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!

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!

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

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.