I'm opening a pie shop.

[grasswire]

Just clinched the deal with the property owner today.

It will be structured as a "social enterprise" with all profits donated to music programs in the local schools.

It will not be just a pie shop, but a music venue where local students and local acoustic musicians may play together and play for each other and play for others to hear.

The location is so perfect. It is a very small historic community intersection blocks from where I currently live, and it sits on the old trolley trail that is currently being restored as a hiking/biking trail that connects to other trails that ring the city. At this intersection was the trolley stop and the ticket office throughout the first half of the last century.

Oh god the space is so perfect! It once was an old grocery. The bones are excellent. They even have a very old cooler cabinet with glass doors that will be perfect to display pies. The original plate glass windows are still there, and original corner door. Renovation is already underway.

The business model will allow me to solicit startup funding and corporate sponsorships -- as I am totally on a shoestring.

(I'm writing all this because I know that there are others who would like to start up a business but have no capital. Social entrepreneurship is a global trend. Check it out. It can be a way to start up.)

Many of you know my commitment to pie. I'm doing test kitchen this month on a lot of recipes for the perfect product. King Arthur's lemon meringue was a fail last night. Unfortunately.

[Vinca]

1. I sure wish I lived closer to you so I could help "test" the pies. LOL.

Good luck on your new venture. It sounds like a great idea!

[grasswire]

4. me too

Actually I was thinking of my picker friends today. There's a pile of old metal signs in a corner of the space. Marlboro, Chesterfield...that kind of thing. And a couple of Coca Cola signs nailed to the old door. Heh.

[housewolf]

2. Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!

Oh wow, Grasswire, I'm SO excited for you!

I'm so happy that you were able to get a business plan toether that works, as well as found a wonderful location close to where you live.

Hooray for you!

I hope you'll keep us updates as to how all the steps proceed.

Hooray for you!!!!!



:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tesha]

5. Yeaaa!!! It sounds like a dream come true!!!

and if the pie on the page is any example - boy, you're going to do great!

[housewolf]

6. Mmmmmm... gorgeous pic

of a gorgeous pie. I envy your mastery of pie crust! It's reallly beautiful, and I'll bet its delicious too

[yellerpup]

7. Perfect for you!

Sounds like the dream of a lifetime come true and I couldn't be happier for you. Can't wait to see the photos of the space and take "eyes lick the page" taste tests. You pie shop is sure to be an inspiration to anyone who dreams of giving expression to themselves in a practical and nurturing manner. You have several strong, well related talents and because you express yourself so well you should document every step. Especially: Step One. If you know an aspiring film maker, say, one with a bent for documentary, having a record of your journey would probably be helpful in the future. Forgive me! I'm excited. Good luck. I know you'll succeed.

[grasswire]

14. the thought of having my mug in a camera's viewfinder ...

....is scary. I would hate for the old boyfriends to see visual proof of my aging skin. Ha!

Thank you for the kind words. I have to admit this is my destiny. It has to do with my grandfather, who started community bands in tiny towns on the Saskatchewan prairies. I'm paying homage to his enduring love of music by supporting local musicians and music students. I can't teach music, and I can't even really play music. But I can make pie and support those who can teach and play.

[pengillian101]

24. Good on ya!

Your Grandpa would be so proud!

:-)

[yellerpup]

26. Music and food is a classical pairing that never fails to

delight. You are going to succeed brilliantly at this enterprise and your name will be praised for generations. Pie shop is a good description of what you are doing, but inadequate to describe what you are bringing to your community. So proud to know you! :hug:

[yellerpup]

8. Just saw the pie on your website! Bravo!

:woohoo: :woohoo: :party: :woohoo:

[TreasonousBastard]

9. Excellent! Best of luck with this.

[hippywife]

10. Yaaaaaa!

I am so happy to hear this, E! I know you've been wanting to do this so much. And to be a social enterprise is even better. You're a good soul and have a great head on your shoulders. You should do very, very well.

I wish I were closer to help you pull things together. I really would, you know. :hug:

Oh, and about the website thing you mentioned, I can totally commiserate. I have given up on mine because the coding required now is so beyond my old capabilities. I'm going to leave it up and open an Etsy shop once I get more inventory made to put out there, then I'll add a click thru on my website to get there.

I wish you great success! Please keep us posted on how things are going when you get time. :hug:

[grasswire]

15. sorry to hear you have to postpone selling from your website

I feel like both hands are tied behind my back and I'm bound and gagged when I attempt tech. I just didn't get that skill set.

[hippywife]

18. I used to be able to build simple HTML websites

without any training or any problem. This other stuff is totally beyond me now.

I do hope your venture is successful. It sounds absolutely wonderful. :hug:

[Tesha]

19. Hmmm...

can I give you a hand? I put together Wordpress sites for folks...
no coding on your part - zip!
upload images, change text, easy to manage.

Where are you hosted?

[hippywife]

20. What a sweet offer, Tesha.

I do appreciate it, but for a number of other reasons, I think an Etsy shop would be best. I don't have to deal with PayPal directly, as they are the go-between, and as CMW mentioned, more people probably feel more secure buying through a site like that than direct since anyone can put up a website with less than honorable intentions.

Also, Etsy does a number of things to promote your business through its various functions, including a place where you can view newly added shops. I've already met some really nice people and made some friends there through my supply purchases, and that is an advantage, too, as we all add each other to our circles which brings your shop to the attention of others, too. I already have 175 feedbacks as a buyer that are 100%, too, which gives me a head start.

I love that you were so moved to offer. :hug:

[Tesha]

22. Honest...

Installing Wordpress, picking a theme, adding a few plugins and you'd have great advertizing...

It all takes nothing to do, and you get professional looking results.

You could even do it yourself... http://wordpress.org/

and I'd love to know that this business of yours took off for you! :hi:

[pengillian101]

25. MOST EXCELLENT!

http://wordpress.org

I have a little bitty recipe website posted there for free.

[grasswire]

42. oboy, I took a look at the instructions for wordpress

I don't know if I can make it work. So not a techie.

[pinto]

11. Two big thumbsup -

:thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[Phentex]

12. Congratulations!...

Sounds very exciting. Will there be a C&B Special? :)

[grasswire]

16. haha --- no

Although there will be social media. That's covered.

[livetohike]

13. Congratulations!

When you are doing something you love, it's not work :-). We need pictures!

[grasswire]

17. there will be pictures

I wish I could take food pictures as well as some of our C&Bers. Maybe it's a function of having a $100 Canon instead of a more expensive camera.

I'll do my best, though!

[csziggy]

44. Work on the lighting for your pictures

I took pictures of the junk I was selling on Ebay with a cheap Canon and found that the secret was in lighting. Don't rely on the camera flash - use a fixture and light from the side or an angle. I just used a halogen desk lamp that had a nice long arm so I could adjust it.

Put the camera on a tripod (or a pile of books), set the lamp to light the pie or whatever, and experiment. Bracket the settings - don't just take one shot, set the camera to take shots with different settings around what it thinks is ideal. Move the lamp around, use different background, etc. And don't be afraid to get the camera really close and down next to your "subject" to make the shot more intimate.

Google "photographing food tips" - there are a lot of sites with some good tips!

[tigereye]

21. well, that's pretty damn cool!

:thumbsup: I like the music and pie combination and for a great cause!

[likesmountains 52]

23. Congratulations and good luck to you

[jwirr]

27. Very good idea - We have Betty's Pies here on the Northshore and

it is very popular.

[pengillian101]

33. Betty's Pies indeed!

Well known and loved! Driving the North Shore - ya just gotta stop, eh?

[pengillian101]

34. www.bettyspies.com

[japple]

28. What an exciting adventure! I hope you will treat us to lots of

pictures of the renovation process as well as descriptions of the pie test runs. This sounds like it will be a wonderful venue.

[beac]

29. Congratulations!

:applause:

Looking forward to seeing/hearing more as you go along. :)

[Monique1]

30. Congratu;ations and

Good Luck. Sure wish you were here in Az, love pies but pie making is a disaster for me. After a while maybe you could teach pie making and move here. My mother made the best flakiest pie crusts ever ... the crust would melt in your mouth.

[madmax]

31. Congratulations grasswire!

Sounds so exciting - and generous of you. What a gal.

Wishing you the best of luck and personal fulfillment. :yourock:

[grasswire]

32. thanks so much to each encouraging person!

As I was reading this thread again, words from the old tune came to mind regarding C&B:

"...where never was heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day....."

What a great bunch of peeps!

[eleny]

39. My take...

"...where never was heard a discouraging word and the pies are selling all day....."

Congratulations on this new life's adventure, g! That corner door will no doubt be such a magnet along with the fragrance of pie floating out.

Adding the acoustic music is perfection.

[old mark]

35. I wish you every success! I'd like a slice of apple pie and some tea, please....nt

[eShirl]

40. good call

[kurtzapril4]

36. Excellent.

From a business standpoint...pie is the new cupcake! Best of luck!

[XanaDUer]

37. Good for you

I hope it's a roaring success, and I wish I lived closer.

[Melissa G]

38. Congrats! Brings back memories!

I had a pie shop in my early 20's for couple of years. Best of Luck to you!

[Tsiyu]

41. Drats

Too far away. :(

But I wish you great success.

Who the heck doesn't love pie? :P


:headbang:

[WhiteTara]

43. There's a new type of funding/lending

that might be up your alley.
http://uk.zopa.com/ZopaWeb/public/lending/the-zopa-markets.html
Good luck with the pie. My mouth started to water.