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Food Brands
Food Brands Wednesday
02Jan
Gotta Luv It - We Do!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 10:33PM Foodpreneur:
Jade Powell
About the Foodpreneur:
It all began years ago when friends were asking for my recipes, I thought some day I will turn my passion into a successful business in Sonoma County, California.
In the mean time I made wonderful creations and personally delivered them to friends. I loved sharing healthy foods but as friends shared my creations with their friends the demand grew, which I could not keep up with in my little kitchen. It became clear it was time to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy my healthy foods and produce out of a state-of-the-art kitchen.
I signed up with the NASFT (National Association of Specialty Food Trade), took a few courses, did a lot of research in starting a specialty food business, and decided it made most since to first launch three of my all natural dressing & marinades. So I left years of my software sales job in corporate America and launched Gotta Luv It!
My hobbies of fishing, boating, camping, going to comedy clubs and shows had to take the back burner so my true passion Gotta Luv It would be a success. I still manage to squeeze in some fishing, boating and camping- gotta play!
About the Gotta Luv It Biz:
I am a Japanese American minority small business and do it all with the help from my husband Edward (medically disabled vet) on his days off a full-time job with Marin County, and my demo rep Rosemary who handles San Jose and surrounding areas.
Gotta Luv It helps you prepare healthy great tasting food, with a taste as you made them with care and attention - create something like no other. I believe that natural, healthy food should be available to everybody. Let me share with you natural and healthy fantastic food! Only the finest all natural ingredients are selected for these superior dressing and marinades. Ready to use just pour out of the bottle. Enhance salads, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. Use for salads, grilling, broiling, baking, stir-fry, and roasting. Great for dipping!
As the company grows I will market more dressing & marinades, cookies, breads, pie crusts, soups, stews, frozen foods and more!
Founded:
December 2003
Marketing Strategies:
Being a small minority business with limited funds is hard and for now my marketing is going to in-store demos and festivals. I feel the best way to generate sales is let people taste it. After they try it they always say "Wow that is so good it doesn't taste like it came out of a bottle! The name Gotta Luv It is perfect I do love it".
Jade knew Gotta Luv It was a hit when:
I knew Gotta Luv It was a hit when every grocery buyer I introduced the dressing & marinades to picked up the line. And a success when they won medals (now three years in a row) at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair:
Double Gold Medal- Sweet & Tangy Italian dressing & marinade (no sodium)
Silver Medal- Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing & marinade (no sodium)
Silver Medal- Chipotle Lime Fusion dressing & marinade (low sodium)
In The News:
Specialty Food Magazine, Argus Courier, and Santa Rosa Press Democrat
Fun Food Story:
I sell al lot of the 3-bottle gift box and received a call a couple years ago from a woman in Minnesota who received a gift box from her relative in Sonoma County California. Lucy said she is on a low-sodium diet and can't believe my dressing & marinades are low and NO sodium I love all of them. She ordered one case (12 bottles) of the Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. Seven months later Lucy called frantically stating she is down to her last bottle and ordered two more cases. Lucy orders regularly 1-2 cases at a time and can't bear the thought of running out.
This year 2007 Lucy called me a couple weeks before Christmas stating she has 3 bottles left and wanted to know if Gotta Luv It will be closed for any period of time during the holidays with exception of Christmas and New Years day. If you will be closed more than a couple days I need to order two cases I can't run out! I assured her Gotta Luv It will be open every day with the exception of Christmas and New Years day.
Looks like Gotta Luv It has created an addiction!
Why is Jade in the Food Business?
I have been is sales since a child starting with telemarketing magazines in the late 60’s, retail sales in the 70’s, and software sales in the late 80’s-2003. During all this time my passion was always cooking beginning as a child learning to cook from my mother. Through the years I would take my creations to pot-luck at work and everyone loved the food and wanted to know where I purchase it. When I told them I created it they always said "No way, this is fantastic you should be in the food business I would buy it".
I love food and always trying new items and know I am not alone. People love food and the majority of people like trying new and different things. I believe there will always be a market for Gotta Luv It!
What Jade does not like about the Food Business:
I love the specialty food business but would take a pass if I could on the bookkeeping end of the business.
Foodpreneur Says:
Jade is the perfect example of the new breed of food entrepreneurs! She brings to the table many years of experience in sales and a passion for food. When looking for a business opportunity most people should start something they are interested in and have a passion for. After doing some homework Jade launched her business and has not looked back since. The corporate life becomes a thing of the past and new challenges are to had in the future. She takes a grass roots approach to marketing and puts her small budget to work. Now with big name clients like Whole Foods Jade is looking to grow her product line and level of success.
Contacting Gotta Luv It:
Gotta Luv It
PO Box 751522
Petaluma, CA 94975-1522
707.765.2377
Website: Gotta Luv It
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