo!  I don't know of a time in the last year when I've been more excited.  I truly believe that the masses will enjoy Cakedy as much, if not more, than the thousands who have already experienced the tastiness. 

I plan to keep everyone up to date on the stores where we are stocked!

OMG Ad Agency (nope doesn't stand for Oh My Gosh)

Had a great meeting with the team over at OMG Agency...I'm only 31 but for some reason I felt kinda old.  Nonetheless they were very professional and more importantly enthusiasitic.  I'll take enthusiasm over experience any day at least when it come to marketing (maybe not so much with piloting or lifeguarding or fixing cars...ha!)!

Click here to learn more about OMG.

And Another One!

Another awesome product review...this one garnered 74 responses...WOW!


http://www.couponsaregreat.net/2011/09/13/cakedy-minnesotas-candy-bar-review-and-giveaway-ends-920/#comments

Cakedy looking to win $50K

elp Cakedy win a $25,000 business grant! Become a fan of Cakedy at the link below and we could win $25,000 to hire local Minnesotans to help Cakedy grow!!! Check out the link now....

Music Video: Kings of Leon

I realize this KOL song is relatively old but it is one of my favorite.  I love the guitar rift and the gospel singers that join in the second chorus.

Figuring Out What Works!

I was scouting out a c-store today, trying to see what works marketing wise and what doesn't.  Watching consumers makes point of sale purchases, rifle through discount bins and picks sodas.  I think the guy at the counter thought I was waiting for my opportunity to steal!  Ha!

Pashen - Healthy Snack Food

I had a really good meeting with Wendy Sorquist from Pashen.  Pashen is a line of delicious, nutritious snack foods made with organic, all natural, raw and sprouted ingredients. Our premium products are hand-made using only the highest quality, freshest ingredients.

Wendy and her team have gotten Pashen into 7 stores in pretty short order!  I was able to pick her brain on everything from UPC codes to state licensing to sales tactics.  I hope Cakedy can replicate the local success of Pashen.  Everyone make sure to visit mypashen.com to learn more about Wendy and Pashen!

Thanks Minnesota Lynx!

Our team had a blast at the Minnesota Lynx game this past Friday and managed to sell over 60 bars!  Continuing to build the brand and push the product to the masses...great work.  Special thanks to Andrea Olson of the Lynx for helping us coordinate the booth!

Next up Minnesota Farmer's Market!  Thanks Cakedy Team: Kam, Shantay, Gabby and Josh!

Our Taste Test Commercial!

Compliments. Good.

Positive feedback feels really good!  Our team has put in a ton of work bringing Cakedy to life over the last 6 months...a ton!  As any entrpreneur will tell you as one hour rolls into the next the sleepless nights, the never ending spreadsheets, the fear that comes with risking your own capital feels miles away when the compliments start to roll in.  It's like the compliments wash all the other not so fun stuff away...the revenue doesn't hurt either!!!

Nicollet Ave Taste Test - BAM!

Join US!

Come down and join us on Nicollet for our product launch tomorrow noon!

Get your Cakedys Now!

Website...check!
Delicious candy bars...check!
Hungry Customers...check!

We made it. The site is live, our production is in place and we're off! I was so excited yesterday when we went live I almost cried...well not cried, but you get my point! Anyways we've got a plethora of customer promo events to keep us busy over the next month. We'll also be running commercials in the Minneapolis area to introduce the bar!

Man, this feels good...what are you waiting for? Get your Cakedy now at cakedy.com

Music Monday - Coldplay Edition

Just heard the worst autotuned rendition of Scientist by some guy name Michael Posner. Some songs should be covered. Some shouldn't. Scientist is definitely in the latter group. I've always believed musicians should two things well. Tell stories.  And rock a crowd.  

For some reason I get the feeling that in 30 years Scientist will be like U2's With or Without You. Watch Chris Martin and Co. live in the UK.  It must have been awesome to be there for this concert.

"Little Things Are Big Things"

Were the words of my college basketball coach.  His point of course was that success in hoops depended on doing the little things.  Cutting off the baseline, taking the right closeout angle and setting proper screens amid a host of other "little things" were the keys to winning, not scoring, dunking or nailing the 3.  Now we know that's not true but his point was well received then and is applicable in business now.  When I birthed Cakedy my vision was build a brand to rival Snickers.  I wanted to hop right into corporate financing, national strategy, and demographic marketing models.  But little things are big things.  Vendors who hand make the product with care.  Team members who can press the flesh locally and present the brand with a smile.  And most importantly a founder willing to start at the bottom.  That last one is tough, but it is a little thing.  While I've had success in my corporate life I've had to admit that I don't know ANYTHING about retailing or confections.  And in order for this brand to rival Snickers I've got to figure this thing out along with the thousands of other struggling foodies.  You don't jump the line to global corporate strategy because you have an MBA.  "Little things are big things Ryan, little things are big things!"

Running a Candy Bar Co: 2:48 AM Edition

I've never been a huge late night party animal.  Even in college a single late night (defined as 2AM or later) was enough to last me for a couple weeks, if not a month.  I know, I know, I'm a nerd.  Yes, being lucid for the vivacious debate in my 8AM Industrial Management class was much more important than Tuesday night banger off campus...sorry just how I'm wired.  But it wasn't until business school I realized that I could stay up really late working through case studies or putting together spreadsheets and pop up next morning with no lingering hangover from 4 hours of sleep.  This persisted in my professional life as well, I could take a 2AM meeting with offshore resources and still be up and at 'em on the treadmill at 6AM.

When I launched my second venture Office Face, late nights were a common occurrence and so were 8AM presentations for my client that I handled with aplomb.  I'm learning that the same will be true for Cakedy.  I believe in this product and this venture more than with the last.  I also believe that execution, discipline and aggressiveness are critical to any business success.  This sometimes means checking off on a backlog of to do items that necessitate a 3:45AM bed time.  The thing is, I was back up at 8:30AM, prepping for a client meeting and in the words of James Brown....I feel good!

Sincerely,
Motivated

I thought this would be easier....

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post I am a serial entrepreneur.  I've got experience in running a startup (financing, marketing, sales, etc)...not a lot and my previous ventures haven't been very successful but I have real life experience.  That said I will admit that that experience doesn't seem to lend itself to running a startup candy bar company.  The two areas for which I thought would be easiest to manage have turned out to be incredibly complex...incredibly.

I WAS SPOILED
For my two previous websites I was privileged to work with a developer who was experienced, timely and incredibly professional.  The guy would set a deadline and then meet it.  If the site crashed he'd pick up his phone at 3AM and get right on it.  He had a host of clients and made a pretty penny as a solo contractor and after experiencing his customer service it was easy to see why.  The guy was "set it and forget it".  Meaning talk through your specs or issues with him and then no more worries.  Presto fixo!!!  Unfortunately he was unavailable (due to personal reasons) for our Cakedy ventures.  We've worked with awesome developers on this project, but it has required much more involvement than before.  I chalk up some of this to the newness of the relationship but nonetheless it is frustrating.  My personal style of management is to be very hands on with vendors/employees/partners at the outset until they are comfortable with what needs to be done.  But after some self reflection and discussion with internal team members I don't think that approach will work when it comes to our website this go around.  Being actively involved day to day will require somewhat of a mindset change for me, but like I keep telling our team, I truly believe in this product and I believe the extra effort will be worth it.

Happy 4th Weekend Everyone!

Law and Order LA

Just when I find my new Law and Order crush I hear she's moving or in this case failing to exists.  Goodbye L&O LA, I hardly new thee.

Turns out running a candy bar company...

...is harder than I thought.  We've missed two go to production deadlines for the website already and will likely only have about 10% of the candy bars needed to meet demand at the end of the month, yep 10%.  The problems?  Where to start?  Website bugs, vendors, pricing, personnel and transitions.  None of this is unexpected and our contingencies have kicked in as planned but it's frustrating for a person like me who likes to have things done yesterday.  I know, patience grasshopper, empires are not built in a day.  I guess the one plus of experiencing these problems now is that we are not wide (major local market visibility) yet so our mistakes are confined to a small subset of people who have already pledged patience.  I know the broader market will not be so forgiving, nor should they. 

Networking at Kindred Kitchen is like Awesome!!!

 

I went to an awesome class tonight that ended up turning into a mini-networking event for me.  The class was served up as an intro to starting a food business and while some of the content was very basic (starting an LLC), the opportunity to meet so many other people trying to "make it" in the food business was very encouraging.

I'm starting to realize success will depend on meeting the right people at the right times or as my internal loci would say making sure to meet the right people when you need to.

Special thanks to Terese Hill and Austin Aho at Kindred Kitchen.  Check them out here

LBJ...

LeBron James is an awesome basketball player but I think he may be hurting his legacy.  Focus on basketball buddy (incidentally if Miami ever gets old, I'm sure my T-wolves would take you!)

Update: cakedy.com launch

Unfortunately one our team members and an AWESOME developer is taking some time to be with his family. Therefore we will be moving the launch of cakedy.com to the end of the month.

To My Baby...who I will always love

"A million miles away, your signal in the distance..."

If you want it you can get it....

I was told this would never happen.  That Cakedy would never be.  "No one buys candy bars online."  "The product doesn't make any sense."  "My people tell me it's not gonna work."  "They told me you're not worth it!"  Even as a young boy I remember being incredibly strong willed.  I've failed, time and again.  But I think taking the chances that others just think about is why I'm able to succeed.  June 11 - I'm stoked!!!! 

Talking about a goal is not the same as moving towards a goal.  Go and get it.

I Give You Cakedy Wrapper!!!

Stay Positive!!!

I love being an entrepreneur...I really do.  I'm so much more excited for this venture than any others past.  I really feel like this could be the one.  The buzz is growing, the site is almost ready to go and the feedback continues to be positive. 

Cakedy Status!

Alright so I've been fielding a few emails on when cakedy.com ordering will be available to the masses.  Here is an update with where we are at on everything:

Website: We tested the original version and our web developer is in the process of making the changes.  When he is done we will send out the links to select friends and family for a wider test, make some more changes and then finally release wide on June 11.  At that time everyone will be able to enjoy the cakedy awesomenss.

Marketing: We've got a host of marketing activities planned for Phase 1.  If you live in the Minneapolis Metro area you will more than likely hear about us via television commercials, newspaper articles or displays and promos in your local independent c or g store.  For those outside of the area we have twitter and facebook feeds available for you to engage with us as well as this awesome blog.

In short we're on our way!  We feel very comfortable with where we are at this time and we march forward!

Work, Work, Work!

Sheesh!  Marketing interviews, financing models, PR requests, website testing, samples and promo production, shipping and handling...not fun!  This Cakedy Candy Bar better test well to make all of this elbow grease worth it.  On another note Breezy, Weezy and C-Beezy got it done yesterday against the Bulls.

Go Heat!!!

My Starting 5

I've mentioned this before but it's worth mentioning again, when trying to build a company YOUR TEAM is important.  Tonight I'm meeting with a PR/Marketing guru who currently works with many of the top firms here in the midwest.  She's a friend of mine I had the pleasure of meeting in D.C. and she's pretty awesome!

I sent her our sites and she is VERY interested and intrigued by Cakedy.  She also knows I have an entrepreneurial spirit that just won't die until it finds success!  I'm meeting with her in an hour with hopes of convincing her to join our team as my star shooting guard (marketing people need the spotlight) and run our marketing/pr apparatus through the first phase.  Wish me luck!

"That's when you need someone"

It's a line from the song "Let it be me" by Ray LaMontagne. I haven't shared this with many people but the reason I've wanted to do really well financially in life is because I'd like to build a school and hospital in North Minneapolis. There were a rash of deaths that hit home in the last few days and I've realized that time is fleeting. I want to make the most of my relationships and my talents. I've learned a lot from my failures, I'm hoping those lessons, a great idea and an awesome team will put Cakedy on the road to next level success. I think so...please let it be me.

Holler at Ray for a few minutes if you please.

Feeling Good

The May 20 go live date is in jeopardy and I should know by Wednesday if we have to push it back.  The issue is primarily with the photo editing and then the subsequent testing of cakedy.co.  On another note I secured an opportunity to promote our brand and give away our product to 150 kids ages 10-18!  It doesn't get any better than this!  Here's a little DW to get you through the rest of the weekend...I never knew love before babe, then came you!

Woo-hoo!

Huge WIN today!  The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute also known as AURI has agreed to help us with our nutrition labeling and recipe scaling, this is a huge win for Cakedy LLC as we will be actively moving to get our product on c and g-store shelves this fall!

You can visit AURI website here

Lights, Camera, Action!

First shoot went great, check out some of the photos....Kevin Craft and Kendal Abell absolutely killed it.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

"And Cut"

I'm very excited about our commercial shoot on Saturday.  I wrote what I believe to be a very funny script and I just finished meeting with the talent and am very impressed.  Neither have acted before but I'm confident they will be able to pull it off!  We've also  got a professional director and producer who are excited and doing this for next to nothing.  I'm excited.  I can't wait to see how this turns out, have to be sure and let the talent and director do their thing...this isn't the boardroom so I'll need to be spectator.

New Samples In!

Just tasted the samples our producer gave us...de-lish-us!  OMG, the masses are going to love these things.  She is an experienced baker and when we met I went into this detailed description of how they were made and she was like "yeah no problem" and I was like "you sure you have to do this, that and then the other."  She said "I got it."  And after tasting her samples she definitely does "got it".

Thanks USPS!

Ever since January I've been concerned with what our shipping and handling process and pricing would look like for Phase 1.  Since all products will be available exclusively online S&H pricing is going to play a major part in whether consumers ultimately decide to purchase.  I scheduled sometime with a USPS employee and got some very good news this morning.

1.  As long as our package is less than 10 ounces we can ship anywhere in the continental US for a flat rate of $2.90.  Since I'm trying to keep the total cost (candy bar cost + S&H) to around $5 this is very good news.  Why $5?  Internally this is around the number where we think consumers are willing to take a flier on a new product.  In limited sample testing as we reached higher $6 and $7 price points willingness to try decreased in concert.

2.  My second concern was melting, especially in the warmer climes during the warmer months (I'm looking at you Tejas).  She said typically first class standard can get the package anywhere in 3-4 business days which should be fine for chocolate.  Writing "Heat Sensitive" on the package may help alert USPS personnel along the supply chain to take extra care but generally we should not expect problems with melting.

Pricing is a big part of our strategy.  Although our product is gourmet and produced with the same care in which your grandma prepares holiday desserts we wanted to compete, from the jump, with Snickers, Hershey's and Baby Ruth on price for a standard candy bar.  This S&H new allows us to do that!

New Music: Fitz Edition

A friend who's a reader complains:

"Ay man this was supposed to be a blog about your startup!"

And pop culture and sports and anything else I feel like writing about. Don't forget you're reading my blog friend!

Here's some new music (I'm looking at you friend). Fitz and the Tantrums...act like you know...Skaggs is a bad girl!

Trading is useful for something

I figured out today that if I can continue trading at the clip I've been for the last few months I may be able to self-finance through Phase 1....I said maybe!!!  This is good news, but it will force me to be much more diligent about my research.  Fortunately oil etf's and stocks have pushed gains abnormally higher.  I'm thinking I'll stick with this sector through the summer.

Things that make you go hmmmm....

Today I had a really good meeting with a potential producer. They were incredibly professional, showed interest in the product, had done their homework on me (I'm looking at your Linkedin) and one of the bakers had experience making a similar product...can you say AWESOME!

I learned the hard way with skoobin (my book trading venture) and office-face (video resume) that it's important to get the right people in the right jobs from the beginning.  Firedrills exists at behemoths such as GE or Globodyne so you can expect with startups that they're par for the course, but one way to mitigate that is to have strong experienced resources in place, which is what this particular group of producers represents.

Another reasons I'm enamored with these producers is that the lead guy pinged me with questions and then offered up some candid criticism.  Typically when meeting with people who want your money they go out of their way to praise your product as not to upset you and their subsequent cash flow.  But like I said this guy was a pro, he hopped right in and in a way that was both frank and informative leveled some feedback that made me same hmmm!

Deep Fried Snickers....the fair has gone down under!

Check out the video!  The guy actually does a pretty good job...the action starts at around 5 minute mark.

Cakedy and Kobe!

Hey, but this is supposed to be a blog about Cakedy.  It is, but during the playoffs it's also about the LA Lakers and my main man K-Man Kobe Black Mamba Bean Bryant!  Maybe if I blog about him and the Lake Show enough during the playoffs he'll give us a free plug during their championship celebration!

Get it done tonight against the Hornets guys!

It's Cake-Dee People

I was talking with a potential PR Director for our launch today when she uttered my worst fear "How do you pronounce it?" Ugh. As an MBA with 600 level marketing courses I should've known better. The first rule of product development is the giving it a name that people can PRONOUNCE. My sister just two days earlier had referred to it as Cake-a-dee and the PR interview was the final straw. I'm working with our designer to create a logo that clearly shows the CAKE as a word with the dy trailing, hopefully that will make it easier for consumers.

I love the name and can definitely see it as a national brand...but I guess I've got to figure this small piece out first, that or get used to uttering the phrase "no it's CAKE-DEE!"

Weekend Movie Review: Conspirator and Scream 4

Conspirator:  I'm a Civil War buff and huge fan of Lincoln so there wasn't a very high bar here, but if there was it would've met it.  The acting was first rate and to see the trial of Lincoln's conspirators recreated was pretty awesome (testifiers stood instead of sat in 1864).  I think in an effort to not inflame some moviegoers they didn't talk much about the root of the conspirators purpose in killing Lincoln.  Hollywood. 

Scream 4:   I'm pretty sure Wes Cravens just Punk'd me.  If not then and this cinematic presentation really is the 4th installment then I'm giving it a D.  It is the worst of the scream franchises.  Obviously 1 was awesome and 2 and 3 definitely held water.  This one was just gratuitous stabbings and really asks you to suspend belief.  If you're reading this and haven't seen it yet, wait for Netflix.

...a friend indeed!

A successful entrepreneur counted as a friend is probably the biggest asset you can have, save capital, as an entrepreneur.  They have contacts and procedures down pat, but most importantly they have a tried and true map!  A map that has led them from where YOU currently are to where YOU want to be.

Whether that map be scribed in ppt or still banging around in their cranium, it exist and getting your hands on it should be of primary concern.  I learned today that a partner for a firm long since in my past has his own food and beverage company.  Nice!!!  I did great work for him and have kept in touch...here's hoping he's open to sharing the way to treasure island!

My Baby Takes the Morning Train

From work to work.  I've started four other business in my short 31 years, each with varying degrees of success.  While they were different in a multitude of ways (textbook trading to video resume) the single constant was starting work when I got off of work!  By that I mean working my 9-5 and then my 6-9 (sometimes 10, 11 or 12).  It was and is mentally and physically taxing to be sure, but the chance that it pops and I become the employer not the employee is always worth it!  Here's a list of what I've got on my plate tonight:

1.  Draft two contracts
2.  Review system requirements
3.  Meet with lawyer on a myriad of issues
4.  Find a new manufacturer (more on this later)
5.  Draft budget for Phase 2 operations.
6.  Meet w/ product developer

Helper Profle: David Klein, The Candyman

The idea for the Cakedy candybar had been bouncing around in my head for a few months when I happened on an msn article about Roxy Klein a young candy apprentice in southern cal.  With a little research I found out her father, David Klein, was the inventor of Jelly Belly jelly beans - a pretty nice feather in your candyworld cap if you can get it.  On a whim I picked up the phone and dialed, getting Roxy on the line.  "Give me your number and I'll have someone get back to you." Was her retort.  Begrudgingly I forked over the number certain I'd never hear from David.  5 minutes later (I said 5) David is inside my head probing me with questions on the size, naming conventions, chocolate content and nougat flavor of a Cakedy candybar.

Needless to say David's been awesome.  His advice and guidance have been incredibly helpful in navigating the candyworld.  I definitely look forward to David's continued involvement as we take Cakedy from scrappy upstart to king of the candyworld!  Take a look at the trailer for David's documentary