1.18.2011
ERIKA ABRAMS' 21 DAY CHALLENGE (LOS ANGELES, CA)
Ladies and Gentlemen...are you HUNGRY? Do you have a sweet tooth or...are you in the mood to FEAST? Well it just so happens that Erika would LOOOVE for you to take a bite of some of her good cooking. If it can be cooked...she can cook it! It just so happens that I know what her 21 DAY CHALLENGE is.....and WOW...it's a DOOZY! Please WELCOME and support an amazing woman...COMING TO THE STAGE with an apron and a pen....ERIKA ABRAMS!
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Ok. So my 21 Day Challenge or should I say my "first" 21 Day Challenge. (I believe that I will have to do some sort of series.) I have been going back and forth with the idea of catering for some time, but always found really fantastic and logical reasons not to move forth with.....everything. So for my challenge, I am committed to not only blogging once a day, but also working on structuring and planning my catering business.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I have:
Picked out a name, "Love Bites"
A menu (not completed, but well on it's way)
But, I need to come up with:
A marketing plan (and cost it out)
Logo (and how it will be used)
Website (needs and costs)
Research the best way to structure the business financially
Outline the logistical aspects of what I want to do. Delivery area, days, times, etc. (I want to have a food delivery catering business.)
Get licensed
Packaging (Cost and how it ties into the identity of the company)
Research commercial kitchen rental space
Cost out food items (in a spreadsheet that can be adjusted as market cost/values change)
Research local competitors / what the price points are for similar services
There's more, but my eyes are tired and I can't think anymore. As I outline what I am doing, I hope people will feel free to give me their input and bright ideas.
Day 2
ReplyDeleteOkay so today, I did....nothing. Unless, you count thinking about what I need to do. Life just got in the way and at this point in the evening, my eyes are tired, my brain is tired and I have a little bit of an attitude problem. None of these things will help me be productive.
However tomorrow, I plan on calling a restaurant that offered kitchen rentals for caterers. I'm hoping their rates are reasonable and I can use the space. Hopefully, the restaurant doesn't go out of business in the time it takes me to get my "stuff" together, either.
My other goal for tomorrow, is to do the video for my challenge. I have been told, though I have played dumb as long as possible, that I have to do it, in some subtle and not so subtle ways.
For now, I will say goodnight and I will attempt to do something for my business plan (before I go to sleep), so I will have kept my word and will continue to move towards a passion filled life .
Day 3
ReplyDeleteWhew! I just barely made it tonight. You know.....life. I am going to work on more on things tonight. Register a domain name, go through my contacts and to find an "ins". I don't think I need too many people and I have to start somewhere.
I still need to call the restaurant for the kitchen rental. I drove by again tonight, but it was 8 p.m. and I couldn't see the sign or even find the restaurant...so that will have to be taken care of tomorrow.
I forgot to do the video for the challenge. Truly. I did. But I know my days are numbered and I need to get it done. So that will have to happen tomorrow, too.
For now, I need to go and accomplish something for today. Goodnight.
I'm a little late with this post, but better late than never.
ReplyDeleteToday was a long day and I have an early start tomorrow, but I am working on my "thing" before I go to sleep tonight.
I think I have decided on a logo for "Love Bites". I really don't like the heart shape and am not really hot for the color red, which are the two most obvious choices for something "love" related. I'm thinking about a font based logo and I have found one that I really love and the name of it is "Liebe Erika". I have decided that this is a sign. It has my name and it is spelled the right way! Surely this is a sign.
I need to go, I'm giving myself another 15 minutes to work before I go to sleep.
OK, so I am a little late with today's post. So much so that it is tomorrow. Life got in the way of doing anything concrete today. But this weekend I am in it to win it!!! After I do laundry, go to a food truck festival, catch up on sleep.....and anything else that sounds fun at the moment. Just kidding, I really need to do something tangible.
ReplyDeleteToday (really it was yesterday) only confirmed that I need to move forward with "Love Bites". My bestie and I have to do it now! Life has dictated and confirmed that it is so. We did agree on our first venture. It's small but completely manageable. It is a charity bake sale that is happening at her son's preschool. But this is really good, there is a deadline. I have to have things done by the 11th of February. The cookies, baked goods, etc. aren't a problem. However, I really want to figure out packaging and logo in time.
So my goal for this weekend is to do just that. Figure out packaging and the logo. Maybe I will also come up with a list of other people, businesses, etc. that we should send a basket, bucket or whatever to. Since I am already baking, I might as well go all the way with it.
This will be after my nap, balancing my checkbook, reading a few magazine, starting my taxes........(still, just kidding)
So, today I was sick. (sniffle.sniffle.cough.cough.)
ReplyDeleteBut, in between being in a delirious state courtesy of Sudafed and consciousness, I was able to do a couple things.
First, I found a place that will do a 10 page website for $200. Also, I am hoping I can meet with a online marketing person who helped to market a well known food truck in LA. (Hopefully it works out, even if I can just receive some direction.) My goal is to to have this done by the end of this coming week.
For the rest of this evening, I am going to work on the logo, color schemes and packaging. I would also like to come up with a list of items that I can make for the charity bake sale and initial marketing baskets
(sniffle.sniffle.cough.cough.)
So today.....still sick (cough.sniffle.)
ReplyDeleteBut, I did make progress. In no small part because of my bestest foreverest, she started the business plan!! Which was perfect! She is the total ying to my yang. Doing a business plan would make my brain bleed. (But does this really count as progress I made? Maybe not.)
Anyhow, what I did today was, figured out what to make for the charity bake sale. Since there will be children there I will make a basic chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. In my mind these are the most boring ever, but it is what children will want to buy. (As long as there are enough sprinkles.) The key to this is making them plain enough for the kids to want (i.e. beg their parents to buy for them) and fantastic enough for the parents to love when they finish the cupcakes off. (Because little kids never finish cupcakes all at once and who throws away a cupcake? Their mom or dad would have to eat it.)
I have to say that I am getting a little freaked out. The pressure is getting real. Nothing is theoretical anymore. There is a real date, with real repercussions. AURGHHHHHH!!!!!
But I have to be a person of faith and believe, without doubt, that God is leading me in the direction that he wants me to be in. (I am sure this is what I am supposed to do. I have peace with it. It is the inner perfectionist that is thinking of all the worst case scenarios.)
I have decided that I want to do a font based logo. (Did I already say that?) I was hoping that my friend would be up to give me his opinion, but he's asleep. The nerve! It's only 1:40 in the morning where he lives. Why isn't he awake all the time, ready to answer my questions whenever I need? But, I will take the hint and go to sleep myself. After all, I have to get up in a matter of hours and go to the job that is paying the bills, at least until "Love Bites" takes off.
Goodnight! (cough.sniffle.)
Oh my gosh....I'm about to miss my deadline. Today I made some progress, but was at work so my time wasn't my own. I am working on "it" now. Setting up email address and looking for wholesale supplies for packaging.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I will work on pricing and menus. Then website format.
That's it.
Today...today...today...wasn't the best. BUT, progress! If today happened a year ago, I would be a hot mess for another week.
ReplyDeleteBut, I do believe that when people are close to a breakthrough or success, hurdles come out of nowhere. Tests of perseverance.
At this point I would love nothing better than to end this day and just go to sleep. Start over again tomorrow and let today go. BUT....I can't. I have stuff to do before I go to sleep.
Here's my list for the next couple nights:
-check into getting a Food Preparer's License
-Write a list of basic supplies that I will need (equipment, tools, stock, etc.)
-Find and price containers for food to be delivered in
-write out weekly menu structure and choose rotating menu items
-find wholesale food suppliers
The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground. ~Author Unknown
So, I missed yesterday's journal entry. But, I definitely worked on "Love Bites". Last night I met with an online marketing person and discussed how to create our online presence and overall website design.
ReplyDeleteThey suggested that I come up with a tag line, because people won't be able to tell what "Love Bites" is all about based solely on the name.
I have a list of things that I need to send to her in order to have her build the website by the end of this coming weekend. (yet more tasks, but really helpful)
Today, I spoke with a business/life coach about my plan of action, lifestyle and life goals. I think because I worked with a coach before I somewhat have the thought process down and had answers for most of her questions. The session did help to reconfirm my plan of action and to hear her thoughts based upon other clients' experiences.
As of right now, I am spent, sleepy and tired. My eyes hurt. And with all the other drama going on in my life, I am emotionally empty and tired of being awake. At this point, I am working for the weekend and the sooner I go to to sleep, the sooner it will be here.
Ok, so I suck. I really suck. I haven't done a post in.....a couple of days and coincidentally, I haven't done anything for Love Bites in a couple days. Which doesn't mean that I haven't thought about doing "stuff". I have. If intention and ideas would be enough, I could be almost done by now.
ReplyDeleteBut, the thoughts I have are really good, I think. Either way, I am going to work tonight, in the hours that remain, on the website format/infastructure and the initial marketing plan. Within the confines of my brain it is pure genius....we'll see what it looks like on paper.
Last night, I did a couple things before I passed out. (Maybe "passed out" was the wrong term. It sounds a little bit like I was drunk. Not the case, I really don't even drink. But I digress.) I set up a twitter page and a facebook page. I also wrote down the marketing ideas that I had and they look pretty good on paper.
ReplyDeleteI need to set up the blog on wordpress. I am experienced with blogger, but wordpress is the site that has been recommended to me for the website that I need. I did get a few steps into it last night. But, it's so complicated or so it would seem. I have to set up an ftp site, download their software, change the naming convention, blah, blah, blah.
Of course now, I am too tired and cold to feel like doing anything. I might take my laptop to work with me tomorrow so I can work on everything during my down time.
I will try and do some of the smaller tasks tonight, but my mind is weary and the flesh is weak. (I just had to "rest my eyes" for a second, like an old man after Thanksgiving dinner.)
Today...today...today. Nothing really.
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out Wordpress. So far, I know that I have to spend $50 to have it hosted by godaddy.com, I think. But there's all this other "stuff" that I have to to do once that is done just to get it up and running. AND, I don't know if I have enough space on my laptop to store the download for it. Maybe if I erase my 13,549 junk emails. (That's the real number. Crazy. I know.)
I don't know if my brain can handle it tonight. Maybe I will try that a little bit longer then start to work on a supply list and month's worth of menus.
Well....today....I didn't do a thing for "Love Bites". It felt like, the day the earth stood still. It just seemed to go on forever and in slow motion, but quickly all at once. I have had worse days and I am sure that I will have bad days in the future. In the end, all I could do was come home and take a bath and float. For me, water has the ability to remove me from reality, and remain completely sober and legal. There's nothing better than floating outside at night. But tonight, inside had to do. But there were bubbles.....
ReplyDeleteAs far as today, there's nothing more I can do, but go to bed and wake up to a new day. Certainly, I can be comforted by the fact that there are people who are living through far worse circumstances. In reality I am a very lucky and blessed person. Even to be born a girl and in America. Of all the places in the world, I don't think there are many that can compare with what I am able and allowed to do here. I'm healthy. My children are healthy. I have a job. I have a dream of what I want my life to be and feel that I am moving towards that. I have all my own teeth. There are millions of people in the world that can't say even half of that....
So I am blessed and as a consequence, I should hush up, go to sleep, say a prayer and be a reflection of God's love tomorrow morning. (The chances of me being a reflection greatly improve the later I am able to wake up, though.)
I forgot to post last night! My bad. But I am glad this week of my life is over, it was so draining. I just came home and fell asleep; on top the comforter and with half of my body hanging off the side of my bed. Very dramatic.
ReplyDeleteBut, I have vowed to not leave my room today. (except to go to the bathroom, walk my dog, get food and water, maybe do part of a facial, but that's it!) So I am going to, more or less, lock myself away today. I AM GOING TO DO THIS THING!!
I did get a price quote for building the website. It wasn't a bad price, but how much of it is fancied up and something that I could figure out. With that said, I have a lot to to that hasn't been done yet. So am I just paying for time?
Later on today, I will prepare the shopping list for a Super Bowl get together tomorrow. Which will give me an opportunity to take pictures of some of the dishes that I plan on preparing.
I am counting the post that I did this morning as yesterday's post. So, today....I have given my work much thought, done laundry, went to the pet store for dog food (completely sidetracked by Martha Stewart's new line - so cute and it all matches), pick up Chipotle for lunch (vegetarian burrito bowl with a grapefruit izze - so good!), uhm....took a nap, emailed a couple business related things to my partner, had a couple of hilarious conversations with my nieces and nephews (soooo no filter, it's fantastic), looked at some things on Etsy.com, started a blog post, cleaned body oil off of every surface in the bathroom (courtesy of my nephew, it's in a spray bottle he couldn't help himself), cleaned up the garage a little bit......
ReplyDeleteSo, I've done everything but what I planned on doing. Completely sidetracked by shiny objects. However, the night is young and so am I. (I do wish that I liked coffee, it would be really helpful now.) I have a lot to accomplish in the next couple of hours before I have to make a phone call. So I better get on it.
Today, and by that I mean yesterday (the 6th - I just missed the cutoff) I actually accomplished real, tangible actions/things/stuff.
ReplyDeleteThe website is in progress and I received the first draft of the logo today. I like it, overall. I'm sitting on it for a little bit, but I have to have it ready to go in time to make the charity bake sale this Friday. I want to be able to have it on the items that we will donate. The website will be up by Friday, with a landing page. So anyone that goes "there" can input their email address and receive more information about "Love Bites" as we make progress. (building a customer database)
I upgraded the domain registration so the website can be run off of it properly and ordered the labels for the packaging.
The other thing that I did today, like the rest of the country was go to a Superbowl party. I made a couple quickie items, macaroni and cheese, spicy artichoke dip and salted chocolate chip and walnut cookies. The highlight was somebody saying that they my macaroni and cheese, was the best mac&cheese they have ever had. VICTORY!!! I totally live for that. There were a few other compliments about what I made, but I don't want to get all big headed about it. But that was truly the highlight of my day. I have chosen to take that as a sign that I am moving in the right direction.
Tomorrow I have a few other things to get to the graphic / online designer, including some moolah.
I'm on my way!!!! I'm not even really scared. I just have to handle my business and get moving.
Ok. Today. I got the first draft of the landing page for the website. I like it and think the girl is doing a really good job. I also picked up some packaging for the baked goods that we are donating to the charity bake sale on Friday. Today, I bought the fonts, mailed them to the designer with a few inspiration swatches and a check. I am really please with her. She listened to what I told her, and has followed up with me nightly. So far it has been really good.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I plan on coming up with a shopping list for the items and start the label design. I also have to email the rgb/cmyk ratios to the designer, send her the chosen fonts, etc.
So, I really feel like we are on our way.
Next I need to:
-go through the licensing program
-call about kitchen rentals
-break out the menu and add descriptions
-outline the "beta test" of our plan
Today was just another long day. A trying day at work. A long day at home. Just really.....long. Normally when life reaches this point I truly want to just go to sleep and let the chips fall where they may. But, I can't....not even a small nap is possible. I feel like everything is up in the air. Family. Friends. Money. Work. Life.
ReplyDeleteEvery morning, I wake up after what has become a standard of 4 hours of sleep per night, with a daily headache and round of nausea. All this over something that I don't have any control over. Which is one of the reasons that I want to move on to Love Bites. If I am going to get sick over something, I would rather it be over something that I love, am responsible for and have control over.
Today I sent the graphic designer the font files, received the labels that I ordered (and two more cookbooks)and have been given a new directive for the feeling of the website.
Also, now that I have the item list for the charity bake sale on Friday, I have found out that there is a "nut restriction". Nothing that I make can have nuts. For baking I feel as though nuts are very necessary. They add so much to a cookie or brownie. NUTS ARE GOOD!!! But, I have to please the charity paying public, so back to the drawing board.
Today, I didn't do a thing. I started an email to the graphic designer and tried to complete it three times. It's still sitting in the "drafts" folder.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am really busy procrastinating. I need to get stuff done, because tomorrow will be my last opportunity to get stuff together for the charity bake sale. I really want to do it, for the simple fact that I pushed to have the landing page done in time.
AURGH!!! I just looked the site and it looks similar to what I approved, but isn't even close to what I want. Irritated. All I know is that it needs to be corrected by Friday evening. Bottom line.
In the interim, this is why I prefer to pay somebody to take care of it. Simply because, I don't have to figure it out. I can email or call them and it is their job to fix it.
But, I still need to pick at least two different things, that don't have nuts, to make for the sale. The baking will have to be done tomorrow night. Labels will have to be made tomorrow. I might have to actually start drinking coffee to get this done. We'll see......
Ok. So, I am behind schedule with this post. It isn't that I forgot about it. I just, didn't remember until now.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, today (which is really yesterday, Thursday) was a "normal" work day. Out of control. I never really got my bearings. It was like I was trying to climb uphill, during a mudslide.
Anyhow, I HAD TO prepare for the charity bake sale on Friday. I half way thought about taking the day off from my "real" job to bake and package. But, I can't, so I am awake doing it now. I just finished baking and cleaning the kitchen about 15 minutes ago. Now I am going to work on the labels for the packages. I hope to have the design complete before I pass out. I will print them in the morning, package the cookies during my lunch break and deliver them by 5 p.m. Then take a nap.
I also need to write a summary and post a picture of what we are donating for the website. (I took a few pictures and hope they are good, but I'm tired and my eyes are only halfway functioning, so I hope I'm not fooling myself into thinking things are good when they aren't.) That will have to happen tonight or in the morning. I don't know.
Uhmmm...I know there is more, but I can't remember right now. I have to go over my notes and scribbles.
I really need a vacation, hopefully this effort will pay off and help to pay for my trip. I already know where I am going. A hut on a beach may or may not be involved.
I haven't posted for a few days, so here's a recap:
ReplyDeleteFriday's charity bake sale went, ok. I don't know if anything has come from it at this point. One of the attendees said she would recommend us for a party her sister is having.
The website is up, really it is more of a landing page. Now we need to work with the designer to refine the design and decide what additional pages to add, along with content. Once that is complete it will lead to overall packaging design, business card, etc. It is basically the start of the branding process, at least in my mind.
The twitter feed is up and the designer is subscribing our feed to other, larger food feeds, which will lead to additional followers for us. (hopefully, also known as customers)
I need to link in the facebook page with everything else, as well.
The challenge with the design is that I don't like the color red and I like the heart shape even less. Both the color and the shape make the most sense for "Love Bites". Bleh. I also have a need for everything to be symmetrical, so the whole bite mark thing....I don't know....maybe.
Uhm....I really have to decide on the next step. How to get things going? Testing our service. Marketing. Etc.
We also need to check on the availability of kitchens for rent.
All of this leads to me being up at 2:30 in the morning, watching reruns of "The Office" and "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations", writing outlines, with a headache. In my mind this is what I need to do, but the whole concept is so huge that I need to make list after list, just to try and wrap my head around the whole thing.
I can see the end result, but the bread trail path to the final destination is so overwhelming. Does that make sense? Probably not. I should go to sleep now.