We might be onto something...

Last week, organic food news source Rodale News released an article listing the "11 Healthiest Foods in the World". According to J.I. Rodale, they are:

1. Fish
2. Kelp
3. Mushrooms
4. Coconut
5. Watercress
6. Wild berries
7. Wild rice
8. Wild game
9. Maple syrup
10. Honey
11. Nuts

The bolded items are ones we carry in our store. Count 'em - that's 8 of the 11 foods! And you might have noticed that the first one on the list is fish, which just happens to be our feature product this month (we have trout, pickerel, whitefish and pike available). More importantly though, is the fact that those eight foods are available right in Saskatchewan!

We often lament that it's difficult to eat locally on the Canadian Prairies. With our extreme climate, fresh fruits and vegetables are only available a few months of the year. But this list includes eight foods that we can get right here in Saskatchewan, all year long! Yes, the berries have to come out of the freezer in the winter time, but Saskatoon berries freeze extremely well.

Aren't we fortunate to have access to some of the healthiest foods in the world, right in our backyard?

Life's lessons

Last night we had a table set up at the SUMA convention in Regina.  It was a great event, probably over 500 people - all very committed to Saskatchewan and its growth!  Met all sorts of awesome peeps and lots who were very interested in some of our best selling products. 

My business partner, Candace and I had a great chat about social media earlier yesterday - how to better use outlets like Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and what not.  We both agreed that we can use these tools better, that there is great opportunity to talk to our customers and followers. 

We normally consider ourselves relatively intelligent, easy to have a conversation with and having fairly sharp intuition.  We show up for this trade show with no computer, no iPad and no Camera.  Yup - really ramping up the social media.........good job girls, way to pay attention.

I always maintained that this journey of opening a business was going to be an experience worth writing about at some point later on in my life and there would be a few key learning's along the way.

Here is my key learning for this one:
1) When my kids were born, I had a camera.
2) When we go on vacation, to swimming lessons, or out for a walk - I take a camera.
3) When you go to a tradeshow to promote your business.....you guessed it - TAKE A CAMERA! 

Anyways, it's only a mistake if you do is twice; and sometimes you just need to laugh at yourself.  Yesterday was one of those days.
Cheers,
April

The Newsletter

Greetings all and Happy New Year!

So in the last 2 weeks we have been working diligently on our upcoming newsletter - to be launched February 6, 2012!! 

I thought I would share the story on how the newsletter originated.

Way back in the summer when we were working with our web-designer, we knew instinctively that we wanted to have a way to communicate with our customers and followers so we included a "Sign up for our Newsletter" button on the homepage.  What we underestimated, was how many subscribers there would be so quickly; the "newsletter" idea was one that we kicked around but really thought it would be a late 2012 initiative. 

While at a party for a friend this fall we were chatting away about how exciting our business is, how much we've learned and just laughing with close friends about all of our "learning's" thus far - trust me there have been many.  A friend of ours pipes up "Hey ladies, hows the business going?  When is the newsletter coming out - I signed up a long time ago and haven't heard anything?"  Candace and I instantly look at each other with the deer in the headlights look.....Newsletter????  What Newsletter?? You see, at this point we are knee deep in Christmas plans and hadn't even thought about the newsletter.  So I came home that night and did a little digging - if a friend has signed up for this, how many others had signed up?  And where did their contact information go?  I had no idea.  Upon searching, and searching - I am by no means technologically inclined; I found what I was looking for.  On November 17, 2011 we had 180 people already subscribe to a newsletter that did not exist.  Holy Crap, I thought!  We have a lot of work to do.  We do not want to disappoint these people.

So since then, we have created the concept for what I believe is going to be and EPIC (yes I just used that word) newsletter experience!

We are featuring local food writer and enthusiast Amy-Jo Ehman, author of Prairie Feast http://www.prairiefeast.com/; Recipes by Chef Jenny http://www.newgroundcafe.com/, of New Ground Cafe in Birch Hills and an exciting contest with hopes of engaging the inner cooks in all of our readership!

If you haven't already subscribed, please follow this link to our homepage and scroll to the "join our newsletter" button! http://www.saskmade.ca/  We look forward to knocking your socks off on February 6 - stay tuned! 
Cheers,
April

Greetings from the SaskMade Marketplace!

The last few weeks have been exciting as usual at the Marketplace.  We have a number of new products to boast, many of which would make great additions to any holiday meal.  Try the fresh Pickerel, Pike or White Fish straight from the icy northern lakes of Saskatchewan; paired with some Lemon Infused Pepper from Orchard Del Sol (Delilse, SK), you are sure to impress your family or guests!  All of the peppers from Orchard Del Sol are produced ethically and naturally and have the most intensive flavour I have encountered. 

If you are looking for some gift ideas for those whom have everything, try a sinfully good Body Butter by Serendipity (Gray, SK) and a 'better than the spa' Shower Dough Scrub from Bovine Bubbles and Hogwash (Prince Albert, SK).  Put them together for a nice stocking stuffer or create your own beautifully arranged gift bucket with one of our staff right in the store. 

We are pleased to be joining Ethos Salon and Spa for their Holiday Party on November 25.  Drop by the Scotia Centre on 2nd Ave where Ethos is located for a bite from SaskMade Marketplace and some great in-spa promotions on Ethos Spa products.  Ethos is one of only a few Salons in Saskatoon to feature the Aveda product line! 

Cheers!

Only one more sleep

My business partner, Candace Ippolito and I have spent the last couple of days preparing the store for our Grand Opening.  I am so excited for tomorrow!  We've had a chance to decorate the store in a beautiful Christmas Theme, start getting them tasting samples ready and meet a tonne of new customers.  It's days like these that I think I am lucky to have the best job in the world! 
Just a quick peek at our tasting line up:

Updated Tasting List!:
J & J Sausage - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Farmer's Sausage
Leven's Coffee - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Artisan Coffee
Daybreak Scheresky Mill 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Sunrise Pancakes
Choo-It Oatmeal - 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Choo-It Cereal
... Parenteau's Gourment
Gravelborg Mustard - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m - Mustard Brie Cheese
Cheesecake with Prairie Cherry Topping - all day!
In Good Taste Christmas Baking - all day!
Harden and Huyse Chocolates - all day! (or until they disappear...)
Wild Serendipity Scones with Sweet Pure honey - all day!
Tu-Bees Honey Flavours - all day!

Book Signings:
Saskatchewan Scenic Secrets, Robin and Arlene Karpan - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00
Prairie Feast, Amy Jo Ehman - 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Prairies North Magazine 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 

I hope you are all coming to join us - we can't eat all of this food by ourselves!  Saturday November 5 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  1621 8th Street East, Saskatoon.

Cheers!

April Nichol