Eddie’s Energy Bars Blog

The first week of classes have gone by, and it’s definitely going to be a busy semester for me.  Time management is going to be crucial for me over the next few months.  Vacations are going to be business trips back home, as that is all I will be doing.  Don’t get me wrong though.  I love what I am doing, and want to see it grow.  Now, with the help of good ol’ eBay, we can make things start to happen.

One of the longest processes for us is packaging of our bars.  Since our old heat sealer (which gave us about two years of work) bit the dust, we have been looking for an upgrade.  I called around to some companies asking advice on what I should get.

At first, I was set on upgrading to a foot powered heat sealer, which would enable us to package with both hands.  I was then turned on by a salesperson to a continuous band sealer (What the heck is that?). Well, basically, it’s a machine that seals nice and tight across plastic materials.  This will eliminate the need to fold the bag on the open end and seal by hand–that’s a lot of time when we are baking 300 bars a day by hand!  Now, with this machine, we will be able to seal up to 120 bars a minute! We will still do everything else by hand, except for sealing the package.

I found the band sealer on eBay for a whopping $1,400 less than other companies wanted for it.  I am pretty excited about the find.  I made this purchase for a couple of reasons.  We’re growing at a rapid pace, and need to save time where ever we can.  Secondly, as you all know, I am a college sophomore and I do all I can to help my parents out, since they are doing the baking and distributing of Eddie’s Energy Bars.  I figured this purchase will help us in both the short and the long run, on our way to Eddie’s becoming a more well known brand.

We’ve got lots going on at our bakery in Richmond, Vermont. Stay tuned for many more happenings.

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

As most of you know, I love the beautiful state of Vermont. Well, I got an e-mail from my mom today, head of operations at Eddie’s (that basically means I would have no company without her), who sent me an e-mail with Jeff Foxworthy’s comments on the Green Mountain State. They are as follows:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September
through May, you live in Vermont .
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance
and they don’t work there, you live in Vermont .
If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, > > you live in Vermont .
If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with
someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Vermont .
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Vermont .
If you know several people who have hit a deer more
than once, you live in Vermont .
If you have switched from “heat” to “A/C” in the same
day and back again, you live in Vermont .
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during
a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Vermont .
If you install security lights on your house and
garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Vermont .
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows
how to use them, you live in Vermont .
If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit
over a snowsuit, you live in Vermont .
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph — you’re
going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in Vermont .
If driving is better in the winter because the
potholes are filled with snow, you live in Vermont .
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter,
mud season and road construction season, you live in Vermont .
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your
car, you live in Vermont .
If you find 10 degrees “a little chilly”, you live in Vermont .
If you actually understand these jokes, and forward
them to all your Vermont friends & others, you live in Vermont ..

I just thought I would pass these Vermont jokes along. Go ahead and laugh, because most of them are true. It’s just how we are in Vermont. And you’ve got it–the people that run Eddie’s Energy Bars are just as cool.

Michael, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

I got back from my trip to China on Saturday, and it was a blast. Pictures will be up soon. After my vacation was over, I went back to school to move in with the help of my parents. I start school Tuesday, and need to get back into the swing of things, and manage my time accordingly. So, I have compiled the three tips that have helped me manage my busy schedule of school and business.

1. Make Lists
I have a little red notebook that I use to make bulleted lists of things I need to do that day, if I have a busy day. When you make your list, write it down in terms of the priority it needs to get done. As you cross things off the list, I hope you feel a sense of accomplishment, and a stress-free day ahead should be ahead of you.

2. Sticky Notes
My desk at school is plastered with sticky notes. Why, do you ask? Well, they’re bright, and I notice them every single time I sit down at my desk. It propels me to do the item written on the sticky. Put your sticky notes where you will see them. It could be the computer desk, the fridge, or the front door–that’s a popular location at our bakery! You will get things done if they are constantly in your face. Write appointments, your kid’s soccer games, or your grocery list. You could even color code them if you wanted–whatever works for you.

3. Put some fun in your life
Alright, so you’re working incredibly hard through the week, and here comes the weekend. Do you work? Do you play? Well, it’s fine if you work. I work on the weekend all the time, but I am sure to include some fun, too. Even if it’s just dinner with a friend, you are giving yourself time to relax.

These couple of tips can be applied to anyone. A student, small business owner, or stay-at-home mom. Let me know how you manage your time. Do you have any tips? Comment below!

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

This wonderful cold spell is finally coming to an end, and so is my time in Vermont.  I am heading to China on Sunday for two weeks, as part of a school trip.  I am really looking forward to the trip.  We are going to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guilin.

Don’t worry!  You can still order your energy bars online, or pick them up at one of our retailers.

Speaking of retailers, we have now completed a triangle of Sports and Fitness Edge.  We moved in to the South Burlington and Williston locations yesterday.  It’s very exciting!

Have store ideas?  Contact us!

I’ll be back in two weeks!  Many pictures will be posted from my trip, so stay tuned!

Michael
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Happy New Year!  2007 was a fantastic year, and all of us at Eddie’s Energy Bars are ready to jump head first into 2008.  We’ve got a lot of great events coming up this year, so be sure to stay tuned to the blog.

Ok.  Now for ways to keep your resolution.  I have compiled the three things that I think will help people the most in satisfying their resolution.  Here we go:

1. Tell Everyone: Let your friends, family, and co-workers know what you’re trying to do, so that way, they can keep you motivated to complete the task.  If only you know, you will find personal excuses to not get off the couch, for example.

2. Set Realistic Goals: Now that you have told everyone your resolution, it’s time to set goals.  Make sure your goals are reachable.  For example, to lose two pounds a week is a better resolution than losing ten pounds a week.  Or, helping out at three school events is better than helping out one. The more you do with your child, the better he or she is likely to open up to you.

3. Reward Yourself:  So many people (myself included) don’t reward themselves for doing job well done. Go out to dinner after your goal is reached.  Write the rewards down before you make your resolution, so you have something to look forward to after the goal has been reached.  However, it is important to not over do it.  Don’t reward yourself with a whole deep-dish pizza for losing ten pounds.  Then, where has all the hard-work gone once you have eaten the pizza?

If your resolution is to knock off a few pounds and start eating healthier, Eddie’s Energy Bars are the perfect addition to any New Years resolution.

Like my tips?  You can find monthly updates on Eddie’s as well as health and fitness tips in our newsletter.

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Michael Adams
Eddie’s Energy Bars