We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful SHERI LONG. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with SHERI below.
SHERI, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Tell us about Sugar and Spice and how your business began?
Sugar and Spice began as a “teacher side hustle” in Ventura County, CA. After 25 years in education, my last four years I spent working beyond the confines of the classroom, assisting young adults, ages 16-22 that were working toward the completion of their high school diploma in an unconventional alternative program. While these young adults worked with their teachers, I worked with them beyond the classroom to obtain housing, job readiness skills, set up bank accounts, and acquire such basic needs as food and clothing. In doing so, what I soon came to realize is that the majority of these “kids” were former foster youth that had hit age eighteen, aged out of the system, and were left to their own devices to fend for themselves and become adults in an unknown world with little to no guidance or direction. Fast forward, to my family’s relocation to Las Vegas, Nevada, where in this “side hustle” turned into a full time entrepreneurship venture, and I am proud to say, I now hire these kids with high hopes to one day create a full in-house mentoring system for not only employment, but guidance in the same simple daily tasks that I assisted, be it furthering their education, finding future career growth or simply learning how to navigate daily tasks. Once established in Nevada, I was connected with our local autism foundation and asked if I would participate in their WORKS Program allowing for job experience for young adults with autism. The level of growth and confidence in working with these young adults proved to be so beneficial, that the organization asked if we could add a session. Hence twice a week these “kids” work in the Sugar and Spice kitchen as well, learning food handling, packaging, labeling and delivery prepartion. Their enthusiasm and growth in their work continues to amaze me with each new day! I have come to realize that you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the classroom out of the teacher. I now like to say that my “classroom” has simply morphed into a commercial kitchen space!
SHERI, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Sugar and Spice creates one-of-a-kind, delectable, gourmet Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls. Unlike anything you may have tasted before, our treats are unique with an unexpected “crunch” in the middle. Each Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball is two to three bites of goodness all rolled into one decadent piece. Although usually a negative connotation, the word “addicting” is very often associated with these delicious treats. Currently boxes are sold in a 4-count grab and go size as well as a 12-count gifting size. They are the perfect addition to any party, gathering or potluck type event, but also a unique gifting option for holidays, meetings, token of appreciation or party favors. Our Chocolate Peanut Butter balls are gluten free and although sugar is in the chocolate and peanut butter, there is no added sugar in the making of these incredible confections.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Like many, COVID placed some feelings of doubt and unknown in the world of business and entrepreneurship. While the focus up until this point had been business to business, pushing product out wholesale for local sales in retail locations, the model changed when these locations were closed and shutdown indefinitely. With no experience in website development and design, this became my new task. Learning to pivot and go from business to business and change into sales that would be consumer direct via online, I built a website with e-commerce and shopping capabilities. While now selling product online, the next obstacle to conquer was learning the exact science of shipping chocolate and getting it to a given destination with the correct packaging, temperature and time frame to have Sugar and Spice Peanut Butter Balls arrive exactly as they should. I am proud to say that both the website and the shipping were mastered and continue to prove beneficial to business as a result of the pandemic.
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
As a small business, selling and marketing to large companies, corporations, or hotel and casino conglomerates, I was very often intimidated by reaching out to those at “the top” (Presidents, CEOs, COOs, Directors) thinking they would have little interest in speaking to lil’ ol’ me, small business owner. What I’ve learned along the way, has been quite the opposite and very often my wise words to fellow small business owners. I am proud to say that by reaching out to those at the top, I have been able to get my foot in the door to retail locations that I never would have dreamed possible. It was through contact with a hotel President or a casino CEO, that I would be “passed down” to the correct individual and the buying process would commence. Having to take on a “fearless” approach, has been a learning journey in this crazy life of entrepreneurship.
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