Eddie’s Energy Bars Blog

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

The book “Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard, the owner and founder of Patagonia, is hands down the best business book I have read in a while.  Most business books are run of the mill, and spit out the same information, just by different authors.  This book is different, and really got me thinking about where I want my company to go, and what I want it to be all about.

In a couple of sections Chouinard comes back to the point of why he is in business, and the image his company is looking to portray. He’s in business to raise awareness of environmental devastation around the world, and wants Patagonia to be seen as a high-quality climbing equipment and apparel maker.

I know why I am in business, but am I in business for the right reason?  I personally started this business to gain experience in two areas: the business world and the specialty food industry.  And, of course, to try and make a buck.  I think I have succeeded at all three of these, but there is a however.

The reason I think I should be in business is to not only sell my product, but to make a difference in the lives of everyone around me.  I am starting to think that the real reason I am in business is to change the way people think about nutrition, fitness, and their overall health.

How should I do this?  I wanted to start the Eddie’s Energy: Get Outdoors program. Maybe I should really do it and help people, kids and adults alike, to get outside exercising, and eating right.

More on how I want my brand to be seen later.

Have a great day!

Michael–EEB

PS: I haven’t forgotten about blogging about nutrition and fitness…it’s been busy in the entrepreneurial ring.

As most of America works a 9-5 job, most likely at a desk somewhere, in a floor full of cubicles, in an enormous sky scraper (well, not Vermonters.) But, nonetheless, are these employees really valued by the company they work for?

A lot of corporations just don’t value their employees any more. Where is the motivation? The company picnics? It’s lost in this corporate dream of boosting the bottom line. Don’t get me wrong here. Boosting profits is fantastic, but wouldn’t it also be fantastic to keep your employees happy and willing to work for you? I think so.

Every entrepreneur I know values their employees. Some even going as far as shutting down their business and inviting their employees to a BBQ. I think that’s great. It really shows the employees that their employer cares for them, and wants to actually keep them around.

If and when I have employees (some say I already have two. They just happen to be related to me) I will treat them incredibly well, and pay them a wage they can actually live in. Keeping my employees around for years to come is very important to me. They are, in all honesty, walking billboards for your company. If they hate working for me, they’ll tell other people. If they love working for me, they will also tell people, but those people will actually want to patronize my business.

In the end, valuing your employees, and letting them know that, does in fact increase your bottom line.  A great way to do this is with custom-labeled energy bars from Eddie’s Energy Bars.

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

My energy bars are sold in smaller mom and pop stores across the county (and of course online. You can order some here). I want to keep it that way because I believe in maintaining a healthy relationship with the store owners and employees that I deal with on a weekly, and sometimes bi-weekly basis.

For example, I sadly had to withdraw my products from Jacque’s in Huntington today. I just was not covering cost, and the store demographic was not exactly what I expected. I went into Jacque’s in the beginning not off of a recommendation from a customer, but because the parking lot at Beaudry’s was full (so was Jaque’s at the time). It should have hit me that full parking spaces mean lots of customers, but of course it didn’t. I had heard that a lot of hikers stop at Jacque’s to fill up before they trek up Camel’s Hump, so I went in and sold my bars there.

Not until I decided to sell my bars at Beaudry’s–twenty feet across the street–did I notice that sales just were not as great as they should be. So, today, I withdrew from Jacque’s, but don’t worry Huntingtonians! I am still selling at Beaudry’s, but they sell out fast, so make sure to grab yours while they are still fresh from my oven!

Anyway, what I wanted to stress was the relationship between myself and the store owner, a very important one at that. The demeanor of employees in these two stores is completely different. In Jacque’s, they could have cared less whether my energy bars sold or not, but in Beaudry’s, the owners were pushing them like crazy, to they point where they have a huge stash in their freezer now so they don’t run out. I talk to the owners of Beaudry’s every week, and ask them how things are going. I just didn’t feel that with Jacque’s, and if the relationship doesn’t feel right, sales won’t do well.

It is the friendly and personal staff that makes everyone feel comfortable. Just today, over at Sweet Clover Market in Essex, I was chatting with the employees there. They wanted to know how I was doing, when I go back to school, etc. They really valued me, and what I was trying to accomplish as a (very) young entrepreneur. That right there is exactly the reason I price my bars for them: they treat me with respect, and want to see me succeed.

The food business is certainly a challenging one, but if you maintain a great relationship with your vendors and retailers you will be in great shape for start-up success.

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars

Other entrepreneurs of course!

Whenever I need to figure something out, I always look for another entrepreneur to talk to because I know, when they were starting out, they went through the same things I am going through right now, and they know how to handle the situations perfectly.

Advice from entrepreneurs can go a long way in more ways than one. When I am looking for more outlets to sell my energy bars in, many times other entrepreneurs have the connections that I am looking for, and they can point me in the right direction.

It is also nice to speak with some who is just as enthusiastic about your product venture, and can relate to you, and your determination to get things done, successfully and efficiently.  Just a quick conversation with other entrepreneurs can land you in the perfect spot, with multiple ideas to work on.  This recently happened with Ann Zuccardy of Vermont Shortbread Company.  We were talking yesterday, and we stumbled upon a fantastic business idea.

Nope.  Not telling.  But, it’s brilliant.  Stay tuned!

Michael Adams, Owner
Eddie’s Energy Bars